An apology, musings, rant...

 

Our Location:

Cabo San Lucas 

Baja, Mexico 

I would like to start off by giving our good friends Lorne and Sue an apology. I'm truly sorry I was so rude and sharp in my reply to your text. There is no excuse, please accept my most sincere apology. Thank you for your kind words.

Riley and I are enjoying the people of Mexico a great deal. Very warm and friendly, always ready to include us, help us and just are amazing people. 

I would like to just mention a few things, birthday wishes to Isabel, Barry, Jason, Sheila and Amber. Condolences to Amanda, Brian and families on the passing of their grandmother, Sandra. Condolences to Nancy and family on the passing of Grant. Condolences to the family of Joanne Smith, a true community spirit. Condolences to Nancy and Stephen and their families on the passing of their mother Eileen.  

The snow and rain continue to fall on our little rock in the middle of Lake Huron. The ground is very much ice covered and the January thaw is upon them. The snow falls and gets beaten down by the rain that falls next. A vicious circle. Sun is rare there, how I wish I could send them some, they definitely need it.

The days are monotonous here and while we love the people, we would not come back here to Cabo, but we will be returning to Mexico next winter, or that is the plan at this point. Plans are forever changing as family ages and life gets in the way, it is just a fact.

 The next paragraph is not for everyone, although you are welcome to read it. Sometimes I just have to let the words flow, I can't keep them bottled up. Often times I write them and delete them many times over, they haven't come out in the right order or they aren't quite the right ones, but often times, like below, they just flow out of my fingertips almost faster than my fingers can type. Sometimes I write and then just delete them permanently  today was not one of those days. As I said, please do not feel you need to read or comment on the next grouping of words, in fact no comments are necessary at all. It is just how I feel at this time, in this space, in this upheaval around us.

Death makes us reflect and internalize, it makes us believers and non believers. Death makes us feel things we aren't sure we accept or understand. It leaves a residue, a film of some kind over our thoughts. It dregs up memories we have forgotten and leaves us feeling cheated. The residue eventually slips away until the next death, and cycle begins again. Dual deaths in the family in recent weeks have me in this mood. I'm not looking for sympathy nor kind words, I'm not seeking comfort nor compassion. I am merely explaining why this post is so disjointed. Life has a way of getting in the way but death stops it instantly, it invades and overcomes, seeping into every crevice of our being until life once again begins to chug along. We rejoice at the birth of new life, it too makes things change but death, the natural ending to life seems to upset the balance in a very different way. It is a new lesson every time it comes to call.

I am a fan of music, many different genres. I have been listening to some of my favourite artists although I will admit I've been very Canadian leaning these last few weeks for many reasons. I will also admit I have always been/am a huge Boss fan, Bruce Springsteen in case you don't know who the Boss is. He is one of the most talented songwriters of our times, in my opinion. He has a talent of making us see the haunting vision in his narratives and yet gives the rush of hope, attainable goals and the possibility of a true kind of love. However he has not been on my playlist for a few weeks, no fault of his, just my ear is tuned to something else right now.  I have always been a big fan of Gordon Lightfoot, I've been to many concerts at Toronto's Massey Hall to see him live. Truly a privilege to have been able to do so. He once joked that if something bad happens the world knows Gordon Lightfoot will write a song about it, and so he has written many. Mr. Lightfoot left us May 1, 2023. Like the Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald, his legend lives on.  This song is about a lost love, it has so many levels, it can be  peeled like an onion. So another famous Canadian singer/songwriter for you to listen to if you like. It is called, If you could read my mind.  Enjoy.

Gordon Lightfoot

It appears Google is demanding I allow cookies and I will not, so no pics folks.  I'm tired of the effort and demands of blogger and Google to have access to my information. Yes it's a rant and I am totally p*ssed off. 

Thanks for visiting.

Deb

We are still here……

 

Our Location:

BLM Ogilby Road, Winterhaven, California 

Happy New Year, better late than never! It’s pretty quiet here, our friends Kim and Ken have left for a while, and so there is not much happening.

Dust in the air Jan 6, 2025

The winds have been relentless but today seems to have ushered in a number of days forecasted with almost no wind. If you were looking our way about 5 am this morning you may have noticed me doing a happy dance! Today’s walk was not dust filled, a huge bonus!

