Yesterday we woke to 14 degrees outdoor temperature where we are camped on Black Rock Road in northwest Arizona. That’s a bit chilly for Cougar, our RV, but we turn on the heat and once the sun comes up, it doesn’t take long for the outside to warm up also. Our friend David comes for coffee to compare how our RV’s held up to the cold temperature last night. Pipes froze, but soon thaw as the sun does its job.
Brrr……
David, Clifford, and I, along with another couple that he recruited, have been picking up trash from the desert every day. People coming into the large parking area and those camping on the little dirt side roads have left literally tons of trash. It is wonderful to return the desert to its more natural state, but a big job and so much more needs to be done.
David Picking up Trash on Black Rock Road
As part of my birthday celebration week, a couple days after picking up trash, we (Clifford, David, the other couple, and I) go to a beautiful scenic canyon just a ways outside St. George, Utah – Snow Canyon.
Overview of Snow Canyon
Going to Snow Canyon was what I wanted to do for my birthday and it was the perfect day for it.
Carol and Clifford at Snow Canyon OverlookRick and LeeAnn at Snow Canyon Overlook
We hike and enjoy a really good picnic thanks to LeeAnn. I walk barefoot up one of the towering petrified sandstone dunes, feeling the rough stone under my feet, knowing that even in my 70’s, I can do this.
Clifford Hiking on the Petrified Sandstone DuneHiking BarefootSnow Canyon
While the men relax, LeeAnn and I go hiking across the road from the picnic area. Such an interesting scenic place!
Hiking with LeeAnn in Snow CanyonSnow CanyonSnow CanyonA Great Day with Friends
On the way back to the campsite, we stop at a shop in Santa Clara where Clifford and David buy a stain glass butterfly for my birthday.
David, Clifford (reflected in the window), and Carol in Santa ClaraStained Glass Butterfly
Once at camp, I discover that Rick and LeeAnn have given me a string of solar lights – dragonflies that light up the night. What a great day!
As January proceeds, there are many overcast and windy days at Black Rock Road in northwest Arizona where Clifford and I are camped near out friend David in a wide desert basin. Sometimes there is rain, which is good, and I don’t mind walking in the rain, but all too often it is too windy to walk, so indoor projects take the place of walks in the desert. Some evenings we play UK fiddle tunes after dinner. That is always fun.
Even on the windy indoor days, I keep an eye out for color in the sky as the sun nears the horizon morning and evening.
Moon Rising at SunsetSunset Color Reflects Off the Snow on Pine Mountain
Saturday January 7, it is 27 degrees this morning and there is frost on the creosote. I quickly head out to take photos of the frost, so sparkly and pretty, just as the moon is setting.
Frost on CreosoteMoon Setting in the West
During the days we are inside, my projects include publishing blogs I’ve work on and rereading Fate of Angels, the last book in the epic fantasy series, Novels of Shannon. (Now renamed Saga of ShaHaNon by Ang MacDonald.) Clifford’s indoor projects include ham radio, but he always has a list of projects to keep his mind active.
I am grateful for the beauty that surrounds us.
Sunlight on Pine Mountain Viewed from our Doorway
In mid January, I start the Holden 5-day Qigong challenge. Qigong has been so good for my health, I would recommend it to anyone. I am also taking a 5-day class on proofreading to see if it is something I’d like to do when we are traveling/camping, as long as we have internet, which certainly isn’t a given, but could be a way to earn money while traveling. Catching sunrise and sunset and walks in the desert still fill my day.
Sunrise Golden Light Reflects off Mountain to the WestThe Mouth of the Virgin River Gorge in Northwest Arizona.
Clifford knows that an electric bike is something he would would like to have, since he and David go bike riding often and he would enjoy it for his own explorations, so one day he orders one for himself.
Thursday January 19, 2003 Today is Clifford’s birthday. Since this is a special day, David comes over to help Clifford put together the new electric bike. I do some of the daily tasks while they work on the bike and then we go to St. George to the Wildlife Museum followed by an early dinner at Cracker Barrel. Good birthday for Clifford.
The next few days are so cold and windy that I don’t bother to go walking as I don’t do well with cold wind. Sometimes I pop out for a photo of sunrise or sunset, but mostly these days are indoor project days for both of us.
