Desert Opulence – March 2020

March 25-27: It is usually calm in the morning when I go on my desert walk, as is my custom here at LaPosa South (south of Quartzsite, Arizona) where Clifford and I have been camped since January.

Morning walks in the desert

One of these mornings I go further out into the desert than usual and am rewarded with sightings of Apache plume, little pink puffs on a small shrub.

Apache Plume

The globe mallow and desert marigold are still in full bloom, while tiny ground-hugging blossoms begin to make their appearance. I must walk carefully not to step on flowers.

Desert marigold in bloom

Ocotillo buds begin to open, revealing blossoms that wave gently, like tiny red flags.

It is windy by afternoon and most activities are inside the RV – editing, writing, playing music, and so on. One day we go to my brother Rollie’s place to have dinner with him and his lady friend, Tata. Another day we go to town for errands, and when we return, it is apparent than a twister twisted through our campsite, creating a little disarray, but no damage. We are fortunate that the awning was not out.

Living as we do, camped by ourselves several miles from the highway and at least a couple city blocks from the nearest RV, being isolated is not a “thing” for us, it is just a way of life. I walk freely in the desert every day and never see anyone. However, going to Quartzsite for errands is weird, as social distancing is obviously in place at some establishments, but not others. However, everywhere we go, there is a sense of distrust, which feels odd and very uncomfortable.

No social distancing here

We had planned to head north at the end of March and camp in northern Arizona for a month before returning to Utah, but with the current state of affairs, as well as the still mild temperatures here in the desert, we will stay as long as we can.

Sunrise in the desert

Rain in the Desert – March 2020

For a couple of days, March 11 and 12, there is rain in the desert here in LaPosa South (South of Quartzsite, Arizona) where Clifford and I are camped. It is off ‘n on, sometimes heavy, but sometimes with enough of a break that Clifford is able to go outside to play his dulcimer.

Low hanging clouds to the east
Morning walks

My morning walks, rain or no rain, are special times of quiet for me. So many flowers and shrubs are blooming, it is a delight to wander about from one bright spot to another. By afternoon, the wind picks up considerably, causing damage to some folks, and there are flash flood warnings, but we have no problems.

Bright colors even on rainy days
Raindrops on roses, or is it raindrops on globe mallow
Raindrops on lupine

Our activities continue as usual with Clifford on the ham radio or playing dulcimer much of the day, while I edit books and write blogs.

My brother Rollie has decided to move down the road a couple of miles to be nearer to his lady friend. They come to pick up the last of his stuff and we all go for a walk in the desert between rain showers. We will miss having him as a camping buddy, but he has a good reason for making the move.

The red bush that hummers like with Shale Mountain in the background
More desert walks

Covid 19, the coronavirus, is declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Italy is shut down and schools in the larger US cities are shut down. What next?

Windy Days in the Desert – March 2020

March 4-7, 2020 – Even on these windy mornings, I walk in the desert here at LaPosa South (south of Quartzsite, Arizona), drawn to the colorful desert marigolds and Apache plume. In the cool of the mornings, globe mallows looking like tiny rose buds are quite irresistible. I saunter about, taking photos here and there, catching the first rays of sunlight when I can, soaking up the serenity along with the fresh air and ambiance of the desert.

Apache plume and desert marigold make splash of color at dawn
Playing with PhotoImpactPro
Playing with Snapseed, but I didn’t change the tree color. It just looks like that at sunrise.

Our activities are much as they have been: ham radio and dulcimer for Clifford. We have a great spot with a natural windbreak nearby where he goes to play music protected from the wind. After my morning walks, I edit photos and prepare some for posting on FB or for blogs. Afternoons are spent editing and blog writing. Music for me is usually with my brother Rollie, although he is gone now to a bluegrass festival.

Trees and shrubs in a natural windbreak

Most days I am in contact with at least one of my kids, often by text, but sometimes a phone call. This is the way it is most of the year, so that is not something new, but now the topic of conversation tends to be about the virus and how it is impacting lives. Although Clifford and I live in a bit of secluded normalcy here in the desert, there is definitely an awareness that things are shifting, and in a way that one might not expect.

