February

 

Nothing exciting to report this month.   The weather has been unusually cold and then unusually hot.

We enjoy sitting outside in the warm sun when the air is cold and then sitting in front of the fireplace when the sun goes down.

Taos watches me read, it's a little distracting but.....

happy hour in the waning afternoon sun

fireplace fun

A couple weeks ago it was so cold in the morning that the bird bath gave us a beautiful and interesting growth of ice.

I'm glad I covered up or brought in a few cold sensitive plants.....

As soon as the morning sun hit the outside table, a large white lined sphinx moth started work on the petunias.    Second cup entertainment!

This week, however, the temperature was well above normal.   Way too hot to sit in the sun.....sometimes even too warm to enjoy the shade.    Puzzling, reading and second cup/happy hour inside. 

 

post prandial snooze

Dave had a minor surgical procedure on his ankle Thursday, so sitting inside wasn't a real hardship.   Besides he had a good book and a very attentive nurse by his side - at all times......

February wasn't just filled with around the house, boring activities......Dave did a few more upgrades and tweaks to Beluga.   He likes to keep her in top shape.

The refrigerator has been bedeviling him, taking way too long (in his opinion) to restart after driving and then plugging into shore power.     He removed it in preparation for replacement (ugh) and then thought that perhaps it was the (relatively new) modified sine wave inverter that was causing the problem, not the refrigerator itself.    

He bought a new pure sine wave inverter, installed it and - Bob's your uncle!     The refrigerator now restarts in a timely manner.    No new refrigerator needed, so back inside it went.

Beluga's tires were nearing their end of useful life so, before we take off again, he decided to take her to the new Wickenburg Tire shop for 6 new ones.

off they go, without me!

I'm sure there are lots of other little things he's worked on, or changed, or redone also.   Sometimes my eyes just glaze over when he fills me in......

Rocky has taken us on a few short desert drives, looking for Crested Saguaros.  Looking is half the fun, right?   The google gods will not allow me to post a picture of the small, crested arm we eventually found.......

Poppies are beginning

he relaxes in the shade while we explore

multi use trail?

We've also had fun with friends.    Janna and Mike have a sweet little miniature Schnauzer named Kayce.    She just turned 2 and Janna threw a party to celebrate!    Lots of friends, two four footed friends for Kayce, and a yummy brisket dinner served outside in their nice, grassy backyard.   She got lots of presents, Taos insisted we bring her his favorite toy - Audrey!  

Audrey

  We all enjoyed ourselves, but I think Taos had the best time of all.  Running and playing with two friends, in the grass!     Sorry, no pictures. 

  Early in February we joined MonaLiza and Steve at Rancho de los Caballeros to celebrate her birthday.

Last week we celebrated Steve's birthday at the same spot only this time Rod and Lisa joined us.   Huge table, good food and wine, lots of great conversation and laughs.    Our waitress was from Verona, Italy and we really enjoyed her banter and recommendations.

Last but definitely not least, Pam and John drove down from Boulder City for a few days.    The first night we (the Wrights, the Banks, and the Lowes) enjoyed what has become our traditional first night dinner from Boulder City's China Bistro.   Pam and John graciously provide this luscious meal for us, and we all eat like little piggies.    Again, no photos - nom nom nom

The next morning, we sat outside with guava cheese pastries and solved all the country's problems. 

  That taken care of, we piled in the Jeep and set off into the desert with a very loose destination.   A natural arch!  

Taos enjoys the ride in his own way.   Sound asleep in the back of the Jeep.   He reappears when we stop to explore then returns to snore city as soon as the Jeep gets moving again.    An easy traveling companion.

We had two methods of navigations with us.   A chamber of commerce book and my OnX off road online phone map.     Dave and I had used the book once before to look for this arch (alternately named Natural Arch and Escondido Arch) with no luck.    We decided we'd use both methods and see which arch we came to first.   We weren't exactly sure if there were two or just one with two names.....

Needless to say, it took quite a while but in the end the book was abandoned with disgust, and the arch was located using the OnX map. (Although we did have to send Pam out on foot finally!)

TA DA!

She sent John up - for scale you know......

After our successful find and drive back through the beautiful desert, we shared a bbq dinner, taken out from the Hassayampa BBQ restaurant, and retired for the night.     They left in the morning.   A short but sweet visit!

 That's what we've been up to.

I love these Arizona skies

Here's Annie....