HAMILTON, MONTANA

Yesterday was a pack up and hit the road day. The day before I said goodbye to the sisters; Linda, Susan, and Karla as they were heading to upper part of the campgrounds. Had to laugh as they walked away and couldn't resist getting a photo...

Duane and Sam were waiting to say their goodbyes to Phil when over walks Duane's kitty...

This is the only part of this new lifestyle that I dislike... the saying of goodbyes.  But you know, I know angels exist because I keep meeting them. They just haven't earned their wings yet. I have a firm belief that earth is just a school for the soul and we are all earning our  wings. But like any school there are those that don't pass to the next grade or level so they have to repeat the lessons. I stand in judgement of no one but I do believe that the people I met and become friends with are making passing grades in life. I am blessed to call them my friends and I truly dance with the angels.

Down the road from the Cottonwood Campgrounds on the banks of the beautiful Salmon River there is an old log sod house homestead that I love. It will make for an outstanding painting of yesteryear...

We saw so many wonders as we traveled up Highway 93. It is a great road for sightseeing. I took some pictures in the Darby area and last night Phil read on the Internet that there was a major fire started there. It must have happened after we had passed through. What I find interesting about it is that we had looked at a campground that was way back up in the boonies. We decided not to stay there although it was a beautiful little campground. Had we chose to stay we could have been in danger with the raging fire that is fed with dying pines. The Asian pine beetle is wiping out so much of our beautiful forest. We were shocked at the looks of the trees in alot of the areas we have passed. Like most invasive species it has no natural enemies. If I remember correctly this beetle was shipped to America as a replacement for our ladybugs. They taste bad  to birds so birds tend to avoid them. When is the last time you saw a real black and red dotted ladybug? The black/brown with tan to yellow dots is the culprit that is destroying our forest. This is taking place across America I know because we had them in Rockdale, Texas which is at the edge of the Lost Pines Area. I think it will take the "public" to stand up and say "enough is enough - cease the importing of alien species into the United State." But will they take the time to do so... who knows?

There is still so much beauty to behold in America. I see it in the people I met, the animals I see, and the land my eyes behold. Some of it just takes your breath away. Such as the snow on the mountains and a Montana hayfield...

Reminds you of the the song "America, the Beautiful", doen't it? But at the same time I "see" the commercial of the Native American Elder with the tear falling down his cheek. My heart aches with the knowledge that America is changing due to invasive species, climate change, and natural disasters.

As we went farther down the road it seemed as if we were playing a game of peekabo with the mountain in the above photo. From every angle that I viewed it's majectic peak I felt the awe of God's creation.

We have arrived safely at Hamilton, Montana and are staying at the Angler's Roost on the banks of the Bitterroot River about three miles south of the town. It's a beautiful day and the air is cool. I know our angels were looking out for us because the lady that booked us in gave us a campsite too small for the rig. Rather then try to get everything in a tiny spot we went back to the office and the owner was there. He let us have a pull-through with full hook ups. I can wash clothes! I never in my life thought I would enjoy doing that! lol

Life is good...treat it like the gift that it is... love much and be happy. Remember only you can chose your attitude. May Angel Wings Surround You and May You Keep On Dancing!...

SATURDAY'S DANCE WITH LIFE

Yesterday was a fun day. The park was full and everyone was having a great time. When I took the girls out for their morning bike ride the first thing I did was make the big circle and say hello to everyone. Coming back up to our site I noticed Phil, Duwayne, and Sam standing by the roadside talking so I took a picture of them...

Just a few minutes after I took the photo Sam lifted his pants leg and was showing his ankle. Sure wish I had waited a moment but I did the next best thing I told him I didn't know if I should whistle or not with Phil standing there. Later I took a photo of Sam with his family (wife Treva, daughters, Linda, Susan, and Karla) I just love his daughters...

After teasing Sam about showing his leg I headed off to main section of the park. What a surprise I found, in the parking lot was a big motorcycle club group. They were everywhere....

They were having a great time out for a day's road trip. I thoroughly enjoyed talking with them. The lady passing around the snacks even came over and offered some cookies to me. That was sweet of her. Just after that a man came walking up and ask if I remembered him... sure enough it was Jerry. I met him the day before when he was asking about the hot springs in the area. I just wish Phil could have met Jerry. He is a really nice person with a sincere smile and winning personality. It was a pleasure to see him again and to meet some of the group he runs around with. I cannot remember when I have laughed so much. When the group got together for a group photo I was laughing so hard at the guys lying down in front. They were a riot...

