On the 1st, mostly took it easy at home.

Some clouds this day

Late afternoon

On the 2nd, drove Kathy to Escondido for MD appointment and OB to drop off jewelry to be modified. Kathy was nauseous the whole way, despite meds. We shopped on the way home.

Caught rat #7 in house early this morning

Gave rat a little bath

I hurriedly pulled over after seeing a spectacular alignment with the contrail shadow - too late, as at this point the shadow was no longer aligned with the sun & us. A minute before, even in the sky part of the sky below the contrail was black & it actually looked like a tornado!

On the 3rd, mostly took it easy at home. Jef washed Kathy's car & the windows of the other cars. Also stopped at Sewanee & unplugged fridge (after an $81 power bill) and picked up palm fronds for later burning. Kathy's nausea continued.

Agave poking thru mesquite canopy

Cool sunset this evening

On the 4th, we took it easy at home on another cool & windy day. Kathy's nausea finally started to lessen in the evening.

Nice sunset this evening

On the 5th, Kathy wanted to start working again, but again cancelled & stayed home all day. However, she felt well enough to go on a 2+ mile hike to old country club and back (1st hike out of the circle in a while).

Agave progress

Took pix of these cactus blooms just before leaving the circle

Our turn-around point at the old country club gate

On the 6th, Kathy was going to see MD this afternoon, but no longer felt she needed to, so cancelled. We stayed home all day, except Jef drove over to Sewanee, did some yard clean up and unplugged the fridge, after an $80 electric bill.

Agave bloom punched thru canopy this day is still on blooming on top

On the 7th, Kathy's neck was bothing her too much most of the day, so again cancelled all patients. So we mostly took it easy all day. Kathy was able to go on a 2 mile hike with the doggies this evening.

We checked out progress of new house being built on Country Club

Looks like a small experimental house - PCM stands for "Phase Changing Material"

On the 8th, Jef washed the car. Then we got cleaned up and attended a funeral at the St. Richards Catholic church for 25 year old father, Angel, who was killed by a truck while jogging about 10 days prior, and was the son of Zaida, who worked for Kathy about 20 years ago. Ceremony included a mass and went very slowly. We left after about 3 hours and failed to see Zaida.

Kathy wanted pic of red cereus blooms, but it was too late

First time using new grill - while cooking these brats, we found out that it burns too hot

Kathy & her new grill (this is what she wore to funeral)

On the 9th, walked to town this morning when temps were still in the 80s, got mail at PO(walked there in 56 minutes), and returned home(39 minutes) with temp at 95°F. Temp reached about 105°F this day, the middle of a 5 day heat spell.

Meter still heading south

Smoke tree blooming 1 to 2 months early

Chuparosa blooming at bottom of steep grade to the pass

Just befor descending into town

Walking by St. Richards where we had attended funeral prior evening

Found Rudy Roadrunner on our front patio when I returned from my walk to the PO

On the 10th, mostly took it easy at home, but did take Kathy for a late Mother's Day lunch at the Red O. We baked stuffed peppers for dinner and did a 1 mile walk around the circle this evening.

Agave progress

Kathy at Red O before ordering

On the 11th, Jef drove to SD to pick up repaired jewelry in OB, shop & go to the dentist.

Golden Seashell in OB

Kathy's resized rings

On the 12th, Kathy returned to work, seeing 3 patients. We cooked burgers this evening on the new grill.

Agave progress

Record price to fill a gas tank - this for the truck

Caught a rat in the garage

On the 13th, Jef drove to Indian Wells & got an MRI. Walked Kathy & puppies around the EStar/WStar loop, going about 1 mile.

Cactus in front of house is blooming and attracting bees

On the 14th, Kathy worked at the office, seeing 3 patients.

Progress of agave

Reflected sunlight on new glass fixture by the road

Mia time in back yard this evening

On the 15th, mostly took it easy at home. Jef did paperwork for Kathy's patients this week. We cooked brats on the grill this evening.

Agave progress

Jef noticed this king snake in kitchen and so got Kathy to pick it up

Kathy placed this in the front yard so doggies wouldn't hassle it

On the 16th, Jef walked to the PO in the usual 4.5 mile loop in about 103 minutes. Later that day, we walked doggies in town to avoid the wind.

