I'd kick the winds a$$ right now if I could!

[caption id="attachment_2435" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Brrzies & Freezies[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2438" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Nooooooooo[/caption]

We have gotten quite the cold spell coming through here for the last couple of days...with LOTS of wind! I know there are people out there that really like cold, miserable weather...well, I am not one of those people. I was not made for temperatures of 60 degrees or under...yes I am a total wimp when it comes to cold temps or Winter. I am a Florida girl, I grew up on the beach and in swimming pools with flip flops on my feet. I still don't know how I lasted in Denver for 9 1/2 years with no working heat in my vehicle, but that's a whole different life and many many stories ago.

The wind up here has been non-stop since we came back and with wind you have cold and with cold you have to stay in your van all day, until you walk the Nana bug! It's so windy out here that when I walk her, her ears stick straight up in the wind! It's pretty funny. I also feel kind of bad for her because, like her momma, she too is a Florida girl and she just stands there, shivering, looking at me like, "Why momma, why?" But she has to go potty somewhere and it's not gonna be in the van...Has anyone ever toilet trained a dog??

[caption id="attachment_2437" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Cold lil' baby[/caption]

We were pretty surprised the other day when we looked down into the canyon to see that a 40 foot RV had parked right down below the van. Yep, never fails! haha There are hundreds if not thousands of acres of open land where we are and they come and park right there beneath us...so much for the privacy we came back for!!

[caption id="attachment_2434" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Excuuuuuse Me!!![/caption]

We figured they were just here for the weekend or maybe even the Veterans Day stuff in town but then another vehicle pulled up with dirt bikes and four wheelers, so maybe we're wrong...whatever.

[caption id="attachment_2436" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Our new neighbors in the middle of nowhere![/caption]

We had to get the heater out the day after we came back up here and we've had it running off and on for the last three days!! Yes, it's that chilly! Oh and I wanted to update you on our "pricey noodles" we had the other night. I think for the price and what you get it's actually not that bad of a meal, to me it tastes just like a meal from Panda Express! J' grilled up some chicken to put in it and BAM...Panda Express in the van!! haha

[caption id="attachment_2433" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Yummy Yummy Chicken Teriyaki[/caption]

We have just been grilling in the van and with the little set-up we have for J's office, it's pretty easy to put the grill up there and cook/grill anything we want.

[caption id="attachment_2440" align="aligncenter" width="225"] It's gettin' hot in here...[/caption]

Although, the day we got the grill out for the first time, J' didn't know his desk area wasn't fastened and secured like he thought it was...he set the grill on top of the boards (his desk) and everything went flying. There was coffee EVERYWHERE, along with whatever else was on the boards. It took a good 25 minutes to clean it up...another way to make us appreciate tearing the carpet out and replacing it with the mats like we did!

[caption id="attachment_2439" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Ruh-roh[/caption]

With everything going on lately and then this happening, my emotions figured it was a good time to just get it all out so even though everything was fine and nothing was ruined I cried like a little baby...release. It felt good to cry, as well as laugh with J' after the coffee fiasco...sometimes you just need to get it all out, scream at the top of your lungs, and sob like it's nobody's business. Sadly, lately I know this feeling all too well. I think 'the female' and whackadoodle hormones of mine are getting the best of me this week and anything is bound to set off the water works.... believe me...anything! Ahh, to be a woman! haha

I hope you all are having a better week than I am...this whole thing is bound to pass sooner or later. Just part of being I guess! I hope you have a happy night and if not, kick the sh!t out of that pillow!!

 PEACE

Rainbows in the Dark

** Packed full o' Pics**

This morning was different than any other day we have woken up. 1- It was raining, not pouring but a steady spray of moisture and 2- It was pretty nipply...even under the covers! 

[caption id="attachment_1375" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Snug Bug[/caption]

I was taking pictures from bed of the outside when we saw a rainbow. I tried to capture it from bed but the windows had too many droplets of water on them to get a good picture. This rainbow got me out of bed, (most probably would) but it was so very worth it. If you know anything about me, it's that I am a total sucker for rainbows and feel that when I am lucky enough to witness one...or many, that I am being loved on from above, especially from my passed on pup, Roxy Love! When I got out of the van this is what I saw...

[caption id="attachment_1376" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sending me some love[/caption]

 And as I turned to see the rainbow in its entirety, I saw that we were getting double-blessed with of course, a double rainbow!

[caption id="attachment_1377" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Double the blessings[/caption]

 I was super excited, these rainbows just made my day and it wasn't even 9 a.m.! After the beautiful roads of light left us, we went on with our day like any normal day although, everything around us was ever-changing. The clouds rolled in, rolled out, rolled by the mountains, sat on top of us for a long while and then would disappear like it was just another sunny day.

[caption id="attachment_1379" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sunny...for now[/caption]

With the cloud coverage and the rain, the weather sure got wintry on us. By 10:00 a.m. I was all dolled up in my semi-winter gear; jeans, hoodie, knit cap, and socks.