I went on about my business of taking the girls for their ride around the park.  As I started up the hill to go to the top area the motorcycles started leaving and I found myself riding in the middle of a motorcyle gang... too funny.

Thank you Jerry, I will never forget you or your friends ... 

Remember, life is what you make it. Have fun, live well, laugh often, and love much. But most important---- KEEP ON DANCING... the Angels you dance with just might surprise you!

THE DANCE

The dance continues as we met new people. Our camp host lives across the road from us with his cat and twenty year old dog. He is full of information about the area and has been a host here for fourteen years. Meet Duwayne...

The RV trailer that you see to the left of him is owned by Merlin and his wife Bobbie. Merlin is a bit of a jokerster and well liked by all that meet him.  I can actually say that I have met Merlin in this lifetime, lol.

In the center of the park there is Ed, his wife (whom I haven't met yet), Emily and her parents. Ed is a retired firefighter. He lives in Hamilton, Montana. Emily and her parents are from Idaho Falls, Idaho. Emily was wearing a tee shirt that had pictures of peanuts and other nuts with the caption "My family is nuts". I told her I thought our families must be related and she broke out in the prettiest big grin. She is a cute little girl. I really like Ed and he is a good talker. Hope he and Phil meet up.  Here is a picture of Ed and Emily...

And then there is Bryee. She works for the Idaho Fish and Game Department. What a delight she was to talk to and she has a beautiful outlook on life. She told me what was in this area including an albino mule deer with pink eyes and pink horns. Very rare in the area and she had seen it herself. She also suggest that we go see the panhandle area if we want to see the prettiest part of Idaho. I do not think anyone could be better suited at her job. She has an outstanding personality and she is a real sweetheart.  If you are ever in this area do say hello to Bryee...

We had a show of wildlife in the last couple of days. I heard an eagle and then watched as two met in midair and tumbled downward leaving me wondering which type of eagle they were. Later Phil and I watch a bald eagle flyby going up the river. He got to watch a deer that tried to cross the river and was swept down river. We also watched three Bighorn Sheep come down off the mountain to drink from the river. The day before I had told Phil that I thought I had seen goats or something at the very top of the mountain. I got a few really nice pictures of them. It is hard to chose just one for the blog. But here it is...

Time to close and get the day going. Remember to enjoy life while it is yours. May the tune of life be one of joy and happiness. May the wings of Angels lift you to new heights and may you keep on dancing...

COTTONWOOD PARK IN IDAHO

From deserts to lush green trees...this has been a trip. First, I have to say that we made our trip to Lake Powell just fine. But when we got there it was all desert around a lake that was packed with people and boats. The RV campgrounds was not near the water and to top it off they charged $42.00 a night. We didn't see any thing that was worth that high fee so we drove on down the road. Spent the night sleeping at a truck stop at Beaver, Utah. As it turned out it was a very good move. As we pulled into the truck stop a guy came over and asked if we were having problems. He heard the trailer axles snapping and popping when we rounded the corner. We had to replace the shackles on the trailer as they were shot. We knew they were going bad but didn't know they were pass the "going" stage and made it to the bad. Just what we needed when going into the mountains was to have a wheel fall off. We got a pretty fair deal on replacing them so we are $800.00  lighter... hmmm, not the kind of lessing of weight we had planned but once again the Angels were watching out for us. That could have been a very dangerous situation.

We saw a lot of beautiful country from mountains to painted deserts...

I took a lot of beautiful pictures but the internet connection is extremely slow here where we are staying. But one of the pictures I have to share is of an energy ball that I just happened to capture as we drove pass. I was taking a picture of a lavender farm just the other side of Ogden (a town pass Salt Lake City, Utah. As it turns out there was a major fire in that area not long after we passed it.  Seems the fire started from powerlines too close together and arcing during a storm. Everything I heard fits together so I have a feeling that this energy ball had something to do with the burning down fifty two homes and the taking of two lives...

At first I thought the ball of light was on top of the mountain but Phil pointed out that it was on the power lines. But I cannot explain the shaft of darkness just pass it on the left. Sunrays through clouds maybe? Who knows, but for sure there is a malfunction in the power lines. We looked back over the desert and saw the smoke from the fire as we were going through Idaho. We also went through a lot of high wind and rain just after this photo was taken.

Since this isn't a good or even a half way decent internet connection I will have to limit my photos. So the last one for today shows the Salmon River. This is running just outside our door and we overlook it from our windows. An oasis of beautiful lush green and a river runs through it...

