Merry Christmas to All

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas.  Some of you were able to spend it with family, and some were not due to a variety of circumstances.  Many suffered a loss of a loved one and to you we send our deepest condolences – may you remember the happy memories.

Our Christmas was spent in Yuma once again as often have in the past.  One of our activities at this time of year is to take a stroll down 54^th Street – a block where many participants take part in the street Christmas theme – The Night Before Christmas. It is always fun to see the various decorations and lights.

 

Following are a lot of photos but the residents certainly are to be commended. 

This is a snowman made from tumbleweed.

This year the weather was unbelievable – here is a photo taken at 9:30 in the evening.

 

Christmas Eve was spent around a campfire enjoying hors d’oevres and great conversation.  We were concerned about the fire as it was a rather windy day.  But just as planned, the wind subsided and we had another perfect evening.     

                                                                                         

Christmas Day was potluck brunch.  As you can see, it was all outside, on another lovely day, with an assortment of some delicious food.

Since we have been laying low, so to speak, our activities and outings are kept to a minimum.  As with everyone, we are trying to keep safe.

I would like to end with a verse from the John Lennon song “So This is Christmas”

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one

Without any fear

Have a great week!!

Into Yuma

Once again it was moving day and this time we moved into Yuma for a couple of weeks.  It’s a pretty drive from Why up to the interstate.  It’s not that the interstate isn’t interesting, and many areas are rather scenic, it’s that you get to view it at 65 miles per hour so it can be difficult to get it all in.

We arrived in Yuma and are parked on our friend’s lot.  It’s been almost two years since we had seen them so it is great to be able to catch up with them again.  Of course, because of the times, everything is pretty low key – no going to shows, or shopping or any of the other things we used to do.  More importantly, we do get to do some great visiting.

This week is their annual Christmas parade, mostly made up of ATV’s plus a few golf carts, and other vehicles.  Our guess is that there were about 50 or more vehicles and some of them go to quite a lot of work with a lot of creativity in their decorating.  It is always enjoyable to sit and watch.  Surprisingly, being from Canada, I bundle up as if it were -20C even though the temperature was really only about 13 or so but I am going to stay warm.  Sorry that the pictures here are a tad blurry but no one wanted to stop so I could get a great photo.

As we go for our daily walks, we come across some interesting things.  There is some real imagination when decorating for the holidays.  Since they lack the beauty of the glimmering snow, many come up with unique decorating ideas.

Each year we walk by a residence that has a huge lot which is always very green and undesertlike.  Here resides this huge turtle which  sometimes is basking out in the sun instead of being down in his hole. 

The owner obviously has a lemon tree or two in his yard and outside he sets a wagon with  lemons for the taking.  While many of them are still green, I used one the other day and it is unbelievably juicy.  Now since lemons are so sour, it really doesn’t matter whether or not they are ripe.

This evening was the  guy's night to cook and they did a great job.  We had a fire at the neighbours next door and pizza - a great way to spend a Saturday evening.

Our week has been quiet but lovely.  I hope your week was great and hopefully you all have a great week next week as you prepare for the Christmas season.

The Week at Why!

Another week of sun and relaxation.  We met Gerry’s cousin and husband for a few days as they were on their way to Mexico for several months.  Visits the past couple of years have been few and far between so it was great to catch up.   

When we were near Tucson, our friend came out of here motorhome to take her dogs out one evening and there was a coyote by our step.  The next night we set up the game camera, but nothing.  This past week, we heard the coyotes again and the  “yips”  were coming from all different directions (I have heard that they are like ventriloquists).  We decided to put out the game camera again.  While I am just posting a couple of photos that we got, the first night there was a coyote right after dark, and there were photos off and on throughout the night. 

The next time we put the camera out it was fairly windy and all we got were a bunch of photos of Gerry’s lawn chair (not too exciting).  A couple of nights later, we got another photo around midnight, plus the rabbit.  Good thing the rabbit didn’t pass through around midnight, as he might have been lunch!!  

We did see the odd humming bird so I put out a feeder.  A lone hummer did make some fleeting attempts at some food, but this big bully ( Gila Woodpecker) dominated the dinner table. 

And there are all kinds of wildlife – we have no idea what this is – I think it is a baby dinosaur of some type (about 1 ½ inch long)!  I am looking for suggestions of what it might be.

Just south of us is Organ Pipe National Monument and they have a couple of roads/trails throughout it which we took.  The scenery on both was great.  Interesting, one road was high clearance only and recommended a four-wheel drive.  The other one was “maintained” and was open to all vehicles.  Well, the maintained one was certainly rougher than the ”rough” one.  Actually other than one stretch of rather soft sand and a gravel ridge down the centre, there wasn’t a lot of difference in the roads.  The vegetation is varied and rather interesting in the growth and formations.

There will be a blue flag on a tall pole along the trail and there is one, sometimes two barrels of water - on the top it says "Humane Borders"

Right up along the Mexican border there is Quitobaquito Springs which is a desert oasis.  It is quite a treat to see the large pond of water with all the growth around it in the usually dry desert.

And one must not forget the Mexican wall, this unsightly structure goes on for as far as one can see.  There are gates periodically – some small, some larger, but I have absolutely no idea of their purpose.  Also, every third light post along the wall has sensing equipment as well as border patrol staff – these folks were situated on top of a hill. 

There are signs posted everywhere to beware of illegal activity but to be honest, I can’t imagine how anyone could get through undetected unless they were able to get through the border station.

Our activity this week was fairly subdued but I did take quite a few pictures.  If you want to see any of them better, just double click on the photo and it will enlarge.

Take care, stay safe, and I hope everyone has a great week!

  

Why - A Small Desert Town

 

Each week just quickly passes by and not much seems to happen.  This past week’s big event was laundry day – that’s a whole days event.  But it has been piling up and it was time.  Interesting system – instead of coins, you get a card (like a credit card), put whatever amount you like on it and just swipe it for wash  and dry.  Depending on the size of wash, the amount increases by ten cents with each level (at least on the regular sized machines which is what I used).  I guess the more water in the machine, the more expensive is the wash.

This week was also moving day.  We moved to a  little town called Why which is not far from the Mexican border.  We will have to take a trip to see the progress on the “wall” since we were here two years ago.  There is some great scenery on the way over – this is what I like to call a cactus forest. 

These are saguaro cactus and like to grown only at specific altitudes mostly throughout in southern Arizona.

On the way over we drove past the Pinal County airport.  This is  a small airport which is a storage, maintenance, and repair facility for commercial aircraft.  There are hundreds of planes stored here as a result of the pandemic. 

In fact, someone had this one parked in his front yard!

Once again we were able to park by our favourite Saguaro cactus. 

Interesting to see some units – here is one where they use the roof as a patio.  Too bad it isn’t super quick and easy to get up there as I expect they must use the back ladder, and believe me, that isn’t real easy climbing.

We are fortunate to meet up with Gerry's cousin, Myrna and Jim, before they cross over into Mexico to spend the rest of the winter.  It is great to get together because we haven't seen much of each other the past couple of years.

Another week has come to a close and another week of incredible temperatures.  I hope you have a great week!