COOKING OVER A CAMPFIRE

One of the things I enjoy doing when ever I have the chance, is cooking over a campfire.  We purposely don’t own a gas grill, charcoal grill or any other kinds of grills-including the George Foreman one.  Why?  Why should we when we can enjoy a much better meal cooking of wood.

First thing first, you must get the right consisting's of charcoal base from your firewood.   Once you have that, then it’s time to wash, poke and foil your potatoes.  Now to get those potatoes into the fire, without burning yourself.  We have a fireplace wood grabber to help us out.  Now let the cooking begin!

Notice that I have the potatoes next to the fire-not in the fire.  I want my potatoes cooked, not burnt so I’m care where I place them.  I leave them in this position for about 10-15 minutes.  Then I slowly back them a little farther yet from the fire.

I find a piece of hot wood and place it for a spell on the potatoes.  I do rotate the potatoes every 15 minutes or so, as not to burn them.

Once I know the potatoes are near to done, then it’s time for the meat!  We use a basket that we purchased a few years back at Wal-Mart and works great for cooking over a campfire.

I do cheat a little and place a rock on the handle-so that I don’t have to stay there holding it the whole time.  I make sure I don’t have a real high flaming fire going at this time, because again I want my meat cooked to a perfection-not burnt.  Sometimes I might have to rearrange very carefully my firewood under the basket.  If one area isn’t get enough or maybe too much.

Now there’s a meal fit for a King or Queen!  Yeah we did cheat a little.  The carrots were cooked over a camp stove that we use outdoors a lot while boondocking.  The meal was excellent!

When we downsized to our small little unit, we gave way to our cast iron pan we had. I think we may need to find another now that we will have more chances once again to cook over campfires.  You can really cook many wonderful meals over a fire that taste better than anything else you can imagine.

AND THE CHASE IS ON!

Brian and I enjoy taking our walks out here in the Desert.  This year though we are taking  it a little easier on our feet.  Brian has developed a small cyst that is dissolving on it’s own and was caused by shoes breaking down.  And I’m being more caution after having surgery on mine this past summer.

Anyways, we stay mainly on the dirt roads and we like to head out away from all others.  Towards evening we head towards the mountains just to the East of us-where it’s very peaceful and quiet.  We go until we see the top of the sun just hitting the Western slopes of the mountains and then we know we have to start heading back.

On this particular evening, I knew that the sunset would be amazing, and so I took along the camera. 

As I turned around to shoot some pictures of the Eastern mountains where the sun was shadowing areas and making it look picture perfect; I all of a sudden hear this thumping noise as if someone or something was running towards us.  We have  to always keep an ear and eye open to the ATV’s that roam out here, for they won’t slow down and we usually have to move over to allow them through, I knew the noise was not machine made but something else!

Like I said, I turned around and appeared a huge Jack Rabbit!  I don’t know who was more startled, me or the rabbit!  I let out a squealed, because at quick glance I wasn’t  sure what it was-thought maybe a coyote got too close to us.  The rabbit stood only for a second, with his huge ears raised high, then he was off, but not in the same direction he came from, but cross country.  He appeared to have hidden himself in some nearby bushes.

After my heart got back out of my throat, we carried on back towards our camper as the sun kept going down.  A few minutes later out of my right eye, here comes a coyote on a dead run.   He’s also watching us as he’s running as if he’s on a chase.  We stopped to watch him and I tried to shoot a few pictures, but he just wasn’t going to slow down enough for me to get a good shot of him.

We continue to watch him as he literally circled us.  I don’t think we have ever seen such a huge coyote out here as this guy was!  Anyways as he made a complete circle around us, we notice he went in the same general area as that rabbit went hiding in the bushes.  sure enough he had found his prey that we apparently had disrupted and the chase was on! 

We watched first the rabbit taking off with the coyote on his tail in the opposite direction of us.  Now that the sun had set and we watched an amazing show, we knew we still had a ways to go to get back and needed to keep going. 

Once again out of the corner of my right eye I again caught movement and right in front of us-no more than 30 feet comes the jack rabbit and the coyote chasing right behind him!  They both stayed on the roadway for the longest time and watched the chase until we couldn’t see either one of them.

We found the prints to the coyote and was amazed to his size.

We can’t help but wonder who won-the coyote or the rabbit?

UNRULY ATV’S

Sitting out here on the BLM land, where RV’s are lined up for the winter months, staying out of the cold weather, they bring along their toys.  ATV’s, 4-Runners, Quads,  Dune Buggies, you name it, if it’s got 4 wheels and can run, they are out here. They run rapid out on the desert, not minding of others when the dust flies about.