Meter still heading south

Desert hibiscus bloom

Rock daisys STILL blooming

Fagonia still has a few blooms

Shadow of hibiscus stamen

Before descent to town

Blue gilias doing great when they get irrigated!

Looking south on main walkway in the park

Looking north to the library

This may be related to a desert willow - lots of these trees at the park

Smoke tree blooms

Agave progress

Kathy & puppies at the park

Walking around the library

Amphitheatre at the park

Walking by the BAI

On the 17th, hung out all day at home on a windy cool May day. Jef did a few chores like cleaning out the bulk of the pool and starting to fix support posts.

On the 18th, mostly took it easy at home. Jill came over & gave us haircuts.

Progress of agave

On the 19th, Kathy returned to work, seeing 3 patients.

Wind the prior day blew this big paloverde branch down at the Mall

Branch was full of flowers

Progress of agave

Close to being in full bloom

On the 20th, drove Camry to Tito's for oil change & walked home.

Dam on Palm Canyon drainage channel

Mesquites are now producing beans

Golf practice greens on this vacant lot

Houses in this area seem to have grand entries

This is the place we attended Yuridia's graduation party in July, 2018 - the palm covered giant palapa burned up, but is now has a metal roof

Another grand entrance nearby

Cool detail on enclosure wall

Nice little apartments on Weathervane

Mystery: if house burned down, how did a deck survive? Perhaps there was an above ground pool for a while and the deck was added for it?

On the 21st, Camry was ready, so Jef walked there & picked it up. $160 for oil change was about double what it was a couple years ago, thanks to "felon in charge"'s tariffs. Got car home in time for Kathy to take it to work - a long day with 2 new patients.

Agave finally in full bloom

Even top tier of flowers is now blooming

Meter still going south

Looks like the roof of a station wagon

This might be an old tool chest

This was used as a dump site: note the end of a golf club

Picking up the car at Tito's

On the 22nd, mostly took it easy at home.

We took doggies on a mile walk around circle with this spur

On the 23rd, walked to market & PO. Then we packed up Jeep & went to potluck with John's group in Glorietta.

Agave

Meter still heading south

Fagonia blooms on almost dead fagonia

Desert hibiscus

High point of hike to work is around 930' & 1.64 miles from home

Pepper notices my loop hike was under 4.4 miles and...

...368' elevation gain/loss

Playing baseball in Glorietta

After camp was set up

Jef walked up to end of main wash - here passing the lone juniper

The end of the wash - wanted to go to land shark, but was very tired and Kathy didn't give me enuff time to reach it

I did get to within 0.39 miles of it

Still had another 300' or so elevation to go up

This end point was about 440' higher than the camp

Total excursion lasted 55 minutes & I walked 2.3 miles

Passing juniper on the way back

Big field of dead grasses

John had siezed my chair from the beginning and was playing with his teensy cars

Joseph climbing his rock and other guy taking a pic of him & campsite

Focal point of camp was this shade

Panorama including the "ball field"

Looking at camp from the north side of wash

Joseph pitching the ball

Panorama looking east

Dave pitching

Swing and miss

Will he hit it this time?

Joseph at the bat

It's a hit! Rick is playing outfield

Kerilee at the bat with Joseph on first

Jef went and played outfield for a while - he has learned that he can no longer hit even an easy pitch - striking out 3 times in a row!

Joseph testing out an alternative to a dunking booth

Kerilee filling it with water

Dave tossing the ball

After the "dunking"

Time to go home: this Jeep needed a jump to start

Jump starting the Jeep

We were the last car out - here we just reached the pavement

On the 24th, Memorial Day, we both wound up sleeping half the day. John & Steph came over & we looked thru their recent Moab area picture album before dining at the Red O.

My "RO" branded burger

John, Steph & Kathy

Pepper "getting a ride"

On the 25th, mostly took it easy at home.

On the 26th, Kathy had a short day at the office. Jef stayed home.

Agave progress

On the 27th, took doggies on a 2 mile walk. Later that day, walked in strong winds to the pharmacy and PO, so about 6.5 miles and 400'+ elevation on hikes this day.

