More about the great week

if ya look real close you can see a tad bit of the Colorado River.

Sister posted on her blog, without photos cause of technical circumstances.  Dontcha hate it when that happens.

So go read her blog here and I'll post a few more pics.  Oh if your interested NO there is not a photo of the 4 ft snake!!!  Ya know we had just finished watching the new Life series on Discovery Channel.  That particular segment had  reptiles and amphibians......eeeewwwwwwwwww!!  And then someone had to tell us about a 4 ft rattler their dog had chased away.  Scuse did ya happen to see which way the damn rattler went??  edited to add...............we never saw the damn snake!!!

Sorry to say Sister had to have a dream about those reptiles. 

A few nites it was nice enough and not too windy to have a fire.

Saw of few of these funny little creatures................warning don't get too close wild burros can give ya a world a hurt in one kick.

cute huh!!

A terrific week

sister, bro-in-law and their sweet pup Buddy

I'm sad but have some wonderful memories of sweet sister and her dearly beloved during their visit.

We did a lot  but not that much where we couldn't hang out play a gome of cards, take a walk or sit around the fire at nite and roast a marshmallow or three.  By the way sweet sister beat the socks off me in the card playing department.  Dang couldn't catch a break!!

We even got some antiquing done one day.  Each purchased a much wanted/sought after 8" Pyrex pie plate.  They don't make those babies any more so we were both cited to make  the purchase.

We traveled to the old silver mine, Castle Dome.

Wandered out to the Colorado River, that's BIL viewing.

Had a great lunch at my favorite joint

Saw a few blooms on the desert.

Went to see the Yuma Jail and the QuarterMaster Depot.  Did ya see the movie 310 to Yuma?  This was the jail they were to deposit Russel Crowe.

We topped off the week with some flying, not by us but by some very talented folks at the Marine Corp Air Station Air Show here in Yuma.

FYI.............a public service message UPDATE

Well it's fixed for me hope everyone else is fixed also!!

If you don't already know this...............blogger has some issues.  Can't post photos with my blog.  Trying to be patient.

http://blogger-status.blogspot.com/2010/03/our-image-backend-is-experiencing.html

Pow Wow

The local Native American tribe in the Yuma area are the Quechan (pronounced kech-an.) We recently attended the Quechan tribal Pow Wow. Many tribal Pow Wows are held in the spring sorta like a big coming out party.

This pow wow was held outside and we did notice the tribe is not nearly as large as most other tribal held pow wows, but the costumes were just as interesting and colorful as any other we have attended.


The bead work done on all of these costumes is phenominal. Many of the beadwork is done by the woman of the family. I had a wonderful conversation with one lady who did the beading on these ensembles/outfits/costumes.  And yes she referred to them as costumes.

All ages are involved in each tribal dance and this small child had his rhythm down perfect!! What a fun day!!

Mines

Not yours or mine but silver and gold mines.  There are hundreds of them where we are right now, with the majority of them being silver mines.  But there are also hundreds of mine shafts in the area, so walking where one is walking is quite precarious.  Only walk or hike on suggested trails.

One in particular that we hiked the other day is the well know Castle Dome Mine.

Travel through rugged parts of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. Keep your eyes open for the abundant wildlife, which includes desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, coyote, cottontail, bobcat, fox and golden eagle. You can visit a cave once inhabited by Native Americans. Cross rocky McPherson Pass through the Castle Dome Mountains.  The recent rains did that pass in if they repair it before we leave we'll go back.  Hike to well-preserved cabins at Big Eye Mine.We stopped at the Castle Dome Mines Museum and learn about the area’s extensive mining history.Your trip starts out as an easy washboard gravel road which Mr is not afraid to travel on with the truck.  Anything more than that we walk.

Castle Dome was a small mining settlement which first produced silver and later lead. Since lead is not nearly as valuable as silver, the mine did not last very long.

