CAMELS & SHAVUA TOV~Quartzsite-AZ

I woke up before sunrise this morning, to the sound of Bleu's chirpy bark telling me he's hungry … and to the feel of Holland's arm sneaking out and pulling me back for a sleepy cuddle before the morning activities kickstart the day: I like that.

I like that our days are filled with easy companionship, again.

Laughter fills the air we breathe, again.

And our Life is taking root, as we nurture plans to settle and build our Home in Arizona.

A big love is wrapping itself around me: God, husband, Bleu :-)

I am so blessed.

Dog fed. Coffee's enjoyed and quiet hour respected while cobwebs were cleared. And Park balance settled for a month's stay … we drove into town to check two stores out: a hardware store, and a small grocery store. When we were in Quartzsite a few months ago, it was like a ghost town - population was small, stores had bare shelves, and inventory anywhere was sketchy … this time, Quartzsite is hopping, and the "crappy" grocery store in town, has full shelves - and the shelves are holding good things; the meat cooler was loaded with fresh cuts too, at good prices.

Quartzsite: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartzsite,_Arizona

It takes about 10 minutes to drive from one end, to the other, of the shotgun main street. Aside from the RVr's that literally flood into Quartzsite from December to March, there really isn't much to see - or do, here. Quartzsite's economy depends on the RVr's.

We'll still be driving into Parker occasionally for groceries; but it's refreshing to know that the little store in town here, has quality food stuffs, too. At least in the Winter months ;-)

On our way out of town, we caught sight of a fair Ferris wheel being set up … and camels! So, we turned around and back tracked a block or two to gawk at the furry one. There is some kind of festivity happening, but we aren't sure what that would be … and aren't interested in participating, anyway.

But, the camels did interest us.

Dromedary camels; Quartzsite-AZ

Dromedary camel: 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dromedary)

Camels - hairy Bactrian camel & the most recognizable Dromedary camel; Quartzsite-AZ

Wild Bactrian camels (Camelus ferus) are found in the Gobi desert of Northwest China and Mongolia. The Bactrian camel is extremely well adapted to the harsh desert climate: 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bactrian_camel)

Quartzsite's History was founded on it's abundance of quartz, and also the US Camel Corps camels and their handler, High Jolly.

US Camel Corps Remembered In Quartzsite-AZ: https://www.rvtravel.com/camels933/

What happened to the camels in Quartzsite? Historians believe some of the camels were left to roam the desert and were eventually shot by hunters. 

Quartzsite Camel Legend: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/red-ghost-wheel-rim-camel-sculpture#:~:text=The%20Red%20Ghost%20trampled%20a,and%20strands%20of%20red%20hair.

In the Quartzsite town cemetery, a monument to Hadji Ali with a plaque noting the camels, testifies to evidence that camels once existed in Arizona.

We also saw that the remaining walls of Fort Tyson, located on one street corner, has now been covered by an open-sided-pole building roof: that roof is new since the last time we drove through here, a month ago. We are thinking that the recent surge of rainstorms caused concern the ruins might be washed away.

Fort Tyson-AZ: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Tyson

Old Fort Tyson Pictures: http://www.ghosttownaz.info/old-fort-tyson.php

Back at the Park, we relaxed and enjoyed a lazy day of togetherness as a tasty meal was enjoyed, a lovely sunset was viewed, and Havdalah tranquility spread itself over our small corner of the world :-)

Wrap-around sunset beginning around us - front door side of Independence. 5:58 PM; Quartzsite-AZ

Backside; 5:58 PM. Quartzsite-AZ

Havdalah (hahv-DAHL-uh), or “separation” in Hebrew, is Shabbat's closure: when three stars appear on Saturday evening, ending the 24-hour Shabbat: and ushering in the start of the new week as a family - with big love in our hearts :-)

THE SHAVUA TOV SONG - Havdalah Song to end Shabbat:

 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x5_40n6I80)

Shavua Tov (ʃaˈvu.a tov): “shavua tov,” meaning “a good week,” as a wish for the coming week.