Flowers are often sheltered at the feet of great old trees

March Comes Marching In – Arizona – March 2020

March comes marching in with high winds, but in spite of that, I go for morning walks in the desert here at LaPosa South (south of Quartzsite, Arizona) where Clifford and I are camped.

Red bush and palo verde

In the washes protected from the wind, I take photos of the wonderfully blooming vegetation – desert marigold, globe mallow, and the red flowering bush that the hummingbirds like. As I’m out walking, I feel like the flowers and trees are inviting me to sit a spell and just be with them, so that is what I do.

Desert marigold in the wash
Grandmother Saguaro and her companions

We continue with our projects – ham radio and dulcimer for Clifford, while I edit books, write blogs, play viola with my brother Rollie and Clifford, edit photos for my Higher Vibration Series (learning new editing techniques along the way), and the usual domestic chores.

Playing with editing – PhotoImpactPro

One of these first days of March, we run errands in Quartzsite and invite Rollie and his friend Tata to join us for pizza after the errands are done. What fun it is to play pool and share a big pizza with family and friends.

Kites for sale in Quartzsite

More and more news is coming out about the coronavirus. Fear and hoarding of supplies is on the rise, while in China, my son takes his 2-year-old daughter out to play at the beach, having fun and letting her experience that life is good.

February Last Days – Arizona – February 2020

February 27 to 29: Morning walks in the desert here at LaPosa South, south of Quartzsite, Arizona, are a wonderful way to start the mornings for me. The desert marigold bushes are blooming like crazy and a little sunflower type flower is starting to bloom. Another shrub is loaded with red trumpet-shaped blossoms, and the hummingbirds love it. Tiny tiny flowers in pink, purple, and white hug the ground.

Sunrise at LaPosa South
The bush that the hummingbirds love
Composite

One day I stay at camp and have a campfire instead of walking. Since the campfire ring is on a sandbar in the wash, it still feels like I have left civilization. It is a good place to sit and write in the journal.

Journal writing at a campfire

Along with our usual projects, we make a trip to Quartzsite one day and have a big overhaul of my laptop another day after it froze up while working on a blog. Sure is a good thing that Clifford was a computer consultant and gets along well with these devices.

Iconic desert view – painterly

It is a time of peace and relative ease for us, in spite of the increasing bad news about the virus, which is now being called Covid-19. I am happy to hear from my son Fin, who lives China with his wife and daughter, that he and his family are well and making the effort to have the greatest sense of normalcy that is possible under the circumstances.

Serenity in the Desert – Arizona – February 2020

As we near the end of February, more and more blossoms appear in the desert here at LaPosa South, south of Quartzsite, Arizona, where Clifford and I are camped in this BLM long-term area. I find great pleasure in walking in the desert in the morning, taking photos, just being present to the ambiance of the area, the colors, the sounds, the feel of it. I have found a few spots where I can sit on old dead and downed tree trunks, soaking up the morning sun with my eyes closed. I have named the desert Serenity, for that’s what she is to me.

Along with the desert experience, life goes on with trips to Quartzsite for errands, Clifford is recovering from a bout of bladder infection, blogs are written, photos are edited, books are edited, music is played with my brother Rollie who is camped next to us, meals are prepared and eaten, domestic chores are taken care of. No two days are exactly alike, depending on the weather and the needs of the day.

FB posts, Clifford’s ham nets, and the Canadian Broadcast news that we listen to draw more and more attention to the corona virus, some of it factual information, but sensational alarmist headlines take center-stage. Our life changes very little, but we have concern for those who will be facing hardships.

More Desert Days – Arizona – February 2020

February 20 to 24: Every morning I walk in the desert at LaPosa South, south of Quartzsite, Arizona, where Clifford and I are camped.

Sunrise reflected off Shale Mountain

It is the time to center myself and I always find flowers or trees to take photos of, often posting one for my Higher Vibration Series. It is important to find that calm peaceful joyful center of my being, as the externals may not always be so calm and peaceful.

