Growing up in Denver, I remember my parents subscribing to the Denver Post. It was an evening paper and every night after dinner, my mom and dad would sit at the table and read the paper. Sometimes they would talk about what they were reading.
My own interest in newspapers began in 9th grade when my English teacher, Miss Mapelli, had me help produce the Byers Juniior High student newspaper. In high school, I was on the staff of the South High School newspaper. I went on to the University of Colorado, where I majored in journalism and was on the staff of the Colorado Daily.
I worked for a couple of newspapers and in the CU News Service during and after college. But I really don't remember much about reading the daily papers until after our two sons grew up. John and I subscribed to both the Post and the Rocky Mountain News. By then, the Post had become a morning paper, so John read the News and I read the Post. I enjoyed reading the paper in the morning while I ate my breakfast before I went to work.
Our gypsy lifestyle doesn't lend itself to subscribing to a local newspaper most of the time. Even though we were in Colorado all summer, the Post is no longer circulated throughout the state, except by mail. So we didn't see it. Add to that the fact that many newspapers are going out of print. The Rocky Mountain News is one of those. However, it is possible to get home delivery of the Arizona Republic while we are here at Valle del Oro. I subscribed for Sunday and Wednesday delivery and today we received our first copy.
For over an hour before we got ready for church, we both happily sat and read the paper. What a treat! Reading the news on my computer just isn't the same. No way could I sit for an hour or more, savoring stories that begin on page 1, continue on page 12 and 13. So we will enjoy this while we can.
Sorry, no pictures today. I have been too busy reading.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Inside Updates
In the past couple of weeks, we have made some changes/improvements inside our RV home. When we visited the new IKEA store in Denver, we saw some comforters that were light weight. We had a striped comforter that worked for us when it was cold, but as the weather warmed up it was in the way. We might need it by early morning, but earlier in the night it was a huge lump in the middle of the bed. So we replaced it with a 365-day set of two comforters from IKEA. They are plain white.
We have the light-weight one on now. We can scrunch it into the middle of the bed early on, then cover up when the temps get down in the 60s. When we were in New Mexico and the nighttime temps got down into the low 40s or 30s, the heavier one was great. The photo shows the lighter one on the bed and the heavier one rolled up in the carrying case. Both fit in there at the same time if you work at it. They will snap together so you can use them both at once. We probably won't need that unless we run out of propane some night next year on our trip to Alaska.
We didn't think the plain white was very attractive, and it would probably get dirty pretty quick with all we put on the bed at times. So we went looking for a king-size sheet to use as a bed spread. I don't know what people do who keep the fancy spreads that come in RVs. Where do they put them at night? But a sheet is light enough to leave in place or small enough to fold up in a corner of the bedroom. Pretty fancy for an $18 set from Ross, don't you think?
We must be awfully hard on chairs. After all, the recliners are the only place we have to sit in the RV, except for the folding chairs at the table. We got rid of the couch. We put this trailer in storage about one month after we bought it. Before leaving the following January, we bought some recliners from American Furniture Warehouse. The only photo I can find is this one--note the footstool is upside down in the chair and both cats are on it. Most of the time, because of the affection our elderly cats had for the chairs, they were covered with a sheet or with plastic.
We used those chairs until November 2009, when we bought some really nice Lane Furniture recliners.
These chairs were comfortable, luxurious, and largely cat-proof. But by this summer, we realized that the constant use quickly wore down the stuffing in the seats and our backs were hurting. So much for expensive chairs.
This week we bought two more recliners, these from Copenhagen Imports in Tempe. They are less expensive, so if they only last a couple of years, we won't feel as bad. And they take up a lot less room and weigh less.
We have the light-weight one on now. We can scrunch it into the middle of the bed early on, then cover up when the temps get down in the 60s. When we were in New Mexico and the nighttime temps got down into the low 40s or 30s, the heavier one was great. The photo shows the lighter one on the bed and the heavier one rolled up in the carrying case. Both fit in there at the same time if you work at it. They will snap together so you can use them both at once. We probably won't need that unless we run out of propane some night next year on our trip to Alaska.
