The 'Polar Vortex' arrives in SW Arizona!

6 Feb, 2019; Dome Rock BLM, Quartzite AZ

It's been very windy for a couple of days

The wind has been blowing over chairs and grabbing bags out of my hands; last night about midnight I heard a sharp crack and then thumping on my roof.  Well, it wasn't Santa's sleigh - the wind had broken the pole with my windsock.  Fortunately, it broke right at the base where it was attached to the bike rack.  

This is good because the pole is a telescoping pole and long enough that I can afford to lose the base section.  The other sections aren't as pretty - but, oh well.  At least, I can still put up my windsock!  

Sometimes, it's how I find my trailer in this sea of little white trailers at the rally.  Registration just started yesterday - I'm beginning to feel a bit like a sardine and we're not even full yet!!

The cold weather that has been sweeping the rest of the country has finally arrived here!

While a lot of the country has been plunged into record-breaking cold weather with temps well below zero (like -30F and -40F and the wind chill dropping it even further!), Southern Arizona's version is more like upper 50'sF expected for the next few days - with the wind chill taking it down 5-10 more degrees.  

But, sunny!  So, when I sit away from the wind against my trailer, Phoebe and I can still enjoy the sun with only a light fleece layer.

Horse Shows in the Sun - Arizona Winter Circuit

20 Feb, 2019; Pima County Fairgrounds, Tucson AZ

HITS Hunter, Jumper and Equitation Shows

What luck! I've stumbled into the 6 week winter circuit for hunter, jumpers - I've heard about this circuit for years.  The SW venue allows year-round training and showing for high-level competitors around North America.  Since I'm staying at the RV park at the Fairground, this show is just outside my door.

Things are slow this early in the week - this gal has some down time between events

In the practice arena, still looks like a pretty big fence to me

Phoebe meets horses!

I don't know that Phoebe has ever seen a horse before.  She wasn't too freaked out - much more interested in the dogs and people.  We spent a couple hours watching the jumping - and then Phoebe discovered horse poop, and now we have another bad habit!!

oops - no head on the rider - but look at the snow on the hills in the background!

It's hard to time my shots correctly

Anyway, I'm looking forward to getting to watch a lot of very high level competition!  I am surprised at how casual the circuit seems.  Maybe it's just because it's early in the week, but riders were allowed to compete in sweaters and puffy jackets - I'm used to shows requiring the full formal outfits - even at schooling and low level events!

Tohono - Tosh Rodeo

17 Feb, 2019; Casa Grande, AZ

A surprise at the dog park

On my way into Casa Grande, I decided to stop off at the Ed Hopper Park to let Phoebe stretch her legs at the very nice dog park.  I pulled into the parking area (which is usually empty) only to find it absolutely packed!  

Plus, there was an amusement park set up in a nearby field.  Plus, there were food stands all over the place.  And, women in regalia!  Yup, I had stumbled into the Tohono-Tosh pow-wow and rodeo.  Unfortunately, there was no parking for a car and trailer - so I went on my way thinking that I could return on Sunday to enjoy.

A surprise at the campground

As I drove into the Escapee's Rover's Roost Co-op RV park, I noticed that Forrest and Mary were in residence!! Yay!  We met up later and made plans to attend the rodeo on Sunday.  Although it was cold and windy most of the day, we had a great time at the rodeo.  

Well, he isn't going to make the buzzer!

He's not staying on either!

He barely made it out of the gate!!

Today, only one rider made the bell.

Barrel racing is fun to watch - but, again, luck was against a lot of the competitors and the times weren't great.

 In between events, there was entertainment.  This guy had 3 very well trained mustangs adopted from the BLM.  Yes, one horse is sitting in the car!.  He also jumped thru the car.  The dogs acted like cows to show off the horses 'cutting' skills.

These little kids were trying out as rodeo clowns - pretending to be shot and killed.  The most dramatic won a couple of tickets to the amusement rides. 

Fiberglass Rally!

10 Feb, 2019; Dome Rock, Quartzite AZ

Lots and lots of little (and not so little) white trailers!!!

I got to the rally area several days early and got to watch the filling up - every day more and more trailers arrived until we were a small village.  I haven't heard the number of actual registrations, but I think there were close to 200 trailers there!

Every afternoon there was music; every evening (except the really cold and windy ones), there was a big campfire.

The dessert potluck is a big hit - but, wow!, so much sugar!!

Phoebe finally likes her bed!  Unfortunately, she now thinks it's fun to chew holes in it and pull out the stuffing. Maybe she's learning that chewing on the furniture nets her a chew stick to redirect her chewing in a more appropriate way.

Quartzite Quilt Show

9 Feb, 2019; Quartzite AZ

After all the products at the Big Tent RV Show . . . .

A craft show and quilt show featuring all handmade items is a welcome change.  I didn't get pictures of the craft show.  I did get to meet a couple in their 90's who make really pretty shell and mineral jewelry.  They mine the gold nuggets and minerals around Quartzite!  I hope I'm half as active when/if I get to my 90's.