Early Dawn on Black Rock RoadSunset Color on Pine Mountain
Toward the end of January, as temperature moderates a bit, we go on an outing with David to the Pioneer Museum and to Santa Clara, a village outside of St. George where I buy a stained glass sun at a little shop that David knows about. Then we go on a scenic drive to another small village, Vejo, where there is a well-known pie shop, the intention being to have pie. Unfortunately, today the pie shop is not open, but the drive was still scenic and worth the outing. A pie is purchased at Smith’s on our way back to camp and shared there.
View from Gunlock State Park on the way to VejoView on the Outing to Vejo
Another fun outing is on the horizon before the end of the month, so January 2023 is off to a good start.
December 2022 was a hard month for Clifford and me, with neither one of us feeling well while camping south of St. George, Utah. We are looking forward to getting 2023 off to a better start.
Sunday January 1, 2023 starts off with rain in the night and off and on during the day. This is a good thing.
Droplet on Creosote Pod
I do a sound meditation from Wayne Dyer, also good, and then send New Years Greetings to family and friends.
Welcoming the New Year
I walk to the wash to the east and up the mesa a ways. The wash is strewn with rocks: boulders to gravel and sand, many of them black from their lava origins. These black rocks give this area its name – Black Rock Road. This is my favorite place to walk most days.
Today is a very good start to the New Year – 2023.
Hiking in the Wash
The next morning is overcast and windy. As I look out I see the moon setting, fresh snow on Pine Mountain to the north and an interesting cloud formation, like a sky dolphin chasing a small cloudfish, It s a good day for indoor projects; I complete a blog and post it on my website.
Moon Setting over Mountain to the WestFresh Snow on Pine MountainSky Dolphin
In my planner I have a list of daily activities relating to Purpose: things that relate to what’s important to me, including journaling, photography, Qigong, the morning quiet-time routine, and so on. Thanks to having the internet at this location, I am able to do live Tai chi and Qigong classes, as well as other classes that interest me. Most days I manage to complete at least 4 of the regular 7 Dailys, but the days are not long enough for everything, as there are always domestic tasks and other items that pop up needing attention.
Photos Shared as GreetingsJournaling Outdoors Weather Permitting
Photos at sunrise are one of my favorite things. Colors are so very vivid some mornings. It is exciting to see and acknowledge the daily miracle, as I call the moment of sunrise.
Vivid Color at DawnThe Daily Miracle
Sometimes I cross the wash to the mesa hillside, which gives me a view of the creosote filled basin where we are set up, as well as the desert scenery beyond.
View of Creosote Basin from MesaSkiff of Snow on West MountainMesa View
Although it took me a while to get used to this desert area, I have come to appreciate the beauty and the solitude of being here.
Amazing Vivid Color at Sunset seen from Black Rock Road
Sunday, November 6, 2022
Clifford and I move from Echo Canyon State Park near Pioche, Nevada, to Black Rock Road, just south of St. George, Utah, because of the forecast for more snow in Nevada. Since we don’t want to get stuck in Nevada for the winter, we need to get ourselves to a lower elevation right away.
Leaving Echo Canyon Nevada State Park
There is a mountain range between us and Black Rock Road in northwest Arizona where we intend to camp on public land near our friend David. There are a couple mountain passes to cross, not as scary as Connors Pass south of Ely, but still not comfortable. Pretty, though, with snow on the hill sides and in the mountains.
Through the Mountains
I am grateful for the safe trip from Echo Canyon to Black Rock Road. Arriving at Black Rock, we set up almost exactly where we were last year. Earlier rains have been good for the creosote, but oh, for a tree!
Black Rock Road, Same Site as Last Year
There is, however, a perfect view of Pine Mountain from the window where I sit at the table.
View from the Window – Pine Mountain
Monday, November 7, 2022
I’m up at 7:30, which is nice as it gives me a little more quiet time to get myself centered for the day. It is not as dark and cold here this morning as it was in Nevada. We have enough internet/cell service here that I can also listen to Pandora and inspiring videos.
Today is a town day in St. George. It is good to get our propane tanks filled and then return to camp to put things away just in time to see a very dramatic sunset that I almost missed.
The Sunset I Almost Missed
Wednesday, November 9, 2022
The storm forecast yesterday was little more than a drizzle until late. Sometime after going to bed, the rain became a downpour, waking me up, and it was hard to get back to sleep. When I got up this morning, I had a little over an hour before an online Qigong class, giving me time to reread the chapter “Law of Intention and Desire” from the The Steven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra, noting the difference between attention and intention and how they correlate for manifestation.
Thursday, November 10….
