New Friends & More Rocks

1/31/10


During our stay at Quartzite, little Malley started waking up in the middle of the night coughing and having trouble breathing. She would get herself so worked up with anxiety that she would start to shiver uncontrollably. We took her to the vet in town who gave her a shot and some medicine that he hoped would help her. He thought she had pharyngitis's. After a week of giving her the medicine she has improved, but some nights she still wakes up, so we are going to get more medicine before we leave.

No, this isn't our little Malley, this is a Yorkie that is the pet of a couple we met who are vendors at Quartzite. They are from Alaska. Diane just loved this 2 1/2 lb little Yorkie. She loves the long hair on her. Mallery's hair has an undercoat (even though Mallery is a full blood Yorkie- her hair coat is not the desirable coat you get with expensive champion bred dogs.) and mattes real easy so we are unable to grow Mallery's hair out like this little Yorkie.
The picture below is of their other dog. We had a great time visiting with them.

2/3/10




As we walked down the sidewalk from our park on Main St. we past another RV park. These two RVs caught my attention. The one on the right has at least 100 animal statues and artificial flowers and other yard art in front and around and even attached to their RV. The one on the left is what I would call a Rambo RV, with its camouflage paint job and all the antenna's and dishes on the roof.

2/5/10


The sign out front says it all. We stopped at this place while walking to a discount food market.
Diane liked this blue or aqua colored rock. Hard to believe it is a natural rock. Maybe it is glass, we didn't ask, so your guess is as good as ours.
Check out the layered stripping of this beauty of nature.
Giant pink square quartz.
Not sure what this stone is, but it is really neat. We purchased a small piece of the white rock in front, it is called rose something. Can't remember the name.
Another large slab of rock with fossils.
Sodalite

Arizona Peridot
Wild Rose Jasper

Close up of Wild Rose Jasper
Mica
Close up of Mica.
Desert Lapis
View from the back of the business.
Not to be out done by my wife Diane, Here is my collection of rocks that I purchased. The Flower in the round wood hand carved stand is a piece of art Diane purchased back in Tucson.
Diane's collection keeps growing, and growing.
Rose Stone, Fish Fossil in limestone, Slice of agate, dark green Malachite, another fossil, then a black rock with a crystal in it that when ground down produces what looks like a painted white flower, you would never guess that it was a real stone.
The piece of stone with the designs on it I purchased from a Navajo Indian who made it when we were at Canyon De Chelly, AZ.. Diane actually talked to the guy and negotiated a price on a similar piece of hand craved rock art; the guy offered her a second piece for only $5 more. That's when I piped in and said I would pay the extra $5 to get this piece. The photo on the right is a professional photo of the towering Spider Rock in the Canyon De Chelly, AZ.
This is a closeup picture of that black stone with the crystal inside.
This is a closeup picture of the 4 million year old fossil from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco.

This is a closeup picture of the rose stone and the green Malachite. If you look close, you will see the round patterns in the Malachite.
This is a closeup of my fish fossil found in limestone in WY.
I cant remember the name of this stone, I purchased it for a dollar, the first day, at the first vendor we visited, because I thought it was unusual. Little did I know what other great stones we were about to see in the days to come.
This is my slice of Agate that I purchased. $2 per pound. Want to guess what it weighs?
The outside is green and then the middle ring has purple hues which is hard to see in the picture.