We didn't think the plain white was very attractive, and it would probably get dirty pretty quick with all we put on the bed at times. So we went looking for a king-size sheet to use as a bed spread. I don't know what people do who keep the fancy spreads that come in RVs. Where do they put them at night? But a sheet is light enough to leave in place or small enough to fold up in a corner of the bedroom. Pretty fancy for an $18 set from Ross, don't you think?
We must be awfully hard on chairs. After all, the recliners are the only place we have to sit in the RV, except for the folding chairs at the table. We got rid of the couch. We put this trailer in storage about one month after we bought it. Before leaving the following January, we bought some recliners from American Furniture Warehouse. The only photo I can find is this one--note the footstool is upside down in the chair and both cats are on it. Most of the time, because of the affection our elderly cats had for the chairs, they were covered with a sheet or with plastic.
We used those chairs until November 2009, when we bought some really nice Lane Furniture recliners.
These chairs were comfortable, luxurious, and largely cat-proof. But by this summer, we realized that the constant use quickly wore down the stuffing in the seats and our backs were hurting. So much for expensive chairs.
This week we bought two more recliners, these from Copenhagen Imports in Tempe. They are less expensive, so if they only last a couple of years, we won't feel as bad. And they take up a lot less room and weigh less.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Desert Hiking
Tuesday we went on our first desert hike of the season. We hiked about 4.5 to 5 miles at Usery Mountain Regional Park. It was good to again see plants we enjoy so much, including ocotillo
cholla
prickly pear cactus (a smaller variety of the cactus grows many places, but these large plants here are more impressive)
and the green barked Palo Verde.
But the biggest thrill was seeing these Harris's Hawks sitting on an ocotillo
and a saguaro
This single hawk was guarding his breakfast, a young rabbit he had recently killed.
The other three were just watching. We were amazed when we passed this same spot nearly an hour and a half later and found the hawks still there. They obviously weren't too worried about humans. When we got back to the RV, I learned Harris's hawks often hunt in small groups. I wonder if they share the kill, as well. It was really special to get such a good look at them.
cholla
prickly pear cactus (a smaller variety of the cactus grows many places, but these large plants here are more impressive)
and the green barked Palo Verde.
But the biggest thrill was seeing these Harris's Hawks sitting on an ocotillo
and a saguaro
This single hawk was guarding his breakfast, a young rabbit he had recently killed.
The other three were just watching. We were amazed when we passed this same spot nearly an hour and a half later and found the hawks still there. They obviously weren't too worried about humans. When we got back to the RV, I learned Harris's hawks often hunt in small groups. I wonder if they share the kill, as well. It was really special to get such a good look at them.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Saving Money
Many RVers try to find ways to save money on their expenses on the road. Most of us don't want to spend more money than we have to, to live this life.
Some people boondock on BLM or National Forest lands or at Wal-Mart. Others belong to the Elks or Moose lodges to find inexpensive camping. Others try membership camping or use Passport America whenever possible. Some do it just to live less expensively. Others do it so they have more to spend on eating out or on entertainment.
We use Passport America occasionally, especially for one-night stays. We have stayed in National Forest campgrounds, though never on BLM land or at Wal-Mart. We rarely eat out, not to save money but because I like to cook and John enjoys my cooking.
But for 2011, we will spend only $8.46 per day for campgrounds--a total of $3086.68. We do that by work-camping, or rather volunteering. January through March we volunteered at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Coolidge, AZ, in return for free camping. From mid-May through Labor Day weekend, we volunteered at Lathrop State Park in Walsenburg, CO, in return for free camping. We also are spending three months at Valle del Oro Resort in Mesa, AZ. Here, we take advantage of a "sale" they offer each year for October through December. The space rental for that period is $910.66, including tax. Utilities are extra. But that space rental works out to $10.12 per day. Not bad for a resort with activities galore, swimming, tennis, softball, shuffleboard and many other facilities.
