Life's Journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, totally worn out, shouting "Wow...What a Ride!"

Friday, January 1, 2016

Wrapping Up 2015

Seems we've been busy or working, I've had good intentions of catching up the blog but then something comes along and I don't get to it. So here's the highlights from December 2015.


One evening we headed into Phoenix with Mary and Michael who also volunteer here and live next door to us. After a wonderful Thai dinner we headed to the Desert Botanical Garden to enjoy the Las Noches de las Luminarias. An evening of strolling along garden paths lit by thousand of luminaries, which were lit with actual candles, volunteers  go out and change the candles every day then light them then they have to light them all.






One of the sculptures in the Bruce Munro Sonoran Light Display.


Our friends MonaLiza and Steve of  The Lowe's RV Adventures went one evening, you can read more about the displays and see more pictures at their blog here, you can also read about our visit with them at McDowell Regional Park when MonaLiza and Steve invited us for a delicious ham dinner...once again no camera but Mona had hers going.


These last two displays were made with recycled 1liter water bottles, fiber optics were inserted into the bottles and supported by wooden shelves between each layer, the displays continually changed colors.





We've been out hiking quite a bit, enjoying all the desert has to offer. We are enjoying our day hosting volunteer job and even head there on our days off to hike a bit. Our Christmas Day hike was wonderful, so much nicer than spending Christmas in snow and cold.






                                                          



One of the benefits of our job is being able to hike with our ranger Kevin and other volunteers as they prepped a new trail. The following petroglyphs are not on a main trail. We've been given the privilege of knowing their location.







                                                 



                                                                 



One of the hikes offered at Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area is the moonlight hike, usually on the night of the full moon but since that was Christmas it was held a few days later. Lots of people this month probably because of the holidays...we're planning on going again.


Our bird feeders are emptied frequently by the numerous visitors.
 

New friends Mark & Janell invited us to a Christmas party. We always have so much fun with them, they will be at Quartzsite and we are talking about going to Mexico with our RV's for a few days. Great new friends :)


We enjoyed a Christmas dinner at our son David and daughter-in-law Laura's home, how nice to have dinner prepared for us...again forgot the camera :(. Needless to say it was a wonderful meal and an enjoyable evening.

Dave has been busy working on improving our battery capacity. In a week we are headed to Quartzsite AZ (think Sturgis but for RV's) where
 we will be dry camping for 5 days. Of course I was too busy helping to take pictures but needless to say we are in a much better position for this than we were. Dave added some batteries, ran wires and generally upgraded our capabilities. We are attending a Grand Design Owners Rally prior to the start of The Quartzsite RV Show.



A few of the sites here at Cave Creek Regional Park have a corral.



 The sunsets here continue to be spectacular.

We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and we'd like to wish all a Happy New Year.
Now to catch up on my blog reading.

Until next time...


6 comments:

  1. Looks and sounds like you've settled nicely in the valley of the sun. Those sunsets are always a delight. Enjoy that desert sunshine while I enjoy rain and cold along the Texas Gulf Coast :-(

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    1. We couldn't be happier here in the desert, hard to believe we've been here almost two months already...May will be here before we know it. Sorry the weather isn't cooperating but that seems to be the way TX is these days. Glad though you've made it safely, we'll try and post a few sunshine pictures on FB for you.

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  2. Wow how priviledge you are seeing those hidden petroglyphs. Perhaps one day when we come back that way we will check it out. Guess what you forgot to bring the feeder we were gonna give you!
    So how did Dave hurt his back?
    Enjoy your Q adventure!

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    1. If you come back we'll make sure you see them...we're allowed to show our friends. Yes we did forget the feeder but now Dave says we need one like your smaller one. Setting up our work table Dave must have twisted wrong and then he was one hurting guy. Thanks again for a delicious meal, hope to see you this summer up north.

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  3. Glad to hear from you again. Looks like you are having a wonderful time. Love your sunsets and great hikes. I'm really envying you seeing those secret petroglyphs. Sounds like this is a really terrific work camping job with excellent new friends.

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  4. You had a busy December ... and lots of fun it looks like. Love those sunsets. Nice pictos ... hope to see some on a walk at Seminole Canyon in a few weeks.

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