More Rocks, Car Show, & Beads

1/29/10

We are still at Quartzite AZ. We will be leaving in two days. Yea, I have been ready to leave for the last week or so. It has been a fun experience, but I need to get my wife out of here before she buys another thing. Luckily she doesn't want to buy any of the following.
Lets see, we could remove our shower stall and put this in it's place, maybe stand inside it with the hand held shower nozzle. Might be hard on the toes and think about the cleaning such a custom shower!
Perhaps we could use these as yard art in front of our nest, I don't think they would fit in our basement storage compartments.
Ah, now we get to what my artistic wife Diane has purchased. These strands of stone are taken and mix and matched together to make a custom necklace or other jewelry items. Now Diane needs the time and knowledge to create some wonderful items from her rough finds.
Everyday the stone bead collection keeps growing.
Just a different photo angle I am told.
I am getting confused, are these all the same strands, or are they all different. Most she got at $2 a strand.
Another truly wonderful sunsets. (sorry Drew)
This is the way to say goodbye to another great day on this earth. Thanks God.
1/30/10



After the RV show left Quartzite, it was replaced by a car show. I have been to many car shows in my time and this wasn't anything special. Diane couldn't resist tanking a few pictures.
Maybe a new RV custom seat design? The Tweedy Bird Nest?

Sits too low for a tow car.




Check out this RV pulled by a VW. Talk about putting the tow car ahead of the RV.

Check out this pop up tailgate type galley.
Now this is more of a self contained unit. The outside storage trunk was the predecessor of the basement compartment.
Pink Panther interior design.
Bonnie & Clyde car.

How about this for a tow car. I didn't ask what it got for gas mileage. I am sure it would be an eye catcher going down the road behind the nest.

Gem, Mineral, & Jewelry Show

1/28/10


Quartzsite AZ. has definitely been an interesting experience. We have been wandered through the thousands of vendors for a couple of hours almost everyday. The weather has been great with daytime highs in the 60's to low 70's and night time lows in the 40's. We had one big rain and high wind storm blow through the 2ND week we were here. Our park is a little dated but cozy with a warm atmosphere of blue collar retires and reasonable price. The interstate is a block away so it can be a bit noisy at times. Free oranges and grapefruit are available most days, picked fresh from a few trees located in the park. They also have a free do it yourself car/RV wash station, (very rare to find in most parks). We can't get over how many vendors come with truckloads of rocks, minerals, and stones.
I have never seen so many amethyst , especially big ones, like the one I am standing beside.

It doesn't get much bigger than this! Cost is about $300.
These are large quartz crystals, you can see hundreds of them in Quartzsite.

Check out my beautiful wife, showing off her recently acquired, southwest look. Next to her is an iron sculpture that was for sale at one of the vendors.
You can't believe how many tubs like this filled with water to show off the color of the stones within. They are layered out on countless rows of tables. The numbers you see on the stones are the price. ($9, $10, etc.)
This is an example of just one row of tables. It goes on like this for blocks and blocks.
Another example of a small vendor table with an unusual display of various crystals.
Not your "Mall" look I will admit. It is dust and dirty, but what do you expect, its out in the desert.
Diane really liked the copper colored stones with thousands of gold colored flecks. Only a few dollars per pound.
Some of the stones look like your standard desert rock, until you ask what they are. Most of the times they have some beautiful crystals or fossils inside, or are rocks that are millions of years old and are only found in one place in the world. Some are fossilized dinosaur bones which sell for hundreds of dollars. Hard for a novice to tell what is what, but ask and you will learn.
Diamonds in the rough? All the barrel are full of huge rocks.

Nice selection of purple amethyst. Costs run $50 to 150.
This guy is trying to make outdoor and indoor displays out of his stone.
Mostly fountains.


