Today Diane chose Vail as a destination so we could visit the “Four Arrows Garden” nursery. I suspect there’s story behind the Four Arrows, but I failed to ask what it might be. So, if you’re really curious, let me know and I’ll make something up.
I, personally, did not see one thing that would make me think about arrows but that doesn’t mean anything. I miss a lot of clues to mysteries like this. We may never know what the story is but we can certainly speculate. Not now, though. Perhaps another time.
Diane was looking for some native plants that we can take home with us and see how long it takes for them to shrivel up and die. That may not happen because she got good advice from the lady who helped her. I didn’t listen to what they talked about so I can’t take credit for whatever happens to the new plants, good or bad. I think I’ll be optimistic about their survival, and I’ll be sure to report the results to you all. If I remember.
Vail is only about 15 miles from the Bone Yard so it was a quick trip, both ways. Max was a little bummed when we got off the I-10 freeway heading east because he was looking forward to a trip to El Paso. He calmed down a little after I explained that going that far isn’t in the plan. Maybe one of our future trips will take that direction again. I doubt it, but it could happen.
We’re back in the bus and dinner is done. In a little while we’ll get busy on getting rid of one nite nite.
After a chilly start, this day turned out to be almost like summer in Oregon. We took our laundry up the street to our very own laundromat and sat outside the bus soaking up the sun while the machines did the work. It’s just a short walk – about 100 feet, or so. Maybe even shorter. I’ll have to measure it the next time I make that trip to ensure I’m giving you correct information. I know all of you rely on me for valid information, right?
Yesterday we were going to take a trip to Green Valley to visit with Roberta, my cousin. I’ve talked with her on the phone a couple of times recently and she figured we haven’t seen each other for about 60 years. Yes, 60 years. So, Diane and I were primed for the visit. Sadly, on Friday, our neighbors here in the Bone Yard told us that we’ve been exposed to COVID and needed to quarantine for a week or so. It was good to know so we don’t show up at Roberta’s and spread the good news to her. I called her right away to delay our visit just to make sure we keep it away. So far Diane and I are fine, but Pat and Laurie next door have a pretty nasty case of this critter. Diane and I have had all the vaccines so aren’t concerned about coming down with the virus.
Last night, right after it got dark, Max jumped up to his window, the one next to the driver’s seat, and went ballistic, barking at something running by the RV. Shortly after that we could hear the coyotes howling very close to us. So, technically, Max saved my life by letting me know it wasn’t a good idea to go outside. Actually, I had no intention to go outside anyway, but it was still good to have him warn me.
Now I must do some catching up on stuff that happened previously. Most important was Diane’s birthday lunch at Mama Louisa’s.
Sarah, our waitress, took our picture to commemorate this moment.
Diane had ravioli’s drenched in pesto sauce and she swooned on almost every bite. I guess she really liked them. I was very happy about that.
I was looking forward to some spaghetti ala carbonara but that’s not a menu item. I really like that stuff. But I settled for giant prawns, gently warmed in a buttery lemony concoction, and lovingly placed in a bowl of linguini. It was pretty awesome as a substitute. For some reason I didn’t take a picture of my meal which is unusual. I almost always take a picture of my food, even at home. I did, however, get one of the tiramisù that Diane got for getting older. It was pretty good, too.
The candle was lit when it arrived, and Diane blew it out before the shot. She put the candle back but we didn’t have any matches to relight the candle so you’ll have to squint a little and visualize a flame on the candle so you can enjoy the original effect.
I’ll end this with a photo of Diane’s snowman collection that she’s accumulated since we’ve been here. She finds them in the thrift stores and I gotta say they are pretty cute sitting there on the printer.
Yes, there’s a reindeer in there with a snow globe, and he’s cute, too.
We pray that all is well with you. Peace and Joy to you and your families during this blessed season.
Diane drove me to ACE today after I finished giving Barb a hand with the Bethany November Newsletter. When all was said and done, there was no interference on my part because Barb figured it out herself. All I did was give her a bunch of other stuff to think about that probably caused more confusion than help. But it was fun to work with Barb.
Before leaving the ACE parking lot, I had to snap a picture of this …
I had to go around to the front to see what the logo was. It’s a Mercedes Benz. The hood, roof, and trunk deck are really shiny black. Interesting.
