Baby Ground Squirrels, Groceries, Getting Ready to Go

As we sat with our coffee/tea and our iPads reading the news this morning, Maggie was doing her Sphinx impersonation on the back of the couch.  She was watching out her window and was not moving a muscle except for her eyes.  Just at the edge of the site a mother squirrel was standing watch like a meerkat while her two small babies were playing.  They peaked out of the hole, scampered out, and, like animal siblings everywhere, chased each other, wrestled, jumped on their mom and just had a rollicking good time.  Meanwhile, Maggie was transfixed watching them. Of course, when we finally went outside she ran straight to that hole and stuck her nose in it. Tonight when we went for our evening walk I almost stepped on one of them.  It was standing stock still so as not to be seen and since it was the same color as the ground, I didn't see it - funny how that works.  I probably got within 2 inches of it before it took off for home and startled me.  If they weren't rodents they'd be cute little guys!

On our walk this morning Maggie and I encountered three people!  I was surprised.  One guy stays year round and is on staff to watch over the park.  He was out in his golf cart to check for snakes on the path. (none found)  He said that he, too, was surprised about how many people are still here but they are the ones from the upper midwest where the weather is still yucky. We did see several rigs pull out today, however.  It won't be long before it's down to about 15 people for the summer - that's the number they guy gave me this morning.  

We stocked up on enough groceries to get us to Pensacola - at least I hope so.  The fridge and pantry are looking better and we have a choice now of what we can eat.  Well, as much of a choice as we ever have, anyway.

We decided to go ahead and leave tomorrow.  Roger fueled the truck while we were out.  We thought it best to give us an extra day leeway since the weather between here and there has been a bit crazy and we really have nothing to do here.  We'll take off in the morning with our destination of Lordsburg, NM - about 260 miles.

I worked on the end of the month financial stuff this afternoon while Roger prepped the RV - tightening lug nuts, lubing bearings, checking tire pressure, emptying gray water, all the other safety stuff he does, etc.  

It got pretty warm this afternoon - around 84 - and we had a breeze - not quite a wind.  It kept us cool if we were in the shade.  After being cold for so long, we opted not to turn on the air and it did get a bit uncomfortable inside, but now that the sun is down it is starting to cool off.  

More Bloomin' Cacti (and a Palo Verde)

(as you can see the green grass under the trees 

that was there a month ago is now golden brown)