Mining foundations,  buildings and miscellaneous mining gear remain.  The couple that now own the property have reconstructed many of the old buildings like the bank, the five saloons and of course there's always a brothel.

What I always find when on the desert are saguaro cactus.  This one caught my attention because of it's five arms which means it's quite mature.

Next is a very large lake in the area that we must go search for.

It's only hair

You probably have heard that when you painted a room and you weren't just over the moon with the color.  It's only paint you can just put another color over that brite icky color.............no problem.

Well the very same thing happened to me but with my hair color.  The following is a phone conversation I had with a customer service representative who is a supervisor with a well known hair color products company.

Me...........May I speak to a customer service supervisor.

Customer Service.............right away, please hold.

Customer Service..............Good Morning this is Andrea, how may I assist you?

Me............Andrea good morning, by any chance do you know what the color fuschia looks like?

Andrea............I think I do, yes.

Me............Well picture that color on my hair and my name isn't PINK either!!!

Andrea.................oh my word.........clearing her throat

Me..............Let me tell you a bit of background.

Andrea...............please Ma'm I'm listening.

Me...............I have used your product for years off and on.  Off because I was near a hairdresser that I felt knew what they were doing and I paid to have them color my hair.  To let you know my hair is a mousy brown with a spattering of gray, not enough to let grow and and look good but enough to make me keep on coloring my hair.  I purchase my color at Sally's Beauty Supply because they are everywhere and the bottles are always fresh.

Over the years I have been many colors from blonde to various shades of red.  Sister used to laugh when I came to visit, I would get off the plane and she would wonder what color my hair was........lol

Well Andrea my hair color is now a mixed shade or fuschia with a warm cherry coke color mixed in there.

I have always used two different colors.  I have used these very same colors for several years and suffice to say I have never washed out the color AND come out with FUSCHIA!!  I keep the color numbers in my wallet so no mistakes are made.  I am not on any medications that would affect the color process.

Andrea..................do you still have the bottles?

Me.................yep I do actually both bottles.  I got them outta the trash when I removed the towel from my head in front of the mirror.

Andrea................oh my I am so sorry.  Mrs. W are you laughing?

Me..............yes Andrea I am because there is no reason to cry and get upset with you, it's not your fault.  Something is wrong with some packaging and your production folks should know.  So give me an adress and I will be happy to send you the offending bottles and well as the peroxide bottle.

Andrea....................is your hair despite the color OK, not broken or damaged in any way?

Me................nope it's fine.  Andrea it's just a color I have NEVER EVER had before.  ANd maybe that's not a horrible thing.  You may or may not know that red fades quickly so we'll see what this fades to.

Andrea...................I don't think I would put another color on right away even if it is in good shape.  Wish all our calls were this simple and free of drama.  Thank you for being so kind.

Me.........................your welcome and NO there will be no photos but Ill be happy to send you a hair sample.

Andrea..................Oh great idea...........thank you again, enjoy your day.

Now y'all know me well enough to wonder why I didn't go off on that poor woman.................I certainly thought about it while I was waiting for her to come on the line.  But it's not her fault so why bother.  This is a new one for me that's for sure.

See ya cause I'mm off to Sally' to buy some brown to tone this down some.  Oh you should see it in the SUN!!!  No wait you shouldn't  HA!!  Remember it's only hair!

Let's see

There was Apollo, Ford Mustang, Woodstock, Big Bird and all his buddies that reside on Sesame Street, KFWB, which is a local Southern California radio station, I think Cracker Barrel, Wendy's and her burgers, Charlie Brown and his friends and I'm sure there is just a ton more of things I don't know about.

But none more important than my

Sweet Sister and my very Dear Brother-in-law that are celebrating their

40 years of marriage.

Much love

from the Doodle's & Bogey

Up date of sorts

photo from my favorite cat site

I have been doing a few simple yoga moves, nothing even close to the difficulty that Fluffy is doing. It is eye opening on how flexible I'mNOT!!