Riley and I have been just hanging out, a few errands, a little shopping, and just living. After our busy summer we are enjoying the down time.

Jan 7, 2025

Thanks to Ken for fixing our back jacks, we do appreciate it so very much. Now I can probably figure it out if it happens again. We are seriously thinking of replacing the electric ones with manual ones this summer. We shall see how things go!

A couple of birthdays to note:

Happy Birthday Jason! (Jan 2)A wonderful young man, great father, husband, son brother and nephew. Enjoy your adventure!

Happy birthday cousin Sheila. (Jan 7) Your smile is infectious, your laughter catching. I have no doubt you had a fabulous day!

Happy Birthday Amber (Jan 9). Your artistic talents always amaze me, you are certainly your mother’s daughter ! I hope the day was a good one.

Happy Birthday Janet! (Jan 14). We miss you and look forward to seeing you soon! 

Happy Birthday Ian! (Jan 16). You are often in my thoughts, I miss your wit, charms and laughter!

Happy Birthday Matt. (Jan 17). My former SIL, I hope all is well with you.

Happy Birthday Craig. (Jan 20). Hey Cousin, I hope you have a fantastic day!

Happy Birthday Courtney! (Jan 22) My oldest daughter. A bright, bubbly, energetic lady that leaves me breathless, smiling and trying to keep up. I love you so much! I hope you have a fabulous day!

Happy Birthday Riley! (Jan 28) I love so much and can’t imagine these adventures without you!

Happy Birthday Bob and Ruth. (Jan 29) Siblings, oldest and youngest. It is sad that we drift apart but you are often in my memories.

Happy Birthday Sally. (Jan 29). My grandfather’s half sister. I hope you have a wonderful day!

On a more somber note, our condolences to the Anstice Family in the passing of Justeen. She was a fantastic lady, we will miss her.(Jan 12) 

Condolences to the Sagle Family in the passing of their mother Elnora. A sweet kind lady, she will be missed.

Jan 16, 2025 sunset.

Today’s pics are just some I have been collecting of sunsets here in our little part of the world. 

Thanks for stopping by. 

Until next time…

Take care, stay safe,

Deb

Friends return.....

 

 

Our Location: 

BLM, Ogilby Road, Winterhaven, California

 

A lot of nice warm days and a few very nice nights as well, windows and vents all open. Such a nice change from the colder weather we had earlier. Although it's going to swing back to that colder weather again, not quite as cold but still colder than we like. Yes I know I'm whining, but it's my blog and I want to whine. However it is NOT THIS COLD here and so we are fortunate. I shall whine no more today!

 

Snow close to my Dad's house.

Bottom pic taken thru Dad's kitchen window screen, brother Rick's house next door.

It's kind of ironic that in my last post on Jan 23, we had experienced a fair amount of rain and today we are expecting rain with more next week. However the desert is already greening up from the rain mentioned in my last post. Some grass is showing under the branches of some Palo Verde trees, the Ocotillo's are leafed and plumes are showing at the top, the Prickly Pear are getting the hints of buds and the sage bushes are fluffing up and some new ones are popping up. The Barrel Cactus are still their vibrant deep reds but I think soon we will see little hints of buds coming along. 

 

Sunset in reverse order thanks to Blogger, Jan 24

This was the first pic but blogger put them in backwards.

 

Riley and I  headed north to Q, on Jan 25th to visit with our friends there. As I'm sure most of you know Doug Laning from Miss Adventure Travels travelled down from Mesa, AZ for a visit. You can read about Doug's happenings by clicking the link above. We haven't seen Doug and his faithful sidekick Yuma since last year and it looks as if we  may not be seeing him any more this year and so we wanted to at least get a quick visit with him. It was nice to spend a little time with him and all of our friends there of course. It was a little over an hour and half drive to get to Road Runner BLM, very close to the spot we stayed at earlier this year. We found them easily among all of the rigs, and there were many, many rigs due to the Big Tent Event. The Stinger B is always a good beacon! We arrived to find Deb and Tom  holding down the fort. The four of us headed out for breakfast and to catch up since we'd last visited. We returned to Road Runner BLM and soon were hugging Ken and Kim along with Keith and giving Oreo a scratch or two behind the ear. It was nice to catch up with them all. Before long a little silver streak came tearing along the road way and in a cloud of dust it whips around the dying sagauro and comes to a screeching halt. Door flies open and out pops Doug and Yuma. Hugs, smiles and a few laughs, we all sit down again and chatter along. Before long a big black Ford pulls in and the doors open spewing out Nancy Kissack, Bill Richards, Patsy Richards, and Gibbs their happy little pooch. It was an excellent, but short visit! Riley and I headed home around 3:30 pm. I don't like to drive in the dark. 

