the journal

I'm spending at least 60% of my time with my little jewelry business. Which is a lot more than it's been since the economy crashed. Nearly all of my daily blogging is happening on facebook these days. It's a good thing. You can view my StoneSavvyJewelry facebook page by clicking on the facebook ad in the upper right-hand corner and you can step into my Etsy shop by clicking on any of the jewelry pictures that are scrolling on the right-hand column.

Yet, it makes me sad that I'm ignoring this fun little blog. 

Dick and I are now on Volume 26 of our hand-written journals. We take turns writing, so the point of view is from both of us. My Dad's legacy to me was scanned images of nearly all of his photography, which includes so many amazing glimpses into my Mom and Dad's life. My legacy to my children is these journals.

My blog is going to be a place to share random entries. I covered my eyes and picked a journal out of the stack. I opened it without purpose and here is that entry.

March 15, 2007
Thursday, Day 1,908
Tucson AZ to Hurley NM

Happy Ides of March to all you Julius Caesar groupies and celebrators of betrayal. This is your day. It's also our day to leave the Sonoran desert and drive east, deep into New Mexico. We're hoping to find slightly cooler temperatures and new adventures. So far in our RV travels we've never experienced New Mexico, only driving straight through it on our way east or west. Now we're planning to give it 2 or 3 weeks. From our previous New Mexico trips on I-10 and I-40, Donna's thinking it won't be very cool, but their license plates do say it's the Land of Enchantment. We set out to find it, saying goodbye to Saguaro National Park and the Sonoran desert as we drive east on I-10. See you big cacti next winter.

 

Saguaro National Park - the west section

Gilbert Ray Campground - one of our favorites

At Deming, near the continental divide, we drive north 30 miles to the City of Rocks State Park. The rocks are cabin-size blocks of volcanic tuff jutting out of the broad grasslands. The campsites are spread out and nicely tucked into the rock formations. The joint is pretty full, but we end up with campsite 15, which has a really cool patio among the tall rocks. Donna sets up a very nice yard for us and we then sip cocktails as we watch an exceptional sunset and groove on our new space. The New Mexico adventure is off to a good start.

indeed the Land of Enchantment

the campground sign is carved on a slab of marble - my kind of enchantment

I could have smiled... but I think I was talking

what a welcome to New Mexico for sunset lover's like us

OK that was a treat to re-live. And now I'm back to the shipping department. Happy Monday to you guys :)

moab

I remember my first visit to Moab, Utah. It was twenty years ago. 

amazing landscapes - that is one big cliff

The town was small and still relatively undiscovered. We camped at Arches National Park. We bought our groceries and our gas and ice for the ice chest and an occasional breakfast in town. It wasn't a long visit because we were spending a few days here and then moving on to the next wonder of southern Utah. 

a pronghorn every once in a while

There were several more car camping trips to the Moab area and then we began our gypsy life. We were free to "live" there, and we did. We found great campsites on the byways out of town. One of my favorite campsites is south of town where we lived at the top of a 1,000 foot cliff that overlooked Canyonlands. 

make your own trail

or walk an established one

We watched the little town turn into a southwest meca for the outdoor enthusiast. We learned that the best months as far as weather goes are May and October. We learned that any month except May thru October are the best times to visit if you like the small town atmosphere.




Moab has been discovered. There's traffic now. There's gobs of restaurants and gift shops and souvenir dives and motels and outdoor gear shops. There's lots of hip people. There's film crews every now and then. 

It is still a nice place to visit and a wonderful place to "live". Moab sits in the center of a few of my favorite places. I highly recommend seeing the wondrous part of our world!

Corona arch

an unmarked trail up a side canyon of the Colorado

ecotourism thrives on the Colorado River

who can resist the glory of Arches National Park