This is what we see from our campsite looking down river. A rain had just passed which allowed the far mountains to really show up good. The girls are so funny when I let them outside. The first thing they do is run out and bark at the river. They have never heard rushing waters. We are staying at the Cottonwood State Recreational Park. Which is fifteen miles below Ennis, Idaho on Hwy 93. They except the senor pass so the stay is only $5.00 a night.  The first night we camped on the other side next to the mountain face so it wasn't very pretty. But the next morning when people began leaving we had our choice of spots. Nice! We are paid up through Sunday. Not sure if we will stay longer or not. We are about one fifty miles from Phil's sister in Montana which is our destination.

Life has been wonderful as we dance with the Angels across the United States of America. The dance is a beautiful one with everyone dancing to their own "heart" beat to as the tune of life plays on.

May Angel Wings Caress You and Keep You Safe...  And May You Keep On Dancing...

Here it is Sunday and I'm left wondering where the last two weeks went? Time has flown by quickly and it is time to begin packing up for moving again.  As my mind begins to grasp the meaning I begin to feel the sadness of leaving my friends behind me as we venture forth into the world. It has been a time of peace, relaxation, and great inner revelations.

Both Phil and I have came to the conclusion that we really don't care for the bleakness and heat of a desert in the middle of summer. It is true that it is a dry heat but it is still too much heat for us. The area certainly has a lot of beauty and wildlife is there to see. But the only thing I've seen has been a lynx cutting across the middle of the land moving fast. Lizards, jackrabbits, cottontails, quail, white wing doves, finches, sparrows, hawks, and some birds that I am not sure of the names. And lets not forget the ants... everywhere. One thing I did notice was that there were no mosquitos. That is a huge plus for deserts lol. We shall return here to Sun Camp the first part of next October. We have plans for staying one month so that we may help with a few of the projects that need completing. It shall be interesting to see what the area looks like at that time of year.

The other day I saw my first "herd" of  jackrabbits.  I don't know what you call a group of over fifteen jackrabbits but herd gets the idea across. I could not get them all into a photo because they scattered when I approached. I did not have time to adjust the settings on the camera so the rabbits are not in perfect focus but this shows a few of them that didn't get away fast enough...

As you can see they are big rabbits with long legs, long ears, and a long black tail. I believe that they are classified as a hare rather then a rabbit. When I first saw them I thought I was looking at a fox or small coyote but soon realized it was a rabbit.

And it seems that everywhere you look there are the ground squirrels. The ground is so full of holes that you have to be aware of where you walk just to keep from twisting an ankle. A couple of them have gotten used to seeing me on the bike so they are getting brave. They will allow me to ride up pretty close before ducking into a hole for protection...

The residents here at Sun Camp feed the local wildlife so there are plenty of birds, rabbits, and ground squirrels. I find it amazing that I have yet to see a snake. Even at night when taking the dogs out I have not seen one.

I will miss the feeling of love and peace that I find within this church. This is an old building and many have sang the praises of God within it's walls. The main part of the building is a nine sided round building. Each section is a different color almost like a rainbow room. The walls do not clash with each other but rather blend together. Very nice. The entry way is guarded by two angels sitting back to back with each facing a walkway...

Here is a photo of the non-traditional christian church as I see it...

As this day begins to pass I will be busy going through boxes to lighten our load and pass on what I can to this community. Some of the things that they were needing we have donated to them such as our crystals, books, crystal bowl, and a flat screen tv that was needed in the church. It has been fun.

But the sun is setting on this great adventure....

 

The time has come for us to move on to the next campsite down the road. Our goal is to make a stopover at Lake Powell (Page, Az) area. Hopefully, Phil will be able to put his boat in the water and check out the monster trout of that area. 

May you continue to dance to the tune of life. May your reality be filled with joy, love, and peace. And may the Angels surround you with their protecting wings as your dance continues. No matter what just keep on dancing..........

 

AN AMAZING DAY

Wow, what a visit here in Arizona. Things have been happening non stop. Blessings have been in abundance since our decision to give the "Lightwave" crystal to Ashlem by placing it into the safe keeping of Rev. Bob Copeland. Ashlem is a Tibetian Spiritual Guide that speaks through Rev. Copeland. This is a large very special group crystal and has great healing powers. There is a reason that I am mentioning this as you will see later in the writings.

Our day begin with a visit to our good friend and teacher... Dr. Hannelore Stumpf of Phoenix, Arizona...