In rereading the journal entries and looking at photos taken during the balance of November, there are themes that emerge. One is that being camped with no trees offers lots of opportunity to be aware of the sky – sunrises, cloud formations, sunsets. Sometimes serene, sometimes very dramatic.
Dramatic Sunrise at Back Rock RoadA Serene Sunset at Black RockNovember Sunset at Black RockSetting Sun Turns the Mesa a Vivid Color
Another theme is my desire to have what I call QT (quiet time) to get myself centered before jumping into the activities of the day. I find this hard to accomplish, as getting up before Clifford means dealing with the cold and the dark and not making noise. Several mornings, the temperature is in the low 20’s outside and quite chilly inside. Sometimes staying in bed is the best option.
Chilly Night Means Snow on the Mountain
The third theme comes from reading the Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, contemplating the difference between intention and attention and how these principles guide one’s life if allowed to do so.
I go for walks in the desert almost every day.
Teepee RockCholla with Cougar (our RV) in the Background
Now and then we make a trip to St. George for supplies. Once in a while Clifford and David go bike riding on the bike trails on the outskirts of St. George. I am always invited to go, but sometimes just having time at camp by myself is the best option for me.
One one trip to St. George, we drive to where we can see Snow Canyon from the highway. One day we will take time to go right down into the canyon.
Snow Canyon from the Highway
Clifford checks in with ham radio nets on a daily basis, and plays his dulcimer and sings – outside in the sunshine when the weather permits, which is actually quiet often. He is also doing interviews regarding his non-profit, as the work is quite significant.
Clifford Plays and Sings in the Sunshine
We keep very busy with all of our projects. Since there is decent internet via cell service at this location, I am able to work on blogs as well as participate in online classes that are of interest to me. It is a good thing we are retired, as we certainly don’t have time to run off to a job every day.
Coffee with David (Photo by David Wasden)Journal Caption to End November
It is time for us to begin the journey north to Montana. Clifford and I spent the winter in northwest Arizona, staying longer than intended as we waited for snow and cold to leave northern Nevada. Well, the Ruby Mountains are still cold and very snowy, so a change of plans is in order. We will still go to Nevada, but stay to the east side, traveling north to Idaho on US Highway 93.
Time to Say Goodbye to Black Rock Road, Arizona
May 10th we say good-bye to Black Rock Road and pull out, traveling through a landscape of red and black lava west of St. George, Utah, before winding through juniper covered hills, crossing over the Bull Valley Mountain Range, and across a large valley to Enterprise, Utah. Once past this farming valley, as we take a westerly direction, the landscape with its dead trees does not impress me. Our first stop in Nevada after crossing another smaller mountain range is the small mining town of Pioche.
Pioche, Nevada
Thanks to Clifford doing a little research, we find an RV park on the edge of town allowing a week stay by donation. There are no restrooms, but there is water and garbage cans, a big plus after months of boondocking. The RV park has about ten spaces and we are pleased to find a spot available. We get settled in without unhitching since we won’t be here long.
City RV Park on the Edge of Pioche
The next day, as I am interested in seeing the restored area of town with its museum and old buildings, I head toward the heart of town. While I learn a lot about the town, it is a cold windy day and everything is uphill from the RV park. The walk was stressful on my heart and I realize I must take better care. The following day is a day of rest and indoor projects. A couple days later when the temperature and wind moderate, Clifford and I go to the museum together. It is still a long uphill hike, but more enjoyable than my previous visit to the museum.
Nevada Club in Pioche, NevadaBefore the Days of Cell PhonesPioche Museum DisplayPioche Museum display
The old Lincoln County Courthouse is now also a museum and we pay a visit there, learning that Pioche was a violent nearly lawless town in the 1870’s when silver mining was the rage. There is a Boothill Cemetery we’d like to see, but since we didn’t unhitch, it will have to wait, as it is too far to walk.
Life-like Manikins in the Historic Lincoln County Courthouse Courtroom
In the morning, I go for a walk and find my way down into the pit next to the RV park where I take photos of a few wildflowers at sunrise. It is one of those places that could be made into a lovely walking park, if anyone cared enough to do it. When I am a rich lady……..
Sunrise from the Pioche City RV ParkCatching Sunrise at PiocheWildflowers at SunriseEvening Primrose Greets the Day
Our friend David had told of us a place he camped east of Pioche, so after staying a week at the RV park, having taken advantage of cell service to get caught up on email, blogs, and texts to family and friends, we head to Eagle Valley about 15 miles to the hills east of Pioche to find a place to camp. As it turns out, we find a small free campground, Meadow Valley Campground, just outside of Spring Valley State Park. The spots are small, probably designed for tent campers. We are fortunate that no one else is camped here, as it gives us the opportunity to park in the only spot big enough to accommodate our RV. Since we don’t know how long we will be here, we don’t unhitch, but get set up to enjoy whatever time we have. The rugged hills look like a great place to go exploring and we are pleased to have such a scenic setting as our home for a week or two.