Now we come to Diane's new weakness, Beads! Not just this one tent, but tent after tent after tent, you get what I mean? Most of these are strands of jewelry making stones, not just plastic or glass colored. People buy these, then mix and match them with other colored stones and make necklaces and bracelets and other jewelry out of them. (sounds like a lot of work, but buying them in bulk like this reduces their price).
I told you there were a lot of amethyst here.
There also are a lot of vendors selling fossils of all shapes and kinds. This huge piece of stone is covered with fossils. Can't image how much work it was to dig this out of the ground and transport it without breaking it.
More fossils in stone, someone worked very carefully to chip away the surrounding stone and then polish the fossils to make them really stand out.
Oh did I mention the amethyst we saw? This vendor is here year around and has a nice garage type building to display his stones.
Oh yeah, there are some small ones available too.
Here is my lovely wife checking out a jewelry vendor's wares. I think Malley is getting bored with all this shopping, but at least she can lay down and take a nap when ever she feels like it. Maybe I need an adult sized stroller. Not pink though.
This vendor took his fossilized stoneware and made them into sinks for your home. Prices ran about $300.00.
Here is Diane talking to a vendor who she bought a pink reversible doggy raincoat from. This vendor brought out her two pet birds. She let Diane hold the green one, who proceeded to walk up Diane's shoulder and then proceed to preen the hair on Diane's neck. This lady and her husband travel in a trailer and have 2 birds, 1 cat, and 3 dogs. Boy am I lucky.
Let there be no doubt about it, This is a Big One!

The Desert Bar

1/19/2010

Last winter in late January and early February, we met Dawn and Jeff Fine, at Grayton State Park which is east of Destin, Florida in the pan handle. About a week or so later we ran into them at St. George Island in the panhandle of Florida. Dawn and Jeff had us over for hors d'oeuvres and a visit in their 'Homey' while at St George state Park. Dawn taught me how to Blog, and has been my teacher ever since. I have followed her blog ever since and always know where they are. This summer I asked where they were going to be for the upcoming winter, I found out they were going to winter in Arizona, as we were also. Our paths crossed once again in Quartzsite, Arizona. Once again They invited us over to their Homey with some other friends for hors d'oeuvres and fellowship. From left to right - Dawn, Donna, Joe, Ed, Jan, Steve, and Jeff. Dawn and Jeff have been full time RVing for 9 years now. Jeff is a retired dentist, and Dawn a retired dental assistant. I feel right back at the office when I am with them. Thanks Dawn and Jeff for a really nice time and we will see you on the road again probably next winter.

1/22/2010


Spending the day at the big top RV show today. But once I got inside, I totally forgot about you all, because I was in shopping heaven. The only thing I wish I had taken a picture of was the Ion foot bath cleansing I did for $20. The bath cleanses toxins from your body through the 2000 pores on the bottom of your feet by using electrical magnetism. You put your feet into a tub of clean warm water with salt. Then they put this thing called an array in the tub with your feet. Then they put something around your wrist and turn on the machine. With in minutes the water starts to turn different colors depending on what toxins are most plentiful in your body. By the end of my 30 minute session, my water was a brown and you could not see my feet anymore. They told me I was very acidic. That was accurate, I have been having lots of acid reflux since Christmas. I ate too many carbs like I also do around the holidays. The lady who I saw doing it before me, had very black water when she had finished. They had a chart that told you what toxins were eliminated during your session according to color and textures. It was really gross seeing all that stuff coming out of you. If you are interested in reading more about this, just google, "ion foot bath cleanse."