Since my 10 in 2010 challenge to myself a couple a weeks ago my intentions were good but the weather has hindered my outside activities = walking. I have lost seven pounds but I'm assuming thats fluids. I have done a good job of drinking water, only two cups of tea in the a.m. and usually four small meals in a day.

So all in all I am not depriving myself, Mr is eating his normal meals so he is not being deprived god forbid.

I like my exercise bands but I bore easily so I must come up with new ways to use them. Repetition to me is just not fun and then I don't accomplish anything.

We have visitors

Well they didn't really come to see us actually, if you want to know the truth we are visitors to them.  This is their land.  These burros have been here for many, many years.

I'm presuming these are the same burros that we saw in Oatman, Arizona last year.  Well not exactly the same ones but ya know what I mean.

I must go do some research on burros in this area. Cause I wonder how old these guys are, how long do they live and what the heck do they eat out here.  All I see is rock, dust, scrub brush and a few lakes.

At a distance they are cute little things but I'm not sure if they'd be that friendly up close and personal.

I bet I know

Where your lettuce came from.

See we are in Yuma Arizona which is just an extension of the Imperial Valley (huge growing area) in California. And about the only area in the country not having frigid temps. And while on that subject pray for those farmers and growers that are being frozen thruout much of the SouthEast.

Farm stands everywhere and a very large abundance of cauliflower has just been picked. Walk out smell cauliflower in the air.

The first photo is of butter lettuce which is one of my favorites to use for many lettuce wraps. Wish they'd get it picked.

Above you'll see that pretty red lettuce that I don't use often............. do you? Only when I make a special salad certainly not an everyday salad. But if I see it at one of the farm stands I'll certainly pick some up. Oh I bet it's good with fresh baby spinach.

Certainly not life threatening

But when you get woke up with this thing it does make you take notice.  Then you jump outta bed and wanna go strangle your new sweet, playful kitten Bogey

So the secret is to HIDE anything portable and playful in drawers before going to bed.  I must say that certainly won't stop Mr Bogey from pouncing on Mr or myself in the middle of the nite.  Mr is very forgiving by saying "he just wants to play".  I, on the other hand, wake up cranky when startled.

So Mr Bogey best be watching your step........HA!!!

Did ya think I forgot?

Many of you know that Mr is a very serious/Sirius Radio  Elvis fan.  Listens to the channel (13) that plays Elvis ALL the time.  And I mean all the time folks, 41,000 miles +/-.

Here's the deal I figure he's driving/towing the RV so he should be entertained while motoring down the hiway.  I on the other hand am reading, taking pictures or whatever.  And I discovered something  I have the ability to tune out channel 13 I had no idea I could do that.  However I probably know the words to EVERY Elvis song cause those words have crept in subliminally somehow.

So Happy Birthday, belated, Elvis!!!

Goals.....................mine UPDATE

I keep forgetting to mention for Christmas I received from my sweet niece a terrific new pedometer that I just love. Ahhhhhhhhh it doesn't lie *>*


I figure if I write them down I'm more accountable, no hiding now.


I'm gonna get my butt outta bed, stretch first then walk before tea.

I'm gonna come back and fix breakfast, the most important meal of the day.

I'm gonna use my resistence bands for a half hour sometime during the day.

I'm gonna do all of the above five days out of seven glorious days of the week.

Now to the hard part.

Watch my intake of the bad stuff and eat more than I already do of the good stuff. No dieting here just re-arranging my eating habits. Never deprive yourself of a treat. Tottsie rolls and Dove chocolate are minimal in the caloric count.

And ya know what.................Mr will benefit from this as well, cept he won't walk.

some progress

Certainly not easy to walk your 10,000 steps when you are motoring down the highway
 but then the good part of that is we don't travel everyday.  But quite easy to drink the water I need to drink.  Something I have always done but can always improve and be more consistant.

I have a few goals in my head and will sort them out now that we are in a permanent place for a bit.

