Packing our Bags

 Monday, December 22, 2025

Today was a day of packing to make a trip back to Michigan to spend the Christmas Holidays with our children and grandchildren. Last year we drove and it was a long month especially since almost half of it was spent traveling to and from. So we talked about it, a lot, as we drove back to Arizona and decided, going forward, we would be making the trip every year but we would be flying. 

We moved the Stinger "B" to this spot because our friends, Melissa and Lyle, have very generously offered to look after her along with the Jeep while we are back with our family. If that was not enough they offered to bring us to the airport tomorrow and, yes, they have promised to pick us up. We cannot begin to express how grateful we are that they are doing this for us. They will be spending more time driving to and from the airport each time than the length of either of our flights. 

Sometimes people come into your life and a friendship you never expected just happens. There is no explaining it. One minute you are strangers and the next minute you realize you have met and come to know two very special people that you are lucky enough to call friends. After a while you cannot imagine not knowing them. Nor can you imagine not  having them in your life. 

Then if they were not doing enough for us tonight they fed us dinner. Lyle grilled hamburgers and they were delicious. Thank you for dinner. What would really be nice is if I could now insert a picture of our friends or the lovely dinner or even just the campfire that was going and keeping us warm while we ate. But no there is not one picture. I did not think of it until we were back home. I am now thinking maybe in the future before we go to something we would like a picture of I should set an alarm on my phone and name the alarm, "take a picture". 

For the first time in a while the sky was cloud covered and not a touch of pink or golden orange could be seen in the sky as the sun set on our day.

Sunset tonight was behind the clouds.

The last of today's light before darkness descended.

It was a busy day getting ready to leave. Then it was nice to relax and visit with friends over a good meal with a campfire keeping us warm.

If you have enjoyed the pictures I have put out there 

or the words I have added that makes me smile. 

If you have time to leave a comment they are always special to read. 

No matter what I am glad you stopped by!

Same Sun from a New Viewing Area

Sunday, December 21, 2025

We were up and out the door this morning before the sun made an appearance. The reason was to attend Mass at Sacred Heart in Parker and it is at 8:00AM. It was, as Tom recalls, 50 degrees when we stepped out this morning. It seems very strange to think of today as the first day of Winter. For many years the first day of Winter, to us, meant cold temperatures, 50 does not count we would have called that a heat wave, and snow on the ground. Actually, this time of the year, back in the day, we would have called 40 degrees a heat wave...lol

In the early dawn the sky was a golden orange.

Friday, December 19, 2025

This was our last day in the park so we did spend it packing up. We are excited to be moving on and at the same time a little sad to be leaving. We are happy Nancy made it before we left and sad we would not be parked with her in between Patsy and Bill and us a little longer. Just the same it made for a nice last Happy Hour here to have her join us. 

Credit goes to Tom for both of tonight's pictures.

Happy Hour
Bill, Patsy, and Nancy

Tonight's afterglow was a beautiful golden orange.

Saturday, December 20, 2025

We started the day enjoying our coffee before the sun came up this morning. After spending a month parked in one place, even though we started packing up yesterday, we knew it would take a while before Tom would be starting the Stinger "B's" engine and pulling her out of our site. Check out is 11o'clock here and we were a few minutes late doing so. Today's drive would only be around 20 miles so the Jeep "With No Name" would not be towed behind. Tom left ahead of me, he had two stops to make. One to top off the diesel and the second to top off the propane. I had three stops. One at the office to settle up our electric bill and say a see you next year to Patsy and Bill, the second one was Dollar General and finally the bank for some cash. The plan was to meet out at Plomosa Road to have lunch before continuing on our journey. Today Tom got there first and was waiting for me. That never happens I am always the one waiting but today he said at both his stops there was no line and he was in and out in record time.

Following the Stinger "B" and Tom

as they make their way towards and through
 the Plomosa Mountains.

We found our turn off  of Plomosa and in no time Lyle was directing Tom into a lovely spot where we will enjoy the views and the company. The Stinger "B" and  the Jeep with "No Name" will be here longer then Tom and I but we will enjoy every day we are here. While the guys were doing that Melissa and I mostly just sat and chatted. The guys soon joined us and we decided it was time for Happy Hour. 

Tonight's Sunset

Pink Sky towards the East

Lovely Orange Glow in the West

We have had several nights in a row with the sky filled with a beautiful afterglows!

It is always bittersweet leaving a place we have enjoyed staying. Plus this time we were also saying see you next year to Patsy and Bill. I will repeat myself and say we were a little surprised as to just how much we enjoyed our stay at Park Place RV. We knew it was a nice park but we are boondockers and love being out in the desert. The thing was we wanted to be in a park to get ready for our trip back to Michigan and this ended up being the perfect place to do so. Tom and I agree we will spend more time there in the future.

