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Borrego Springs, CA

Sunday, February 13, 2011

A varied weekend

Yesterday was a work day for me, and it started out with helping on the refuge tour.  These tours are scheduled on Wednesdays and Saturdays during the months of January and February.  That might seem like an odd two months to offer tours, but most people want to see the Mississippi Sandhill Cranes, and these are the only two months during the year that won’t cause too much stress on the cranes.  By next month, mating and nesting activities will begin so people won’t be allowed to disturb these endangered birds. 

 

We had a good tour, and were able to find five of these illusive cranes.  That’s almost 5% of the total population.  Needless to say, folks were very pleased.  :)

 

After the tour, Jay and I drove over to the Grand Bay Visitor’s Center so I could learn the ropes.  To be honest, there aren’t many ropes to learn.  Three of us sat there until 3:00, and had a total of two visitors.  :(  That couple from North Dakota sure did get the royal treatment, though.

IMG_8996 Bordering the refuge property are very tall power lines.  Besides providing electricity, these poles also provide nesting places for ospreys.  If you look closely, you can see that each tower has a nest on it, and an osprey holding possession of it.  We were able to watch the closest one through a scope.  The bird was busy rearranging sticks in the nest.  I’m thinking spring must be on it’s way!

57 MS Sandhill Crane NWR7After work, four of us headed out to The Shed for Denny’s birthday celebration.  This is a locally famous BBQ joint, featured on Triple D, and the decor has to be seen to be believed.  Shed is a good name for it.  Not being a big BBQ fan, about all I can say is the spare ribs were tender.  I prefer my ribs naked, though.  (none of that red sauce)

 

I forgot to have the faucet drip last night, and as you’ve probably guessed, I had no water this morning.  Had to switch over to the pump, don’t you know.  But, the air warmed outside quickly, and by ten o’clock I was sitting outside enjoying the sun without gloves and a heavy coat.

 

We had been warned that the electricity would be turned off for a few hours this morning starting around 8:00, and sure enough it was.  So I unhooked the power line, and cranked up the generator.  It needed to be exercised anyway, so it got a good workout as I turned on plenty of electrical stuff to give it a good load.

IMG_9001I had a project I needed to work on, so I put the tablecloth on the picnic table and took it outside.  My project entailed cutting apart 25 tee-shirts.  I have wanted to replace the bedspread that came with the rig with a quilt, and I’ve found someone that will make one for me.  It will be made from tee-shirts I have accumulated in the almost five years I’ve been on the road.  By the time I finished all the cutting, my hand was getting stiff.  I don’t have a pair of fabric scissors, so had to use my heavy duty Cutco shears.

IMG_9002 IMG_9004

When I finished, I spread them out on my bed trying to imagine what the quilt might look like.  It will have a dark brown border and strips between each shirt front.  This will be a memory quilt for sure!  I’m excited about it, and can’t wait to see the final product.  I’m going to ask that the US Fish and Wildlife Volunteer shirt be in the center since much of what I’ve done in the last five years has revolved around that.

 

I have rambled on tonight, so I’d better sign off…

 

Thanks for stopping by…. talk to you later,  Judy

33 comments:

  1. That t-shirt quilt is a good idea, you will be able to look at the tshirts everyday to remember where you have been. Can't wait to see the finished product.

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  2. Oh that is such a cool project! We will be so excited to see the finished quilt... how nice is that?

    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
    Karen and Steve
    (Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/

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  3. That is going to be so neat,I like that idea.

    Come to KC for good BBQ...

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  4. I saved T shirts for years thining i would learn to quilt. got rid of them all a few years ago :( Your quilt is going to be wonderful and will definitely keep you warm, wrapped up in such great memories!

    Seeing the cranes and the osprey is pricelss, in my book!

    Happy trails, forever!
    Cyndi and Stumpy @ RVly Ever After

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  5. We had lots of Osprey in Kalispell, MT. They built their nests on top of telephone poles and the phone company would come out and build a stand that they would put on top of the poles and then move the nests up on top of the stand. The birds didn't seem to mind their nests being moved higher.

    What a great idea for a quilt. Wish I knew somebody who quilted. We have bought Jim a ton of t-shirts from all the places we have been and as we replace some of them I would love to save them. I may have to think about this some more. Thanks.

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  6. I went to the Shed, also, wasn't it fun tho? Was in that RV park right there, we come so close, but don't quite connect :)
    That quilt will be filled with memories...

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  7. I've seen those t-shirt quilts and they are so fun. In your post I noticed a little northern expression, don't you know. It made me smile. :)

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  8. I made my son a t-shirt quilt when he graduated from high school with the shirts from all the activities he participated in during high school. He took it to college and is still using it years later. I think it is one of his favorite posessions.