Spring has arrived at Black Rock Road in northwestern Arizona where Clifford and I are camped. The acres of creosote that surround us are now in full bloom, the tiny yellow blossoms like sunshine sprinkled across the landscape.
Surrounded by Blooming Creosote
Warmer days encourage us to spend more time outdoors, including a picnic at Cedar Pockets, the campground in the Virgin River Gorge, about 10 miles to the south of our campsite.
View of the Virgin River Gorge from Cedar Pockets
Clifford takes his kalimba so he can accompany himself as he sings while I hike down to the river. The trail is narrow and steep in spots, but it feels good to be outside and to the see the mesas from the river bottom vantage point.
Clifford Playing and Singing with Kalimba at Cedar PocketsViews of Mesas from River BottomVirgin River
I am not the only one enjoying the river. A cow and her calves splash across the river. When the twins see me, they stop to stare like I’m an alien, which I am to them. Then in mirror reflection of one another, their heads turn to watch the direction that big mom is taking. So fun to see them, as I play a silly game, called Cow Game, with a couple family members, and today I win Cow Game!
Virgin RiverToday I Win “Cow Game”
It is delightful to be near the river with views of the mesas all around, and the frosting on the cake is to find flowers – globe mallow and desert marigolds. Although Cedar Pockets is not so very far from Black Rock Road, it is a very different ecosystem.
Globe Mallow at Cedar PocketsGlobe Mallow at Cedar PocketsDesert Marigold at Cedar PocketsDesert Marigold at Cedar Pockets
While Black Rock Road vegetation is acres and acres of creosote, the gorge displays a greater variety of desert plants with Joshua trees and many types of cacti, including cholla and a blooming hedgehog cactus along the trail from the upper campground to the lower camping area where we are picnicking.
Hedgehog Cactus in Bloom Along the TrailView of the Virgin River from the Trail
For weeks we have been talking about camping in northern Nevada on our way to Montana for the summer. We thought we would leave in April, but northern Nevada has been too cold and snowy, and now it is May and the place we thought we’d go — the Ruby Mountains — is still too cold and snowy. However, Montana is beckoning and it will soon be too warm here in Arizona anyway. So, we begin preparations to leave our winter home. Besides picking up our mail, we also take a day for errands with a picnic of sorts at the back of the laundromat, and Clifford brings the kalimba and sings. Who can resist a picnic and music? Not us, apparently. 🙂
Our friend David pulls out just a few days before our departure date. It’s been good having a friend as a neighbor for the winter. We wish him well and safe journeying. Very soon Clifford and I will also be saying good-bye to Black Rock Road. Although the Ruby Mountains and Ruby Valley are out of the question for us, still too cold and snowy there, we know other places are waiting to be explored.
As always here at Black Rock Road where Clifford and I are camped, the openness of the land allows for great views of sunrise and sunset.
Sun Rising Through Haze
Since the setting of the moon is not at an ideal time for the best light, I have fun with photo editing to capture the essence of the moment.
Moon Setting Over the Mesa
Although I am not seeing many wildflowers except for the tiny filaree and the yellow blossoms of Mormon Tea, I am enjoying making composites of the rosemary in the window and the branches of the creosote that surrounds us.
Filaree Closeup
BeCreative composite – Filaree
BeCreative Composite of Creosote and Rosemary
But one day, it happens to be Easter, while walking up the rise to the west, I spot a small clump of globe mallow, its tiny reddish-orange blossoms making a small splash of color in the desert. I am delighted and over the next few days, I visit them often, taking numerous photos, some of which are then used for greetings to family and friends and for new composites.
Globe Mallow at Black Rock
BeCreative Composite of Globe Mallow and Rosemary
BeCreative Composite of Globe Mallow and Dry Weeds
One of the best things that happened this month was my daughter, Becka, replacing my old phone with a brand new iphone, the 13pro. I am having so much fun taking photos with this amazing device!
Ladybug on a Desert Marigold
Clockweed at Black Rock
As the month goes on, Clifford and I both continue our projects, and we discuss our departure date. We had planned on leaving in April to travel to northern Nevada to camp for awhile before heading on to Montana. However, northern Nevada is cold and much snow remains in the area of our intended destination.
