Ahhh….time to sit quietly and contemplate the beauty of the Arizona desert.  Harsh, but green and growing.  Dry and hard, yet so full of life.  Picky and scratchy, with such soothing colors.  Flat, with mountains all around.

I couldn’t deal with it in the summertime.  I’m such a whimp when it comes to heat, but the flora and fauna here have adapted so perfectly to this environment, I just marvel.  I marvel at everything except the flies.  I swat at them.  Why are their flies, anyway?

We continue on here at Painted Rock Campground, which remains peaceful and sparsley populated.  Nights have been in the low 40’s, with days up to 80, which feels like at least 90 to me.

I take advantage of the cool morning to cook outside on the Coleman stove.  I love soup…home made only, just say no to canned…and I make a pot of mushroom-barley soup in the morning.  I’ve been on a veggie soup kick, and it’s time for a change.  I also love my lentil soup and split pea, and make them frequently.  Next week I’ll be in the mood for Thanksgiving fare.  Vegan Thanksgiving fare that is.  No turkeys will be harmed in the making of my Thanksgiving celebration.

Turkeys are very sweet animals and love to cuddle and be petted. This is from a few years back at Farm Sanctuary in Orland, CA when I was volunteering at ” Celebration FOR The Turkeys”.

Speaking of giving thanks, I’ll just say here that I am so very thankful for being able to live this dream.  I never cease to be amazed that this is actually happening, that I was able to retire and travel to my hearts content, that my health is good and stable, that I have my two loving traveling companions, Joy and Shiloh, and that we still have freedom in this country to live this lifestyle.

I fear for our world, but as I stare into the balance and peacefulness of nature, I know this is how it was meant to be.  Humanity destroys so much with the desire for power and wealth.  There is so much hatred and destruction….oh that we would learn from nature….that we would learn to ‘walk in beauty’ like the Diné strive to do….live our values of peace and compassion and kindness and love.  What a world it could be.

What a world it could be.