BUILDING OUR KINGDOM~National Marriage Week; Quartzsite-AZ

We planned to drive to Bouse this morning, after our morning coffee's; Holland checked his YouTube subscriptions - and I checked to see if the obamanites were still being troublesome, or if President Trump would finally get his Administration in place. I was happy to see that the senate churlishness hadn't held up the latest votes 😁

Senate panel advances Kash Patel bid to lead FBI: (https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5130147-kash-patel-senate-judiciary-committee-vote/)

Senate confirms RFK Jr. as Health secretary; McConnell lone GOP dissenter: (https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5141880-robert-f-kennedy-jr-confirmed/)

I happily put my mug in the sink; and while Holland finished draining his mug, I washed my hair and put color on my face …

'Hard Candy' eyeshadow colors.

'Auburn' Brow Gel; 'Rose Quartz' Lipgloss; 'Glam Brown' Mascara; & Neutre Enflamme Crème Blush.

When I rejoined Holland, I saw that he had a surprise waiting for me on the kitchen counter 💘

I was thrilled: the cell phone I inherited when Bob joined the celestial choir the winter of 2018, is dying - it does not hold a charge past 10 minutes anymore … and the new phone Holland bought for me 2 years ago, won't allow me to upload videos unless I buy an extra Apple app (which I refuse to do - for the price of this phone, any extras should be free!): I was able to upload with no problems at all, until Trump won the Presidential Vote: Apple is a hard-core demonrat business, and this happens e.v.e.r.y.s.i.n.g.l.e. time dems lose their grasp on DC. Holland says the next phone either of us get, will be one of Elon Musk's, and we'll go with Starlink internet access, too.

This new camera handbook says it has audio video recording - we will try it out sometime this week.

My new toy (and it's metallic blue, too!); set out to charge up, while we are gone.

A little bit of county road work was still being finished up as we headed towards the Plomosa Road that cuts through BLM land, about 8 miles north of Quartzsite - I like this desert drive over Quinn Pass, and into Bouse. It's also an Arizona Historical Route.

Continuing road work; Quartzsite-AZ

Listening to an Eagles song while bouncing our way to Bouse-AZ

Bouse-AZ from Quartzsite-AZ; 35 min (26.5 mi) via Plomosa Rd

But, we like the drive because it's wide-open, quiet, and serene 😉

The Afters - 'When You're With Me': 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLflZn0pCGo)

At the fresh produce vendor tent, it was so windy that an updraft caught my door as I swung it open, and nearly wrenched my arm out of it's socket as I tried to gracefully exit Betsy's cab and keep the door from being wind-whipped-damaged.

We loaded up on fresh veggies and more quarts of honey - the honey here is awesomely flavored with local flora scents. We are truly going to miss Arizona, and everything about AZ, when we head back northward.

Holland treated me to a little extra mileage on the way back home, while we discussed building our Kingdom going forward 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨

We got a quick splash of raindrops in Brenda … and noticing what looked to be pretty large chunks of pumice 🤔; so, I did a quick research on my Tablet, and was surprised to read that there was indeed ancient volcanic activity in Quartzsite-AZ 😳

RAIN! IT lasted all of 5 minutes; Brenda-AZ

Brenda-AZ from Bouse-AZ; 23 min (20.4 mi) via AZ-72 E and Avenue 42 E

Black Pumice rocks liberally litter the landscape, here - some pretty large; Brenda-AZ

Quartzsite's Unique Rock Formations: A Geological Journey:

 (https://riversandsrvresort.com/blog/quartzsites-unique-rock-formations-a-geological-journey/)

Today's Loop Drive ;-)

Quartzsite-AZ from Brenda-AZ; 18 min (18.4 mi) via I-10 W

When we got back home, I did do a research for ancient volcanoes near Quartzsite … and every marker was too far away to have produced the pumice littering the immediate areas, here.

It's a quandarous mystery.

