It’s that time again

The 31st of December is a day I set aside each year for taking the time to revisit what I’ve done and experienced in the past year.  The best way for me is to review all of the photos I’ve taken.  They readily conjure up memories for me.  So as I’ve done for the last six years, I’ll highlight some of those times for you, my much appreciated readers.

As Jan. 1, 2015, rolled around, I was in the middle of my 5 month volunteer stint at Imperial NWR outside of Yuma, AZ.  As usual, people, whether fellow volunteers, or fellow bloggers, or family, played an important part in my time at the refuge.  And of course, there was the first ever Bloggerfest up in Quartzsite in January. 

Wildlife and beautiful desert views were abundant while I was there.  From a boat trip on the Colorado River to Emma howling with the coyotes!

I left Imperial the day after Easter and slowly made my way to my next assignment on the coast of Oregon.  I had five weeks to get to Brookings, and wasn’t looking forward to the high campground fees in California in order to get there.  I thought I’d spend a week at the Jojoba Hills SKP Resort near Temecula, CA.  Little did I know that that one week would stretch into three, and I would end up becoming a member of the co-op at the beginning of June.  The highlights of my time at Jojoba and the rest of the journey to Brookings included my first time ever attending a happy hour, and trips to Joshua Tree NP, Crater Lake NP, and the home of Jelly Belly candies. 

From the middle of May until the middle of August, I spent my time volunteering for Oregon Islands NWR and manning an overlook of Bird Island four days a week.  What a summer it was.  Friends and family visited, and how can I forget sifting through Emma’s dung for the swallowed Apache Tear Stone! 

Again, the scenery was fantastic; from the turbulent Oregon coast to the close by giant Redwoods.  It was a surprise to me to find the coast so down right chilly in summer.  It took a couple of hours each day for me to defrost from my post on the overlook.  I don’t think I’ll ever do it again, but I’m awfully glad I had this experience.

Late August found me making my way down to Tule Lake NWR in northeast California.  I spent a couple of months in the Klamath Basin, and liked it enough that I plan to return next summer/fall.  The refuge is at an elevation of 4000’ in the high desert.  I had to do some adjusting of recipes for higher elevation.  I felt back in my element at this refuge.  Lots of birds, and a variety of things to do on my assignments.  I’m hoping for Emma’s sake as well as mine, that the goathead problem around the campsite will be eliminated before my return.

By late October, I returned to take up winter residency at Jojoba Hills.  Yep, I’m one of those golf cart owners now, and am trying to settle in to having a home base.  Merikay and Craig were certainly a part of helping me get settled.  I have one orange tree with about a half dozen oranges on it on my site, and I’m not sure how to tell when they’re ready to be picked.  I’m sure they’ll be the best oranges I’ve ever tasted.

I leave you tonight, and this year, with what I think is my best ‘The End’ photo of the year.  Get a bunch of RV Bloggers together, and it’s amazing what they will do for you…

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you next year,  Judy