A realtor must've lived here

I let the puppies select where we went

Meter still heading south

Note intensity of wind at the Steele Burnand

A minute before this, I had to hold onto my glasses to keep them from blowing off me and over the cliff

Note how grass is flattened

Paloverdes blooming by the library

Note the drifts of fallen blooms on the ground

Indianhead

On the 28th, Kathy returned to work a long day at the office. Jef did chores at home.

On the 1st, Kathy continued taking it easy, but we did a little 2 mile walk with puppies this afternoon in the wind on this otherwise pleasant day.

Sunrise this morning

Nice clouds this day

Last 2 amarilys blooms going strong

Kathy didn't need to put on bug spray as the wind kept gnats away, but she did it anyway

Cactus flower with paloverde blooms behind

Kathy & Daisy around half way point of 1st lap

Progress of agave after arriving home

Don't know how it will bloom in this crowded canopy

On the 2nd, Kathy returned to work, working a full day. Jef did lots of errands.

Lupita didn't put trash in container, so ravens had a field day tearing it up

On the 3rd, Kathy was too wiped out to walk. Jef worked in office and doing other chores.

Mesquite blooms

Cool clouds this day

Bob attired for Easter coming up in 2 days

Nasty cactus blooming on lot next door

Cool sunset this evening

On the 4th, Kathy mostly slept due to recovering from going to work too early after a recent back injury. Jef did chores around the house.

Jef made a new top for backyard furniture out of old scraps

Desert rose about to bloom

Cloud kinda looks like a tornado coming down

Oxalis blooming in sun room

Sun setting over puppies in back yard

On the 5th, while Kathy took it easy at home, Jef walked to town to get the mail.

2 more blooming stalks (of 5) - one blooming and another just starting

Cactus flower in front of house

Mescal about to bloom in our mesquite canopy

Meter still heading south

This desert dandelion is blooming still! Next to some blue gilia at back of our property

Field of blue gilia with Toro in background(on Wagon)

Lupines are all gone (after pic from flower pix of last month)

This area was much more colourful last month

Indigo plants are starting to bloom

Another after pic

Desert groundcherry

Desert lily done for the season

Smith front yard on Bending Elbow very colourful this day

All the swooshes in the sky - Nike advertising?

My shortcut trail cutting thru field of blue gilias

Blue gilia field with "Bob" in background

Today is Easter

Mostly contrail clouds this evening

Kathy bar-b-qued carne asada this evening so we could have tostada for the next few days

On the 6th, did chores around the house and we mostly took it easy. Kathy was able to resume walking, so we took doggies on a 1.2 mile walk around the circle.

Decided to try setting up new tent to see if bed fits in it this morning

Tent poles assembled

Starting to erect tent

Tent up

Bed in tent

Inflating bed

Nope - that won't work

Trying bed perpendicular

Bed fits(barely) and door can be zipped shut

Inside tent with door zipped shut

Kathy did 1.1 miles going around circle with her walker this evening

On the 7th, Kathy cancelled all patients to let her better recover from her recent injury.

Desert rose is blooming for 1st time

Boysenberry blooming for 1st time

Got rid of a lot of gnats, flies and even flutter-bys with this sticky thing

Able to fill in bottom inch of this fly trap before repeating process

On the 8th, mostly did chores at home. Kathy continued to rest.

Kathy cooked beans in microwave with lid on, causing it to crunch in and vacuum prevented taking it off, even with tools

Went to free movie (1st of new season): "One Battle after Another". We met Pam & Jaime there and viewed the 2h 40m movie together

Fred mentioned there were no movies that made a lot of money last year, but this one did okay

On the 9th, Kathy returned to work at the office, only doing the "easy" patients.

Sunrise this morning

After taking the tupperware that Kathy crushed in microwave the prior day, sealing it and microwaving it again, got most dents out. Then unsealed, microwaved and popped the lid off. Then jury-rigged this vise to get final dent out of it

On the 10th, mostly took it easy at home.

Desert rose

Agave progress

Last amarilys blooms of the season

Agave starting to bloom, but...

...difficult to see in the canopy

Nice day

Back yard just before sun disappeared behind mountains

A bit hazy

On the 11th, mostly took it easy doing chores at home. Julie & Johnny arrived late this afternoon.

Progress of agave bloom

Jef & Julie

Bar-b-que-ing steaks

Dined on steak, baked taters & salad using our fine tableware

On the 12th, Kathy was not yet ready to go on any adventure, so took Julie & Johnny to Glorietta in the black Jeep where we hiked for about half an hour.

