Back to the old routine again

Since I have given up editing the Penwheels Newsletter I seem to have so much more time for writing and have veered off in different directions. Just like when I began writing ‘Jacob's Tails’, I want to writing about certain incidents but am concerned about unintentionally hurting someone’s feeling – no, I will not wait until they are all dead, this time – but it sure is tempting to write a novel, instead of my “Creative Non-fiction”, so far I have resisted the temptation..

To Start with, the Escapees Magazine finally (more than a year after it was submitted) printed the article on My Cotton Story;

RV West has been great about continuing the Snowbirding 101 column and has printed the Relationships piece; the piece on Canadians Volunteering, the piece on the Aviation Boneyard and the Solar Farms in Arizona 

RV Lifestyle Magazine out of Ontario want a couple more pieces for next year and have promised to print the Magical Mystery Tour

A different direction This has been such a different travel year for us:

• not straight down Interstate 15  but east towards Wyoming, Colorado, and south through New Mexico;
• staying at more RV Parks than we usually do;
• fun visit with friends at their home; and
• little time boon-docking in the desert.

We spend a lot of time around Tucson and enjoyed touring around there and a few weeks in Yuma but have missed the freedom and quiet of the desert.

Back to the old routine again - Hi Jolly BLM at Quartzsite. We wanted to wait until after all the people left after the BIG TENT RV Show but there were more people than we expected.

I have my favourite spot where we set up the feed and water for the birds and squirrels and fill the hummingbird feeder that sits on the window next to where I do my writing.

It doesn’t take them long to find us and establish their routine (just like we do ours). The hummingbirds are the first we see in the morning. As usual the Annas outnumber any other hummers we entertain. There seem to be two male and a female. The males are very aggressive swooping down on each other to protect their spot on the feeder. We have noticed one sitting on the feeder all puffed up in his attempt to keep the others away. They even try to intimidate us if we interrupt their business.

A couple Gila Woodpeckers have joined the hummers to eat at the feeder. They are about 10X the size of the hummers and balance themselves with their tails as they try to suck the nectar from the tiny yellow flowers.

This year the Quail are here en-mass (literally). First thing in the morning a dozen or so of them strut in single file to check out the feeding grounds. They scratch around throwing dirt every where.

If the feed is plentiful, another contingent join them (they seem to signal each other).

Sometimes one of the larger Quail will sit up on the bush while the others feed but mostly they all just scratch and feed. Every so often Doves or smaller birds will wander in while the Quail are still there but they get run off to wait their turns.

The next group is the Doves – some Morning Doves and some Ring Necked. Their cooing is so mournful.

My writing continues – every month now, RV West has either put in another Snowbird 101 or destination piece  so they keep me working – love it!

Since I no long need to dredge up pieces for the newsletter, I’ve started writing some other stuff like The Awesome Adventure of the Extra Special Denim Shirt – fun stuff!

We always seem to approach each year like it may be our last year to come down – who knows! We did see a Motor Home that was terrific but then, is that what we want to spend our money on – they wanted a fair amount for it but didn’t want to give us anything for ours – if we get something else, I think I would get it in Canada and avoid all the export/ import paperwork.

In the meantime, Fred keeps totally occupied keeping old Betsy here running and in good shape.

We’re back in Casa Grande now for a week or so and then will meet our bird-watching friends down in Why. Judy and Terry are great birders and I learn so much from them

The good thing about getting older is that you can spend eons learning all about the birds and wild flowers . . . go home for the summer . . . and then relearn it all again next year.