While I was occupied with my Laptop … my loving husband cooked Supper for us ❤️‍ 🤝

And the forecasted rain arrived.

Holland is Chief Chef, tonight …

Watching my husband cook for me & and ignoring the calorie count rising ;-)

1 small cabbage, 1.3 pkg. Bacon; half an onion, 1 pound Green Beans, half a Zucchini, 5 small potatoes … Salt, Black Pepper, Paprika, Turmeric, & Garlic Powder.

And he served me, too …

This simple dish was D.E.L.I.S.H.!

What is that I hear? The forecasted rain has arrived in Quartzsite-AZ; 2 P.M.

Rain tip-toeing across Independence's rooftop … it didn't last more than half an hour.

Fat and sassy after that yummy meal my husband spoiled me with, I did the dishes (only fair; he cooked 😉); finished one project - and started designing a new one: 

MOD Kitchen Towel Set, finished.

Route 66 idea …

And Holland showed me what our friends & extended family members up north are dealing with, in the moment:

Snow & ice in our old neighborhood …

We don't envy them; or miss the chilly mess.

We will establish our budding Kingdom in a warmer climate 😘

VIEWS FROM OUR WINDOW; Quartzsite-AZ

We like our space at The Pit Stop, in Quartzsite-AZ; for being an active place where RVr's come and go pretty much around the clock, it's relatively quiet.

Heading upstairs to bed, last night, Holland said, "If we could breathe easy, this is the place to be - at first, it didn't seem like much, but it grows on you, you know? We always find our way back here. I'm gonna miss it."

Today, though was not quiet.

Morning Coffee

There was a lot of activity going on today - pretty noisy activity.

And we watched it play out, from our livingroom window 😉

Morning humor ;-)

Road work starting here, at The Pit Stop … Quartzsite-AZ

This is very noisy - but, it is also very needed; the road has been trash for the past 2 years we've been coming here. We are glad to see the road being torn out and resurfaced 👏

Intermediately, I posted a pattern to some links … and saw that my slipper pattern that I had made for Holland, had been featured on one of my Bog Hop Links 😁

Knitted half-socks to keep the plastic thong straps off my skin - I'm dealing with the gritty desert sand inflammations, I really do not need the extra angry red rash from plastic allergic reactions.

THONG 3 x 2 RIB HALF-SOCKS PATTERN & MOD CROCHET TOE POST COVER PATTERN:

 (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2025/02/thong-3-x-2-rib-half-socks-pattern-mod.html)

MOD Knitted Slippers for Holland, was featured on the 'Love Your Creativity' Blog Hop.

And - Tulsi was confirmed:

TULSI GABBARD CONFIRMED & SWORN IN AS DNI~2025: (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2025/02/tulsi-gabbard-confirmed-sworn-in-as.html)

The DC snakepit is going to hiss and attempt to strike Trump with a lethal bite … but, they'll lose, and they know it. They are miserable people, that can't stand to be miserable alone.

But, The people have spoken and they want change in DC.

Slowly, but surely, the changes will happen, and everything will be coming up roses 👊

Ethel Merman Live - Everything's Coming up Roses: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9SxlO7tQLc)

THONG 3 x 2 RIB HALF-SOCKS PATTERN & MOD CROCHET TOE POST COVER PATTERN

Finished Sets; I make several in pastel colors to match my clothing ;-)

We live on the road, with a good part of the year in the Arizona desert; desert mornings can have a bit of a chilly nip to them before the sun fully wakes up to bathe desert dwellers in it's warmth.

I originally made a pair of these little light-weight flip-flop socks to stave off the early morning chill - but, now my weird body is ramping up it's allergic reactions, and I can't have the rubber thong straps touch my skin without breaking out in a rash. What the heck!

