good-times-rollin

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Happy New Year !

San Diego Metro KOA

Chula Vista, CA

January 2, 2024

Christmas with Jamie and Andra just flew by. We did all the usual Christmasy things...we walked, we ate, we napped, we laughed (a lot), and we watched Christmas movies.

I realized when I was looking for photos that I didn't get a single picture of people...just Ozzie!

The week after Christmas is usually a busy time and this year was no exception. Christmas was packed away...neatly and all ready for the next holiday. Joe had his stitches taken out and other errands were run here and there. Our little oasis got a through cleaning from head to toe and inside to outside. And we managed four good walks. I was on a mission as I had set a goal for myself to walk 60 miles in the month of December. I didn't make my goal and topped out at 55.5 miles...still a personal best for any given month.

Before we knew it, it was New Years Eve. New Year's Eve had us up bright and early. The trailer was loaded, Pearl was loaded and we were out the door. It was a travel day. As much as I love home, I do still love travel day. Sally settled right in her spot while Belle found her mo-jo...

and I enjoyed the scenery as we headed west on I 8.

We pulled in for the night at Dateland...enjoyed the sunset, ate some mac and cheese, walked Sally and crashed. The first sunrise for 2024 was a winner !

Our destination for New Years Day was San Diego Metro KOA...a very familiar spot we have called home from time to time since our first visit there in January 2013. I always enjoy the stretch of road between Dateland and San Diego. We have traveled much prettier highways, but I enjoy this stretch of highway mainly because of where it takes us. The farm lands, the sand dunes, the summits, high winds advisories, and scary bridges make for a fun drive and conversation.

So here we are...mostly settled in...to enjoy a few weeks of visiting with friends, walking the beach, photographing birds, markets, and yummy fish tacos.

It's a beautiful morning ! We had a toast to welcome in 2024 with a cup of coffee...

took Sally to the doggie park and now Joe has a leaky kitchen faucet project to conquer.

Friends are wonderful...two heads are better than one and four hands are better than two. Thank you Ronnie !

Here's to a healthy, happy 2024...my how time flies !

Until next time,

HAPPY TRAILS!

Saturday, December 23, 2023

Merry Christmas Everyone !

Corona de Tucson

December 23, 2023

Madera Canyon Road

Tuesday Joe and I were off to Green Valley to pick up meds and food for Sally, but not before walking at Madera Canyon. We chose the Creek Trail and started at the Proctor parking lot and walked to Madera Picnic area where we turned around. It makes for a 2.5 - 3 mile round trip walk/hike. We have enjoyed really nice temps and clouds this week.

It was no surprise the creek bed was dry. It was actually fun walking in the creek bed and not getting wet...the huge granite boulders caught my eye.

As always, the deer were busy.

And Joe and I were thrilled to see a new to us bird...a Red-naped Sapsucker. I didn't have the big camera and zoom lens so there are no good up close photos of the deer or the Sapsucker. Shame on me and I won't do that again. Red-naped Sapsuckers are industrious woodpeckers with a taste for sugar. Their name implies that they suck the sap, but they don't. They drill neat rows of holes to lap up the sugary sap that flows out. I read that the tip of their short tongues have small hairlike projections that help hold the sap they lap up much like a paintbrush holds paint.

A male Red-naped Sapsucker and his very neat rows of holes...

When I looked back thru the blog, I found we have never been to Madera Canyon in December. It is quite pretty this time of year. I love the golden grasses...

the carpet of brown leaves...

the old trees...

and the rock gardens.

I captured one last photo on Madera Canyon Road when we left.

The rest of the week was busy...Sally had a spa day on Wednesday.

And I got a hair cut on Thursday. I plan hair cuts late morning so we can have lunch out. Thursday, we had tamales...not just any tamales, but Tucson Tamales. In the southwest, Christmas and tamales are a time-honored tradition. The word tamale comes from Mexican-Spanish tamalli meaning wrapped...a yummy corn and cornmeal dough stuffed with meat or beans and cheese mixture then wrapped in a corn husk (hoja) and steamed. I can eat tamales anytime of the year !

My favorite...one green chili chicken, one beans and cheese, and a salad

Back at the oasis, we had a rainy day. It was raining when we woke up Friday morning. It rained all day and was still raining when we went to bed. We even heard some thunder. I was so happy...I love rainy days in the desert and the desert sure needed the water. Sally and I had a walk around the backyard. I love trying to photograph water droplets.