Getting ready

 The rain finally withdrew, leaving behind some unusual skies.   They were interesting to be sure, but I'm glad they're gone because......

now the sun is shining, the blue sky has returned and we're ready for the holidays.

 

Our tree is up and adorned with 55 dated, sterling silver snowflakes, each different.    A beloved Aunt, my mother's sister, started the tradition for our first married Christmas, and every year afterward, until she died.    Since then, I've purchased a new one each year and our tree is full of silver and memories. 

Christmas 1970

This year we're heading to Lake Havasu for a little Christmas light viewing with Pam and John then we'll move over to Palm Springs to enjoy the holidays bubbling in the hot tub, roaming the mountain roads around Joshua Tree National Park and eating ourselves silly at some of the festive and delicious restaurants.    We'll decorate Beluga with the Flat Stanley Christmas tree and our silver Palm Springs tree, just so we know it's Christmas.

Before we said goodbye to November, however, we enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at Steve and MonaLiza's home, with two of their neighborhood friends.  

The heavy rains earlier in the month made a real mess of our already difficult road.  Deep holes and ruts and rocks make it almost impassable some areas.   We live in the Town of Wickenburg, and the road is in their jurisdiction, but they will not take responsibility for maintaining it.     People complain about it constantly, write threatening letters to the Town, yadda yadda yadda... It's not a big problem to drive our Jeep on it (although Steve may not agree), but slow is the operative word.    Since it's gotten much worse, and since we're planning on driving Beluga from her building and out on said road, Dave decided to take matters into his own hands (or shovel and pocketbook) and have some of the holes/ruts filled with gravel/dirt from behind the house.    Hopefully this will help to keep things in Beluga's cupboards as she rocks and lumbers along towards the paved road nearby. 

See Dave and his shovel?

He's happy with the work, although he's still going out with his shovel, fiddling with things here and there.   When he's not "fiddling" around with Beluga, that is.   Replacing the all the batteries, the rear furnace, brainstorming a problem he's fighting with one of the baggage doors, replacing some directional lights, etc. etc.   Gotta have a job ya know!

So, that's all I have this time.      Stay tuned.

Here's Annie!