This public domain pattern is worked in the round using double-point needles - so I am also posting a YouTube video with this pattern, that will help beginners understand how knitting on double-point needles works … I changed the pattern up a bit, and used a small size circular needle for the lower half of the sock, before employing the double-point needles: MPO is that this method works up easier, and quicker.

##I've also tacked onto this post MOD Pattern for crochet thong post covers (pattern posted at end of this pattern).

Double Pointed Needles for Beginners: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0LkNM2ojZA)

Materials:

Light weight Sports yarn in color of choice

Size #2 double-point knitting needles, 4 count

Size #2 small circular needle

small stitch holder or large safety pin

Scissors

scrap yarn of same weight

Terms Used:

CO = cast on

k = knit

p = purl

BO = bind off

Pattern: This pattern is worked in a continuous round on all four needles.

With double-point needles, CO 60 sts - divide sts evenly among 3 needles, & with 4th needle, begin to work a rib pattern of *k 3, p 2* for three inches.

##If using a circular needle, CO all sts onto the needle, in a continuous line.

CO on a straight needle, slips sts to a circular needle.

Begin work in rounds: if using 4 ct. double-point needles, refer to video, and continue knitting each row, following rib pattern directions … if using a small circular needle, join and continue knitting each row, following rib pattern directions.

Big toe division: Run a piece of scrap yarn through the last 20 sts to mark division (or slip sts on a small st holder); and continue rib pattern around the remaining 40 sts, for five rows. BO loosely by alternating knit and purl sts.

Slip toe division sts onto a small st holder (or large safety pin).

Knit rib pattern in a circular round for 5 rows.

BO foot section.

Big toe opening: Slide the sts kept on the stich holder, onto 3 double-point needles (evenly divide sts among needles) and using the 4th needle, knit them for five rows, using the same BO technique above.

In rib pattern, work sts off st holder and onto double-pointed needles; evenly for knitting ease.

Work pattern in rounds, for 5 rows.

BO big toe section.

Weave in loose ends and finish up …

Ready for wear; enjoy!

That's it!

Repeat process for other foot …

********************

MOD EASY PEASY CROCHET TOE POST COVER FOR RUBBER THONGS

These quick and easy crochet thong post covers, will help ease - and even evade the pain of those blisters caused by toe friction against rubber thong posts.

There is no pattern; I just got busy one day in 2017 whipping up this easy peasy post cover to make wearing my feet thongs more comfortable on hot summer days … now, it's the first thing I do with every new pair of thongs, before sliding my feet into them ;-)

My current Dollar Store Thong Stash - a pair for every outfit and State ;-)

MOD Crochet toe post cover …

Toe posts covered, on every single pair ;-)

If you want to do something similar with your thongs, all you need is Size #10 Mercerized Cotton Thread, & a very small headed crochet hook.

MOD CROCHET RUBBER THONGS TOE POST COVER PATTERN: (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2023/10/mod-crochet-rubber-thongs-toe-post-cover.html)

TULSI GABBARD CONFIRMED & SWORN IN AS DNI~2025

Tulsi Gabbard confirmed as Trump's Director of National Intelligence; Feb. 12, 2025

Washington — The Senate voted to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as the director of national intelligence Wednesday, ending weeks of skepticism surrounding her once-embattled confirmation and installing her as the leader of the U.S. intelligence community. 

In a 52 to 48 vote, the Senate confirmed Gabbard's nomination, with one Republican — Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky — joining Democrats in opposing her. McConnell said that Gabbard "failed to demonstrate" that she was prepared for the role.

Gabbard was sworn in to the role during a ceremony at the White House later in the day, where President Trump said "there's nobody like her for this job." Gabbard said she looks forward to "being able to help fulfill that mandate that the American people delivered to you very clearly in this election, to refocus our intelligence community by empowering the great patriots who have chosen to serve our country."

Tulsi Gabbard Confirmed And Sworn In As Director Of National Intelligence: (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tulsi-gabbard-confirmation-vote-senate-director-of-national-intelligence/)