Not everyone wants to work, like we do, in return for their space rental. But so far, we have found this a good way to cover part of our costs on the road. In addition, it provides many opportunities--to really get to know the community where we are living, learn new skills and new information, stretch our minds and our bodies. We have volunteered in state parks in Texas, Utah and Colorado; Bryce Canyon, Hot Springs and Casa Grande Ruins in the National Park system; and Oregon Fish and Wildlife. We also worked at one commercial RV park, but didn't like that as well. And in January, we will volunteer at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in Texas.
I have focused on saving money by volunteering, but really, we love the work we do in these assignments as much or more than the money we save. For us, it is a great way to live in our retirement--for part of the year. We enjoy traveling and being tourists, as well.
Some people boondock on BLM or National Forest lands or at Wal-Mart. Others belong to the Elks or Moose lodges to find inexpensive camping. Others try membership camping or use Passport America whenever possible. Some do it just to live less expensively. Others do it so they have more to spend on eating out or on entertainment.
We use Passport America occasionally, especially for one-night stays. We have stayed in National Forest campgrounds, though never on BLM land or at Wal-Mart. We rarely eat out, not to save money but because I like to cook and John enjoys my cooking.
But for 2011, we will spend only $8.46 per day for campgrounds--a total of $3086.68. We do that by work-camping, or rather volunteering. January through March we volunteered at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Coolidge, AZ, in return for free camping. From mid-May through Labor Day weekend, we volunteered at Lathrop State Park in Walsenburg, CO, in return for free camping. We also are spending three months at Valle del Oro Resort in Mesa, AZ. Here, we take advantage of a "sale" they offer each year for October through December. The space rental for that period is $910.66, including tax. Utilities are extra. But that space rental works out to $10.12 per day. Not bad for a resort with activities galore, swimming, tennis, softball, shuffleboard and many other facilities.
Not everyone wants to work, like we do, in return for their space rental. But so far, we have found this a good way to cover part of our costs on the road. In addition, it provides many opportunities--to really get to know the community where we are living, learn new skills and new information, stretch our minds and our bodies. We have volunteered in state parks in Texas, Utah and Colorado; Bryce Canyon, Hot Springs and Casa Grande Ruins in the National Park system; and Oregon Fish and Wildlife. We also worked at one commercial RV park, but didn't like that as well. And in January, we will volunteer at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in Texas.
I have focused on saving money by volunteering, but really, we love the work we do in these assignments as much or more than the money we save. For us, it is a great way to live in our retirement--for part of the year. We enjoy traveling and being tourists, as well.
Friday, October 07, 2011
Frost and Snow and Saguaros
As we were getting ready to leave Gallup, NM, this morning, we discovered frost on the picnic table and truck windshield. If that wasn't enough, as we drove southwest through the Arizona mountains, it snowed!
Yesterday they had several inches at the Snow Bowl, a ski area outside of Flagstaff. This wasn't like this, but there were snowflakes coming down for several miles. We hope that is the last snow we see for another year or so.
In one area, we drove through an elk crossing test area. We wondered what that was until we came to this sign. Apparently, the elk are funneled to this spot, where a light flashes when they are near the road, warning drivers to watch from them. We have never seen anything like it before and wonder if it will be effective.
The scenery coming down Arizona highways 377 and 277 and US 260 and the Beeline Highway is really great. Today the clouds were beautiful.
as well as the mountains.
The pinnacle in the center of this view is Weaver's Needle, something we have hiked to several times.
And we saw our first saguaro cactus! That is always the best sign we have arrived in southern Arizona and the Valley of the Sun, where we will spend the next three months.
Yesterday they had several inches at the Snow Bowl, a ski area outside of Flagstaff. This wasn't like this, but there were snowflakes coming down for several miles. We hope that is the last snow we see for another year or so.
In one area, we drove through an elk crossing test area. We wondered what that was until we came to this sign. Apparently, the elk are funneled to this spot, where a light flashes when they are near the road, warning drivers to watch from them. We have never seen anything like it before and wonder if it will be effective.