Starting from black Jeep

On the trail

Climbing the steeper trail

White sage bloom

Johnny & Julie at the "meadow"

Julie's pic

Left Johnny here as we hiked a few more minutes

Julie was scared passing between agaves, and so walked around them

Big fallen ocotillo

Wild buckwheat blooms

Arriving back at the trailhead

Catclaw blooms

Back to the Jeep

Johnny & Jef

Stopped by to see some dinosaur statues on drive to Sewanee house

Fallen dino

Wind damage broke this flimsy dino's leg

This dino is still standing tall

Johnny viewed from the upper roof

Looking east on roof

Looking north from upper deck

Looking SW

Looking SE

Desert rose blooming

Desert rose

Cool clouds this day

We took doggies around the circle

Julie bought us a nice dinner at the Red O

Red O this night

Burning medical records

Jef happened to walk by fire when a burning stick fell out and onto my foot, catching my sock on fire. I quickly removed the sock and proceeded to step barefoot onto the burning embers. You would not have liked to here my "singing"

Johnny & Julie entertaining us with music around the fire

On the 13th, Jef & Kathy had to drive to SD for dental appointments. While at Jef's appointment, Kathy went next door to an urgent care & got x-ray of her back, showing a compression fracture of L2. We did some shopping on the way home.

Sunrise this morning

Julie's new Honda hybrid in our driveway

Caught another rat in the garage

Stopped at Blue Sky Reserve to go potty on the way to the dentist

Meanwhile Julie & Johnny hiked Palm Canyon

Made it up to 1st grove

On the 14th, walked to town with Julie & Johnny & did some shopping. We then went on a roading adventure, hitting some sculptures & Font's Point.

Meter seems to be staying about the same

At the library

Julie volunteers at the Socorro Library

Bob seems to have gone to heaven after Easter was over!

Roadrunner vs. Rattler

Jef v. rattler

Apparently these sculptures are an apology from Rams Hill for building an illegal road - these boxes are related to powering a gate to the road

At Fonts Point

Panorama with Julie

The sink & Ant Hill

Jef & Julie

Julie & Johnny

Julie looking at her old workplace of Clark Lake

The rim trail and Salton Sea in the distance

Julie & Johnny sitting at fruit stand used in movie we just saw: "One Battle after Another"

Julie bought a bag of grapefruit here

At front of Indianhead Ranch by turtle sculpture

The "Sun God"

Sun God wears earrings

Still have a few verbenas blooming

More turtle sculptures

Johnny & Julie on old "Borrego Racquet Club" land

Capped wellhead is behind creosote in middle by left camel sculpture

Capped wellhead for Borrego Racquet Club

Julie & Johnny by wellhead

Jef at wellhead

Back home - the desert rose

Burned more medical records this evening

Johnny & Julie continued the concerts

On the 15th, took it easy at home. Took Kathy to local MD this afternoon.

On the 16th, drove Kathy to MD in Murietta & did some shopping. Then headed to Escondido to get x-ray, but x-ray machine was down, so just drove home. Stef & John called after we got back & suggested we go out to eat at Carmelitas.

Wascally wabbit in fwont yawd

Dining at Carmelitas

Kathy & friends at Carmelitas

On the 17th, mostly took it easy at home. Bar-b-qued hamburgers for dinner this evening.

Our new air-plant garden on/over kitchen island this evening

This turns out to be the last time we used this bar-b-que

On the 18th, Jef drove to town, but had to detour at start of drive to SD, as a fatal motorcycle crash had closed 78 between scissors and Tamarisk Grove. This cost 30 minutes. Got behind a parade of Corvettes leaving Rams Hill, which slowed me down a bit. Drove straight to OB to pick up the belated engagement ring I got for Kathy. Very crowded in OB, but I succeeded in my mission. Then detoured to Santee to check out Big Rock house, which had some progress since last time. Then drove up to Bryan's house in Escondido, ate pizza & played poker, losing 4. On the way home, had to deal with street racers making a lot of noise at the gas station. Then about halfway back, noticed a few dozen night runners (near midnight) spread over about 20 miles on Hwy 76, 78, S2, and Montezuma Rd, with a couple dozen (I imagine) support cars parked over that span - a midnight running event of some sort where all runners all had the same reflective shirts, headlamps, and other lights.

