Junque Mountain

I can't escape it.  Everywhere I go there's junque!

In my mind, there's a difference between plain "junk" and good "junque".  Junk is stuff that's one step away from going in the trash.  But Junque...it has character and charm, and maybe even value.

On a recent trip to our fishing cabin on the Old Colorado River, I took some time to gaze at an amazing collection of desert finds our neighbor has gathered over the years.

He's searched in and around many of the old mining sites 

in the foothills to find reminders of days gone by, 

then hauled his booty back home in his jeep, 

and added it to the hill that stands behind our houses.

Some of it is placed artistically

While other pieces seem to be thrown down.

Either way, it makes for fascinating entertainment 

in a place where there's nothing to do but fish or read.

Wouldn't you love to know why this giant plastic tusk was abandoned in the desert?

Hubby speculates it was from an old movie set.  One with a large plastic elephant.  

Doesn't ring a bell.

Who needed a paper cutter out there?

Some things add up.

Other's don't.

I wonder if the cars are buried in the sand somewhere out there?

 Most of the tools are HUGE.

I called Pizza Man over to check out the size of this horseshoe.  

It was GIANT, and must have come from a Clydesdale or Percheron.

Hubby was busy moving dirt to fill in a gully that was created during a flash flood.

I'll leave you to look at some more of this good junque.  

I'm off to address the junque mountain in my garage.

I'm Counting My Blessings

xo Susy

Changes

Fall is upon us.  For my beach community, the changes to the new season are always subtle.  First it's an increasing nip in the air, morning and evening, until finally it's necessary to close the windows that have stood open all summer.  Then the leaves of the maples and sycamores lining the neighborhood streets are no longer green.  They don't move gracefully from yellow to amber to red, however ~ they simply go brown and eventually fall off. 

As with the new season, some subtle changes have taken place for me too.  It's all good, and I'm so happy to have  time again to blog and visit!

One of the changes is (after much consideration), I've decided to make some adjustments in my time commitments to the charities and boards I serve, and already I'm feeling relieved and  refocused.  Sadly, I'll be saying goodbye to a board I've been on for ten years - but I know it's the right decision.

Also, hubby and I recently returned from a 6-day road trip to Sundance, Utah, that was possibly one of the sweetest we've had in years.  The drive was beautiful, our accommodations were wonderful, and we spent most of the time in the company of our son and daughter-in-law, and their friends.  I came back extremely refreshed, and inspired to start this new season of my life.

I'll tell you all about it, a little at a time.

Here's where we stayed.  It's a vacation home of friends of our son and DIL, 

in an area just above the Sundance resort, called Brickerhaven.

No internet, no wifi, no TV, no cell phone reception.

And no coffee maker. Oh my!

Counting My Blessings,

xo Susy

Fresh Starts

I've been on a kind of self-imposed hiatus from social media.  All is well; it was lots of work and needed re-prioritizing that kept me away.  But, things have leveled off again, so Pizza Man and I were able to spend a few days at our fishing camp in the California desert.

He worked some, laying stepping stones along one side of the cabin

"Smile for the camera."  "I am smiling, take the picture!"

The next day we hit the dusty trail to the lake

 

He fished, I read a book and worked on a lesson plan on my iPad

The sunshine, fresh air, and reprieve from the internet and cellphones 

was quite restorative

I came home feeling invigorated for the season ahead

Thanks to all you sweeties that inquired of me during my silence.

It's nice to be missed (**

Counting My Blessings,

xo Susy

Checkin' Out ~

The house is tidy, leftovers are in the cooler, my bag is packed with warm clothes, hiking boots, and good books.  I'm checked out from work for the rest of the week year.

Yup, I'm ready to go.  Giddyup!



Counting My Blessings

xo Susy

Time Out

We enjoyed a little porch-sitting and fishing this weekend at our get-away cabin at the Old Colorado River.  We hauled down a pair of has-been wicker chairs that I bought at a yard sale for $10.  The round table had been inside the cabin, but was replaced recently with one that hubby preferred, so it was relegated to the porch. 

My assignment was to give them all a coat of white paint ~ and my reward was reserved dinner seating with a spectacular view.

Counting my Blessings,

Susy

                                                                                 

River Glories

Thought I'd share some photos from our recent trip to the Old Colorado River.  We were up bright and early to work on the cabin every day, then enjoyed fishing in the late afternoon when the temps cooled down.  There was always a nice breeze and some shade to escape to. The desert, the water, and the wildlife were magnificent.


      This is the palm tree that sits on the bank of the river in front of our cabin

I named her Deborah

Hubby thought it looked like a woman 

with her hair blowing in the wind

We were up with the sun

and  were greeted by this owl's whoowhoo

 

We heard coyotes howling, and frogs that sounded like cows

as we sipped our coffee on the porch

 

Later we were off

to explore dusty roads

and search for vibrant color

We passed by the golf course

with it's funny signs

 

...reserved for Members and Guests only!

Can you spot the flag?

 We dropped the boat in the lake

 and drifted

along the bank

and joined the reeds blowing in the breeze

and mud hens diving for dinner

Birds moving from one field to another

and an egret stalking a fish

An owl facing the bright, hot sun

and an angler anchored in the shade line

We looked for campers fishing from the shoreline

while I was safely tucked under an umbrella

Our days ended back at the cabin

with the birds and the bugs

 Home again

..where no shooting is allowed