The scenery coming down Arizona highways 377 and 277 and US 260 and the Beeline Highway is really great. Today the clouds were beautiful.
as well as the mountains.
The pinnacle in the center of this view is Weaver's Needle, something we have hiked to several times.
And we saw our first saguaro cactus! That is always the best sign we have arrived in southern Arizona and the Valley of the Sun, where we will spend the next three months.
Thursday, October 06, 2011
Gallup
We must be in a rut. In 2010, we spent the nights of October 5 and 6 in Gallup, NM. We had only intended to spend one night, but there were high winds on the 6th, so we spent another night. Click here to read about our 2010 travel through New Mexico to Arizona. Fast forward to 2011. We arrived in Gallup on the 5th for one night. Today was windy with rain most of the day. And would you believe 38 degrees about noon? So we are spending another night. Once again, we will arrive in Mesa, AZ, on October 7.
We were waiting till it cooled down in Mesa. Today it did, tomorrow it is supposed to be in the low 70s. But by the end of next week, it will be back in the upper 90s. Hopefully, fall weather isn't far away there.
We were waiting till it cooled down in Mesa. Today it did, tomorrow it is supposed to be in the low 70s. But by the end of next week, it will be back in the upper 90s. Hopefully, fall weather isn't far away there.
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
Scenes Across New Mexico
New Mexico is a beautiful state, which is good since we cross it going between Colorado and Arizona. Let me share some of what we saw in the past few days.
There were lots of issues with bears at Lathrop State Park, where we spent the summer. Maybe the park should have this sign out front.
There was a large forest fire on Raton Pass during the summer. We saw the evidence of that as we drove into New Mexico.
We saw numerous herds of Pronghorn (antelope).
We always enjoy seeing this ranch and barn as we drive I-25.
Isn't this flock of birds amazing?
We enjoy watching the changing landscape and the interesting geology in New Mexico.
On the negative side, there does not seem to be any limits on billboards along the interstate. The Flying C Ranch on I-40, was exceptionally obnoxious. Click on this collage to see some of their signs. In the upper left corner you can see a whole row of them.
When we reached the Flying C, it didn't look like all that advertising did much good.
The Flying C wasn't responsible for all the signs. Clines Corners, numerous casinos and other businesses also had large signs. Lady Bird Johnson, where are you?
The New Mexico skies were filled with impressive clouds.
Sometimes, we encountered rain, as well.
Just one of many very attractive overpasses along the Interstate.
I've never seen a car this old on a auto transport truck.
The small town of Laguna along I-40.
Roadside flowers--in October!
There were lots of issues with bears at Lathrop State Park, where we spent the summer. Maybe the park should have this sign out front.
There was a large forest fire on Raton Pass during the summer. We saw the evidence of that as we drove into New Mexico.
We saw numerous herds of Pronghorn (antelope).
We always enjoy seeing this ranch and barn as we drive I-25.
Isn't this flock of birds amazing?
We enjoy watching the changing landscape and the interesting geology in New Mexico.
On the negative side, there does not seem to be any limits on billboards along the interstate. The Flying C Ranch on I-40, was exceptionally obnoxious. Click on this collage to see some of their signs. In the upper left corner you can see a whole row of them.
When we reached the Flying C, it didn't look like all that advertising did much good.
The Flying C wasn't responsible for all the signs. Clines Corners, numerous casinos and other businesses also had large signs. Lady Bird Johnson, where are you?
The New Mexico skies were filled with impressive clouds.
Sometimes, we encountered rain, as well.
Just one of many very attractive overpasses along the Interstate.
I've never seen a car this old on a auto transport truck.
The small town of Laguna along I-40.
Roadside flowers--in October!
Saturday, October 01, 2011
It's History!
Are we ever glad that September 2011 is history! We did almost nothing but work last month. The first week included the Labor Day Weekend, our last as volunteers at Lathrop State Park and a busy one.