She is an anchor of "Light" in the Phoenix area. Although she has retired from the public she is still doing a daily meditation prayer. We had the great honor of attending one last Thursday. During which she rang her healing Tibetian bowl on my back injuries... What an experience... I could feel the healing taking place. And I can truthfully say that I have not experience pain in my back since. I stand in amazement as I have had pain since I was eighteen years of age. My spine was injured in three places from a car accident. Here is a picture of her Tibetian bowls. The large one in the rear is the one she calls her healing bowl. It is amazing...

She also has a large collection of Tibetian bells...

After our visit with Hannelore we returned to Sun Camp where we were greeted by Joyce Provence...

Another dear friend.  Joyce does Iridology and is very gifted at it. This picture of her was taken while she, Bob, Phil and I sat in Bob's living room discussing old times and the Lightwave Crystal. The lamp near the empty chair turned on by itself (so to speak) which was a delight. I welcomed our unseen visitor as Phil put the lampshade back on the lamp so the light would not shine into people's eyes. He had just gotten seated back in his chair when the lampshade shook. The shaking was hard enough for us to know that it wasn't a breeze or something to that effect. I feel that the unseen guest was Ashlem. What a treat !

I would also like to make note that while I was sending the above photo to Mary Jane Holland and telling her about the lamp. When I wrote that I felt it was Ashlem who had turned on the lamp a dust devil from out of no where shook our trailer. It did no damage but did cause a laugh.

We have been on the go for a few days and it is nice to slow down. We have decided to wait until after July 9th before making our way towards Montana to visit Phil's sister "Adella". We have been on the road long enough to have learned that it is hard to find a place to stay during major holidays. So to keep from spending another night in a Walmart parking lot we are not going to leave until after the rush. Meanwhile, we plan another trip to visit our friend Hannelore and to the helping Bob around the camp. As usual, Phil is doing needed repairs. We are indeed dancing with Angels (seen and unseen) to the tune of life..... May Angel Wings Surround You and May You Continue to Keep On Dancing....

 

THE VALLEY TOUR

Rev. Bob Copeland returned to Sun Spiritualist Camp Sunday. We were treated to dinner at the Cracker Barrel restaurant in Buckeye, Az. That is a very unique place with antigues and gifts. Naturally, you walk through the temptation of the gifts store before you go into the restaurant part of the building. I was glad that I had left my purse at home.

We unloaded the crystals, books, flat screen tv, and a few other items that we are giving to Bob or the Camp. I say we, but the truth is Phil did all the lifting and carrying of the items.  This should lighten the load that we pull quiet a bit. I also noted that we are still down sizing, learning what is important and what is not. I even went through and toss out all of my "big" clothes. I have one more dress size to drop and I will be back at what I weighed before the thyroid problem. That is a good feeling of accomplishment.

Today, Bob took us out sight seeing in the desert. He took us to see the Palo Verde Nuclear Plant...

As he talked about the founder of Sun Spiritualist Camp and the dream he followed as to it's creation. He was told to look for the sleeping indian. And in the distance there is a mountain that looks like an Indian sleeping...

After showing this to us Bob took us to see the King of Arizona. If you look closely at the right side of this mountain you can see a man's face...

This mountain is part of the Kofa mountain range. They were named for the King of Arizona gold mine, discovered in King Valley in 1896. The mine used to stamp their property "K of A" and hence the name, Kofa. They are arid and rugged volcanic remnants of the Tertiary period.

We then went through the Harquahala Valley area. I was amazed to find so my green in the middle of a desert. There were miles of alfalfa fields, corn, maize, cotton, and plants unknown to me. Most of the fields belonged to Del Monte. That was a total surprise to discover. This a photo I took of an alfalfa field as we passed by...

The secret is water. There are miles of aqua ducts running through the valley to carry the water. This must be how they made deserts flourish in the ancient days of Egypt. As we drove we arrived at a Outback Australian Tree Plantation...

 They grow eucalyptus and other Australian desert trees for market here in Arizona. I was very impressed with their operation. They had mounds of rich black compost, row after row of covered seedlings.

After the valley tour Bob treated us to the history of Tonopah Joe and we sat in the Tonopah Joe Restaurant. He is a photo of Phil playing around...

We thoroughly enjoyed the tour and the history of the area. Including this old building...

Thanks to Bob, we discovered that this was once the Harquahala Courthouse. Can't you just see the law of the west in this old building? Only thing missing is the hitching post.

Well this day has ended and a new one shall begin tomorrow. Meanwhile, remember to keep on dancing...