As anywhere else, there are rules to be followed, but we notice those that like to go out and exercise their toys, they forget that those rules apply to them.  Oh, about half do follow the rules, obey the speed limit of 15mph, and stay on the dirt roads, while others go like the devil is on their tails and making their own roadways along the desert floor.

It’s just not they are happy playing with their toys, they also go high telling it towards the mountains, to go find that million dollar gold piece.  Again, not caring if they are ruining what precious piece of land there is out here.

The BLM officials are aware that more and more of the desert is getting trampled on, stomped on, and year, by year, deteriorating literally to thin dust.  The desert life is being threaten out here by man and the machines they so love to play on.

Don’t these unruly ATV’ers understand that if they cannot play by the rules set forth by those officials-that not only they risk ruining the fun and pleasure for themselves-they also ruin it for others and what about our children’s future?  Will they get to see what we see and enjoy today?

We had the misfortunate and the pleasure of one unruly Dune Buggy-sort-of-a-thing as he heads out as if someone was chasing him; stirring such a dust storm that we had to close up quickly or have all that dust inside.  About an hour later we notice a pick-up truck heading out and towing that dune buggy back in.  We couldn’t help but think: Poetic Justice?

Below are some pictures of a group of ATV’s taking off across from us, not minding what they trampled on…when you look at the picture-also look at the flag they so proudly display as they break our rules out here on the BLM lands.

Don’t get me wrong, I think it would be loads of fun to ride around on an ATV, BUT I would never go traipsing across the country and I WOULD follow rules that are set forth for the safety of myself and of others.  But it may never come my way, for those that will spoil it for me and for others in the future-it will be a sad day….

GOOD BYE OLE’ FRIEND

Good bye my ole friend.                                                                                 
We’ve been together since the very beginning.                                              
Through thick and Thin.      
                                                                  
Once Upon A Time in the very beginning when I was completely computer illiterate and had no knowledge of the internet, it was determined that I needed an email address.  I said: “Say what?”.   I still remember that day like it was yesterday….

It was a cold chilly day and we were newbies to full-time RVing.  We were sitting in a park that recently was devastated by an horrible ice storm.  But as days got warmer and time soon was getting closer for us to move on, we notice that we sort of was sitting ducks…

Upon getting our mail on the road, we received our license plates for the truck, but never did for our 5th wheel, and the temp plates had expired.  No cell phone, no computer and not knowing how to contact the state of IL while we were in Arkadelphia, AR we turned to some new friends that own the mini mart just down the road from us.

He jumps right on his computer,got the info and we contacted IL about our situation.  She proceeds to tell me that we need to email her the info and fax her all the papers we had.  Again being totally dumb founded, our friend, Jim, helped us out greatly.

then he tells me that I should get an email account and use it for when we needed it in the future.  He also proceeds to tell me that he almost guarantees that I will need it again.
So after a few days of thinking about it, I thought why not, what a better way to communicate with our daughters while on the road.  But not owning a computer, I went back to Jim and he had his hired help a young gal, get me started.

When it asked for a username, I sure didn’t know what to put.  Then we came up with the kidz, because that is what everyone seemed to call us.  Hotmail says I couldn’t just use the kidz, since it was already taken.  Then we came up with 39, that was how old I was when we officially hit the road…so my new email address became thekdiz39@hotmail.com.

I soon learned to use local libraries for the internet and I surprised our daughters by starting to email them back and forth.  It wasn’t until fall time when we finally purchased our own computer and once again learned the art of computing.

I have had that email address since the beginning, and now some crazy hacker decided to steal it away from me!  Now I have to say good by to the ole friend and find a new one!  I have gotten mad at it, threaten to leave it, changed colors, added info, added new friends, got mad at it, again, threaten to change it, and now I’m forced to make those changes.

It’s partially my fault, I guess, I started to get lazy, but no more laziness for me, it’s time to make some changes.  I guess I need to practice what I preach for my own security.

One of the things is I need to change my username on some of my other things.  That’s going to be hard for me since I have kept the “thekidz” as my logo for all these years.  Oh, I will still keep it for most things, but will change it on others.  Another is I need to frequently change my password more than I do.  Again I got a bit on the lazy side and started to use the same password for other things-except my personal business-those are protected with separate passwords.

Unfortunately I have lost some emails of friends that we have met along the way, and no other way of contacting them, so I guess it was time to say good-bye to them as well.  We didn’t stay in touch too often.  But one thing I will change: I have now copy and pasted all my email address onto Words that way I have them if ever lost again.

All I can say is that I hope this doesn’t happen to you, and a lesson well learned.  Should I thank the hacker or be mad?????

LOOKING BACK AT LIFE….