The 10 in 2010 certainly puts you on the right track.  This site gives you some guidance as well.  I'm not a good joiner but I do appreciate good advice as well as new ideas.  Google resistence band exercises, they are a terrific way for upper body.  Here's  just one site.  The bands aren't the least bit expensive and you can take them with you whereever you go.  Yep that's why they are my new favorite thing.

Please know that I will not bore you to tears with the number of steps I'm doing and the amount of ounces of water I'm drinking.

So I'll carry on with our adventures of photo taking, traveling and raising our new terror Bogey.

Right now we are repairing an electrical problem that has reared it's ugly head.

sooooooooooooooo

We are just waaaaaaay too old

to have a toddler kitten.  Bogey does keep us going so maybe that's a good thing.  He also continues to be a good traveler.  We made another kinda short trip to the Yuma, AZ area.

We will be visiting several friends while here, doing some much needed marketing, finding the farmstand we visited last year and catching up on laundry, maybe even seeing a movie or two.

Spending the last three days in Thermal, CA and frequenting the local little casino there was quite fun, but let me say that place would be the only reason to return.  Not much going on there that's fer sure.  I did buy a t-shirt from the casino though............need a reminder of my good fortune  HA!!

Getting many emails and some of you cannot figure out where we are going to spend the winter..............guess what neither can we.  So we'll enjoy our time here and see what the weather brings a bit north.   But for those of you planning your summer trips yep we will be going back to Gunnison, Colorado.  Back to the folks we hold dear and an area we truly do enjoy, well except for the internet connection..............oh well can't have everything.

As always

Happy Birthday

to you, Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday

Dear Bee,

Happy Birthday to you!!!

No resolutions here

Just a few realistic goals for my future................care to join me *< *

Today starts the Ten in 10 Challenge , actually it started on Saturday but I will be starting on Monday.  A bit of catching up to do ya see.  Not sure how I will do with a support network for everyone involved to achieve healthy goals. For me, the challenge is all about better habits, ya see I've gotten a bit LAZY!!! Y'all know I'm not about to go off the deep end and stop eating chocolate and such, no way.  I do want to improve myself.  Check out this site  it is FREE............absolutely FREE!!!

I honestly need to be better at working out, for me that is what this is all about.
I know you probably don't think about this but my goals are a bit more challenging when you are a GYPSY!!!  A positive outlook is important and I am always the one that knows the glass is half full so I should do just fine with my new goals...................HA!!! 



So, definitely

So far so good

Mr Bogart traveled quite well yesterday. I must also tell you it wasn't a very long trip but Bogey passed the test, so I guess we'll keep him.

I know, I know Bogey looks like a very young Buddy. Let's just hope Bogey grows into his ears.............or we shoulda called him Dumbo. Oh his age is just 4 months, born around September 1st, so we'll celebrate his birthday on Labor Day.

Have yet to mention Christmas not because it wasn't fun it surely was in spite of Mr & I both having those crappy colds.

Sweet niece made the female members of the family wool felted slippers. As this photo shows they are quite cool. Well actually they are quite warm and welcoming here in the cool desert nite and early a.m. air. Thanks Niece............love them bunches.

Now to the food..................I wasn't allowed to do much. You know germs and all, so kudos to Mary and sister for a very fine dinner.

There ya go............................it wasn't over the top in abundance of items so we enjoyed each and every bite.

Sister carving the most deliscious prime rib............great job sister. Even with my taste buds all crummy the meal was even better than last year.

And to accompany the meal was the best ever popovers niece has made ever. Gosh these were tasty..........thanks sweet niece.

Do you see a lack of photos of desserts? Well we didn't want for sweetness and delites. Mary had made a pumpkin pie and several enjoyed that with a dollop or ten of whipped cream. Nephew thinks if you can see the pie you got cheated on the whipped cream............love that thinking. We also had special cookies and fudge and peanut brittle and candy and well you get the picture.

So all in all a very satisfying and scumptious Christmas was enjoyed.