    I bet you'll love your quilt, too.

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  9. I never thought of making a quilt from t-shirts -- what a great idea -- can't wait to see the finished product. We saw Osprey & their nests this summer in Jackson Hole. I so appreciate what you are doing...esp driving your MH -- I cannot bring myself to drive ours, even tho I know I need to before I "have" to.

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  10. That looks like my kind of BBQ place-naked or not!

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  11. What a great idea for a quilt! Now you will be able to have sweet dreams of all the places you have been. Best part, someone else is making it for you!

    Will you start a new collection?

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  12. I've seen t-shirt quilts and they are pretty cool. I used to have tons of t-shirts from different activities I attended, but had saved only one. I'm glad you saved yours. It will be a constant memory of good times and places.

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  13. Can't wait to see the finished T-Shirt quilt!

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  14. I love the idea of a t-shirt quilt. And I caught the "northern expression" too, don't you know.

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  15. Love the quilt idea!!!

    Where we camp in the summer, there is large population of Osprey. I love to watch them fish, they are in and out of the water with their catch so swiftly, it's amazing!

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  16. I've seen those tee shirt quilts before and they are awesome. Yours will be so special and you can wrap yourself in it with pride at all you have given of yourself for our aviary friends.

    Once when we were in Montana we stopped to watch an Osprey pair coming and going, feeding their young. As they took turns they would talk to each other. I called my bird boy to test his skills and just as he answered a car drove by... as I was saying "I wanted to know if you could tell me what bird this is, but you'll probably have to wait until this car gets by" he said "It's an Osprey Mom" ... and made the sound identical as they were making back to me in the phone... I truly miss him so when we're on our trips because he was so smart about the birds and "entertaining" in his own special way with their calls and antics that he can mimic! Now he entertains his children instead of his Mother...

    I'm glad you liked my "ending" on my blog~dedicated to you!

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  17. I'm going now to hide all my old, beloved t-shirts before Paulette gets any ideas!

    The Shed looked like a neat place.

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  18. Judy, lived my younger years in Minnesota too, don't you know. It takes one to know one. LOL :)

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  19. what a great idea for a quilt!!!!..can't wait to see the finished product!.stay warm..leave the faucet dripping!!

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  20. What a great idea to have your collection of teeshirts made into a cozy quilt! We have a lot of osprey in Washington--always interesting to see look up and see their nests on light poles, etc, don't you know. ;)

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  21. When my youngest brother passed away, we gathered many of his favorite shirts and began a quilt for his grandson. It's a wonderful way to keep memories near to you!

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  22. I love the t-shirt quilt idea. What great memories. Happy Valentines Day!

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  23. I was about to toss a bunch of t-shirts out, now I'll save them for the memory quilt. Great idea. Love Sand Hill Cranes, looking forward to seeing more of them in your blog, the Osprey's to. There was a nest of them on top of a dead tree as we drove out of the State Park in Gulf Shores, Al. We often could see the babies poking their heads up looking for momma.
    Jan

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  24. Great idea Judy for all your t's. Lots of memory quilt making going on in the quilting world.

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  25. Great idea My favorite quilt is one my grandma made from scraps and I remember the clothes she wore made out of those same fabrics.

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  26. That will make a wonderful quilt, and think of all the memories it will inspire. Very good idea. I will keep this one in mind.

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  27. Judy, I am soo tickled to see someone with this tee shirt idea. I have a bin of tee shirts I have been saving for this very thing! Can't wait to see yours finished. I think I have enough shirts to make a double sider!

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  28. Thanks for the preview of your new quilt. Can't wait to see the finished product! I've been trying to convince Johnny to let me make a quilt out of his ever growing collection of Harley Davidson t-shirts. Maybe your picture will help!

    As a native North Dakotan, so glad you took such good care of those North Dakotan visitors. Must've been checking on the Sand Hill Cranes wintering there...

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  29. I have a Ya Ya Mary who gave each of my kids a quilt from T-shirts they had saved from grade school and High school...Such a neat idea..You will love the finished project, I'm sure!! I love Ospreys..We saw lots of them in Montana!!

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  30. Don't feel too bad about not having many ropes to learn. After all, it's not like they are paying you a premium salary. ;c)

    Thanks for all you volunteer work over the years, folks like you are what make America great!

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  31. What a fantastic idea for a quilt.

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  32. Great idea on the memory quilt.

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  33. I am really excited to be making your quilt. I got the box of t-shirts today, will start next week!

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