May - June Update

Here it is July already. Where is the time going? Summer is half over already it seems. The days are already getting shorter.

So for a May project I finally decided to do something about the dirt patch between the carport and the yard. We gardened there numerous times, but it never worked well. This was always just a weedy mess, so we decided it was time to make it look nice.

Here it what it was like when we started. It's not obvious, but the railroad tie wall was about to fall down, so first I had to rebuild it. If you look at the ties in the next picture they are a lot longer and straighter.
Then we got 12"x12" patio blocks from Lowe's in GJ. It was a heavy truck load, and we layed out five rows of them on sand we got from the big hill across from Arches park entrance.

Then I planted plants that are suppose to stay low but spread out in a carpet type fashion. Had to redo the watering system for them. Maybe they will stay alive.

And finally we added some "cinders" that I had left over from when I put them in the front yard 10+ years ago. Overall I think it is a nice effect. The only problem I see so far is that the ants love to dig holes in the cracks between the patio blocks. They think it is cool.

So at the beginning of June, on the 11th to be exact, I got a call asking if I wanted to run down to Santa Fe, NM for a little bit and help out with some fire action down there. Sure I said. I went down to help out in what is called "Expanded Dispatch". The people on the fire line call back to the dispatch and place orders for things they need - more engines - food - equipment, etc. My job was to take those orders and "process" them and make sure they go to the right people to complete them. Paperwork job, but I get to stay at a motel which is nice. This picture shows my work spot.

The closest I got to the actual "South Fork" fire was looking out the front door 30 miles to the north and seeing the smoke come up from the mountain. Worked for me. I was there 3 weeks.

I got to have one day off and went to downtown Santa Fe. Santa Fe is celebrating their 400 year anniversery this year. It is the oldest, still functioning city in the United States. They have a real messy road system. The roads follow the paths of wandering burros and are just wide enough to allow two burro carts to pass each other. The following picture is the downtown plaza. Around the plaza are 100+ tourist shows all selling the exact same thing - chinese made navajo jewery.

Well maybe some the jewery is authenic, but it still all looks the same. The following picture is at the front of the "Palace of the Govenors" which is where the city rulers lived and worked for 200+ years. Apparently there is a daily lottery system as to which location you get to spread out your jewery blanket.

I got back to Moab, July 3rd. Weeds are high everywhere. And it is hot here. But nice to be home. Time to fire up the goldwing and go for a ride though.