Sunday, December 21, 2025 continued:

As we road along on our way to Parker the sky was a beautiful

combination of golden orange, rosy pink, and blue.

It almost looked like a smoke signal coming up over the mountain.

We turned west and the sun popped up behind us.
Yes, this picture I took through a dirty window
is the sunrise reflected on a dirty mirror.

Then we could see the sunlight touching Parker, Arizona

Tom took a walk around the area and these are the pictures he took.
Yes, that is the Stinger "B" looking all happy in its spot.
He left the two painted rocks in place.

The sun setting on a good day.

Top picture looking towards the East.
The bottom picture I just liked how the last of the light was 
touching the Saguaro in the distance.

There were lovely rosy pink clouds in the sky this evening.

The last sliver of orange glow before the blackness 
of the night engulfed us.

As I write this we are tucked in out off of Plomosa Road across from our friends, Mellissa and Lyle, who are generously sharing this beautiful spot they have found out here. Tom and I love boondocking and there is a peace about being here.

If you have enjoyed the pictures I have put out there 

or the words I have added that makes me smile. 

If you have time to leave a comment they are always special to read. 

No matter what I am glad you stopped by!

It was a Two State and One Foreign Country Kind of Day (Plus a Happy Anniversary!)

 Starting at the end and moving backwards over the last three days.

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Today was a day of getting laundry done and starting to store things away that need to be out of harms way when the Stinger "B" is going down the road. After spending a month here at Park Place RV on Saturday it will be time to move on. Not to far but just the same it is a process to get ready to move. We truly have enjoyed out time here and it certainly flew by. We hope to spend more time here in the future. At the same time we are looking forward to being back out in the desert boondocking. Though it will only be for a couple of days before we leave the Stinger "B" to enjoy being parked out by friends while we fly home to Michigan for the Christmas Holidays. She will not be entirely alone though, besides our friends, the Jeep with No Name will be near by.  While we are enjoying time with our grandchildren and their parents in the frozen north; she will be enjoying warm days and cool nights and if we know our friends there will be a couple of campfires. More about that in the future.

Later in the afternoon we sat out for a couple of hours with our friends Patsy, Bill, Kim and Ken for a Happy, Happy Hour. No picture because we were having to much fun. How many times have I said that, I wonder; or left and thought a picture would have been nice? Well tonight Patsy and Bill left first and then Patsy came back to take a picture of the four of us who had yet to stand up, she had remembered in time. Well sort of Bill had already left for the flying field. She also got some nice pictures of the sunset. Click on this link to see them. It seems strange to say but it was the last Happy Hour with this group for 2025. 

I missed the sunset this evening but I did luck out and catch the afterglow.

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Today's destination was Los Algodones just across the border from Yuma. I needed new glasses and they are less expensive, okay cheaper, here than in the states without sacrificing the quality. If you are questioning that, my eye doctor back home checks the prescription and it is always right on. 

The goal was to not take to many pictures today, since, we just made this same ride last week.

The sun was just coming up over the mountains
as we left Quartzsite behind us and headed south.
(Picture was taken through a dirty windshield.)

Still my favorite view when heading south on US-95 
between Quartzsite and Yuma.

Bales of Cotton

Farmers in Yuma wrap their bales of cotton in pink to support Breast Cancer Awareness. It is a visible way to raise awareness for the cause and to honor survivors and fighters. Manufacturers of the wrap, such as Tama and Trioworld, often donate a portion of the sales, according to the article I read, from each roll of pink wrap to cancer research foundations and charity organizations.

Looking out as we drive through the Yuma area we
can see fields filled with green in the distance. 

Then this view is in front of us.

As we cross the Colorado River I can see the
St. Thomas Indian Mission up the hill.

We have attended Mass several times at this mission in the past. Walking in the door here we have always been made to feel welcomed. The church is beautiful inside.

Crossing into California

After passing more green fields

there is our exit just ahead.

My glasses have been ordered and we have stopped to enjoy
a cup of coffee and share a Banana Muffin.
This manger scene is in the courtyard where the coffee shop is.

While waiting, the two hours, for my glasses to be ready we did a little walking, browsing, and shopping. It was a quick trip but we will definitely be back at least a couple more times in the next few months. 

I was trying for a picture of both flags
and the breeze did not co-operate.

Back in California

Then we are back in Arizona

We made a few stops, in Yuma, to pick up a few things we needed before heading back home.

Heading towards US-95 on Fortuna Road
we spotted this Paraglider.

Then we could see the Aerostat Balloon over the mountains.

Ocotillos and Saguaros as the sun was setting behind us.

