Trip to Q, a few purchases, and what I see when I look up from my chair....

Our Location: Bouse Road near Parker, AZ

A good night's sleep and when I woke up around 6 or at least I think I did, am my knee felt much better, not that puffy stiff feeling.  I decided I'd read a bit before getting up and one of two things happened, either I read more than I thought or I misread the clock, or maybe both I don't know. By the time I realized the correct time the sun was already up and I totally missed it's entrance. Some days I even amaze myself!

 

I wonder when they realized they had left this behind?

Hot drinks and a few discussions of our day ahead had us moving around shortly and ready to face the day. First job was to load all the garbage into the Dogsled and the drinking water jugs as well. We headed the Big Dog down to Quartzsite to check out a few of the lagging behind vendors. 

I love this knot, it's so eye catching...

The landfill was closed, so scratch that idea of putting the trash there. Southward we continued until we arrived at Tyson Wells, found a parking spot in the parking lot as the road frontage was full all ready and only us and a big rig in the parking lot when we left the Dogsled. Not so when we got back though, it was much busier by then.

Don 't you just love this old tree, it's been through some rough times....

We walked around a few of the vendors but not a whole lot that caught our eye in the first few rows. We did however manage to find a few deals as we wandered along further into the area. We managed to grab ourselves some grill mats that we can cut to fit the Weber. Riley found herself a floppy wide brimmed hat. I bought two 'window washing magic cloths', and a nice multi coloured southwestern blanket or table cloth. We priced the sun shades but they were too expensive at $91 USD for our size. The only deal to be had on those was if we paid cash they would discount the sales tax. Thanks but we'll pass. 

Rows of mountains.....

We had about given up on finding one this year at a reasonable price and were about to start heading back to the Dogsled when we wandered into the 'last tent' that we were going to visit today. We found exactly what we wanted but not in a carry bag, for $35 USD cheaper than the other place. Didn't take long to grab it. It's the perfect colour and size. I think we got very lucky. 

 

They just lure a person in to watching them....

Noticing some dumpsters behind the small adobe building we left our trash and headed home. We didn't stop for water as we're heading out tomorrow to get a few things at Walmart and so we'll fill up then. We did however take a drive around the camping area and checked out a few sites that we would certainly remember for next time. We like the one we have but it never hurts to have a back up. 

The many colours of the desert...

Back home we settled in to do a few things. Riley outside in her new hat and me inside making myself a salad for lunch. Once again I propped my leg up and have been off it since coming back home. Wrapped an ice pack around it and it's even better now. I think one more round of anti inflammatories should do it and I'll be back to my regular self. Riley bbq'd lunch, which of course was excellent. We tried our new bbq sauce, a Jack Daniels blend, we both like it. We've had a few JD blends over the years and haven't found one we don't like yet. Our regular fix of Mike's Country Store BBQ sauce (our favourite being Georgia Southern Peach) has run out and we aren't planning a trip to Georgia so we may have to order it via mail. The best stuff I've ever had. 

There is nothing uniform about a mountain.....

Lunch was a salad for me of course, along with grilled fresh veggies (green beans, mushrooms, asparagus, carrots, celery, sweet onions) with freshly ground garlic, add to that grilled Parmesan potato slices, and JD Hickory Smoked Chicken Breast. I can tell you it was delicious. Riley is wearing a number of hats these days, nurse, bbq'er, navigator, and the list goes on. 

Lots of skeleton's in the washes here, they pile up against the roots of healthier, living version of themselves...

After lunch we cleaned up the dishes and tidied the Igloo before heading off to do our own thing. I'm doing some research for a trip to the east coast this summer and Riley, well, I'm not sure what she was doing but I heard some noises in there that had me wondering if she was being invaded by some unknown force and she was defending her room with ninja type movements and noises. It turns out she wasn't doing any such thing, but I'm not sure I believe that at all!! We'll just leave it there. 

The soft white fluff of a creosote bush...

Not as hot here today as it was yesterday. A nice breeze with some cloud cover helped to keep the day cooler than the temperatures we've been experiencing of late. We're too close to a tree to put up the sun shade but the we do put the awning out until it meets the tree. So we'll try it out at our next location. 

 (ALL sunset pictures are posted as taken, no enhancements, you can see the time stamp in the bottom right corner)

Tomorrow we need to some groceries, fuel and get a few little articles I want to make life easier for us here in the Igloo. I'll work on my little project when we get to Saddle Mountain. 

 We didn't do much for the rest of the day. I took a short walk and snapped a few pictures but the sunset tonight was so spectacular I didn't need to get many other shots. I did however have to come inside for surgery before finishing up the sunset pictures. On my little stroll I some how got a sticker in both shoes and they were in the bottom of my feet. Nurse Riley had to get the surgical gear to take them out. She wondered if I wanted to stay awake during the procedure or if I wanted to be put out. Making note of the hammer in the doctor kit I opted to remain awake through the ordeal. I will say she did an excellent job and no stitches were require to close the large holes she made while digging before extraction. She didn't even give me a band aid after!!

The temperature has been perfect here with the nice breeze that kicked up this afternoon. I see some windows left open tonight as the heat is still hanging on even at this hour. 
 

 

I think this location is perhaps the greenest location we've been in for a while. The bushes, shrubs and trees, yes there are numerous trees here are a lush and healthy green. Sitting outside reading my book I will say that upon raising my head I'm amazed at the view I have. Mountains on all sides, a bluish haze in the far distance, not a crisp image but one that towers foreboding in the back ground, looming large and massive. Nearer than those far blue mountains are the crisper images of lofty heights, tiny valleys, rocky bumps and  dark crags, the outlines of washes and ridges showing up in least expected places. The colours some times black, or green, and some times dotted with various colours, but always clearer than those looming behind.  And closer still is the green sea swaying in the breeze as the leaves shimmer and glisten in the sun, waxen surfaces casting the light away.

 

  The amazingly vibrant green Palo Verde trees with their long willow like foliage dancing and swaying with the puffs of wind in perfect time with the creosote bushes. Yet gangly limbs of those bushes flopping gently side to side slightly out of sync with the others near by. The small shrub like mounds of green here and there with each performing to their own beat and while not in perfect time, not totally out of step either. It is difficult to see the other colours, the whites, ivory, along with desert browns, and the stark grayish bones of other trees and shrubs that haven't been able to stay alive due to fast rushing waters, not enough water, and abuse by mankind not just mother nature.

 

 

 

Above all of this is a vast sky that changes colours as well, from brilliant, electric blue to softer shades of blue, so soft it is almost white. Some clouds tossed in for good measure cause streaks or puff balls to decorate the sky haphazardly. The bright fierce yellow of the sun beaming down on all creation watching over it as it picks on the weaker, less strong, weeding them out, making her domain stronger and smarter, better able to survive. I am witness to this beauty, the life and death struggle of the desert. For that I am truly fortunate and blessed. 

 So there you have it folks, my view from the chair outside today. The day has ended and it's time to publish this post. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed your visit. Please feel free to drop a comment. I enjoy hearing from you. 

Until next time... take care, be safe, 

Goodnight...

Deb