Great gnarly old trees live here
Desert shrubs in bloom

One day, clouds move in and there is a bit of a rainstorm followed by a rainbow. Rain in the desert is such a treat, so life-giving. Everything looks fresh and bright after a rain.

Rain-bearing clouds move in
A rainbow after the rain
Clouds begin to dissipate

We make a couple of trips to Quartzsite for errands and music, but other than that, we are quite content with our spot in the desert with its huge wild “front yard.”

Trees and blooming shrubs in our wild front yard
Rugged mountains to the south

We continue with our usual projects, ham radio and dulcimer for Clifford; photography, blogs, editing, and viola for me. Almost every day we get together with my brother Rollie and play bluegrass tunes. It is a good life here.

Last light of day on Shale Mountain

Living at LaPosa – February 2020

February 16 to 19: Our life here in the desert camping at LaPosa South, south of Quartzsite, Arizona, is somewhat like it would be if we were at homebase in Utah in that we would still have errands, still need to do laundry, still buy groceries. We would still work on our projects: ham radio and dulcimer and CI for Clifford; taking photos, editing, blog writing, and playing viola for me.

Rugged mountains to the south

What is different is that my brother Rollie is camped next to us, so we share meals, hike together, play music together, and Rollie and I play cribbage almost daily.

Rollie cooks up some burgers for us and friends

And the desert itself – that marvelous bit of land that stretches for miles is the greatest difference. I find peace and joy daily in meandering about, catching the rising of the sun as often as I can and finding the inspiration for my daily Higher Vibration Series. (Daily posts on FB and on my website.)

Shale Mountain at sunrise

I have named the desert Serenity, for that is what she is to me.

Last Days at Roadrunner – January 2020

The last days at Roadrunner, January 22 to 26, include participation in Quartzfest, the ham radio gathering held just south of Quartzsite, Arizona, which is attended by several hundred ham radio operators. A variety of classes are offered every day, mostly around radios and antennas, which Clifford is interested in. He and I also attend a couple of classes geared to first aid and survival.

View from our campsite at Roadrunner

We spend an afternoon at the Big Tent & RV Show, a big deal here in Quartzsite, browsing the plethora of vendors selling their wares or services. While open-house viewing of RV’s is a big draw for most folks, we are not interested in that so much, being perfectly content with our Cougar.

We get together with my brother Rollie to play bluegrass music a couple of times and one evening we go to bluegrass concert in Quartzsite.

Another day we go to one of the tents that sells burgers, “eating out” Quartzsite-style.

Eating out in Quartzsite, Arizona

The usual activities of photography, editing, writing, and reading continue for me, while Clifford works with his radio for hours and plays dulcimer when he is not on the radio. It is a busy time for us.

Wild sky at sunset

Roadrunner – Arizona – January 2020

Thursday January 16-Tuesday January 21: Clifford and I arrived at Roadrunner BLM 14-day dispersed camping area south of Quartzsite, Arizona, yesterday afternoon for Quartzfest, the week-long ham radio festival. We are set up in the same spot where we were two years ago at Christmas.

Camped at Roadrunner south of Quartzsite

We have a nice spot in the shade of a good-size mesquite tree, which also provides privacy from campers on the other side of the wash. Hooray for trees. My brother Rollie comes several times to play music with us. We also go on an outing to play music with him and his friends over at La Posa South.

Thursday we run over to La Posa South, the long-term area just up the road where Rollie is camped. He is right where we were camped with him two years ago after we left Roadrunner, and we will be joining him in a couple of weeks. Kind of fun to see the fire ring that he and I built then, as well as the rock-lined paths that lead across a small wash to the fire ring.

The next several days Clifford and I work on our various projects with special attention given to setting up antennas for Quartzfest, which starts on Sunday, which is also Clifford’s birthday. Sunday evening, Rollie comes to have spaghetti dinner with us, bringing honey and herbs from our cousin and a beautiful calendar that my sister Nancy made using my photos. A very nice special evening for all of us.

I don’t take many photos these few days here, other than a longer walk on Tuesday, appreciating the saguaros that live here, as well as the denser vegetation along the washes. I am looking forward to moving to La Posa South, which offers greater photo opportunities.

Mountains to the northwest