So much gratitude for time spent in southwest Colorado with Rose & Steven at their new home in Lewis, Colorado- which is between Dolores and Cortez- a few miles from Mesa Verde and Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.
I got to their new place right before Christmas. On Christmas Eve we volunteered at the Cortez Community Center preparing meals for over 400 people on Christmas Day. We hiked around the property on Christmas day and I got some metal detecting done the day after Christmas.
THEN, the snow stated! Over the next three weeks over 6 feet of snow fell in the Four Corners area. Shoveling became the normal and we were actually snowed in for 5 days- January 16-20. We were dug out on the 20th by three snow removal vehicles- an ATV with plow, a tractor with a shovel and a Bob Cat snow plow.
After checking the weather and roads I left January 21st. It was clearer to come home through Moab and use 1-70… I got back to Lakewood and MORE snow…. While the metro Denver area has had a couple of warm sunny days the weather here has been full of snow and COLD weather. Plus the Four Corners have continued to get more snow- the drought is in the past for the area! And more is coming this week! Luckily, the kids left for a warm winter vacation on February 7th.
I had a lovely Christmas and a quiet snowy 70th birthday with chocolate cake and macaroni & cheese upon request! I am looking forward to SPRING!
I am trying to restart this blog which had had some technology issues. I am posting a blog I wrote and sent out in August again- not sure this post was ever really posted and the words DO share where I have been during 2022.
Since this is basically a test- please comment if possible- so I know what is working and what needs to be fixed. Thanks
Hello from Lakewood Colorado! I apologize for walking away from LIFE. I have spent the last 7 months healing. I give thanks & gratitude for having time and patience to allow healing.
Physically- while spending time in the Arizona desert (7 weeks in November & December) I found myself cold to the bones- literally. The unexpected cold weather while camping in a tent found my bones- my teeth, back, hips, neck and shoulders kept me in pain. I came home to Lakewood the beginning of 2022 to find physical & emotional relief.
My dentist, regular doctor and chiropractor along with massage have been busy helping me recover. My urologist along with kidney stone symptoms and recent surgery have also been a part of my life. My mental health therapist has been kept busy along with spirit friends helping find the LIGHT!
Depression regarding this wonderful body was keeping my spirits at bay. I was sad, confused and wondering why this body was NO longer responding in the manner I was accustomed. I no longer could push my body without consequences. I was resenting getting OLD!
There is light at the end of the tunnel. The tunnel is now opened into a new track- I have a NEW normal!
Physically, I am feeling better. My teeth are better with a night guard to minimized stress. A new bridge gave stability to the left side and the promise of a right side bridge is a good feeling. My shoulders and neck are back to feeling fine- now allowing my old hip injury to be heard. Kidney stones are part of my life- prevention and awareness are key. I am doing NIA (dance) at least once a week and have hula hooped a few times. I have several gardening jobs- helping with cleanup!
I know I am not the only one with social anxieties after more than two years of pandemic upheaval. My mental health has its ups and downs. Currently, using breath, meditation, quiet time, and outside activities (mother nature) to find mental relief.
My spirit is open to new awakenings and pleasures. Gold Prospecting in rivers & mountains- found gold along Chalk Creek near Mount Princeton. Rock hounding with the Colorado Mineral Society- quartz crystals near Conifer, Amazonite and smoky quartz near Lake George. Metal detecting with the Eureka Club and dowsing with Mile High Dowsers. I am involved with the Golden Anti-Racist Society- Check out “A Decent Home” documentary on trailer parks. I have been taking short camping trips-went down to view the Sand Creek Massacre memorial as well as the Japanese internment camp near Granada, Colorado. Also getting to visit Rose & Steven at their summer hosting gig at a fish hatchery near Buena Vista.
I back on the path to selling Pstyles. Got a Facebook page and looking towards selling at rock, mineral, gold shows. I have found the pStyle so handy when hiking, traveling and using porta potties/ rest stop toilets, etc. Always purchase the cloth bag with the plastic pStyle- easy to wash and no toilet paper needed.
My choice for peeing-Sometimes known as an STP (stand to pee device), or a PUD (personal urination device), the pStyle is a simple design that works exceptionally well. Because it is made of rigid plastic, it is easily maneuvered through clothing, without removing gear like backpacks and climbing harnesses. The unique funnel shape directs the flow of urine away from the body, while the rounded back edge can be used to wipe, so there are no drips!https://www.thepstyle.com/ Use code CCC53 for 10% off order Take it with you… hiking, camping, rock climbing, boating, horse back riding, farming, building, landscaping, serving in the military or first responders, outdoor events, music festivals, night clubs, road trips, international travel, bird watching, cos-playing, caving… https://www.thepstyle.com/ Use code CCC53 for 10% off order
Greetings from Quartzsite, AZ! A whole NEW decade! Sending each of you the very best in 2020. Hope the upcoming year is full of miracles, blessings, opportunities and divine intervention. May life happen as it is meant to happen with the highest good for all involved! Each day I wake is a friggin miracle! Appreciation for each heart and soul!
Salton Sea – we found lots of pretties, fishing sinkers and cans. Bombay Beach!
Salton Sea!
I have been doing the planning to sell Pstyles at the Women’s Rubber Tramp Rendezvous, January 13-17th, 2019.
How do I get the Pstyles to Quartzsite without an address?
How to market? There are flea market booths all over the place.
Where and How to advertise- bulletin boards, word of mouth, forums.
How many can I sell?
The attached pictures are from random travels in Arizona and California.
Slab City – a day of rest and rain. Flash floods all around!
The cold in the desert is real. I now have a Mr Buddy heater!
