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. 

December 22-26, 2025, Shoshone, California

 74 and mostly sunny.

We saw this cool trailer. It is a Pebble life, all electric with solar. It has a huge battery, you just charge it up and it is good 4 7 days. Jill took us to dinner at Steak and Beer in Tecopa. It was excellent  As usual. We were the only ones there, had a private dining room.

Cloudy and high of 63. The clouds were threatening when I went for a walk. Big rains predicted. John walking on water and parting the reeds over the newly cleared bridge on the red trail.

John spent the last two days clearing the red trail, fighting mesquite. Thank you John. Last light with ravens on the wire.

The sky cleared just enough to the west to have sunset. 

We had dinner with Judy and Jill on the Palmer Palm Patio. I finished this a few days ago. It is made from dyed pine needles, gem stone chips and the center is selenite that I sandblasted and painted a wolf with pup petroglyph. It is 6 x 5 1/2 x 1 inches. 

They predicted a huge rain storm. But we only got about 0.3 inches. Lots of wind tho. Lots of little desert gold plants coming up, I even found one with a bud on it. If conditions stay good, there could be a good bloom this spring. 

Susan treated us to Xmas dinner at the Crowbar tonight. Food was yummy and it was great to see Susan. Christmas lights in the Crowbar tonight. 

Christmas lights at the General store reflected, and lights at Judy's reflected. 

61 and mostly sunny. Cool clouds, sunset. 

Desert Rock daisy. John made red sauce and meat balls for Christmas dinner.  Yum yum.

Rained most of today. The sun came out for a bit and we got this rainbow, then it started to rain again. 

December 18-21, 2025 Shoshone, California

 70 and sunny.

I finished this masterpiece. It is made from dyed pine needles, polyester thread, glass beads and the center is a piece of glass I fused from murrine I made. Judy won the quilt raffle, here she is with her new quilt.

John, Judy and Jill enjoying sunset with John sawing the top off a pipe.  How many people does it take to saw off the top of a pipe? John also tamping the dirt in it and trying to drill it bigger. We are trying to get Judy's new clothes line to fit on top of it. 

Sunset. Judy fixed the broken string of lights and here is the final display.

OMG, Judy gave me the quilt for xmas! Wow great sister.  I only have one bed, it is reflected in the mirror. Judy, Jill and I were cutting back the foliage on the bridge on the red trail. I was using the sickle, and nicked my leg. Ouch. I know better than to use sharp objects, I am too klutzy. 

The toilet needs a part. Boo. John found a place that has it, but it won't open till Monday. Will have to pretend we are camping. Sunset tonight. 

Sunset over Tecopa Peak. We went to the Solstice party at Cynthia's. Very nice low key gathering.

We thought we should do something to commentate the Solstice, but not sure what. We ended up kind of dancing in a circle thanking the solstice for the up coming longer days and more sun.  A lovely solstice sunset at the gathering. 

It was chilly, so there were some fun hats! Mike played his digeridoo. Really cool.

Sunset with the crescent moon.  Reminds me of the South Carolina flag, it has a palm tree and a crescent. John, Jill and Judy reading the wishes on the stars from the Community dinner. We were going to burn them in a bonfire, but the wind was too high.