September to February

Lots going on. Joe left for the desert before Thanksgiving so I've had the house to myself.  I've done a lot of needle felting - hoping to get my projects into my Etsy shop soon. Here are some of them:

Doe and Fawn

Raven

Chickadee and Mouse

Sleeping Fox

Red Fox

Hare

Cockapoo (my son's dog Marley)

I've been trying to stay healthy.  I bought a specialty yogurt maker and have been making and eating L Reuteri yogurt. I'm feeling a lot better.

I've also been making sourdough bread.

Sourdough starter

The garden is beginning to wake up. We are having freezing weather this week and then it will be time to take the straw off the beds.

The celery is alive!

The sage, rosemary, and lavendar all made it through the winter!

The giant kale I bought in Spain made it through and is still producing!

The garlic is up about 6 inches in all 3 beds.

The strawberries are peeking through.

I've started new plants in the house. Leeks, onions, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and more!

 I'm really looking forward to Spring!

As far as trips go I may be going back East to visit Rob again. I thought about another trip to Kauai but have decided against it until they get the air controller issue sorted out.  

No trips to Spain planned though Joe would like to go one more time. If we do, we'll go alone and take a route that's less traveled.

I guess that's all the news. 
Stay warm and toasty!

Love,

Annie

 

 

 

 

 

Albuquerque and on to Arches

 I planned on spending the night at the Albuquerque Elks facility. But the hosts were gone and it was dark with absolutely NO light and I kept hearing noises. It was pretty creepy and they weren't planning on returning until after midnight. I didn't feel safe, so I left and stayed at a gas station. Next morning, on to Arches National Park.

I was told online that I could drive into the park and camp.

But that was not true, so I scrambled to find a hotel.
Next morning I was up before dawn and into the park
to watch the sunrise. 

People walking up with flashlights.

From here I headed back home. I was exhausted. I think I'd like to take the trip again, but maybe with Joe to help with the drive or after I rest a year. For now, I'm happy being home. 

Next post is what I've been doing since home. 

One Crazy Long Blade

 You know those windmills you see on the hills above Pamplona and in the California desert and other places?  Well, a truck drove by carrying ONE blade while I was getting gas. Check this out:

UFO Museum Roswell

 This was a fun stop. I loved the museum and the town.  The exhibits were actually very good and there was a speaker who answered a lot of questions about crashes and abductions. Since Joe and I saw a UFO up close in the desert, this was on my bucket list. 

The Mexican Mafia?

 From Martin's Cove I headed to my cousin Vonda's home in Missouri. First, I hit a dust storm. I finally arrived at Vonda's and we had a good visit until around 4 pm when the phone rang. From there, it was a stressful and bizarre night as we got a call that her niece was being held by people calling themselves "the Mexican Mafia" and asking for $10,000 for her release. We called the police, who called the FBI and we spent until 2 am with the FBI in a hotel room while they sorted things out. In the end, she was returned home but it took some time. I was exhausted from lack of sleep. I spent the next night at my cousin Doug's home, then after visiting my Aunt in a nursing home, I made a beeline to my son Rob's house in Georgia. 

Rob looked great and we had a very good visit. 

Howeveer, there was a hurricane brewing that threatened my return trip directly through the Blueridge Parkway and areas I wanted to visit. I ended up changing my plans again, and making a beeline for home. 

It's a good thing I did because the campground I'd reserved in North Carolina was completely swept away by the mudslides. And once again, listening to my gut saved my butt!

Soooo.... I didn't get to see Dolly Parton's show, or Palmyra (again) and instead, cancelled all my reservations in that direction, and started home on the southern route... SOMEday I'll make it to Palmyra, I hope!