[caption id="attachment_1380" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Um, brr[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1381" align="aligncenter" width="300"] In our "internet cafe"[/caption]

In between snuggles in her chair, Savannah was out enjoying all of the fresh smells the rain had brought...her nose was going crazy, she looked like a lil' bunny rabbit!

[caption id="attachment_1382" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Bunny or Bug?[/caption]

There were storms all around us, more so than yesterday, but also like yesterday they were dancing around us. Every now and then we would get hit with a few drops, thinking we were about to get hammered...then it would just move on. We were really wanting some rain... come on man!

[caption id="attachment_1383" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Will it come our way?[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1384" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Now THAT is rain![/caption]

You would think, from looking at the above pics, that we got the pummeling we wanted....nope! Little bits of spit and spray for us, but the mountains were getting the brunt of it for sure. Again, I was taking pics of the awesome sky changing every few moments and again I was able to capture another blessing. My girl was checking in on her mama today!

[caption id="attachment_1385" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Hi baby girl[/caption]

It was just marvelous, the entire day was like this. We would get a little sprinkle, some crazy cloud formations in and on top of the mountains, rainbows, some pretty brisk winds and then the sun would pop out...then it would start all over again.

[caption id="attachment_1390" align="aligncenter" width="300"] It was really sunny![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1391" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Small potty walk[/caption]

Around 5:00 p.m. we all got out of the van again to take in the scary looking scenery. If we thought it was going to rain those other times...that was nothing. It was definitely going to rain on us now...I mean pour and pelt us with cats and dogs!

[caption id="attachment_1392" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Are we going to get our wish?[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1393" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Run Nana!![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1394" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Even the robots are getting in on the storm action[/caption]

We rushed and got back in the van only to sit there and wait and wait and wait. Finally, we ended up pulling the van door back open because it was getting a little warm in here. When I slid it open, guess what I saw??? If you guessed a group of grown men playing freeze tag...well you were wrong. If you guessed another rainbow, well then you were almost right. Anyone? Anyone? Yep, another double rainbow! Whoa...two double rainbows in one day...yes, please!!

[caption id="attachment_1396" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Hello Lovely![/caption]

However, after we enjoyed another lovely set of rainbows we finally got the storm to come to the van. It wasn't the punishment we deserved, but it was a nice enough rain to satisfy our need...again making the desert look like a totally different place.

[caption id="attachment_1397" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Looks like snow, huh!?[/caption]

We were sure we would go to bed with it windy and drizzling but were wrong, yet again today. Pahrump gave us another clear & beautiful sunset, complete with the shimmering lights of the city. I don't think we'll ever figure this place out...and that's just fine with me, makes for better pictures!

[caption id="attachment_1398" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Lights of Pahrump[/caption]

 Hoping you also had a crazy magical day!

PEACE

Rain, Rain Come our way!!

I'm just going to skip yesterday all together due to not being able to walk, really at all. I cannot put my heel down in the slightest, it feels as if I might have a little bit of nerve damage but maybe my foot is still just in shock. It doesn't even look that bad, but it hurts like hell!

[caption id="attachment_1365" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Bruised and major swelling[/caption]

I did however get in a chilly shower and with the wind being sooo crazy, I got a natural blow-out for free!

[caption id="attachment_1364" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Scary, huh[/caption]

I've even been thinking, for about three weeks now, about really cutting my hair. It's a constant thought so maybe I'll just take the plunge soon...we'll see. Anyway, it's a pretty nippy day today. It started out a little breezy and as the day goes on I'm finding myself putting on more clothing. Even though it's only about 64 degrees right now, being in the middle of the barren desert, it feels a bit colder than that.

[caption id="attachment_1366" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Snuggled up but can still "window hunt"[/caption]

From the news and weather we've been catching on the tube, they have been saying it's supposed to storm this week and by the looks of it...they were right! The clouds are definitely moving in, along with the cooler weather. I'm just glad we got our showers in yesterday!

I think if the rain does come it will be fun to see and with all of our stuff contained it will be fun to sit in it. We had that one "big rain" at Tai Shan but I think the rains out here are going to make that look like a sprinkle...but what do I know, I've never camped in the desert. Either way it should be fun and interesting!

[caption id="attachment_1368" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Looks like rain[/caption]

I really like it out here. I think it's a photographers' dream for landscape work. Now we all know that I'm no professional photographer but I do love to take pictures and it's amazing to see how the scenery changes, literally from minute to minute. The sun hits the mountains, the land, the clouds, everything is different moment to moment...it's amazing!

The rain actually never hit us today. It just danced around us in the mountains all day. I was happy to get some good pics and we still have two more days (per weather forecaster) of rain, so maybe we'll get lucky with a downpour tomorrow!?

'Til then, we'll catch ya on the flip side, yo!

PEACE