What’s that old John Denver song?
“Sunshine on my panel . . . makes me happeeee!”
Look at that blue sky! And nary a black cloud in sight. Well, a few gray ones still hovering.
We boondockers on Darby Well Road outside of Ajo, Arizona, have had three dark days, two of them almost constant drizzle.
I’m happy as long as I’m warm, have food, and can read a book. Spike and Bridget are happy as long as they’re warm, have food, and can nap. Up to point. Then those canine muscles have to pump their legs somewhere!
Sunday, January 27
The sunshine has people and dogs emerging from their various boxes and eggs like bears in spring. My neighbors, Rick to the east and Judy to the west, are outside playing with their canines. I hear an occasional vehicle on the road. Birds sing.
Bridget and Spike happily trot down the lane on their first, full walk since the rains came. It’s good to be out and about again.
Funny how the weather makes such a big difference in the daily life of boondockers.
“C’mon, you little gremlins! Let’s go visit some more pals!”
Bridget and Spike dash to the side door of the PTV.
Soon we drive up to Bill and Ann’s campsite. Ann is busy outside at her work table. She shows me the progress she’s made on the stained glass window project. The hot air balloons are complete. Next she adds the sun and finishes the sky. “This is coming out very nice,” I remark as I examine her creative mix of shapes and colors.
Bill steps out of their travel trailer holding Julie (the doxie) who’s barking like a maniac at surprise visitors. Sammy the beagle greets his pals and looks up for some attention from me. The crew and I don’t stay long. It’s late afternoon and turning chilly outside.
Off we go to the grocery store!
Bird feeder update . . .
Can you believe you’re reading a bird feeder update? Well, I can’t believe I’m writing one. Anyway . . .
This morning I’m sitting at the big window at the back of the BLT, having recently returned with the crew from our walk. The usual suspects are outside at the feeders — doves, woodpeckers, hummers, finches, a few black-throated sparrows.
Some newcomers make the scene. A covey of Gambel’s quail arrives to check what all the commotion is about. They discover the seed scattered on the winding path, around the post feeder, and under the hummers’ feeder.
This makes them run like schoolchildren on a playground.
A few run this way, a few run that way. A group huddles for a moment, then scatter, darting hither and yon. Cute top knots.
I count ten as they scurry away into the creosote and brittle-bushes across the lane by our campsite.
I pause writing this entry to run outside and catch the sunset.
How can anyone say the desert is boring! I can almost hear a symphony . . .
Monday, January 28
Well, rain again last night. Blue skies this morning, partly cloudy, and warmer.
Over the months in which the crew and I wandered around the West, I accumulated a long to-do list. I saved those items for when boondocked on the Darby Well Road in southern Arizona.
Now we’re here and the weather isn’t cooperating.
The list? Order bank checks, order an Anderson connector for the damaged power cord, order a replacement Rhino-flex sewer hose for the one I damaged, paint the chipped hitch crank, paint the PTV’s gutter where the old paint has peeled off, put another coat of polish on the BLT, wrap up the financial reports for 2012, beef up the “Shopping List and Links” pages, email America’s Mailbox and have them forward my mail, . . . and for heaven’s sake, woman, get a haircut!
The easy part of the list is checked off.
I’ve ordered stuff, emailed, and purchased the paint I need. Now I wait for a warm, dry day.
Time for me to walk the crew. Their Canine Corner will reappear soon!
rvsue
rvsue and her canine crew 