Almost Home

A week from today we will be home!
We’ve been having great weather; chilly weather but no gales like Death Valley sometimes gets.
Yesterday, on our day off we went on a 4wheel drive road up into the Chloride Cliffs area of the park. We came to Monarch canyon and walked around a bit there. Jim hiked around more than I did but it was an amazing place with a dry waterfall of about 100 ft. I was afraid Harry was going to fall off the edge because he stood so close to the brim. There was evidence of sheep near by but we didn’t see any. Also, we wandered up to Scotty’s Castle. There are a pair of ravens that frequent the parking lot there that have become very good at opening up ice chests and other compartments on vehicles. I watched as they tried to get into a case on a Harley parked next to us. They were also pecking at a pick up bed cover on the truck next to us.
We had a nice visit with Jim’s boss from Costa Mesa and his co-workers. We all met at the Inn for a delicious dinner. Just seeing the Christmas decorations was a treat. We haven’t seen too many Christmas trees here in Death Valley. We really miss out on all the hoop-la of Christmas: the adds on TV, the ads in the papers and magazines, and programs at all the churches, and schools. I guess most of it doesn’t mean a whole lot to us but it seems almost a relief not to be bombarded with all the glitz. Maybe we are hermits, at heart. Family is what is the most important. If we could be with all our children and their families, we would have everything we need! God knew what we needed when He gave us each other.

December Snows

Yes, we can see snow on the peaks around Death Valley. The low last night at our campsite was 41 so it is chilly.
We are sad because Sandy and Newel left yesterday for home having completed their commitment to the park. They did some great work here on signs and really spiffed up the big entrance sign as you enter the park. They will be missed by the park, but especially by us, their long time friends!
We have neighbors. The rat people are here from the university studying rats in the park. It will be fun to chat with them today and see where the rats are living.
Yesterday, we decided to go into the city for church. Our little church here is not meeting anymore so we found a Calvary Chapel in Pahrump. Only about 25 of us but it felt so good to be meeting with believers again. We got there late since we had to help a man stuck in the gravel off the road. It took us half a hour to get assistance for him and get a tow truck on the way.
We are excited about the prospect of seeing our home and family at Christmas. Only two and one half weeks to go. Yeah!