It wasn’t us causing the shaking in Gypsy last night-it was a 4.5 magnitude earthquake from Mexicali,Mexico just a few miles from where we are. After an enjoyable day spent finding some great fossils and petrified wood, we were relaxing watching a little TV, and our hanging window rocks started shaking. Then the RV started shaking! We knew it was an earthquake but didn’t realize how close it was until we checked online this morning and found out it was so close. I am sure it will be the topic of discussion at the hot springs this afternoon!

Our rock adventure yesterday was quite rewarding. We never know if we are going to find what we are searching for using one particular guidebook (his directions are notoriously slightly off-I am being polite), but we found large fossilized oyster shells, clams, and a smattering of a lot of other rocks such as sellinite, jasper, quartz (some beautiful rose colored), and a bit of petrified wood. It is hard to believe this whole area used to be under the ocean. Recent rains have helped to uncover some  fossils areas so if your willing to look you can find some nice specimens. I always want yard rocks for home and we always come back home with a lot of extra weight in rocks!

Desert Primrose-dried Birdcage!

In an earlier post I made an assumption that I believe is not true. The fossilized material Jerry and I have found in the south central desert that we thought might be coral is probably limb casts from some kind of tree. After grinding and polishing (minimally) a small piece found today we are more convinced that it is more likely from a tree that is fossilized.It is found in many states and certainly makes sense that it could be here as well. At any rate we’ll have to wait till we return to Prineville and make a bigger slice and polish better to really have a better idea. It is still a new find for both of us and interesting to try and figure out. Tomorrow we are off on another adventure to search for oyster beds and other various rocks. 

I have managed to find a dried primrose known as “birdcage” that has eluded me for a year. I first spotted it last spring in the desert and searched high and low but could not find it. The picture above is just one of several that I have found. Several were sent home as they were as large as a basketball! and I didn’t want to try to carry them for 6 months.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah,Sretan Bozic, Joy eux Noel, Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah, souk san vanChristmas and Merry Keshmish!!

These are just a few ways to wish a Merry Christmas. My gift to the people of all nations would be Peace, Hope, Health and Happiness not just on this holiday but on every day. Let us learn to rise above our differences and work to solve the poverty, health crisis and energy problems we face globally.

 While out walking in the desert we came upon a rather unusual find…a large area of what we first thought might be fossilized wood but upon examining it and the area surrounding it, found it to be what we thought might be coral. Since this part of the desert sits in the shift zone of the San Andreas fault we have assumed many many years ago it was indeed deep under water. Being the rock hounds that we are, we are of course, pleased to add this to our collection of rocks and other fossils.

Limb casts found in SE CA

We decided to play tourista today and went on a trip from Grover Beach where our home ,(5th wheeler Gypsy) is, to Cambria and back. We visited Morro Bay and the sweet little town of Cambria. What an artsy little place-looks like a great place to stay for a B&B get a way sometime. We then went East on 46 towards the Vineyards and decided to do a bit of wine tasting. Being the lover of Cabernet grapes I have discovered I like the spicy and almost chocolaty flavor of Syrah as well. We contained ourselves and only purchased two bottles of wine but enjoyed the beautiful countryside of the vineyards here in the central coastland area of California. We were searching for J.Lohr but never found the vineyard-oh well probably just as well. Tomorrow it’s on to Joshua Tree to visit some friends from back home (Prineville) who are also wintering here in California. So far the weather has been beautiful; sunny and mild and I am so glad no need for gloves!

I am sitting up here in the San Diablo Mtns. visiting with my inlaws. Today is the first day in weeks we haven’t had sun:) Now you would think that shouldn’t bum me out but our 5th wheeler, Gypsy, relies on 3 solar panels and a wind turbine to generate power for us. We do not own a gas guzzling, noise polluting creature such as a generator so we rely on Mr Sun to help us out. It just means we must be conservative with our use of power-I can’t be on here ranting on & on. 

My husband and I travel during the winter from the high desert of central OR to southern CA.so we are in constant search for the sun. This is only my second winter doing it but Jerry is a pro. Being an outdoorsy person certainly helps but even more having the spirit of adventure in one is more important. You never know what each day can bring and that is/can be exciting.

I am a newbie at this blog stuff so bear with me while I get it together! I have started this blog to write about living well with Multiple Sclerosis(MS), and also about how much fun life can be as one grows older. Some of my stories will be funny and some not. I guess the first thing I can confess to is that at my age of 58 I am married for the first time! That’s not to say I haven’t been in serious relationships, but no man ever captured my heart like my husband has and made me want to commit to only one man for the rest of my life. Having a chronic illness did have something to do with my past relationships in that none of the men I was involved with could seem to understand or accept it. The whole “what if” would always seem to get in the way of any serious thought of a true partnership. Jerry doesn’t have a hang up about that-he accepts life on a daily basis like I do and because of that attitude we feel that our lives came together for a reason. You can’t fight it when it feels right and good.