Hole in outside wall by sewer pipe has been filled in at Santee house

Guest bathroom

Holley's old room

On the 19th, mostly took it easy at home.

Caught a baby rat in house, but found out later, this was not the only one living in the house

Agave starting to bloom in mesquite canopy in front yard

Agave progress

On the 20th, mostly took it easy at home. Kathy had me call all her patients to tell them she could not see them this week again.

Kym suggested I take pic of moon & Venus this evening

On the 21st, Jef walked to the PO to get the mail. Later that afternoon, the new bar-b-que Kathy ordered arrived & I started assembling it.

Catclaw in our backyard blooming like crazy

Lots of bees

Meter still going south, even tho we turned on the spa

Catclaw blooming at base of steep trail going to town

Desert hibiscus still blooming

Rock daisys still blooming even tho plant looks dead

Only a few fagonia blooms left

Panorama at summit

Someone left this flag near base of spur trail

On the 22nd, assembled bar-b-que, hauled old bar-b-que to street with "free" sign (it was picked up by somebody within a few hours). After doing all that, realized I forgot to remind Kathy of her MD appt until too late. Walked doggies around the circle - Kathy refused to go due to it being pretty windy outside. For the same reason we didn't use our new grill to make burgers this evening, so cooked them inside.

Before resuming new bar-b-que assembly this morning

Sunrise this morning

Old bar-b-que on street

New assembled bar-b-que

Burgers not cooked on new grill due to windy conditions this evening

On the 23rd, did chores at home.

Pulled D/W out to confirm leak I saw was caused by rat damage

Rat chewed discharge hose from D/W

Close up of damage - ordered new hose later this day

2nd baby rat caught in house

This oriole crashed & died on our front window this day

Sunset this evening

On the 24th, jump started & drove truck to Titos for a battery replacement. Noticed high inflation as last battery replacement I got a couple years ago cost only half as much - this one: $300. Walked home after dropping it off, but Kathy dropped me off in the afternoon to pick up the truck.

Jump starting truck

Discovered this new dirt road crossing area south of Roadrunner on walk home

2nd time this golf course has died

Found this dumpsite - either from the old Ensign Ranch or Borrego Springs Resort

Dump is located just beyond bend in Palm Canyon drainage ditch

Bend in Palm Canyon drainage ditch after averting most of Borrego Springs Resort

Looks like drainage crosses thru the golf course

Hole in fence that allowed me access to take shortcut when walking to Titos last time - nothing left on sign

This little cave, with level/shaded ground under these 2 trees would make a good place to camp

Someone dumped an old hot water heater

Somehow there are still a few desert dandelion blooms!

Meter still heading south

Agave bloom peaking above mesquite canopy

Iris Julie gave us on her visit now starting to bloom

On the 25th, took it easy at home.

3rd rat was finally caught after replacing battery in my rat catcher

Now 2 blooms on iris

Cool, windy weather with nice clouds this day

Too windy for Kathy, so Jef took doggies on 2 mile walk

Doggies smelling in a big patch of coldenias

Clouds late this afternoon

Not clear to the coast, so this is all the colour in the sunset this evening

On the 26th, another day of taking it easy at home.

Sunrise this morning

Decided to finish framing job for glass panel previously used as light filter in ceiling at work - 2 sides done here

Remaining sides completed

Walked it to road and planted it near our driveway

Looking from driveway to street

On the 27th, drove Kathy to MD in Rancho Mirage & shopped on way home. That evening, Kathy figured out how to play a couple melodies on her violing: "Free Range Chicken" and a tune heard at Staters: "California Sun" sung by Joe Jones in 1960.

After 1st rat was dumped last nite, caught #6 in the house at 3am this morning

Kathy practicing violin this evening

On the 28th, Jef got results of physical - need to get new image of prostate(MRI) and then mostly took it easy at home.

Our Borrego PT sign was shifter away from our office to make way for new businesses

Front yard this afternoon

On the 29th, hosted John & Stef for dinner - chicken cordon bleu, baked taters & salad.

Cool sunset

Looking east from house this evening

On the 30th, Kym & Kathy got mammograms while Jef stayed home. This evening, Jill came over & we both got our hair done.