Havdalah in full swing; 6:09 PM. Quartzsite-AZ

AISLE TUSSLE; Shabbat Eve/Quartzsite-AZ

January 12th: First off, Holland drove over to the Office here, to extend our stay a bit longer: we were wanting to stay here, at The Pit Stop, till the end of the month … but were only able to obtain our spot 'til next Saturday 🙁

Then, we drove into Parker to get some groceries:

Parker-Az from Quartzsite-AZ; 36 min (35.7 mi) via AZ-95 N

Parker-AZ: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parker,_Arizona

And some middle-aged-idiot couple started a fight with moi in the produce aisle … mouthy man, aggressive hip-bumping wife (action like the 1970's hustle dance) trying to bodily move me aside; it was stupidly childish the way they were behaving: the mouthy man, who apparently thinks every woman should back up and obey him, and his equally ignorant-arrogant wife … got treated to my particular brand of French while I stood my ground, and continued to gather my bell peppers … and slowly came to the realization that they had picked the wrong little woman to tangle with.

I was not intimidated by their asinine behavior.

The incident was ridiculous and they were acting like morons.

At one point during the tussle and argument, Holland and I both heard the change in the belligerent moron's tone, and I prepared for a physical attack - and then I heard Holland calmly, but firmly say, "That's enough now." Holland had taken note of the change in tone, too, and wasn't going to let his wife get punched out: over bell peppers, for goodness sake! The moron took his slanty eyes off me to look around to see who was talking - took one look at my handsome big guy … and he backed up, and shut up, asap.

Poor Bleu was so upset by the angry incident, he was a bad little dog in the store that treats him like a furry rock star. But people saw what had happened to his human mom, and they were lenient with him 😉

In the pickup, I said to Holland, "I didn't need you to step in … I would have cleaned that moron's clock if he had laid a single finger on me: but I was glad to hear your voice in the background. Thank you. I'm sorry if I embarrassed you, but some guys need to be taken down a peg - or two; the whole thing they started, was ridiculous: I have never seen that, or experienced that, in a store before. And, all over peppers, for Pete's sake!" Holland assured me that I hadn't embarrassed him.

In fact, he started laughing and said, "Boy, you really don't take any shit off anybody, do you?" And I said, "No; and especially not by mean-tempered men who think women should jump when they bark. But I am sorry I embarrassed you." He repeated, "You didn't embarrass me, Baby - get that right out of your head. I knew you could handle him, so I stayed back and let you do your thing - he was wrong, and you were doing okay all by yourself in dealing with him. But I wanted you to know you weren't alone if he got physical with you … and I wanted to make sure he understood that he had over-stepped."

I have a good man in my life :-)

I asked Elohim's forgiveness. I don't like to lose my temper.

And on the drive home, we talked about places to visit, while we are here. Parker isn't that far away … I could even visit some of the places myself, if Holland wants to stay home with Bleu ;-)

-Buckskin Mountain State Park: (https://azstateparks.com/buckskin/explore/facility-information#:~:text=All%20pets%20must%20be%20leashed,10%20p.m.%20to%207%20a.m.)

-Colorado River Indian Tribes Museum: (https://www.crit-nsn.gov/critmuseum/)

-Parker Dam: (https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/parker-dam)

-Swansea Ghost Town: (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g31301-d7645184-Reviews-Swansea_Ghost_Town-Parker_Arizona.html, https://www.blm.gov/visit/swansea-historic-ghost-town-0, & https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swansea,_Arizona)

-La Paz County Park: (http://www.lapazcountyparks.com/la-paz-county-park.html)

Then, about a half hour after being home, while I was putting groceries away - Holland got a text saying a monthly payment had been declined - after some consideration, we both said at the same time, "Because the Card assigned to the payment is in dispute" (we are disputing overcharges by 2 Resorts - 1 Resort never even had our Card Account Info, so how they even got into the account to tap funds - funds we never authorized - is questionable, to say the least). With that understanding, Holland contacted the business and sorted a new payment plan out, online. We'll get new Cards when we get back to WA.

Following on the heels of that … Holland got a text saying "the people who were scheduled to occupy your current Park space have canceled; and would you like to rent it, as you requested this morning?"

OF COURSE!

We have stayed here before, and like it - it's a smaller Park, but there is a space for us here; and we like the host & attendants' attitudes. It is very busy here: but it's peaceful here, too :-)

The Pit Stop RV Park: (425 N Central Blvd, Quartzsite, AZ 85346)

Elohim is good - and He has turned our Day around, allowing a peaceful Shabbat Rest to settle over our humble Home 🙂

Holland made Supper for us; fried spam on raisin bread w-mayo, lettuce & Colby-jack cheese. YUM!