Sonora Desert

Ajo, AZ

Today is the last day of January.  Wow, this month sure has flown by way to fast!  Can you believe 88 days ago we headed off on our winter journey?  It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long ago.  I also hate to say this but we have experienced more cold days then we have warm days. 

We started out with a lazy morning.  Just taking our time and moving slowly.  For some reason I was cold all night long.  I just couldn’t get warm.  Maybe because it was a nippy morning?  I’m so tired of being COLD!  I am sure missing my Florida warmth! 

once it warmed up enough and we were moving, we took the dogs on a short walk to do their business and wear them out while we did some site seeing. 

we decided to take a drive and head outside of town up one of the mountain roads.  Since it’s too cold to do any outdoor activities taking a drive was the next best thing .. So off we went to do some exploring ..

We are in the Sonora desert

The Sonoran Desert is an arid region covering 120,000 square miles in southwestern Arizona and southeastern California, as well as most of Baja California and the western half of the state of Sonora, Mexico. Subdivisions of this hot, dry region include the Colorado and Yuma deserts. Irrigation has produced many fertile agricultural areas, including the Coachella and Imperial valleys of California. Warm winters attract tourists to Sonora Desert resorts in Palm Springs, California, and Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona.

This is the hottest of our North American deserts, but a distinctly bimodal rainfall pattern produces a high biological diversity. Winter storms from the Pacific nourish many West Coast annuals such as poppies and lupines, while well-developed summer monsoons host both annuals and woody plants originating from the south. Freezing conditions can be expected for a few nights in winter.

Trees are usually well developed on the desert ranges and their bajadas. Often abundant on these well-drained soils are Little-leaf Palo Verdes, Desert Ironwoods, Catclaw and Saguaro.

The understory consists of three, four or even five layers of smaller woody shrubs. Tall chollas may occur in an almost bewildering array of species. The alluvial lowlands host communities of Desert Saltbush, wolfberry and bursage. On coarser soils, Creosote Bush and bursage communities may stretch for miles. Where the water table is high, Honey or Velvet Mesquite may form dense bosques or woodlands.

Other species are restricted to alkaline areas. Stream sides may be lined with riparian woodlands composed of Arizona Ash, Arizona Black Walnut, Fremont Cottonwood and various willows, with a dense understory of Arrow-weed, Seep willow and Carrizo. The Sonora Desert is rich in animal life as well, with many species in all groups derived from tropical and subtropical regions.

Approximate Desert USA Boundaries: Bordered on the west by Borrego Springs, and San Gorgonio Pass in southern California, on the north by Interstate 10 in California and Interstate 40 in Arizona, on the east by Arizona's U.S. Route 191, south to the tip of Baja California, Mexico.

after driving a bit we came upon this sign and decided since we were low on diesel and we were not sure where we were at or if it was safe we decided to turn around and head back the way we came. 

once we saw the cross on the mountain I knew we were heading back in the right direction.  I just got a better view of it on this side.

going back down the way we came up .. ekkk!!

coming down we got a great view of the Shadows RV park

We came home and took the dogs on a longer walk.  The sun is out but we still think it’s on the chilly side.  It sure didn’t make it to no 70 degrees today as they had predicted.  The rest of the afternoon was spent laying around and watching TV. 

Dinner tonight was hamburger and Rice and the rest of the evening was spent relaxing and trying to get warm.  I sure hope I’m not coming down with something as I’m chilled and aching all over. 

Happy Birthday Princess Hailey

Ajo, AZ

Wow, it's hard to believe my Princess is 9 yrs old today. It doesn't seem that long ago that we were at the hospital on a cold winter day and it was spitting snow when our bundle of joy came into this world. Happy Birthday Princess Hailey. Grammy and Papa love you very much!

The sun is out and it’s looking to be a beautiful day.  Long sleeves are still required.  I took the dogs for our daily walk and later in the afternoon we headed to the Museum. 

It used to be an old church

there is a lot of history in here

some of the cooking utensils

and old video recorder

this first rock has copper, silver and gold in it

the second one is very heavy as it is copper

this rock is really light and it’s like a lava rock

iron ball that was used to crush the rock and the other one is the slag that we see around the mind pit

this is some type of form they used, see the red?  that is from the copper

the old railroad car used to hall the copper out.

the volunteer working was Louie Walters!  Yes, we met another Walters, 2 Walters men.  He was wonderful and gave us so much history and we plan to go back and learn even more about the little mining town of Ajo which means garlic.  The Indians pronounced it Ah Ho

we came home and then it was time to start dinner.  I fried some pork chops and made mac and cheese for dinner.  Then we got ready and went to a Jam session.  Our friend Michael invited us. 

