Saturday – 12/4/10
Photos: http://silverserenity.shutterfly.com/2706
Our days here are slow and easy. Usually in the mornings after we wake up the first thing is coffee for Thomas and cheese crackers for me. Then we straighten up which mostly means making the beds and turning them into the couch and living room. From there is the morning trip to the hot spring for a dip and then back “home” and have a shower followed by breakfast/lunch and reading, napping, cooking, or something until time to go back to the hot spring again. The nights are filled with fixing supper then watching a movie or just talking.
When we left home Thomas packed three boxes of tomatoes. Now we are into the very last box and they will only be with us for a couple more days before we have to buy tomatoes in the store. Needless to say, we are savoring every bite that is left.
Sunday 12-5, I awoke to find a wondrous sunrise. I could tell it was going to be unmatched and wasn’t proven wrong. (Photos 6393-6406) As the sun got closer to making its appearance the sky became more and more colorful. Even the sky behind me, over our trailer and towards the west reflected pinks. The clouds kept me from seeing the sun creep over the horizon and instead kept the sun shielded from view until it was much higher in the sky.
On 12-9, Thursday, I had accidentally left our swim suits hanging on the fence after the morning dip. When we went back that night, they were gone. Of course, this was my favorite bathing suit and I was so very disappointed. My hope was that one of the regulars might recognize them and had saved them for us. But no, they were gone.
The folks from the local area also use the hot spring so everyone we talked to said to forget seeing them again. Yes, it was my fault they were left but it still threw me back to when our truck and trailer were stolen and I was very upset for a couple of days.
The next day, Friday the 10th, we went to town to mail some things, fill up with gas, pick up a couple of things at Wal-Mart and we also hit the flea market again so Thomas could get a Sunday Afternoon Hat that was similar to his but only $5.
We also were looking for a swim suit for me. Wal-mart had a few but I was looking for a one piece. Nothing. Next we went to JC Penny’s…..nothing. Then Dillards and there was one that fit finally!
Saturday the 11th – So much for taking a nap! Across the canal there are fields which are being sprayed via a crop duster and the wind is blowing our direction. We get up and head to Calexico just to kill some time and visit the local flea market there. It was 3:30 when we arrived and it closes at 4:00pm. Oh, well. We didn’t see a whole lot but it was interesting. Almost everyone here is speaking Spanish and I don’t think there was much of anyone else there who didn’t have a Mexican heritage. I purchased a skirt and thankfully knew enough Spanish to understand it was $5.
We also went into a grocery store called Food 4 Less. Most of the prices were unbelievable! (This store is part of Kroger grocery stores.) Bean sprouts that were $2.29 at Wal-Mart were $0.99 here. Lots of their items were cheaper than other stores. Meats were about the same or just a little less. I checked Miracle Whip and it was the same. They did cater to the Mexican population with many things (including the meats) I didn’t know what you would do with. Can anyone tell me how to prepare Beef Lips or Beef Tongue? On second thought, don’t worry about it. I don’t think I want to know.
On Sunday the 12th – We want to wish Karen Sousa a very Happy Birthday! We understand they are celebrating in a hot spring also but they are still in NC.
This afternoon/tonight there is to be a party in Holtville at the ranch home of a local couple. This is the first of two parties they host for the snowbirds. This one is a welcome party. The next one will be in February just after the Carrot Festival and Parade. Everyone brings a covered dish and your own drinks the meat, plates, utensils, etc is provided. Some of the Snowbirds bring their instruments and play music and sing. One lady played the accordion, and there were also a harmonica player, and guitars.
On the ranch out back are many goats of various breeds, sheep, a couple of donkey’s, chickens, horses, peacocks and a bull. We felt right at home and I was hoping to maybe get to milk but that didn’t work out.
The food was wonderful. The fellowship was special. Everyone had a great time. I wish we were going to be here for the Carrot Festival but we will be in Monterey instead and I wouldn’t want to miss that adventure.
Tuesday the 14th- Last night was the climax of the Geminid Metorite Shower. At 1am we got up and went outside to watch for a bit. As promised it was a good show. This morning one of the guys at the hot spring said he say a really large fireball at 7:10pm last night.
Today is the day they clean the hot spring so we went at 10:45 am. It was the cleanest I have seen it and the water appeared to have a blue-green tint. There weren’t too many people here this morning.
On the way to the hot spring, Thomas saw a rattle snake in the road. It was large and was about 4 feet long. There were many rattles on its tail. Just before the rattles there were striped bands. See the photos.
So evidently it has warmed up enough for the snakes to venture out. Talk at the hot spring was that the rattlesnakes would not come out until the night time temps warmed up. The past few nights it has been in the mid 50’s to low 60’s so it must be warm enough. Now I’ll watch where I step more carefully!
We also met, or should I say re-met, a lady we had met earlier this year at the Slabs. Her name is Hazel. Of course she recognized Thomas right off and asked if we had been to the Slabs before. Small world.
Back home it’s snowed a couple of times and the weather has been really cold. Colder than usual again just like last winter. We hope that it won’t be too bad but they are calling for more cold weather to come. Tonight the low is 13 and tomorrow night the low is 27. Brrrr!
Well, we have hit our first change of plans. Thomas’ sister Elaine and Mom and Dad Wince are coming down to Prescott, AZ (north of Phoenix) to visit Elaine’s daughter Niki. We are going to leave here on Friday and meet them there for a few days. It will be a change for us because it will be much colder weather and rain and maybe a touch of snow. Let’s cross our fingers for a freak warm spell or at least well about freezing and no snow.
With this change, we will probably hit I-40 to the coast instead of going to the Slabs this year. But the direction of travel is yet to be determined. Either way we will be spending at least two weeks along the Big Sur coast before getting into Monterey/Marina, CA on January 11. Of course, you will be updated as we get closer to time.
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