October 31, 2009

first night - parked in my sister’s driveway so we could enjoy a last visit. they fixed a wonderful cold-weather meal of corned beef and all the appropriate boiled vegies - yum. we toured the hibernating garden and the chickens and had a nice evening of chat and coziness. it was cold, very cold my first night sleeping in the RV and I ‘bout froze my nose. it was 32̊ at one point. I was plugged into their electricity and didn’t want to use any more than I had to have for the little electric heater, but that was stupid. they didn’t begrudge me the electricity, and a miserable first night’s sleep wasn’t according to plan.

night two - stayed at Lake Lahontan at my friend’s house, used the furnace and was toasty warm and slept like a log - plus the temps have risen. the day was sunshiny and warm and the night just right for sleeping.



my friend has three lovely desert dogs and I’ve had fun getting acquainted. at first sight, they appear ferocious and intimidating, huge loud barking and some growling, a lot of pacing quickly back and forth and jumping around as though they can hardly wait to get at you and have you for dinner.

Toby, male, pit-bull looking was intimidating to meet because of the way he looks, but he’s a real sweetheart who can’t seem to understand why he can’t be a lapdog. Toby and I have been great friends from the beginning. Brandy is a very old, disabled female, hobbles around and mostly ‘rests’ and sleeps. she’s had a stroke and is just plain old, but a real sweetheart too. now we get to Jesse. Jesse was a feral dog that was rounded up with others and my friend just happened to look into her eyes when Jesse was loaded on the take-away truck, and my friend just couldn’t let her go to her fate. my friend took her home. Jesse is very skittish and mistrustful, still a very Wild Woman. it took a long time for her to come close enough to take food from my hand, and even longer for her to remain closeby. this is my second visit out here, and Jesse and I seem to be friends now. she even allowed me to pet her for a moment before regaining her distance. we’ll see if I have to start all over next Spring.

the three dogs are inseparable - always within feet of each other, unless Brandy is sleeping or resting, then the other two race around together, checking out the property perimeters, but always returning to check on Brandy within minutes. they fuss over her, and all three SHARE! sometimes they plunk down near each other and snooze, but if one’s up, they’re all up. they wait for each other to get their turn for ‘treats’ or dinner or whatever . . . and they kiss and nuzzle each other just as dogs will do with their human companion. it’s pretty amazing to watch them.

it’s been a wonderful visit to this home in the Nevada desert. it’s ‘off the grid’ and peaceful and quiet and takes a very wash-boarded road trip in to get here. I crept in at about 5-7 miles an hour in the RV, believe me. and the way outa here is the same! and no, we probably won’t have ANY trick or treaters tonight.

see you down the road. more photos below

Brandy, Jesse, Toby