January 23-28, 2022 Shoshone, California

 66 and sunny. The wind finally died down and it was lovely.

I was gifted a zip lock bag full of porcupine quills to use in my baskets. Will be fun. This evening view is from a couple days ago when there were clouds. There were no clouds today, but this scene looked the same just without clouds. If that makes sense to anyone but me.

On my walk on the river trails this afternoon, honey bean mesquite seed pods and a ring necked dove. Badlands east of town. 

Pupfish pond reflecting the huge palm tree. Karin came to visit this afternoon. Karin, Judy D and John. It was great to see her. 

Judy and I working on knapping glass arrow heads. We need a little more work on this. Hiking on the bluff trail this afternoon. 

Judy and John heading back into town. We hiked up to the Old Spanish Trail today. I got up before I was awake to hike and some of my photos are also foggy Mt Charleston to the east over yuccas. 

Foggy view to the west. We hiked to Formidable Hill. This is the Old Spanish Trail monument on Formidable hill.  Judy, Jim, John, Cynthia and Michael. 

Old Spanish Trail monument.

The group hiking back down on the Old Spanish Trail. I finished this basket this afternoon. It is made with natural and dyed pine needles, polyester thread and glass beads. The edge is embellished with porcupine quills. The center is a piece of glass I cast. It is 6 1/2 x 8 x 2 inches. 

Michael and Amy stopped by for visit today after touring Death Valley.  We ordered take out from the Crowbar and had dinner on our veranda. Judy,  Michael and Amy. Today we hiked with Amy, Michael and Moshe their adorable dog. John, Judy and I are also n the photo. 

Moshe getting to know the bighorn skull. I got a wonderful new tablet with windows on it. I had an iPad and I could never figure out how to use it and I was so frustrated. And it really did not do what I needed it for. I would have run it over with the car but my sister can use it. The new Microsoft surface go 3 works just like my laptop and I love it. I had the keyboard and mouse, just the tablet is new. 

Sunset tonight. We actually had a few clouds for it. John made an about 8 inch tall steak sandwich for dinner. He was able to get his mouth around it I guess, it is gone. It has left over smoked steak, lettuce, tomatoes, fresh basil, cheese, onions, mayo and who knows what else  on homemade bread. Mine was not as tall, but was yummy. 

I am now working on this basket. I had started it for the class I taught last spring and my friend did a few rows, took it home to finish,  then decided it hurt her hands too much so she gave it back to me this year and I am finishing it. I am going to try to use some porcupine quills around the center. It's coming out cute. 

January 18-22, 2022 Shoshone, California

 65 and sunny.

We arrived in Shoshone today. Had a nice hike with my sister this afternoon. John and Judy ahead. Judy D prepared us a lovely dinner tonight on the veranda. Susan joined us and Robbie came by in his side by side with the dogs. Great to see everyone. 

71 and sunny today. I went on a 3 mile hike with Judy and John again today. Very nice. I finished this basket. It is made of natural and dyed pine needles, polyester thread, glass, bone and copper beads. The center is a piece of glass I fused. It was a wire wrapped pendant, but I set it in resin for this basket. It is 9 1/2 x 9 x 2 inches.

A couple more views of the masterpiece. Sunset tonight. No clouds, just a glow.

Finally had some clouds today for a great sunset. 

Current masterpiece in progress. Today we helped plant 75 screw bean mesquite trees. They have been dying off so this was part of a restoration project. 

Fortunately they dug the holes with a power auger. The trees are 1-3 feet tall, so we just put them in the holes, but the dirt back and then put up a cage to protect the trees. John carried water and watered them. 

Afterwards Susan treated the team to lunch at the Crowbar. We were whupped and famished. Then we went to the opening reception at the Tecopa Hot Springs Art gallery. Dave, Judy D and Sarah. Judy was one of the exhibiting artists. 

Laura and Mary were also exhibiting. The first photo is Laura and Mary with a piece Laura did and the second they are with some of Mary's work. The art was lovely and it was good to see old friends. After the exhausting day we adjourned to the  Death Valley Brewery. 

Judy D and John with beer and pizza. Susan and Michael joined us. 

January 14-17, 2022 Desert Hot Springs to Little Dumont Dunes , California

 75 and sunny. John spent the day shopping to stock us back up. 

I worked on the current masterpiece more today. It looks good. The center is a piece of glass I made. It was a pendant and is wrapped in copper wire and set in resin.  I took a long walk around the resort we are at. This is the east club house pools. The are all hot mineral water. We soaked here in the evening. 

A black swan in one of the lakes. Moon with palm trees. 

A great white heron, wigeons and mallards by the lake. The houses at the resort around the lake are much bigger and the lake is lovely.

Sunset. We visited Ruel and Cristabel. Ruel and I worked together at Kaiser in Denver  in the late 90's I think. They now live here and he is lab director is a big 400 bed hospital. They just moved into their new their new beautiful home a week ago. JDC, their dog, Cristabel and Ruel. It was fun to visit with them.

John, Cristobel and Sue with the delicious spread they had for happy hour. We visited on their back patio. 

We went hiking with our friend Wanda at Coachella Valley Preserve at 1000 palms today. Nice hike and great to see Wanda. 

Sunset tonight. Our friend Steve and Ginny from Fort Collins came over for dinner tonight. They are wintering in Palm Springs. It was fun to visit with them. John cooked a yummy dinner.

Moon rising and sun setting. 

Good bye Sky Valley Resort on the way out. Gigantic windmills. 

Joshua Tree forest in Yucca Valley. The bus parked in Amboy on route 66, in front of historic Roy's. 

Golden Budda in the desert in Amboy. Route 66. 

We were going to camp at Kelso sand dunes in the Mojave Preserve where we had camped before but we got part way in on the road had deteriorated so we turned around and went farther up the road. Desert view on the way today,

We are now camped at the Little Dumont Dunes OHV Recreation area. It is a pretty area across the street from Death Valley. The full moon rise tonight. Too bad it was cloudy and all we saw was a bright spot.