Weather and Blogger Changes Again

AJ, AZ  - see below

Not much to blog about since my last post but I wanted to keep track of our weather for future reference. This is what our next week looks like.

Well, I am trying to create this post using the new blogger format that will be in effect later in June and I am already frustrated. So if it looks strange, blame blogger.  Right now it is centering everything I type and I don't know how to stop it. Any help is appreciated.

Jim has still been working on things on the Bungalow. One of the things he needed to do was to hook up trailer lights for towing the boat behind the Bungalow. Even though it is not legal to tow a boat behind a travel trailer in most states, it is legal in Montana if done correctly.  It is legal to tow behind a fifth wheel in several states, especially in the West,  but with length restrictions. We don't plan on towing the boat except in an emergency situation.

This is how we started our full time lifestyle.

Montana is already preparing for a very active fire season starting in August. If we need to evacuate the campground we will be in at Canyon Ferry, we need to be able to take our boat with us. So Jim has been crawling around underneath the Bungalow and having tons of fun.

We also had a window broken on our slide-out when a semi threw a rock up. Jim patched it as best as he could (duct tape to the rescue) but it was time to take it out and get it to a glass shop to have a new window made.

A new anode rod and the hot water tank cleaned out was done.  Bearings and tires all checked out. Still need to grease the hitch and lubricate the seals. I'm sure Jim will find other things that need to be done.

I've been deal with another round of gout. I have now added peanut butter to my list of things I can no longer eat. This is so not fair.

We celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary on the 17th. We did take-out from the Seafood Market and Restaurant. We both had crab cakes (yummy) and Jim had stuffed mushrooms and cole slaw. It was so good. We had originally planned on going to Medieval Times Dinner Theater but covid-19 ruined that one for us. Maybe next year.

Our plan is to take-off on the 14th. Always subject to change.

The Not So Merry Month of May

AJ, AZ   High  100  Low 68

Jim and I are still isolating and wearing masks when we leave the Cottage. However, we are definitely in the minority. We did brave the world to have our hair cut. We were both desperate. But I still felt a twinge of fear. Wonder if I will ever feel comfortable again out in public.

The month started with a fire a couple of miles from us; close to the highway going up to Canyon Lake (Rte 88).  They were able to get it under control quickly which is a good thing.

We've had a few other fires in this area the last week. One of them has burned over 1500 acres in north Phoenix near Cave Creek. Another one closed the highway to Payson for a short time. There was a brush fire on South Mountain but was put out rapidly. All of these were started by humans. They caught the guy who was deliberately starting the fire on South Mountain. 

This could turn out to be a pretty wild fire season down here. We had so much rain this last winter and the desert was blooming like crazy. Then the weather turned into record heat. Not a good combination.

Our friend Jayne and her granddaughter took a drive up to Roosevelt Lake and sent me a couple of pictures showing how full the lake is from all the rain this winter.

We are planning on taking off in June to head to Montana for a couple of months so Jim can do his walleye fishing at Canyon Ferry. The Bungalow (our little travel trailer that we use for traveling) has been sitting since 2018 because Jim was so sick last year. So it needs a lot of tender loving care and is keeping Jim busy with lots of things that need to be done to get it ready to go again.

I recently subscribed to a great RV News Letter - rvtravel.com. It is free and full of really great ideas and information for all RVers. The first thing I found that I was really excited about is the Softstart for an RV air conditioner. The Softstart allows you to run an air conditioner using one Honda 2000 generator. Don't ask me how it works because it has something to do with the compressor kicking on. But Jim understood all of it.

We ordered one and then Jim had to get on the roof to install it. It was an easy install. Jim had the diagram up on the roof and I called up their step by step directions to him. (I also had the phone handy in case I needed to call 911. lol) Took about half an hour. Then we got to test it out using the generator. Yahooie!!! It worked beautifully. Now we can do some boondocking if we want to even when it's 100 degrees outside.

While he was up there he also checked out all the seams for any cracks or problems and everything looks good.

Did you notice the clouds in that picture? We don't see a lot of clouds during the summer in AZ so they are really special when we do get them.

We had to replace the TV in the Bungalow. When Jim turned it on, it said nope, not happening. Amazon to the rescue. Jim got the new TV installed along with a sound bar. We also needed to replace our indoor/outdoor thermometer and water hoses. 

Our Bungalow was broken into last summer along with a couple of other RVs here in the park. So far the only thing we have found to be missing was our surge guard. We have replaced that and hopefully won't find anything else missing. 

We have an appointment to have the bearings greased and the tires checked out. Sitting in this hot AZ heat is hard on tires even when we keep them covered.

He still needs to change the anode rod in the hot water tank and blow out the dust from the refrigerator coils. And he probably has a bunch of other things to do that will keep him plenty busy until we leave. He loves having things to putter with. 

Skitz is still hanging with us. Some days she bounces all over and others she can barely move. Like Jim and I. 

 

 

Still Hanging On

AJ, AZ   High 103  Low 77

I really have no desire to blog but a part of me wants to document a little bit of what life is like in isolation during a coronavirus pandemic.

We pretty much went into isolation the beginning of March and it is now May 1. The only time we leave home is to go pick up our groceries or a prescription. Occasionally Jim gets take out food when I just can't stand the thought of cooking one more meal but that's not often.

Took this picture of the full moon when I was walking around the park.

 

We did brave the outside world last Tuesday when we went to senior shopping hour at Frys (Kroger). We really needed to get paper towels and toilet paper since we had not bought any since February. I'm hoping we won't have to have that experience again for another couple of months. We got there about 5:35 (senior shopping is 6-7 a.m.) and got in line. There were about 20 folks in front of us and at least that many or more behind us when the doors opened. I did have to ask the woman behind me to back off because she was standing directly behind me and did not have a mask on. She acted like I had insulted her but I figure that's her problem.

We were successful. We got toilet paper, paper towels, kleenex and wipes. Wow. But I can guarantee by 7 a.m., there wasn't much left for anybody else. We also picked up chicken breasts and pork chops to put in the freezer.

We had to go to Costco on Wednesday to pick up Skittlez's prescription. I figured we'd go about 3 p.m. and hope that things weren't too crazy. Worked out really well. There was no line to get in and I would say probably 60% of the people were actually wearing masks. (At Fry's maybe 20% wore masks.) Not too many people in the store but it's still hard to maintain social distance. I did not get anything except the medicine and because there was no one besides me at the pharmacy, I was in and out in about 5 minutes. That works for me. 

Our home still feels really empty without Rocky grumbling all the time. We miss him so much. I think it's especially hard since we don't have other things to focus on.

Why use the bed when all she needs is a foot rest.

 

Some days are tough. We are so grateful that all of our family members are safe and still employed. My heart grieves for all those families who have lost loved ones to this stupid virus. I cry easily when I hear of the wonderful things people have done for others. The world is full of so many good people trying to make life better for others.

I do not understand why people will not wear masks. Yes they are hot and uncomfortable but if my wearing one will save even one life who am I to complain. But people refuse to think beyond the fact that "I am fine. I'm sure I don't have the virus so I don't need to protect anyone." My prayers are for them that they remain safe and  all those they come into contact with. 

Jim and I are still in love even though I think I'm getting on his nerves a little bit. He is the most patient man alive. 

In other news - we are under a heat wave that doesn't seem to have an end. Our temperatures are setting new records and are three digits. That means 100 and above. It's been like that for the last week and we don't see a break in the near future.  

Please stay home, wear a mask and wash your hands. 

We have had a couple of beautiful sunsets.