We came to Denver (really Aurora and Littleton) for medical and dental appointments. The first couple of weeks included lab tests, a follow-up visit to my knee surgeon, a colonoscopy for John, physical exams for both of us, dentist appointments for both of us, a return to the doctor so John could have some spots burned off his ears and hand, a visit to a dermatologist to verify he had no skin problems.
Then there was all the time we spent on our "stuff." Last week, we loaded up the items we wanted to keep in our U-Haul storage unit. There really wasn't too much.
However, to get it in, we had to rent a slightly larger storage unit, moving from a 5 ft by 5 ft unit to one 5 ft by 10 ft. This is the smaller unit, after we got everything out.
We moved everything into the hall outside the new unit.
Then we stopped for a bit of lunch.
Here is one end of the storage unit, full of stuff.
The the other half, also full.
Then we had the big load to deal with.
We loaded it into the rental truck. We did it so fast, we think maybe we should hire out as movers.
I swept out the space we rented to do our sorting.
And we drove out with our "stuff," headed for the auction house and our son, Eric's home.
John backed the truck up to the auction house.
With help of one of the staff there, everything was quickly unloaded.
We then made a quick trip to Goodwill with the items the auction house didn't want, then we returned the rental truck. We were done! And exhausted! When we left there, we felt free. Everything we own is in our truck, our RV home and the 5 X 10 storage unit. And the only furniture we own is the two recliners in our 5th wheel.
We did take a couple of hours out last weekend to walk across the road at Chatfield State Park to have dinner with some friends from St. Gabriel's.
Cursillo is a weekend Christian renewal retreat that is conducted in many denominations. John and I made our Cursillo in the mid-1970s and have encouraged others to go ever since then. The three-day retreat is then lived out in the 4th Day, the rest or our lives. At St. Gabriel's, a group of women has been holding a weekly 4th Day Reunion for prayer and mutual support since the mid-1990s. I was a part of the group while John was rector of the church.
The Friday cookout last weekend was a potluck for the women of that group. Four husbands, who have also made their Cursillo, were also invited.
As you can see, we ate well and had a good time.
We came to Denver (really Aurora and Littleton) for medical and dental appointments. The first couple of weeks included lab tests, a follow-up visit to my knee surgeon, a colonoscopy for John, physical exams for both of us, dentist appointments for both of us, a return to the doctor so John could have some spots burned off his ears and hand, a visit to a dermatologist to verify he had no skin problems.
Then there was all the time we spent on our "stuff." Last week, we loaded up the items we wanted to keep in our U-Haul storage unit. There really wasn't too much.
However, to get it in, we had to rent a slightly larger storage unit, moving from a 5 ft by 5 ft unit to one 5 ft by 10 ft. This is the smaller unit, after we got everything out.
We moved everything into the hall outside the new unit.
Then we stopped for a bit of lunch.
Here is one end of the storage unit, full of stuff.
The the other half, also full.
Then we had the big load to deal with.
We loaded it into the rental truck. We did it so fast, we think maybe we should hire out as movers.
I swept out the space we rented to do our sorting.
And we drove out with our "stuff," headed for the auction house and our son, Eric's home.
John backed the truck up to the auction house.
With help of one of the staff there, everything was quickly unloaded.
We then made a quick trip to Goodwill with the items the auction house didn't want, then we returned the rental truck. We were done! And exhausted! When we left there, we felt free. Everything we own is in our truck, our RV home and the 5 X 10 storage unit. And the only furniture we own is the two recliners in our 5th wheel.
We did take a couple of hours out last weekend to walk across the road at Chatfield State Park to have dinner with some friends from St. Gabriel's.
Cursillo is a weekend Christian renewal retreat that is conducted in many denominations. John and I made our Cursillo in the mid-1970s and have encouraged others to go ever since then. The three-day retreat is then lived out in the 4th Day, the rest or our lives. At St. Gabriel's, a group of women has been holding a weekly 4th Day Reunion for prayer and mutual support since the mid-1990s. I was a part of the group while John was rector of the church.
The Friday cookout last weekend was a potluck for the women of that group. Four husbands, who have also made their Cursillo, were also invited.
As you can see, we ate well and had a good time.
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