The Kofa Mountains are rugged and the shadows at this time
of the day are beautiful.

That really looks like a shadow or is it a door. 

I did not get a picture of the sunset but I do like how the sky
turned pink over the mountains in the twilight

It was a long but successful day and I do have new glasses.

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

No pictures today.

So in my last blog I mentioned I was hoping to add to and not subtract from my penny collection. I was relying on the third time being the charm. How did that work out for me you may ask? The quote below says it all...lol

Tuesday afternoons, here in the park, several ladies get together to play Po-Ke-No. Honestly, it is a fun couple of hours filled with lots of laughter. I have really enjoyed playing this game with them. Winning enough to come out at least even, of course, would be nice but it is fun just the same.

Before I hit publish and send this blog on it way there is one more thing to add:

Happy 16th Anniversary to our son and his beautiful wife!

Nadine and Thomas
On their wedding day, December 18, 2009

We love you, Dad and Mom

xoxo    xoxo

If you have enjoyed the pictures I have put out there 

or the words I have added that makes me smile. 

If you have time to leave a comment they are always special to read. 

No matter what I am glad you stopped by.

Checking Something Off My "Wish" List (A Look Back)

Sunday, December 14, 2025

When we first get up in the morning it always seems like those first few hours just slowly drift by. They are not in a rush to get going and neither are we. Then all of a sudden it is 10 o'clock and when it is Sunday that means we need to be ready and out the door in a little over an hour, Mass is at 11:30. Unless we are in the desert then we barely have an hour, it takes a little more time to make our way out of the desert to the road. Yes, there are times when we are those last minute scramble people. 

After Mass we stopped at the Mountain Cafe for breakfast. Then we thought, lets take a little ride, we got as far as the LaPosa South LTVA before deciding neither of us really felt like a ride. So Tom turned the "Jeep with No Name" around and we headed home. 

We had not been back home very long when we heard voices close by and when Tom looked out the door he saw that Patsy and Bill had moved their chairs in the sunny lot between us, Ken had just pulled up, Kim is off on her own adventure, so Tom moved our chairs into the circle. Happy Hour with this group is always fun and today was not exception. 

I took this picture just because I liked the look of the sky.

Happy Hour with Ken, Patsy, Bill, and Tom

When I first saw this golden/orange glow out the window
I though it was pretty and it was.

Then it turned into a very pretty orange glow.

When we are in the Quartzsite Area we mostly attend Mass at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Mission here in Quartzsite. The Sacred Heart Parish Church in Parker is the main parish church and there are three missions connected to it. Our Lady Queen of Peace is one of them. There is also, St. John the Baptist Mission in Wenden and St. Kateri Tekakwitha in Poston. Once and awhile we have driven over the Blythe to attend Mass at St. Joan of Arc, or to Parker for Mass at Sacred Heart. Though we do enjoy attending Mass close by and we have found it to be a welcoming church community.  

Our Lady Queen of Peace

Next to the church there are two areas with benches.
They are perfect places to sit, rest, and reflect.

Monday, December 15, 2025

I only took one picture today and it is of a flower I quilled on the front of a card. Quilling is something I have wanted to learn how to do for a few years and today thanks to Patsy I had my first lesson. Not to mention a very lovely time learning. She knew I wanted to learn how to quill, it might have been because I mentioned to her several times I was jealous she was able to take several classes last year...lol  So when she offered to take the time to show me how I was thrilled. So thank you Patsy and I am looking forward to the next time...😊 hint...hint...Actually no hinting needed she has already offered a second lesson.

Not to bad of a start and a little check goes 
next to quilling. I say little because there is a 
lot more to learn.

The sunshine is coming through our windows as I finish writing this on Tuesday morning the last few days have been fun and we are looking forward to what the day will bring. Personally, I am hoping to add not subtract from my penny collection today. I am relying on the third time being the charm...🤞

A Look Back at our family and life during the time I was not blogging.

While I was on Blogging Vacation we had two of our grandchildren make their First Confession and First Communion, Our oldest grandson was confirmed and in June our daughter was confirmed. We, also, had one Baptism. 

Nathaniel's First Communion
May 2024

Adelaide's First Communion
May 2025

Noah's Confirmation
April 2025
His sponsor is in the picture with him.

Noah is in the front just off center to the right.

Rachel's Confirmation
June 2025
She is pictured with Nadine her sponsor.

Daniel's Baptism
December 2024

Proud Parents

Happy Grandparents

To witness our children bringing up their children in the Catholic Religion like we raised them, we were raised, and the generations before us were raised is a true blessing!

If you have enjoyed the pictures I have put out there 

or the words I have added that makes me smile. 

If you have time to leave a comment they are always special to read. 

No matter what I am glad you stopped by!