January 27-29, 2023 Shoshone, California

John and Emmett preparing dinner last night. A beautiful day.  62, sunny and no wind. The Pupfish Pond on my walk about today. 

John sat in the middle of the road reading, said he was a solar speed bump. I set up a table beaded on this pendant and then started a basket from this long grass I collected. Happy hour appeared by my art  table. John, Emmett and Judy

 Sunset. Lilly brought Robbie over so she could have some dog biscuits. Judy, Robbie, John and Emmett. 

66 degrees, sunny and very little wind. The first THC (Tecopa Hiking Club) hike of the year today into the badlands behind China Ranch Date Farm. Our fearless leader Roger.

There are huge slabs of white sparkly gypsum in the canyon walls here. I forgot to get a photo of the big pieces I scored to make baskets with. We had lunch here on top of the ridge, in a spot we call Mars.

Mike exploring Mars. On the way up and down we walked in these cool narrow canyons. 

Looking up the main wash on the way out.

Waxing gibbous moon over the badlands. China Ranch Date Farm. 

Of course we stopped for a date shake at China Ranch Date Farm. We all had tea and fresh date banana, applesauce bread after wards at Michael and Susan's house. 

The late evening light on the clay hills outside of Tecopa as we were on our way to Tecopa Hot Springs. I finished beading this pendant. It is 1 1/4 x 1/4 inches. The dichroic glass is either dark blue or purple depending on the light.

Also finished beading this pendant. I had some trouble with the black beads, black thread, black background combo. But it came  out nice. 1 1/2 x  1 inches. The dichroic glass is silver crosshatch over sparkly dark blue. Very nice. This is one of the slabs of sparkly, translucent gypsum I brought back yesterday from our hike. It is about 12 x 6 x 3/8 inches. I wish I had my tile saw and polishing flat lap with me to make it into basket centers. 

Evening light and sunset were lovely tonight. 

January 23-26, 2023 Shoshone, California

 58, sunny and very windy. Gusts to 52 mph.

We hiked the 3 mile White Trail loop this afternoon. Almost blew away. John and Judy. We saw this arch in the middle of the photo.

When we got to it we found that it was actually a sun lit shrub in front of a shadowed cliff. John and I waiting out of the wind for Judy coming down the trail.

This bunch of birds were in the mesquite when we came home. Mostly cedar waxwings, a barn swallow and something else I don't know what is. Sunset from the old garage in Shoshone. 

My current basket inventory. Sunset with the sliver moon, Saturn and Venus. 60 degrees, sunny and very windy. Gusts to 68 mph. 

 

It was 62, sunny and windy. I went on a short hike and saw this hawk and goldenrod. I finished this pendant. It is a beveled, polished piece of dichroic glass I made set in a beaded bezel and bail. I think this was the first one I didn't spend half of the time trying to fix mistakes.  1 3/8 x 1 3/8 x 3/8 inch.

Also finished this basket. 5 x 4 1/2 x 2 inches. it is made from dyed pine needles, polyester threat, glass beads and the center is a piece of dichroic glass I fused. Sunset tonight. 

Emmett and John starting happy hour. Judy P and Judy D joined us later. 64, sunny and windy. I went on a hike with Judy D and James in Ash Meadows. We left from this spring at The Point of Rocks.

We headed toward the sheep guzzlers up in the mountain. They are at the red arrow. The guzzlers  have rainwater stored  for the mountain sheep. A mountain sheep. 

We went up a steep narrow canyon. Judy and James ahead. 

Heading up the steep narrow canyon. James  crossing a steep canyon wall. 

Blue pupfish in the Point of Rocks Spring, beautiful rocks along the hike, cute little cactus and on the way out we passed the zeolite plant. The zeolite was on the ground around the road into it. It looks like green kitty litter. We hiked up to this arch for lunch.

Me in the arch and Judy, James and I in the arch after lunch.

James and Judy on the way down. Judy doing a tricky move. 

Traversing the steep scree slope on the way down. Judy and James on the flats back to the car. 

Nice lines in the mountain with creosote bushes.