The Wonders of Nature

While at a book signing of my RV books, I asked a ten – year - old girl what she liked about RVing. She answered, “To see the wonderful things that God has made.” I can’t think of a more perfect answer.

I viewed a rainbow with a mountain background. I watched a wary coyote move toward the fish - heads the fishermen had discarded. I wondered how a delicate purple flower found enough soil among the rocky area and still grew beautiful blossoms. A scavenger bird soared gracefully through the sky. I saw the wild burros forage grass along the creosote flowering hillsides. The desert sunsets are absolutely amazing! Then sings my soul, “How Great thou art!”

Arizona Desert Flowers

Because of the rainy weather in January, the desert became green. Large amounts of flowers decorated the desert in March and April. I’m not sure what name is given to the round green plant, which has yellow daisy like flowers pop up about five inches above the green foliage, but the roadsides are full of yellow blooms.

The purple lupine reminds me of Texas blue bonnets. The cacti change color or have delicate flowers.

It’s unusual for nature to have orange wild flowers but the desert globe mellow is abundant along Interstate 10. The golden poppies are more abundant in California than in Arizona.

We have always called the cactus with the pear shaped leaf the prickly pear cactus but I’m told that most of them are actually the beaver tail cacti because of smaller spines. I just know that you must be very careful not to touch a cactus. I didn’t see any thorns but after photographing a beaver tail, it looked like the palms of my hands grew hair. The tiny barbs on the ends made them difficult to remove.

Gentleman at our Red Hat Luncheon

Most of the activities at the Emerald Cove campground stop after Easter. This means that I don’t play cards, do crafts or craft sales, have fun at the Red Hat Luncheons, attend the Church of the Cove or it’s women’s group, or choir until next year. Jo Ann and Mike plan to be chaplains in Texas next year so it means good-bye to them too. She is the lady with a red hat and purple shirt. Okay, we all do. She is the one with two heads in the background.

Our last Red Hat Luncheon was one that no one wanted to miss but Opal had an optometrist appointment and wouldn’t be able to drive after the doctor dilated her eyes. That meant that her husband Frank would need to drive after taking her to the doctor in the afternoon. Our Queen Marla suggested that he join us but Frank didn’t have a red hat. Doesn’t he look good in the hat that I loaned him?

You have met Frank before if you read about him on pages 100-103 in “More RV Chuckles and Chuckholes – More Confessions of Happy Campers.” He and his wife Opal have been friends of ours for eight years. This octogenarian always has a smile or a joke for you. He is physically active. I’ve seen him handle the big mop as he cleans the clubhouse floor. He makes good coffee or tea if you visit him. I liked the apple pie he made but his lemon pie was outstanding. He even makes his own crust for the pies.