The Quilt show was a lot of fun

I love all the colors and patterns at a quilt show.  From traditional to the fabric art quilts, this show, while small, still had it all.

This freestyle quilt is made of little tiny squares (like 1/2 inch) - just amazing!

 Here's a detail from that quilt!

These quilts are like fabric collage paintings - I liked them the best!

This big moose is pretty interesting!

The next several were just outstanding because of the rich dark colors!

The artist in me just loves color!  Whether it's fabric, paint, or a sunset, saturated color just gets me every time!

Cooler weather for the Fiberglass trailer rally

8 Feb, 2019; Dome Rock BLM, Quartzite AZ

Phoebe got a new sweater!

Too big for Rose's dog, Snickerdoodle, Phoebe inherited this beautiful blue sweater.  Amazingly enough, she let me put it on her the first day of trying!!  But then, she had trouble walking in it (Mom, there's sleeves!!!).

 It has been very cold here (for southern Arizona!) - high's in the low 50's (lower wind-chill with winds in the low teens) and night-time lows in the 30's!!  So, an extra sweater for Phoebe is very much appreciated!


The winds overnight did a number on the 15' pole holding my windsock - the bottom section broke in the wind - I heard it flopping around in the middle of the night and took it down.  With a little creativity, the pole is back in business - just about 3' shorter.

Tonight was the 'wienie roast' - I was unprepared!

Too many men with time on their hands - the result was a Rube Goldberg display of innovative roasting mechanisms!!  I especially liked Lance's 'fishing pole' design - powered by a drill and ending in a basket capable of rotating and roasting 4-6 dogs at a time.

I especially like the tray at the top for putting on condiments!

Hard to see the rotating basket for the hot dog nestled in the coals

Finding a sunny spot away from the wind . . . 

Despite the cool temps, it's lovely in the sun . I visit with new friends, look up old friends, try to teach Phoebe that she doesn't need to hysterically scream every time someone walks by (she's getting possessive of the trailer . . . . sigh) - go into town now and then for some wandering around the flea market.  Another day in Quartzite - lovely.

A Breezy Day in the Desert!

2 Feb, 2019; Dome Rock BLM, Quartzite AZ

The day is getting progressively more windy!

The day started out OK – I was able to sit outside with Phoebe in the sun, which she really likes. But, it’s gotten a lot breezier – my app says it’s between 15-17 mph.  Enough that I put away the awning and took down some of my outdoor twirly things.

A local craft show at the Quartzite Improvement Center

One of my camping neighbors, Linda, had mentioned she was going to take in the craft show – she has friends from New Zealand, who make really pretty jewelry pieces using a very iridescent abalone found in New Zealand. Of course, we found many other things that caught our eyes as well. I ended up with a copper cloak pin for my Pendleton shawl, some earrings made from fishing lures, a hand-beaded hummingbird to hang in the trailer, and a French fruit knife (I’ve been looking for one forever – I love the long thin blade for cutting fruit).

I finally updated my travel map!

I was only about 3 years behind!!  I wanted to be able to break out each year of travel with a different color pin and preferably filter the display.  So, last night, I finally buckled down and did the research, all the data entry and now I have a reasonable map of my travels in my current trailer. Luckily, I keep really good records of where I go and stay – so, it was pretty easy to do the data entry – just a bit tedious.

Where I've camped: Travel Page

Google maps makes the filtering part really easy – there is a little icon on the top left corner of the map that, when selected, let’s one filter on different ‘map layers’ – I set up each year in a different color and on a different layer. I’ve seen maps that used different icons (I just used a pin) – but, it would be cool to use little trailers instead of pins!


I may do special stand-alone maps in the future when I want to high-light a particular trip (like to Alaska, or if I go across Canada into the Maritimes and then down the east coast).

Signs of spring . . . .or at least, recent rain!

1 Feb, 2019; Dome Rock BLM, Quartzite AZ

Today was about relaxing in the sun

I took Phoebe on the usual (but shorter) walks around the area.  We're avoiding one whole end of the camping area due to an off-leash, known-to-be-aggressive Doberman (whose owner doesn't regard the rangers, or even the police, to be anyone he should pay attention to).  Phoebe is just as happy to lie on her blanket in the sun.

The desert is very green this year.

I put up a hummingbird feeder, added tire covers to the trailer, put out my awning and read.  I watched several rigs pull in, wander around, and finally settle on their spot for the rally next week.  Marty took off to take photographs; she texted to tell me that she ended up at KOFA and would spend the night there.

I was focused on the little things today.  Tiny flowers, the quiet (broken by the occasional hummingbird zooming through) and the patterns the crossing clouds made on the desert floor. A very peaceful day.

I love the 'zebra' stripes on the Creosote branches

 

Ocotillo leaves

Ocotilla blooms

Ocotillo branch