Toward the end of April, the morning inspirational reading is a passage from Thich Nhat Hanh on Aimlessness. “Your purpose is to be yourself. Be yourself. Life is precious as it is. All the elements for your happiness are already here. There is no need to run, strive, search, or struggle. Just be. Just being in the moment in this place is the deepest practice of meditation.” This wise advice so perfectly matches my quiet time in the mornings and my solitary walks in the desert.
Dried Weeds in the Wash
Happily, by the end of April, even though we are not yet leaving, both indigo bush and creosote bushes begin to bloom. I have never seen an indigo bush before, so the brilliant purple is a delight to me, while the tiny yellow blossoms of the creosote bring a blush of gold to the desert. Warmer days allow us to spend more time outdoors.
Indigo Bush at Black Rock
Indigo Bush Blossom
Creosote Blossoms at Black Rock
Creosote Blossom Closeup
Life is good and we will wait for the right time to leave Black Rock.
Our Nomad Cougar in the Black Rock Road Desert of Arizona
Here it is April, spring in the desert, windy, and Clifford and I are camped at Black Rock Road in northwest Arizona.
Clifford and Carol at Black Rock Road, Ariona
April 1st, a great start to the month is the poem “Bones” by Mary Oliver, which I write out and add my comment for the day’s journal entry, as the poem speaks to me as I walkabout the desert.
I am on the lookout for wildflowers, but so far not many to be seen, except for one clump of desert marigold in the wash.
Desert Marigolds in the Wash
Morning quiet time is precious to me and sometimes I am up in time to catch the very moment of the rising sun before I make coffee and don warmer clothing for sitting outside.
Moment of Sunrise
As often as I can I sit outside surrounded by creosote with a view of Pine Mountain to the north and mesas all around as I enjoy the morning coffee and write in my journal.
Pine Mountain to the North
Our monthly trip to Littlefield to get our mail is a delightful trip through the Virgin River Gorge. Most people take this curving route through the gorge at interstate speed (I-10) not even aware of the magnificence they are rushing past.
Virgin RiverVirgin River Gorge
We go on a couple of outings with our friend David. One trip is to a ranch out in the boonies west of St. George. We see views of the gorgeous red cliffs along the way and we have a good time exploring the ranch, which has come up as a possibility of a winter camping spot next year. It’s a bit remote for us, but not impossible.
Red Cliffs of Southwest UtahDavid and Clifford at the Ranch in the Boonies
The next day we go to Colorado City, a small town on the border between Arizona and Utah, as there is a fresh water spring there that is worth the journey.
Cliffs at Colorado City, ArizonaSpring Water at Maxwell Park, Colorado City, Arizona
It is exceedingly scenic, both on the travel to the town, as well as swinging by Sand Hollow State Park on our way back to Black RockRoad. I do love outings for the scenic value, and I’m really glad to have such good water to drink.
Sand Hollow State Park, Utah
Shortly after these outings, my sister Nancy and her husband Dick come for a visit on their way back to Montana after visiting our brother Rollie and his wife Tata in southeast Arizona.
My Sister Nancy
It was a long haul for Nancy and Dick and I am very happy that they were willing to go out of their way to visit us. We don’t have many visitors all winter long, and while Clifford and David are great fellows, it sure is nice when I have another gal to talk to, especially a sister type gal. Nancy and I have coffee in the morning and go for long walks in the desert in the afternoons.
Carol and Nancy at Black Rock, Arizona
All too soon they head back to Montana. Good-bye until summer, but in the meantime, I will continue my meanderings, watching for the coming of wildflowers.
From the journal on March 1, this is the quote from my planner: “Tune into your inner guidance even when things are going well for you.” Well, that sounds like good advice to start the month!
Clifford and I are camped along Black Rock Road in the very northwest corner of Arizona. This has been a good spot for us this winter and fortunately it has not been too windy. But, as is typical for the deserts of the Southwest, the wind starts to blow in March, so there are days when we are outside less and involved with inside projects more.
One of our projects is making new aprons for me. I pin and cut, Clifford sews. Good teamwork and in a few days, I have two pretty new aprons. Clifford is also keeping on with his scientific research, despite the limited space to work.
Fabric for a Sewing ProjectSewing UnderwayA Finished ProjectScientist at Work
The early days of March are spent picking up trash from around the parking lot at Black Rock exit and from the campsites along the road. It is hard to believe how trashy humans can be, but also really great that a group of us have gathered to work together to return the desert back to a better state of being.