This cigar box guitar was made in Mexico

I love the license plate, says NO Sniveling

even has a cigar box amplifier.  It was pretty neat to see. 

there were several jammers here and some are locals and others are snow birds.

He sure could rock that piano

he was very good at singing and playing

I love this guy (bottom picture) beat he played with his guitar .. he added some spice to it all

this is a painting that Michael did of Willie .. it is awesome.  Michael is so talented.

it was another great day and once we got home it was time to call it a night.  It was a wonderful day here in beautiful Ajo, AZ

Cleaning day

Ajo, AZ

We had a visitor last night.  We heard the dogs go crazy and thought someone was walking their dog so we didn’t pay any attention .. nope .. it was critter, the tracks look like Javelina (kinda like a pig) http://www.gatewaytosedona.com/popular-articles/item/70-the-javelina-sedona-arizonas-famous-pig-like-desert-dweller you can read more about them here if your interested. 

(borrowed picture from the internet)

This poor flower was mauled,  ate all the leaves off it and even pulled the entire roots out of the pot.  So this morning I had to repot it and duck tape the flower pot.  They didn’t bother my rose bushes, guess the thorns detoured them away.  I sure hope my flower makes it through, they’ve had a ruff winter already. 

I was awaken today by a dog who needed to go potty.  So I got my bones out of bed and got dressed and took them out to do their business.  Then I went to work on cleaning.  I did last night dinner dishes and then I needed to walk over to the Dollar General to get a few items.  We had smoked brisket yesterday and I save the broth and left over brisket for beans today.  I found some bean soup (my favorite beans) and picked up a few other things.  They were out of milk so I had to go back this afternoon and got a gal.  Wow .. milk is $2.60 a gal here! 

I went over and visited with the guys while they had their break and then I took the dogs on walk before lunch time.  One of the ladies from the church made Chili for lunch and it was good.  After lunch I decided I need to tackle the bedroom and dust it.  I always put that off until I can’t stand it anymore.  Well that time has arrived.  We get lots of dust in there from the AC.  After that dreaded job was done I decided to change our bed sheets since I hadn’t done that since we left LA.   Since I was on a roll I cleaned the bathroom as well.  (well I didn’t do the deep cleaning, just dusting and washing of the stool) the shower will be another day.

the fellowship hall roof is coming right along.  In fact all the tin is on, now it’s the finishing touches tomorrow and Thursday the other tin for the Church and class rooms should be in. 

This afternoon since the sun was shining and it didn’t feel bad out in the sunshine I decided to walk down to the local thrift store that is open Tues – Sat but I didn’t find anything.  I sure do miss Miami thrift stores, they were the best!  After I got home I walked across the street there is a bakery and man does it have a good smell coming from there in the morning.  I have been trying to resist it but it’s getting harder.  There is a mural on the side of it and guess what?  You got it, my friend Michael that lives here now did it, this is just one of the many works of art he has done.  I love it and it’s from the movie “Night of the Lepus” that was actually filmed here in Ajo city limits!  Pretty neat huh?  I love murals. 

I made some cornbread to go with our bean soup and dinner was served.  mmm it was good.  The rest of the evening is being spent relaxing and watching some TV and surfing the net.  Tomorrow is suppose to be a warmer day, Yeah hopefully by the end of the week I will be able to get in my comfy clothes and lounge outside in my lounger. 

A nippy day but a great surprise

Ajo, AZ

Last night when I went to bed, I could hear the wind really ripping.  I slept in this morning.  It was a windy, nippy and at times bone chilly day. 

we had a great surprise.  Fellow blogger Michael that we met yesterday stopped by today to visit and brought little bit (my name for her)  she had a great time playing with the toys (although my babies were not so sure about that)    We enjoyed another wonderful visit.  We have plans to get together again.  Michael is going to go with us and show us around.  I am so looking forward to that.  We are so blessed with lifestyle we are living.  Getting to meet new people and making new friends is awesome.  Thanks Michael for making a cold nippy day into a fantastic day!

the dogs only got a small walk this afternoon as it was just too cold for me to be outside very long

the work on the roof is coming along ..

here is Dave ( a member of the church) working away .. it’s looking nice and I love the color

Andy and Vic were the get me guys for the guys on the roof.  It was a nippy day but a good day and after the sun went down it started getting even colder so I dug out my flannels again.  So glad were on full hookups and our heat is free this time around.  Our evening was spent curled up on the couch and relaxing.  My back is starting to hurt from the cold so it may be a ruff night for me.