 

All the gang: Riley, Tom, Deb, Doug, Yuma, Patsy, Bill, Nancy, Ken, Kim, Keith.

Nancy taking a picture of me taking a picture, Doug, Deb, Riley.

We have ventured into Yuma a few times for a number of mundane things, laundry, groceries, fuel, water. You know all those non exciting things we all need. We  also headed into Yuma on Jan 29 to meet up with our good friends Elva and Gerry Shannon. Elva suggested we meet at a spot called The Landing. An excellent choice, the food was wonderful but the company was, as always, spectacular. We always enjoy chatting with these wonderful folks. The time passed very quickly as it does when you are with people you enjoy and soon we were headed home. 

 

At The Landing, Riley, Elva, Deb

Elva, Gerry and Riley.

We would like to offer our condolences to the Lockyer Family and the many friends in the passing of Brian on Jan 28. Brian was only 66 and passed in his sleep. He was a fun loving sort of fella. Always a quick smile. There is no doubt he will be greatly missed. 

 

The Ocotillos are green.

The Prickly Pear is showing hints of blooms coming...

The desert is showing signs of grass in places.

 

Also condolences to Kathy and the family of Terry Hill. He also passed on Jan 28. I did not know Terry but recall that he was often present at the Little Red Schoolhouse Museum in South Baymouth. He graciously told us tales of my mother and father's families when the girls and I ventured in one day. 

 

Last year we pushed a woman out of this sand, it was over the tail pipe deep.

I think the desert will bloom this year!

A Staghorn Cactus, I think.

On a happier note, Riley celebrated a birthday on January 28th. She has achieved a great deal in our travels and keeps pushing forward, although this year more slowly than last but the progress is always forward! I'm very proud of her!

Sage brush.

Sharp and pointy.

Barrel Cactus.

Also birthday wishes to Sally Smith, Bob Kay, and Ruth Kay McFarlane. They all celebrated on January 29. Sally is my grandfather's half sister. Although I haven't seen her for years, I remember her as being a bubbly, happy, quick to smile lady. My cousins Bob and Ruth are siblings, oldest and youngest of a large family. Bob married and stayed on the Island, Ruth also married, but moved to New Brunswick. I haven't seen either of them for a while either. 

That's us over there.

That's us too from a different vantage point. 

We love the spot.

Yesterday, January 30, Deb and Tom returned to our little spot on Ogilby Road. After a very trying day they arrived just as the sun was getting read to set. The three of us sat outside for a bit enjoying the wonderfully warm desert air and the company. Catching up is always fun! 

The plumes on the Ocotillo's are vibrant and wispy.

A good story teller could give you a very interesting tale of this bucket buried in the wash beside us.

Sunrise this morning...Feb 1

Sunrise over the Igloo 2.0. See the Ogilby Hills reflection in the windows?

The Stinger B, and the Baby B in the morning sunrise.

Over the Cargo Muchacho Mountains

There is something spectacular about this morning's sunrise.

I chat with my Dad and my sister Jan quite often, I hear all the local news and gossip, some tall tales and of course some short ones too. All is well on the Rock in Lake Huron. Snow is coming and going, melting and falling, blowing and drifting, wet and heavy, light and fluffy. Dad was the photographer of the first  snow pictures in today's post. It depends on the moment. Dad is in the middle of a couple of repairs, some gaskets on his truck and some form of clutch repair on his quad. He has also been out snow shoeing with a friend! He regaled me with a tale of a broken snow shoe binding, falling over and needing help to get back up. He is quite the fella! 

I hope you  have enjoyed the catch up. The photos are randomly selected from those I've taken over the last 10 or 12 days. They are in no particular order. 

Thanks for stopping by. 

Until next time...

Take care, stay safe, 

Deb