CHANGING COURSES

About nine a.m., Jim checked his tires…

…his tail and brake lights, a complete walk around the motor home and toad.  One thing I appreciate about Jim is his safety and his safety record. He always does a complete inspection before hitting the road and maintains the vehicles in tip-top condition. He will not return to Murphys for two years.

It is a long time,  and it was sad to see him drive away. However, I’ll be flying to meet him sometime in mid January to continue our ramblings together.
Together we wander through
The wooded ways.
Old beauties are green and new
Seen through your gaze.     By Anne Campbell
You are never alone with a poet in your pocket.

SIX INCHES OF WHITE STUFF, SNOWBALL SURPRISE

Where are the grandchildren when the big snow hits? Its a school day, and Owen's 9th birthday today. Happy Birthday Owen!! Wish you were here to see the beauty and have a snowball fight with Grandma. The best I could do is take some pictures. One of six inches of white stuff on Jim's motorhome. He tells me the motorhome has rarely experienced snow. (Check out his blog.) But, its beautiful stuff and I actually went outside and made a snowball and threw it at Jim and he caught it. The trees in the yard look like we live on a different planet. Both of us appreciated the beauty, despite the cold. Besides, what's winter without a bit of white stuff now and then? Of course, I'm glad to see it melt off before I have to get out the shovel. And, I don't live in Avery where Pam Quyle of Quyles Kilns tells me the power has been out for a couple of hours.

HIBERNATION-HIDING FROM THE SNOW

Jim arrived late yesterday and we put the motorhome in hibernation. I didn't know a motorhome could hibernate but with snow predicted, we hastily drained tanks and insulated vents, etc. But my guy, he showed up in a sleeveless shirt and shorts. I tell ya, these follow the sun types haven't a clue. But my rover enjoyed a taste of Red Rover Prosecca by Stevenot Winery and we celebrated his arrival. Then, he admitted, he felt a bit cheated because the snow didn't show up as predicted. What I'm gonna do with this guy?? Actually he's my hero. He has promised to take care of me when I'm incapacitated by shoulder surgery. (He is clueless but I love him.)

DRAWN GUN CHALLENGE AND RIGHT-OF-WAY

Today, I stopped at Murphys Realty to have papers notarized by my dear friend Kendra North, after which we went to lunch at Grounds. Kendra and I met as quilters and for years we met on Monday nights and quilted and gossiped and sipped. Then life changes and habits change, too. But, golden friendships, we never forget.
This legal paper was necessary as a neighbor of mine in Oregon crosses a corner of my property to get to his house at the end of a dirt road. According to the paper work, his family has been crossing this patch of my land for 70 years. Who am I to even think about denying him legal access, especially since the papers claimed they could win the right in court and they would take me to court on January 15th if I didn't sign? I, mean, I was in Yuma on Jan. 15th? Not too friendly, this paperwork. And, my erstwhile neighbor isn't too friendly either. His boys have rammed my gate with their pick-up. My foster daughter and her husband visited my place for the first time and mistakenly thought my place was at the end of the road, and "friendly" neighbor drew guns on them for having the gall to drive into his driveway. The same thing happened to my cousin in his motorhome. I was tempted to return the paper with a note politely requesting that he never draw weapons on my guests and I would be glad to sign. But, in the end, I thought better of it, signed the paper and enjoyed my good and true friend Kendra instead.
Lunch was delicious but the company nonpariel.