1/23/2010

We went to the Desert Bar, which is located just north east of Parker, AZ., with our new friends we met at Dawn and Jeff's
5 mile drive on a dirt road with a few pot holes. Most people are driving four wheelers and SUV's that don't sit as low as we do. Our next car is going to be a jeep. The Desert Bar is situated in the Buckskin Mountains. A man named Ken bought the land in 1975, it used to be an old mining camp. The mine was a copper mine and also smelted some gold. There it is ahead. The two tall figures ahead are cooling towers. Ken has a home out here as well as the bar. The bar is open only on Saturday and Sunday from high noon to sunset and most holidays, and closed in the summer. Sitting at a table and looking out to the parking lot, see the covered bridge to the bar, and a church entrance but no church building yet. The parking lot is where the old mining camp was located. Joe, Ed, and Jan sitting at a table on the balcony. Mallery under the table leashed to my chair. She is not too happy because the loud music is making her nervous and stressed. I guess I should have listened to Joe. He said I should leave her at home. She is panting like crazy, even though it is almost chilly with the wind. I had two hot chocolates with peppermint schnapps, just to warm up. Heading to the girls room. Looking back to the Nellie E. Saloon - the mining claim name- (Desert Bar) on the way to the girls room. Lots of us snowbirds. Not too wild of a crowd. Neat open view from the bathroom sinks. Unique sinks made from wood and metal, and buckets for waste baskets. Heavy and loud bathroom door. Back at our table, I look up and see many people that have climbed up from the bathrooms to get a better picture of the place. Another picture from our table on a balcony. When the bar first opened, water had to be hauled in a 50 gallon tank on the back of a truck. Then Ken purchased a fire truck to bring water in. I decided later after going to the girls room to climb up the hill to get a good picture also. Looking back at the girls room built into the rocky hill. View at the top of the hill looking away from the bar. View from the top of the hill, where other people had been taking pictures from above. You can see the balcony where we are sitting just below. You can also see the solar panels that power the well that Ken drilled in 1997. View looking out from another point. I was not in rocky mountain shoes ( clogs), so I had a bit of trouble climbing up. Sitting at the bar to order a hamburger and chips, while a band plays. Live music Saturday and Sunday 1-5. Many orders ahead of me. Still waiting for my burger. Another view as I wait for my food. One last picture before I get to eat. As we leave I take a picture of the small church where many wedding are held. Leaving the famous Desert Bar. We had lots of rain last week so there is some green out in the desert.

1/24/2010


Last night was a really rough night for our dear little girl. The Desert Bar was too much excitement for her. She seemed fine when we got home, but she woke us up with coughing and making honking sounds. I got up to see if I could calm her and after turning on the light I founded 5 to six areas where she had thrown up yellow mucus stuff. While I cleaned up, Joe was trying to calm her down as she was having trouble breathing. In 2006 she was diagnosed with collapsed trachea. She does real well in good climate, but when climate is extreme it effects her. The stroller has been a life saver for me because even though she weights only 7 lbs, she gets very heavy for me very fast. Her Veterinary told us not to let her get over exerted as this can cause problems with her trachea closing more. It got very cold last night, and I remember my throat hurt when I woke up with her. I told Joe we were going to have to set the thermostat to 60 so it doesn't get too cold for her. I am going to have to remember not to take Malley to places that stress her as the Desert Bar did. We took her to the Vet at 12:00 today. But as I walked in, they told me they were not taking any more patients and I would have to bring her back tomorrow. I told the receptionist, I didn't know if she would make it through another night. All she could say was, " I sorry, but you need to be here from 9:00 to 11:15 to be seen. I told her she had a collapsed trachea, and asked if there was something I could give her. She said no, you would need a prescription first. I asked if their were any other vets in town. She told me no and the closest one was 30 ninutes away and was booked 4 weeks out. I wanted to rink her neck. This is not a place to be with a sick dog. We went home and kept Malley calm all day as she breathed fast shallow breathes that gurgled all day and through the night. Mallery not feeling good. She did not eat all day and never got out of her bed. At around 4:00pm I hand fed her, first with treats and than her regular food. She ate enough to keep her from going into hypoglycemic shock. While out to walk Mallery, neightbors pointed to an owl in a tree. Owl trying to get some sleep. But keeping an eye open on us. Probably eyeing Mallery. Don't worry, we have her on a harness.

88 Shades RV Park & Day's In Quartzsite

1/11/10

We have been at 88 Shades RV park for about a week and a half.

Our Nest's new yard at Lot D-7. The streets are lined with palms. We have not counted how many palms, but we are wondering if there are 88 of them. I guess we should ask at the office. Mallery seems to like it here better than Casa Grande. Not sure why except we were in the pet section, and I am thinking there were too many dog smells everywhere we walked. During a walk in our park we saw this custom built motorcycle.