Desert Cleanup Project ManagerDesert Cleanup Crew
As it has been for the past months, I find delight in watching the changing colors at sunrise and sunset, enhancing the scenic desert setting. Pine Mountain looms to the north, other mountains are more distant. Mesas range from very distant to within walking distance. Some chilly mornings, I am tempted to go back to bed for its warmth. I guess peeking out the door to witness the sunrise doesn’t help with the indoor temperature, but oh the joy of seeing the sun the very instant it crosses the horizon. It means I am alive and that light and warmth will fill the day.
The Moment of SunriseColorful Sunrise
Midway through March, I realize that by running up to the ridge to the west, I can get a shot of the full moon as it sets. What excitement I feel catching this moment and later it is fun to use photo editing to make birthday greetings for a friend and a granddaughter.
Worm Moon setting over the mesa – BeCreative
Spending time editing photos for my BeCreative series is a fun indoor project for me on the chilly or windy days. Letting go of the rules and experimenting is a good way of breaking old habitual ways of seeing.
Setting Moon and Rosemary – BeCreative CompositeBeCreative photo of our tea kettleSunflowers and Rosemary – BeCreative CompositeRosemary and Autumn Shrub – BeCreative Composite
Once a month we go to Littlefield about 20 miles to the south to pick up our mail, making the journey through the Virgin River Gorge. This is always an inspiring drive as the highway wends its way through the rugged and majestic mesas with occasional glimpses of the Virgin River.
Virgin River Gorge
I go walking most days unless it is too windy, and Clifford occasionally goes on much longer hikes by himself. One day we hike together to the top of the nearest mesa with hot tea and snacks in our backpacks, an actual outing! The view is quite vast and down in the basin we can see a couple of dots – our RV and our friend, David’s 5th wheel.
Hiking in the Black Rock DesertClifford Leads the WayPicnic Atop the Mesa
We contemplate the timing of our leaving, as I want to be in Montana by mid June to rendezvous with my daughter, Becka, but as we watch the weather, our tentative destination in northern Nevada is still much too cold and snowy. We will stay put for the time being and enjoy each day as it comes to us here in Black Rock Arizona.
It’s a relief to leave 2021 behind. For many people it was a year of changes, including health challenges and life style adjustments. This was often related to covid-19, but for us it was selling the CI lab/homebase in Monticello, Utah, and becoming full-time nomads, living in our 24-foot Cougar RV. Thanks to a friend, also a full-timer, we found Black Rock Road in northern Arizona in the late autumn of 2021. We began settling into into a lifestyle and routines, while not totally foreign, were different in that there was no longer a homebase.
Happy New Year – January 1, 2022
Now it is January 2022. Clifford and I are busy with our projects and we especially enjoy sunny and calm days when we can work outside. Whenever possible, I sit outside with my morning coffee and my “stack:” books and journals that get my day started in an uplifted way. I make the daily intention of well-being, beauty, and harmony. Observing sunrises and sunsets, I find beauty and harmony, as well as on my frequent walks in the desert.
The rising of the sunSunrise from the east-facing windowSunset on Black Rock RoadCougar at sunset
On my walkabouts, my favorite place to walk is in the wash with its ruggedness, as I make my way through boulders, gravel, sand, and vegetation.
Walking in the washWalking in the wash
Pine Mountain to the north of us is highlighted by morning and evening colors, but can stand alone as the impressive feature that it is, particularly with a fresh coat of snow. I never tire of gazing at it through our north-facing window.
Pine MountainPine Mountain at sunset
I also begin employing Segment Intending, which means for each activity of the day, I make an intention of positive results, of seeing what I want to see. This helps with my walkabouts, finding beauty in the landscape that I might otherwise overlook.
Backlit dried desert vegetationCholla
Music continues to be a fun activity. Clifford and I play UK folk songs together almost daily, and he is expanding his singing repertoire with a selection of pop songs, bluegrass, country, celtic, and more.
Carol playing fiddle in the desert
I still edit for a couple of authors and I spend time editing and sharing photos most days, as well as writing blogs of our journeys. Domestic chores and errands are a part of our days, including trips through the scenic Virgin River Gorge on our way to Littlefield to pick up our mail.
Virgin River Gorge
We are grateful for quiet and privacy we enjoy here, as well as the scenic aspects of this spot of Arizona desert. It is a good place to spend the winter.
