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Borrego Springs, CA

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Coming home

IMG_3952As some of my long time readers know, my friend and fellow volunteer, Peggy, quilted this wall hanging for me last winter.  It is her rendition of a picture hanging in the laundry room of the Loners on Wheels (LoWs) park in Deming, New Mexico.  I had posted a picture of it last November while I was staying at the LoWs park, and she presented this to me while we were both volunteering at Balcones Canyonlands NWR in February.  It has a prominent place in my motorhome.  Anyway, I show it again tonight to emphasize how I feel about arriving to volunteer at one of the nation’s more than 500 National Wildlife Refuges…it’s like coming home. (and this refuge certainly feels like it’s a thousand miles from nowhere!  :))
IMG_3948By noon, today, I had the basic set up chores done.  I’m sure glad I made a trial run to the refuge in my car yesterday.  The shortest route (20 miles) turned out to be not so good for a rig pulling a toad, so I took the longer (50 mile) route this morning.  I’m happy to say I got the rig backed in on the first try, and, as you can see, the awning cooperated today!
IMG_3949There are six volunteer pads here, and across the way from my site are the two volunteer buildings.  The one on the right has two showers, and the one on the left has a common area, laundry, and full kitchen.  I’m thinking they know how to take care of their volunteers here.  :)

As the temperatures rose to the 90’s this afternoon, I did ten days worth of laundry and continued the finer points of setting up for an extended stay.  I also did battle with the mosquitoes and horse flies…this is a huge marsh area, you know.
_MG_3929There are only about six trees in the area, and I’m finding that they are prime daytime roosting sites for some nocturnal birds.  Mrs. J  was correct in her guess that these are Common Nighthawks.  They usually ply the skies for insects during the night, and sleep during the day.  I never thought I’d ever get a picture of them roosting.  I’ve only seen them before coursing through the skies at dusk.
_MG_3933 _MG_3932
I’m guessing that the adult is on the left, and the young of the year on the right.  I always thought they were a solid dark color with a white wing bar on each wing.  Their plumage is really quite striped and mottled.  All my banging around getting set up today didn’t bother them one bit!
IMG_3945There are also multitudes of these white butterflies skipping around from flower to flower around the RV sites.  I’m feeling pretty good about my stay here after only nine hours.  I think I’ll head out and take a better look at this refuge tomorrow.
_MG_3935                                                                      THE END! 

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

14 comments:

  1. Well, it sounds like you are in a little piece of heaven there, except for the bugs. Your parking spot looks inviting. You've already seen some birds. What could be better?

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  2. It sounds like a remote place. we stayed at the LOWs park in Deming several years ago for one night and enjoyed a great happy hour with the members.

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  3. Looks like you may be as snug as bug in rug there.

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  4. Hey Judy, looks like you have a great spot and also some neat anemities, like the shower and laundry huts, Sorry I didn't get to answer you second question yesterday, I remebered it after I posted the answer to the Pictures. Spedini is a spiced beef appetizer that is served about a half a dozen with a small dish of red italian sauce to dip them in. The sauce is much like that you get with toasted ravioli's, which by the way were invented in St Louis Mo. If you ever get out this way before we hit the road Donna and I will take you to Noll's and you can try them. Start the pictures of wildlife coming. also how does Emma like her new home. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

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  5. Looks like a beautiful spot. Deming is my home town. It seems like every rver stays there at some point. safe travels

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  6. Very nice spot!! Looks like you are all settled in.
    Love the wall hanging but especially the verse. So nice of your friend to do that for you. :-)

    Mike & Gerri (happytrails)

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  7. I absolutely love that wall hanging! Looks like you landed in a great spot!

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  8. Sounds like your happy to be back on a refuge. Bird pictures are great.

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  9. "The End" Bwsahhhaaahaaaaaa good one!


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

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  10. Great looking spot and congrats on getting setup so easily!

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  11. Love the wall hanging. She sure is talented!

    To answer your question, No we have not put the house on the market yet. We might have a buyer already. They are waiting on us to finish getting our stuff done. Wouldn't that be nice?!

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  12. Isn't it great how you can get that good feeling just pulling into a place. You will be happy there, and you know it already.

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  13. Sounds like you scored on your new campground! Love the birds you took pictures of. "The End" cracked me up :)

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  14. Glad you arrived safe and sound. I hope they know what a treasure has arrived.

    Looking forward to an interesting stint.

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