1/12/10


We walked up to the Main Event flea markets which are about 4 blocks from our park, and spent the afternoon mingling throughout the vendors. We were told this morning it will take at least 2 weeks to see all the vendors in town. Another interesting car owned by a semi permanent park resident. A picture of Main Street. 88 Shades is down the street 4 blocks on the right. We were told Grubsteak was a good place to eat. A little dive but good food. We ordered the beer battered fish fry which is hugh and we shared one order. Neither one of us could have eaten it all. It was really good and I am sure fattening. The place was so full, we had to sit at the bar to eat. Joe is eyeing all the money on the ceiling. You know Joe and money. I got to keep an eye on him, so that he doesn't climb on his seat and grab a few to pay for the meal. (I hope you know I am kidding).

11/14 -16/10


Another area of flea markets on the other side of I-10 Miles and miles of vendors. Everything from tools, rocks, jewelry to kitchen supplies.

1/18/10

Quartzsite has several small grocery stores in town, but the prices are almost doubled normal prices. With over 100,000.00 of RVers coming into Quartzsite for the winter, this dead little town otherwise probably has no industry, so they jack up the prices. Today we are taking a day trip on 95 north to the town of Parker to go grocery shopping at a new Wal-Mart there. The first week here has been beautiful in low 70's and sunny, but the weather is going to change for about a week to rain and cooler. As we drove north toward Parker, the on coming traffic was heavy with RVers, heading toward Quartzsite. This week Quartzsite is having an RV Show. The drive is about 40 minutes to Parker. The grasses or weeds in the desert have dried and turned yellow. More RV'sRain is in the forecast. After lunch at Micky D's and shopping at Wal-Mart in Parker, we head back to Quartzsite. Pretty clouds and skylines. and many boon dockers (camping out in the desert with no hook ups) as we get close to Quartzsite.

Quartzsite, AZ.

1/10/10

On the 10th, we left our month long neighborhood in Casa Grande, and headed to Quartzsite, AZ. Our route took us right past downtown Phoenix. AZ. on Hwy. 10. It was Sunday, so the traffic was not to bad. It's not fun for Joe to drive and make fast decision in big cities. We took 10 West toward Los Angeles. As we go through Glendale, we can see the Sugarloaf Mtns. Quartzsite is located in the southwest corner of AZ. Almost there. I had no idea there were so many mountains in AZ. I like learning geography out side the classroom. Feet up and relaxing. A few Saguaro cactus. My driver, Joe. And more mountains. Just outside of Quartzsite it looks like boon docks off on the side of the road. Just getting off the interstate and see all the vendors and flea markets. World Famous main Event were many vendors park for a month or so. We head down Main Street following the GPS directions. Over 100,000 RVers come here during the winter with January being the busiest. Our new neighborhood for a month at 88 Shades RV Park. The only park we could find in Quartzsite with cable and full hook-ups. During Dec.,Jan., and Feb., we are staying for a month because rates are much cheaper than daily or weekly and we are anticipating having much to see. We booked this park months ago, and got the last monthly spot. Mallery checking out the place, while Joe registers.

Last days at Sundance1 in Casa Grande, Az.

We have left Casa Grande, AZ. and are now in Quartzsite, AZ., but I wanted to put in the last of my pictures from Casa Grande.

1/8/09

Another pretty sunset.
Our street, Cassidy Street.

Across the street from us.
Does anyone know why Arizona has these kind of sunsets? Never seen sunsets like this in Iowa!
Behind the park was a gate where many people took their dogs out to walk. The park is in the far left corner of picture. There is a gravel road around plowed fields.
Getting closer to the back of the park. Mallery loved to walk out here as we let her off her leash so she could run.
This is a picture of a kind of prickly pear cactus.
I thought it was very neat looking. This cactus is planted in one of the lots in our park.
Since I got back from Alabama, Joe and I have walked every day for about 60 minutes with Mallery in or out of her stroller around the park. I ate a lot at the girls at Christmas, so it was much needed.
I thought this was a really nice mobile home in the park. It was for sell.
This was my favorite as far as neatness and decorating.
Back to our Nest on the right.