After shopping at ACE, for the bolt that fell into the black holding tank, Diane took us to Raising Cane’s for some Chicken Fingers. I wasn’t sure I’d like them simply because of the fact that chickens don’t have fingers. Also, the white meat they use has no resemblance to fingers whatsoever. I could tell that just from the advertisements. But I thought it would be OK. After all, on many of my trips overseas I’ve eaten some strange things cooked on a hibachi. It was universally called monkey meat because no one was really sure what it was. But it tasted good so none of us really cared. It was BBQ.
Cane’s chicken fingers turned out to be really good, especially with the dipping sauce they provide. We each had a 3-piece meal.
After lunch Diane went to the commissary, again. Seems like she’s always going there to get something. That’s probably because we’re always running out of stuff. I might have to quit eating food that requires refrigeration. While she was gone, Max and I did a little plumbing and got the toilet secured to the floor like it’s supposed to be. He was a huge help.
When Diane returned, she fed Max. He was being pretty persistent about getting that out of the way. Then we could all relax.
Now he needs to go for a walk. Diane thinks we should take him to one of the enclosed off leash areas where he can run. In my experience, however, he’s really not into running unless there are other dogs involved. Or cats. Either will do. By himself, he just sticks his nose to the ground and slowly walk around smelling every inch of the space he’s in. Once in a while he will release a measured portion of urine to leave his mark. It always amazes me how he can do that. If I was a dog, once I start going, it doesn’t stop until there’s nothing left.
Now I must quit. Diane will probably delete that last bit.
Diane decided that she was cooking today. We had some porkchops thawing in the fridge for a couple of days and it was time to spice them up. She did it in the crockpot and it was really good. It had sliced potatoes and onions under the meat and the end result was a lot like pork chops and scalloped potatoes. It wouldn’t be ready until 1730 so she had the entire day free to roam.
Once the food was in motion, we went to ACE Hardware, one of the many in Tucson, to get metal screws so I could properly attach the flapper seal on the bottom of the bedroom slide. That’s the part that blocks daylight from streaming under the slide when it’s extended. She figures if she can see daylight under the slide, so can mice and rats. Up until now, I’ve been blocking the gap from the inside but that’s a tedious task. I should have fixed it a long time ago but by putting it off for so long I was honing my procrastination skills to a world class level. Diane has convinced me that it’s time for me to give up on this lofty goal and get to work. What I needed was some self-tapping metal screws to put it together properly, so we took a little trip to a local ACE store. There are 5-6 of them in this town. Thankfully, it had free popcorn. I got to eat most of it before I dumped it on the floor on my side of the car. What a mess.
Diane dropped Max and me at home then drove off to complete her visit to the last thrift store she was at yesterday, the Humane Society Thrift Store. She had to stop shopping early because she wore the wrong shoes, and her feet complained. Today she’s in flip flops and can walk a mile in those things.
I stayed home with Max with the understanding that I was to find a way to use my time alone in a productive manner. So, between bouts of productivity I watched a little NCAA Football and randomly walked Max. We ate some stuff, too. I don’t remember what it was, but it was good. It was a nice day, so we spent some time lounging on the patio. Max got whiplash trying to get a bead on everything that moved, and I just sat there, reading. It was best to be outside because the crockpot aroma was getting to me. It was wonderful.
Watching football wasn’t really interesting to me until late in the afternoon. The Oregon Ducks, #1 in the nation, didn’t play today so I had to wait until 1700 when the PAC 12 teams, both of them, played each other for the title. The Oregon Ducks used to be in the PAC 12, but they went east to play with the Big 10 guys. They are doing OK, too.
The Oregon State Beavers played the Washington State Cougars for a full four quarters. The lead changed hands numerous times throughout the game, and it was tied 38-38 with 20 seconds remaining in regulation. Oregon had the ball, and it was 4th down. All the Beaver kicker had to do was nail a 57-yard FG. Which he did. Final score, 41-38, Beavers win. It was awesome.
While I watched the game, Max spied on the neighbors, Diane locked herself in the bedroom and watched old Columbo mysteries. It’s her safe place. I appreciate that she allows me to watch a game now and then.
Diane wouldn’t let me add a photo of her which makes sense. I didn’t even take one.
Temporary Sanity ... 