February 10, 2026 Death Valley, California

 70 and cloudy.

We started the  hike from Saratoga Springs in Death Valley. Lots of wildflowers. 

Field of phacelia and evening primrose. Michael in the ruins of a cabin with phacelia and evening primrose. 

Field of evening primrose with some phacelia. Desert gold. 

Whole hillsides of phacelia and and desert gold. Hiking through a field of flowers. 

Field of flowers and dark clouds. The white on the side of the mountain is mine tailings.  There are a lot of old mines in this area.

John found superman's underwear. Ore bin at Pongo mine, our destination, with sand  verbena. 

Sand verbena, 5 spot, evening primrose, desert gold, phacelia, purple mat, primrose, verbena, cryptantha, and desert gold. Hiking in flowers. There is so much green for the desert. 

Judy and John hiking in desert gold. Field of brown eyed evening primrose. 

Evening primrose, booth's evening primrose, spanish needles, 5 spot, primrose, desert star, cryptantha and a painted lady. There were whole hillsides of phacelia and desert gold. 

Phacelia and desert gold. Our boots were covered with pollen from hiking in the flowers. 

Sunset with Tecopa peak over Grimshaw wetlands on the way  home.

February 6-8 2026 Shoshone, California

 High of 74 and sunny.

Grouted these today. My raven even looks like a raven this time. And for the khadrawy date tree.

I have finally finished making name tag mosaics for the 9 date palm trees . The white thing on top of the pole is my new weather station. I always wonder what speed the wind is blowing and how much rain we get when it rains. Now I will know. I can look up the results on my phone or on my computer. 

Desert gold and phacelia. Brittle bush. On the white trail.

Desert star, desert gold, primrose and phacelia , poppies, mohavae, chicory, and evening primrose. We had a small dinner party at Judy's house. Yummy food and great company. 

I finally finished this. Tried a new technique- made a mobius. It took almost 2 weeks and was a bear. It is made from dyed pine needles, polyester thread, glass beads and I fused the center from murrine I made. There is also a metal ring in there somewhere that I started the mobius on. It is 11 x 9 x 2 1/2 inches. In shade and in sun.

Sunset east and west. 

Februry 5, 2026, Ibex Dunes, Death Valley, California

 79 and sunny.

Yellow Desert gold and purple phacelia. 

Yellow desert gold and purple phacelia.

Yellow desert gold and purple phacelia. Ibex dunes over a field of primrose.

Cryptanthia, sand verbena, desert lily leaves, primrose, purple mat and phacelia. Hiking Ibex dunes.

Michael on the crest of the dunes. Michael, James and Judy having lunch on the top of the dunes. 

James sliding down the dune. Ibex dunes.

Ibex dunes.

Ibex dunes and white primrose.

Rainbow mine headframe. Michael, James and Judy hiking back through a field of white primrose. 

Our boots were covered with wildflower pollen when we got back.  Susan made pumpkin pie for us to have with tea when we got back.