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Published: April 24th 2011
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Javalinas at their finest!
These aren't as close as they look, although they have wandered in front of some of the rigs. Does it look like a pet you'd want???? (SW Bible Camp)
We have a herd of mule deer that feed on the dry brown grass we’re parked on; we’ve seen as many as 13 at a time. Rumor has it that they’ll eat your plants if you leave them outside, so we’re dragging two large plants indoors every night! Three of us have large geraniums, and we’re always trying to talk someone (else) into leaving theirs outside to see if the deer will bother them! No takers! I have a planter that the team gave us in January, and it seems to be common knowledge that deer like daisies, so for sure I’m bringing that in nightly. Also, there are javelinas , which I believe is Latin for a very ugly pig. They weigh as much as a hundred pounds, and are about two feet tall, so you can picture their svelte body types! And then as a bonus, they have what appears to be armor that comes over their shoulders and upper back; after some research we found out it’s not armor, but dark skin covered with bristly hair. Now really, does that sound like something even their mother could love??? Their front feet have two toes
This is a bit fuzzy, but
I'm including it so you can see them from the side. They are fast runners. We saw them a the beginning of the month, but haven't seen them around for a couple weeks. and the rear feet have three, fyi. Another name for them is skunk pig because they have a scent gland under their tails. (raise your hand when you’re interested in finding out where you can get one as a pet!) Actually, they are (supposedly) very intelligent and after becoming domesticated they will come if called, and that’s where I quit reading, and started wondering “WHY???”. There are three of them that wander into the camp some mornings and they may show up again near sunset. I guess they’re good to eat, but I can’t imagine who looked at them and thought about eating. They eat prickly pears and as well as other cacti; along with vegetables, grubs and eggs. They have poor vision, fair hearing and a keen sense of smell (and a bad odor!) And have I mentioned that they’re unbelievably ugly?!
On Monday the ladies took a tour through Udder Delight, a local business that makes lotions and soaps using goats’ milk as the base. When I first went into the business I thought it would be interesting to see how the products are made, and when we watched them make the soap and toured the manufacturing
Phase two of our zoo:
mule deer. They come right up to the RVs, and we've heard they will eat our flowers, so the three of us who have outside plants bring them in every night. A couple nights ago I almost decided not to, and the I thought if they got eaten after we've hauled them in and out for a month, I'd really be mad...so we hauled them in; the plants, not the deer! part, we were all impressed by the organization and the care that goes into their products. The woman who owns this store (right here in little Glenwood!) also has a store in Cave Creek, AZ, which is near Mesa, where we were last month. The ingredients that go into their products sound like you would be able to eat the lotion or soap (ok, the lye would clean your pipes, and I didn’t mean you should eat them, I just meant they’re natural, healthy ingredients!)
Our tour last week took us to the Catwalk Trail, which is part of the Gila Nation Forest. It’s a very narrow canyon that was part of the mining saga of this area. A water pipeline along Whitewater Canyon was built in 1893 to take water to the mine and the town of Graham (which we didn’t see, or even know about when we hiked up the trails.) Sometimes this pipeline was 20’ above the canyon floor, which was quite a feat for those times! Because the pipeline was in constant need of maintenance, the workmen who walked the line to repair the damage dubbed it the “Catwalk”. In the 1930s the Civilian Conservation
The woman in the white apron
has been cooking the goats' milk, oils and scents, and then she beats them until they're "just the right texture". Here the lye mixture is being added. Corps built a hanging walkway trail following the path of the old pipeline, and in 2003 a handicap accessible side trail was completed; it’s gentle enough for a wheelchair or stroller to navigate. That trail doesn’t go quite to the top, but does let you see much of the beauty of the canyon. It’s just breathtakingly beautiful, with the boulders, waterfalls and rock formations. We walked clear to the overhanging rocks at the top, and then came down the gentle trail; then we had a picnic lunch in the canyon to complete our wonderful day.
This week Arlene and I painted one side and one end of a 20x40’ trailer house, and then we caught up to the men, who are repairing some siding issues. One thing I learned: if you have shade, paint in it right away. If you put it off, thinking you’ll paint in the shade after you’re really hot, the shade will then be where you’ve already painted, and you’ll find yourself still painting in the sun. Darn the sun is hot in this part of the country!
We find ourselves on the tail end of this project; Milo and Loretta are leaving on
Doesn't this look like a chemist's lab?
They're the different essential oils and natural ingredients for the soaps and lotions. Monday so they can get home in time for their friend’s memorial service, and the rest us are finishing up on Wednesday~~we worked all day Thursday to avoid working Thursday morning of the last week. We’re all going home with the exception of LeRoy and Arlene, who are headed to their May project, which happens to be quite close to their home. I am covered with homesickness, and when I think about heading that way in a week I almost can’t breathe!
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Jean
non-member comment
Hello
I think of all the wonderful places you have been this year these rocks and walk-way are the most interesting to me. My kind of place. You have had a wonderful year, but it is time to come home! Have a save and uneventful trip north. I miss you and can't wait to here the horn when you pull in to my yard! Love ya! See you Sooooooooooon!!!! Jean