Many of you watched as I applied, was awarded, and went on my Road Scholar adventure in the California Delta outside of San Francisco- November 10-14th. We had along a professional photographer who took these wonderful pictures of our time on the boat! Check out Road Scholar – they have great trips – use to be called Elder Hostel. They also provide scholarships to caregivers, grants to those who need financial assistance and offer tax write offs for those who can afford to assist with these programs.
Included are a few photos from the trip. Check out more photos, from photographer Frank Gorshe: Road Scholar Trip
12/4/2019 – I drove 177 miles- from Lakewood, CO to Battlement Mesa. I am totally overwhelmed with the beauty, diversity and power of the Colorado River Basin. Friggin AMAZING what water erosion looks like – deep canyons, large vastness where seas/lakes once resided, massive rocks abutting into the sky. Western Colorado is magnificent! We are so blessed to live in the US where Mother Nature shows us miracles every mile. I awoke to a snow storm and more was coming so I put on my big girl pants and drove away from the storm.
Greetings friends and family who are following me on this adventure called LIFE! I have spent October and November in Colorado. So blessed to have friends who open their homes to me to rest, renew and LIVE. The time in Denver has allowed a Road Scholar trip to California, doctor & dentist appointments, dealing with insurance after a hit/run on the Subaru, mourning a dear friend who made Mondays my fAVORITE day of the week, physical what nots- kidney stones, tight muscles- from driving and a fall.
I am trying to get out of town but the weather had another path so the plan now is to leave on Sunday (11/30/19) and head for Hasty, CO and then on to Canyon, TX. I was aiming for Bloomington, IN but that may have already changed.
For December, I plan on staying in the southern states with possible skirting along the Gulf of Mexico. Heading back to Colorado to spend the first part of January in Lakewood. Possibly heading to Quartzsite, AZ for part of the winter.
My Road Scholar trip to the California Delta for watching birds from a boat was amazing. The weather was perfect – 70s. The boat was perfect – shady hanging in the bottom while full sun / weather on the top. The Delta is awesome – Mother Nature at her finest – with mankind needing to provide safety nets to maintain the delta’s gifts. Ecology wise the Delta is suffering! While driving through the midwest I saw RV parks filled 80-90% with permanent residents- vacationers are the exception. In California the RV parks are similar and so are the water ways – marinas, river banks, people living in boats.
While in California I never used private transportation-
I used shuttles, Lyft rides and The Bart! Felt liberating!
I only took a few pictures – spent most of my time enjoying the wildlife and the people around me. There was a photographer who did take many pictures. When I get the link to the pictures- I will add the link to my blog!
Road Scholars does an excellent job in creating adventures that incorporates the ecology, reality with nature. I want to take more trips with Road Scholars.
Last week in September – I am on my way back to Denver after a 5 week RV van road trip. I am currently experiencing weather related travel issues which got me thinking about this trip’s weather cycles. I haven’t chatted about the weather but I think it is time.
I started the road trip by traveling through Wyoming. It was windy and hot. I remember thinking it is always windy in Wyoming. When I drove through South Dakota I remember thinking does the wind blow in SD all the time? WINDy in Iowa, parts of Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee. Rarely could use cruise control because of the wind gusts. The first weeks of my trip encountered rainy days, dewy mornings and days of driving with clouds. I left Iowa after an intense thunder storm and nearby tornadoes in Sioux Falls. As I drove into Missouri, then Indiana, Kentucky & Tennessee the weather became dry, hot and humid- weeks without rain. I quit looking at weather reports! My van was covered in splattered bug guts without rain to wash them off.
I left Indiana on Friday, September 27 around noon. The WIND was blowing but my favorite road from Bloomington to Terra Haute 46 was as lovely as usual – Farm lands, floating lakes, bridges, cemeteries, lots of tree lined passages and familiarity. I got on I-70 and was quickly in dangerous situations as semi trucks would pass me and the wind currents messed with my high profile vehicle. Very windy and scary. I quickly left the interstate and got on 40. So much better – yet trucks coming towards the van caused the windshield wipers to pop upward. Could not make it to St Louis!
Saturday I got up early to try to miss the wind and drove I-70 through St Louis to Columbia. The wind got worse so I headed south to rural 2 lane rural roads. I ended up tired and in a RV camp in Sedalia, Missouri. That night as I laid in bed reading I started to hear weird thunder in the distance. I checked the radar for the first time in weeks. See picture of weather map. The storm came fast and hard. I found myself snuggling into my quilt which was soggy from the rain leaking into the back door!
It took me three days to get through Kansas because of the horrid winds. One day I drove 250 miles and it took 7 hours – another day I drove 9 hours and went 275 miles. I arrived in Lakewood, Colorado on Monday, October 1st with sore shoulders and hips from all the tense driving.
Living the good life on Herrington Lake in Danville, Kentucky. Much appreciation to Chuck & Lynn for sharing their community with me! Boat rides, good food, birthday parties, golf cart tours, meditations on the patio overlooking the beautiful Herrington Lake and the BEST company. Thank you Loelle for sharing your parents with me!
I spent several days in St Joseph, Missouri at the AOK RV Camp, owned by former Colorado residents. Dale and Sandy have been so very helpful in sharing their knowledge on RVing. Dale showed me how to manage my water- drinking, heating, filling, etc. Plus he showed me how to use the DREadED black & gray water systems. Also replaced an alarm sensor. Also more info on leveling – got apps on my phone now. I cut out window shields from shiny silver material that now keep light, cold and heat out or in. I left the camp because they were totally full and I did not have a reservation for the week end… I am now in Bloomington, still trying to figure out the next leg of my trip – possibly Kentucky and Tennessee. Maybe Virginia to see my nephew and his family. I will be back in Colorado by October 2nd and will spend most of the month house sitting in Lakewood. Going to spend the morning making appointments for October….
