No Plans

After we hugged our friends Ben and Barb and waved them on their way home, we  played pickleball  and went home for a shower and a rest.  Since we had no particular plans for the rest of the day, Duane decided to take a short desert buggy ride with Gene (our long time Ohio friend and winter neighbor here in Saddle Mountain RV Park, AZ).  

Duane had never seen the tire house that Barbara (Gene's wife and also our long time Ohio friend) and I viewed on our ladies ride (see Ladies In Charge blog).

The roof is held up by the fireplace/oven/chimney.

Duane found two treasures--these little dime-sized beauties

and this rare view of a hawk.

While the guys enjoyed the beautiful afternoon, Barbara and I enjoyed a chat while I touched up her roots.  We rounded out the day with an evening of cards.

A nice lazy Sunday.

Louise and Duane

First Things First

Our friends Barb and Ben are moving on tomorrow.  While they were here we had fun rockhounding, playing pickleball, and playing cards.  Barb started showing me how to bead a cabochon (see New Project blog).

but I decided that, for the near future,  I had better finish the project I had started first.

This basket, made from a kit, shouldn't take long--I hope.

Too many projects, not enough time!

Louise and Duane

Rocking The Desert

Our rockhound friends Barb and Ben have only 2 more days here at Saddle Mountain RV Park.  We couldn't let them leave without finding what treasures this desert has to offer.  

We found precious water and all it brings:

including this barrel cactus--rare for this area.

We found rock treasures in the form of  chalcedony:  some medium and large sized, some half buried,

most small and lying on top of the ground.

Some was opaline,

other pieces were crystalline.

Duane's pile.

My pile--who's the rockhound ?

I found one almost whole one.

Duane sawed it in half to reveal opaline and crystals.

One more day for fun before our friends head home.

Louise and Duane

New Project

All this week we have been visiting with long-time friends, former work camping buddies, and fellow rockhounds and pickleball players Barb and Ben.  Today after pickleball we enjoyed chat and lunch at the local bar and grill and Barb showed me a new way to combine rocks and beads.

We usually start with smaller rocks to make craft-sized pieces of polished rock.  Barb and Ben won't hesitate to bring home bigger rocks to saw off small areas, such as these crystals and agates.

Cabochons are polished gems or rocks that are not faceted.  Cabs made from rocks are usually rounded on one side and flat on the other.  Barb made these cabs-- not for pendants but for Christmas ornaments.   

This one shows the translucence that lets the light through, which makes it a good one for an ornament. 

I had taken a class in beading cabs, but mine was glued to a piece of felt and not pretty.  I took it apart and started over without the felt.  Much better.  Thanks, Barb!

Ben and Barb stopped here for a week's visit after they left the big Quartzite rv Gathering and on their way home to Deming, NM.  While they are here we are having fun yakking, rockhounding, playing pickleball, and, alternating with our other friends Barbara and Gene, playing cards in the evening.

Two more days until they have to leave.

Louise and Duane

Out There

Our good friend Gene took Duane out side-by-side (desert buggy) riding in the beautiful (if a bit chilly) Arizona desert around the feet of the mountains outside Tonopah.

Duane said that the guys drive in more rugged terrain than the ladies (see Ladies In Charge blog).

I must admit that though the ladies did drive across narrow washes like this one,

they didn't travel in hilly country like this (note the hole in the far left rock)

nor on really uneven roads like this one.

Duane says that I should go with Gene one day.

I think he's right.

Next, chores for Duane, play for me.

Louise and Duane

Changes

A change in the weather led to a change of plans.  A strong wind blew in a cold front, which cancelled any chance of playing pickleball, and kept us from flying the Eagle on a group ride to Bagdad for lunch.  On the up side, the day was beautifully sunny,  and the rest of the week is supposed to be unusually cool, but sunny and calm.

We rolled with the changes and goofed off all day, visiting with friends and former fellow work campers  Barb and Ben who are visiting Saddle Mountain RV Park for a week, and long-time Ohio friends Barbara and Gene.

It’s a rough job, but we’re up to it.

Louise and Duane

Quartzsite Shopping Again

During our trip to Quartzsite AZ a couple of weeks ago we attended the gem and mineral show.  Today we ambled through the Big Tent,

and all around the big tent, looking for stuff we couldn't live without.  Gene bought some led lights and Duane found an  8 oz. double plastic ended mallet.

We enjoyed the sights including the usual motley assortment of dreadlocked hippie panhandlers,

an equally eclectic assortment of homemade rvs,

and food including... deep fried hot chocolate?

On the way home we encountered dust blown across the Interstate by winds bringing in a cold front.

We knew we were almost home when we saw Saddle Mountain about 10 miles away as the crow flies over the desert.

Tomorrow, we fly the Eagle.

Louise and Duane

Birthday!

Happy Birthday to our friend Barbara.  To celebrate she wanted to lunch at Texas Roadhouse (here with her husband Gene while Duane is getting us a table inside).  After dinner we did some shopping then topped off lunch with frozen custard at Culvers (no Dairy Queens here).  Tomorrow she is celebrating her actual birth day by not cooking again.  We are driving back to Quartzite to view what's new in the Big Tent and will be having dinner there.

Tonight we are enjoying the full lunar eclipse.  We have a full cloud cover, but it is thin enough to see the moon.  It is fuzzy, and we can't see the beautiful red color, but we can see the eclipse.  (I tried to get a pic of it, but the clouds are keeping me from getting a good shot with my little camera.)

Road trip tomorrow.

Louise and Duane

Ladies In Charge

Ladies Ride requires the men of the Saddle Mountain Riders to stay home while the women go out to play.  Fourteen buggies and 30 women enjoyed the beautiful sunny Arizona day by romping 27 miles through the desert around the foot of Saddle Mountain.

Our friend Barbara (buffed up against the chilly breeze) drove like a pro

while I sat back, took photos and enjoyed the ride.

For three hours we wound around following dirt tracks.

We made several stops, including one to view this unique tire house

and one for lunch.

The rest of the day we went up

and down,

and up

and down,

and through puddles left from the recent heavy rain (which had the added quality of keeping  dust to a minimum).

Other interesting stuff we saw:  the east side of Saddle Mountain,

green grass (always a treat in the desert)

as are blooming wildflowers,

and weird saguaro. 

I thoroughly enjoyed my first buggy ride and look forward to being invited again before we leave Tonopah.

Tomorrow—Barbara’s birthday dinner.

Louise and Duane