January 13, 2026 Death Valley, California

 75 and sunny

Judy treated us to lunch at Furnace Creek Inn. Furnace Creek Inn.

We went to Badwater to check if Manley lake was still boatable. It sure looks like it to us. The lake is only here when there are heavy rains, it is so pretty when it is here. 

But the park service in all their wisdom has not prohibited boating. Boo. Hiss.  John and Judy by Lake Manley. Notice all the greenery behind them. It's a rare thing. 

There has been so much water that the desert is turning green with tiny wild flower plants. If the conditions stay good there will be a huge bloom.

More greenery. It is rarely green at all. Artist Palette on Artist Palette drive. 

Lake Manley from Artist Palette Drive. Notice the greenery on the hill side.  Lots of little wildflowers coming up.

Lake Manley from Artist Palette drive. Furnace creek Inn, an oasis in the desert. 

January 7-11, 2026 Shoshone, California

 60 and partly sunny. 

John has been erecting new trail marker posts on the Blue, Red and White trails. They look good and make the trail much easier to find.

Sunset.

I grouted the mosaics. They came out nice. I  need to start work on the front walk with flat rocks and these guys.  The new projects. In the upper right is a turtle and I am working on this tree. I need to fill in the background.

Sunset on the way to Tecopa. Sunset over Tecopa peak and Grimshaw natural area. 

Latest pieces ready to grout.

This tree reminds me of some kind of bird. Maybe a vulture spreading a wing, or a flamingo. Sunset.

Judy hiking on the Aqua trail. We turned around here, it was slick and Judy's legs are not long enough to make it over the water. Beautiful sunny 65 degree day. I grouted the last batch of mosaics. The one just under the tree one that is not grouted says Medjool. I am running out of room for Judy's walk that we are building in the front. We have 9 date palm trees, so I am going to make name tag mosaics for each one so we know what kind of dates are on them. 

This beauty still needs to be grouted. 

December 30, 2025 to January 6 , 2026 Shoshone

 High of 59, cloudy and windy. 

There was  a break in the clouds just in time for sunset. 51, cloudy and rainy. There were these low wispy clouds around most of the day.

Doves on a wire.

This basket is made from dyed and natural pine needles. glass, red coral, amethyst, blue magnetite and  the center is turquoise. It is 8 1/2 x 7 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches. 

The toilet has been leaking for about a week. John ordered some parts, they came, he put them in and it still leaked. He went to Pahrump twice to get supplies. He has now replaced all of the moving parts and so far, knock on wood, it is working. My niece gave me an online mosaic class for xmas. Excellent class. I wanted to collect some broken dishes to cut up and use in a  mosaic , so Judy and I went to the landfill. Of course it was all filled in, so no trash to pick through. But we found another older dump and collected enough to last me for a long time.

 Cool rocks by the landfill. Full wolf supermoon with Jupiter. It was a bit cloudy.

John removing one of three unused satellite dishes from the roof. Before that he was up high on a ladder tying up the palm tree that came loose. These are to broken dishes  that I am going to use in mosaics

First mosaic from the broken dishes. It still needs to be grouted. And the second one, also still needs to be grouted.

Sunset. 

Ravens at the county garage. There are about 50 or more that roost here at night. 

The mosaics. The flowers and the palm are the older ones, the rest are new ones, the two frogs are the same ones, but the second one is with the tiles around it. I fused the lizard, heart, paws and frog. They all still need grouting. The grout should arrive tomorrow. Two types of evening primrose are now blooming. 

December 27-29, 2025 Shoshone, California

 High of 60 and sunny.

Finished this guy. It is made from dyed pine needles and local grass, polyester thread, glass beads and the center is a piece of glass I made. It is 7 1/2 x 7 x 2 inches. Flowers my wonderful husband gave me for xmas.

Ravens on a wire. A desert gold blooming. There are lots of small flower plants coming up. 

No clouds for sunset. Reflection in some puddles left from the last rain storm, the flooded sign is still by the side of the street- it was flooded earlier. One of the palm trees came untied in the high winds. John and Judy trying to retie it. 

I finished this beauty today. It is made from dyed and natural pine needles, polyester thread and glass beads. The center is a cobalt blue piece of glass I purchased.  It is 9 1/4 x 9 1/4 x 2 1/2 inches. 

The procession of cars following  a recently past firefighter to the cemetery in Tecopa. A very nice graveside service for Danny at the Tecopa cemetery. 

The freed palm looks great by the bus. Our friends Bec and Emmett came to visit. We shared nachos at the crowbar. 

Sunset. Bec and Emmett are each over 6 feet tall, we were not sure they would fit on the bunk beds in the guest room. They  managed. 

Bec and Emmett brought cool cheese and bread for happy hour. Happy hour in the Palmer palm patio. Great to see them. 

Brittle bush are blooming.

Lots of little plants coming up.

Mohavea and pink monkeyflower. Brittle bush.

Brittle bush.