As I reached another mile marker in my life and noticing a few more grey hairs, I can’t help but look back at my life.  What have I accomplished or better yet, What I haven’t accomplished…


Ever since I could remember, I always had this dream of just getting in a vehicle and taking off to unknown parts of the United States.  Well for several years now, we have sort of lived out part of my dream.
But now I look back, and wonder all the things I have missed out on….                   
Is there anything that I could have changed or would change?                                                                    If I could turn back time, yes, there are many things that I would change in my life, but I can’t….  
So I have to live with the choices I have made.  Some haunt me, while most moments I cherish close to my heart.  Those that I cannot share with others, and yet I do share some.


This past few weeks and reaching that mile stone in my life, I have taken a step back to look at my life.  Deciding whether or not to continue the path that I’m on or making changes to my life.  Here is what I finally came up with:


As mush as I do terribly miss being around family,  I don’t miss getting involve in all the meddling and drama part of it.  I do not do well with the roller coaster ride that some family members like to live their lives, So therefore I choose to keep in touch, but at a distant.


the hardest thing for me is when we meet some wonderful folks, and then we seem to leave them behind.  I just hope that I have left some kind of imprint in their brains to always remember me and my small traveling family.  I know they are implanted in my brain forever.  Once in a while Brian and I will reminisce about those that we have met along our travels.  With a chuckle here and a chuckle there, we know that those are fond memories that will never be forgotten.


I do enjoy my wondering ways with my hubby and 8lb Min Pin, Leah.  And now I’m hoping to finally explore more of the country, go where normal folks don’t wonder to too often.


I do enjoy writing about our adventure, as small as they may be for now-who knows maybe someday I’ll write about our adventures.  All I know is that I really  haven’t accomplish my dream to the fullest and I have every intention of doing that for as long as I’m able.  At that time we will decide when and where we will settle back down.  One thing is a given; it will be where the winters are warm….

JUST CHILLIN’

After working all summer long and then going onto Amazon.com to work seasonal, it’s time to kick back and chill out for a spell.

Unlike last year, the weather has been very cooperative towards us. We have had nothing but an abundant of sunshine and temps nearing 70’s to even mid 70’s with nights in the 40’s.  Makes it great for relaxing and chillin’ out.

Last year we at this time we were cooler with constant winds to battle.  I guess just before we arrived they did have several days of high wind advisory posted.  but since our arrival, it’s been very peaceful and calm.  Allowing us to keep out awning out during the daytime, and to cook outdoors which we so much enjoy doing.

So What do we do with our days?  Morning starts out with Brian getting up and starting coffee and letting Leah out.  He also has to start our heater for about an hour just to take the morning chill off.

I get up, and this is when I do my computer time.  It’s also when my brain is the freshest for writing.  When the computer power gets to low, then it’s time to shut down, have some breakfast and take Leah and we go for an hour walk around the desert.

We usually take our time and maybe visit with our neighbors as we stroll along or maybe chat with someone else who is also out for their morning walk.

the remainder of the morning is sitting out on our patio, waiting for Leah’s boyfriend to stop by and play for a spell.  Before we know it, it’s time to think about lunch.  Afterwards Brian enjoys laying out and catches some sun rays.  Some days I will also catch the sun rays, but right now I’m busy catching up on some sewing that I have started.  I also like to read books, and when I get caught up on all my other “stuff”, then I will pull out a book to read while basking in the warm sunshine. 

On occasion we will get visitors that we will pass a few hours with, or maybe we will go visiting with folks that we met last year.

As for Leah if she is good, we will cut her loose from her lead and allow her to roam close by.  We have a small wood pile that she loves to crawl around on and waits for any critters to move.  Then she might get the urge to start digging her way to china in hopes of catching that little critter.

Some days we will pack a snack or maybe even a lunch, plenty of water and of course the camera and Brian and I will take off cross country on the desert floor and hike.  In the past we have taken Leah with us, but I think this year we will live our little girl at home.  There are so many Cholla/Teddy Bear Cactus that we seem to spend more time digging the nasty little things out of her.

We have been known to take the car and go wondering as well, this year we are hoping to go explore a little more than what we did last year.  the mountains entice me and I want to check them out.

Then of course we naturally have to run either into Quartzsite or Parker to do laundry and get some more grocery. 

Our evenings consist of another leisure walk, without Leah.  She knows that she doesn’t go on this walk so right after supper, she automatically goes in her kennel and waits for us to close the door.

We enjoy watching the sun setting and waiting to catch maybe a glimpse of a coyote running by.  When it’s too dark and starting to get chilly, then it’s finally time to go indoors.  If there is something good to watch on TV, we will turn it on for a few hours of entertainment or if not, then we enjoy each others company and try to whoop each other in a good card game.

If we get the opportunity, we will sit out and have a campfire, but out in the desert, that is far and few in-between.  We did purchase some firewood and will soon cherish a campfire one of these nights.

Yep, this is the life to enjoy!!