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Borrego Springs, CA

Thursday, December 31, 2015

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.

79 Imperial NWR 2014-1520

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. 

79 Imperial NWR 2014-1521

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!

80 On the way to Oregon 20151

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. 

81 Oregon Islands NWR 201513

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!  Smile with tongue out

81 Oregon Islands NWR 201514

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.

82 Tule Lake NWR, CA1

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.

83 Jojoba Hills 2015

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. Winking smile

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…

_MG_1515

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

35 comments:

  1. As is normal, your blog entries are great reading. Thanks for the entertainment. HAPPY NEW YEAR

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  2. And a Healthy and Safe New Year to you and Emma ! ! ! ! ! ! !

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  3. Happy New Year to you both....Your "The End" is the best!!

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  4. I love your sense of humor! Happy New Year and thank you for sharing your adventures.

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  5. Happy New Year to you and Emma. I've enjoyed following along with you this year (And every year) :)

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  6. I know little about orange trees, but can think of 2 possible methods of judging when to pick:
    1. Wait until each one gets real orange and somewhat soft.
    2. Wait until the first one falls off, then pick them all and add the first one to the lot.
    Happy New Year!

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  7. Happy New Year. I always enjoy seeing the year end review posts.

    We had many citrus trees when we lived in Tampa. When they have turned orange they are usually ready to pick, however we found they needed some cool weather to sweeten them up. Don't wait till they fall off, because at that time they are over ripe. We left ours on the tree even if it was supposed to freeze. The growers always worried about freezes making them pulpy, but we never seemed to have much problem. Our trees were covered with fruit and we would start picking in October or November and continue all the way up until about April. Heat is hard on them. Since you only have about 6, you might not last that long. :) The best thing is to pick them fresh off the tree when they are cold and squeeze them for juice. Not sure why you have so few oranges, maybe a little citrus fertilizer will help for next year. They should be loaded with fruit. We actually rarely fertilized them, and pretty much neglected them but Florida climate is pretty perfect for oranges. You might consider planting a grapefruit tree. You've never had grapefruit unless you've picked them right off the tree.

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  8. Happy New Year ... here's to making more memories.

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  9. You did have a good productive year, All the best in 2016.
    Hope you can make it to Bloggerfest this year.

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  10. Is that all you did? ;c)

    Great pictures! Happy New Year, looking forward to your new adventures!

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  11. Wow! What a year! Packed with so many adventures... and so many friends. Happy New Year and best to you in 2016!

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  12. Your parting shot made me laugh. I forgot we all did that!
    Hope 2016 is a good one for you!

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  13. And what a great year it was. Happy New Year. Enjoy your adventures! Awesome "The End"

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  14. For the poor always you have with you - that is true of goat heads also.

    Happy New Year!

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  15. Really nice summary of your year and great collages. I actually recognize some of the folks in them. Hope to hear more about your days in your new home base in 2016. Happy New Year to you and Emma.

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  16. Another year bites the dust -- they fly by now! Hope you have a super great and terrific 2016. Maybe we'll get a visit in this year.

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  17. Yep, I'm in that end shot... But I'm not telling where.... lol

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  19. Happy New Year! I've enjoyed tagging along this year.

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  20. Awwww Judy! What a GREAT year you had! I can't wait to see where you go and what you do in 2016!

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  21. This is a great post recapping your year, and the photos are well put together. I wish you a very good 2016 and look forward to your next assignment.

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  22. Happy New Year to you. Don't forget our offer of sleeping on our couch (not tremendously comfortable, but OK in a pinch) if you don't want to drive your Rig to Quartzsite and back to Jojoba Hills. I wouldn't make it if I knew you planed on driving off on a new adventure after the Blogfest, but since I know you will be going back to Jojoba, and don't just love to drive, our coach is open. Oh, and Emma is welcome too. But if you do decide to take your motorhome, let us know where you will be parked and for how long. We will be with our Alfa friends.

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  23. What a great year for you Judy!!! Beautiful pictures, as always and memories. So glad I finally got to meet and spend some time getting to know you... Have a great New Year filled with all you desire!!

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  24. I wish you happy times and the best of birding and photo taking in 2016!!

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  25. Happy happy New Year to you and Emma. We really enjoy following along on your blog. You really had a great year. It is good to look back and see all you did. Again happy new year and safe travels.

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  26. Thank you for all your posts and blog. You makes me happy and inspiring to travel and discover our planet. This year i've travelled only to Australia, btw just try to use this http://vivaster.com/ but i'm sure everything is still ahead. I've been in this great southern land for 3 months, and there are still places I haven't explored. Australia is just so damn big. Even if we spent the next part of our lives on an endless round-Australia road trip, there'd still be surprises out there. And that, for a restless road-addict, is a very comforting reality.

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