January 12-13, 2024 Shoshone, California

 High of 52. Partly cloudy.

Phacelia has little hairs with some kind of toxin on them that are supposed to cause a rash if you touch them. You can see the hairs in this photo. Nice clouds.

Sunset to the south and sunset to the west. 

High of 56. Partly cloudy. Beautiful day for a hike with Roger and Toni in The Amargosa River Canyon. John and Roger heading up. John, Toni and Roger viewing the Amargosa River Canyon.

Amargosa River Canyon. Heading down into the canyon.

A couple different spots where the grape vines are overgrowing the trail and need a bit of trimming. 

Flowers in the canyon. Toni with flowers in a narrow section. 

A spring coming down the canyon wall. Roger, Toni and John on the way back.

Desert art. We stopped and soaked at the hot springs on the way back. Robbie brought Lilly and Mr Bill by for some treats. 

Sunset was outstanding. The waxing crescent moon in sunset.

Waxing crescent moon. 

January 6-11, 2024 Shoshone, California

 High of 55 and partly cloudy.

We worked on the trail again today planting native plants, digging a trenches and straightening the plastic in the channel. Afterwards we went to the hot springs. Very nice. 

Sunset in Tecopa from the hot springs Saturday. Sunset in Shoshone Saturday.

More sunset in Shoshone and sunset on the bus on Saturday.

Judy and I hiked the White trail. Still lots of flowers. Judy heading toward the trail. 

Sunset Monday. Sunset Tuesday was phenomenal. 

And it just got more and more colorful.

Toni and I did a little bit of trail work on the Blue and the Red trail today. Toni on the blue trail. A section of the red trail after we cut our way though it in sunset light. The mesquite grow so fast you really have to keep on it to keep it passable. they are wicked, they have 1 inch thorns. 

Sunset Wednesday night. The Crowbar opened today. It has been closed for renovation of the kitchen since last summer. We have been anxiously awaiting the grand opening.

The new kitchen is incredible.  John, Judy and I had lunch today. It was delicious as usual. the Crowbar is the only restaurant in town, so it is wonderful that it is open again. 

Shadows on the aftermath of the flood this last fall on the Aqua trail. I was out cutting back the trail and marking it again today. I was playing with the macro on my new phone camera this afternoon with the desert gold. 

Macro photos of the desert gold with my new phone camera. 

Macro photo with my phone camera.

January 2-5, 2024 Shoshone, California

 62 and partly cloudy.

Judy on the White  Trail at last light. Mohavea, phacelia, ?? and desert holly.

Cholla, closed and partly open desert 5 spot, and a couple of unknowns. Last light with desert gold in the foreground. 

Sunset.

Mac and Judy refinished this historic butcher block in the General Store.  It came out beautiful. I started out this afternoon in the sun, looking at rain storm on the far side of the valley. It of course spread out and it rained on me. I hunkered down under a cliff and waited it out. 

Cool light and clouds after the storm.

Nice light. Phragmites. 

Wild cloud. Nice light on the palm trees near sunset.

Sunset 

I finished this pretty basket. It is made from dyed pine needles, polyester thread, handmade beads from Chili and the center is  made from a rock I found in the area that I sandblasted and painted the petroglyphs onto.  10 1/2 x 9 1/2 x 2 1/4 inches. I also wrapped this piece of dichroic glass in sterling silver. 

We worked on planting some new plants on the trail that we planted last year. The hurricane flood washed many of last years plants out. Judy behind plants we planted last year. 

John  and Judy digging trenches. 

Me covered with mud.