Saturday Meanderings

Happy Saturday and can you believe it’s the last weekend in July?! I know many parents are focusing on Back to School sales, gathering items for the next school year. It’s so hot in Phoenix I wish they would start classes after Labor Day. Hard to believe but the first day of school gets earlier and earlier each year. Welcome to my weekly Saturday post where we chat about all good things that happened this past week. Thank you for being here!

Hike on the Mount Baldy Wilderness trail

Last Sunday, my daughter, Julianna and I went on a 5 mile hike on Mount Baldy, which is the National Parks Service’s smallest wilderness area at 7,079 acres. There are 4 trails ranging from Moderate to Difficult. The area is known for its beauty and grandeur since it was explored over a century ago.

The day is postcard perfect~blue skies, white puffy clouds and a lovely temperature of 70 degrees. Following the West fork of the Little Colorado River, there are beautiful vistas and meadows of wild flowers. Elevations range from 9,400 to 10,900 feet. Accompanying us is her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Kerouac (like the author), who loves running to the creek and through the flowers.

About 3 miles into the hike, we notice large storm clouds approaching. Lightning strikes are common at this altitude so we start heading back to the car park. As we encounter a few hikers, we all share our concerns about the approaching weather.

Suddenly, the temperature plummets and it begins to hail. First small ice particles, and then larger, more hurtful ice balls. Being in short sleeved shirts, we try to move faster to avoid the hail’s stinging impact. Torrential rain comes next and by the time we get to the car, we are very cold and literally soaked to the bone.

A good lesson is to be prepared for anything while hiking in the mountains. Storms appear out of nowhere this time of year. There is no cell service if you require help. Needless to say, we are very happy to get back safely to shelter of the car.

No Cell Service and an Emergency

Speaking of no cell service, I was driving up to the cabin on Saturday morning. There is a portion of the Beeline Highway which the road is one-way, very steep and winding. There is no place to exit or pull off since one side of the road is rock face and the other is a steep cliff. During this trek there is no cell service and you really need to pay attention to the twists and turns as you are driving at an upward angle climbing the mountain.

As I round a bend, I see two cars trying to pull off the road and happen to look to my left. Laying on the narrow shoulder, is a damaged motorcycle and a driver obviously throw from the vehicle (no helmet).

I pull off the road ahead and put on my hazard lights so no unsuspecting driver runs into my vehicle. It appears the accident just happened and the victim is not in good shape. It is clear he lost control of his vehicle, slammed into the rocks and was thrown. His wrist is at an unnatural angle and he has a compound fracture on that same arm. He is disoriented with possible other injuries.

Renewed my Faith in People

To make matters worse, it is very hot outside and he is sitting in the bright sun. No one could get a cell signal at all and it is highly possible that the man is going into shock. Fortunately, one person recognizes the potential danger of limited visibility from oncoming motorists. He puts on a reflective vest and uses his vehicle to block one lane and starts directing traffic. A nurse and doctor also stop to help.

With knowledgeable Good Samaritans on site, I offer to drive up the mountain and look for a cell signal to call 911. Of course, I have no clue where I am. Keeping my eyes open for a mile marker number, I finally get a signal and inform emergency services of the accident details and the condition of the victim.

If nothing else, this experience made me realize that we are not always connected to help. It is also important on an unmarked road to know your location. I had no clue as to where this accident occurred due to our remote location, but was able to find a mile markers as a point of reference. Fortunately, the ambulance and paramedics from the closest town are dispatched.

My lesson of the week: Be prepared for anything. We cannot always assume help is a phone call away. With so many willing helpful hands I have a renewed faith in the goodness of people.

My First Hydrangeas!

The several new Annabelle Smooth hydrangea plants at the cabin are finally in bloom. I make my first bouquet this week and I cannot tell you how excited I am to have hydrangeas. Since they do not grow in Phoenix, I am no longer hydrangea-starved. Aren’t they beautiful?

More Bread this Week

What I love (and dislike) about sourdough bread, is that every loaf is a bit different. Even though I use the same recipe, the results can be vastly different. The first bread this week is a cranberry, walnut, cinnamon/brown sugar one but from the get-go the dough feels stiff and not very flexible. Out of the oven, it looks like a huge cinnamon roll. The end result has a tight textured crumb and few air holes.

My second loaf this week attempts to use all the cheese “ends” in the fridge. This loaf is a combination of pepper jack, 2 types of cheddar and Monterey Jack, all shredded and mixed together. With a healthy dose of fresh garlic and dill, this miscellaneous cheese bread has a beautiful crumb with many air holes. The dough is soft, elastic and perfect. Go figure. Same recipe with two different outcomes. However, both loaves taste delicious.

Early Review of my Robotic Vacuum

During Prime Days I purchase a robotic vacuum for our cabin (for $335.99). The main driving force is the fact that we have 3 dogs and 2 cats here~all dropping hair everywhere. Vacuuming once a week doesn’t cut it so I buy the Honiture Robot Vacuum Cleaner with Self-Emptying and laser navigation.

Since there are several brands on the market, I check the reviews and try to find a machine that can pick up pet hair. Price ranges vary but I really wasn’t interested in spending $700-$800 for one of these. Not only does this vacuum and sweep, but will also mop by adding a floor detergent.

Installation and Performance

So far, I am rather impressed with this little robot. Since I am technically challenged, it did take a bit of time to set it up with an app on my iPhone. But I did it so it is not impossible. The app provides information such as outline the area it is cleaning and how much battery time is left. Remarkably, the vacuum finds its way back to the docking station on its own to empty and recharge. Smart little fella.

Our floors here are a combination of hardwood, area rugs, wall to wall carpeting (in the bedrooms) and tile in the kitchen. With laser sensors, it does not bump into furniture. I’ve only had a problem with the longer fringe on the area rugs as it can get caught up under the robot. Other than that, I run it every day. I will continue to do a deep vacuuming once a week, but this incredible machine stays on top of removing the daily animal hair.

Haven’t tried the mopping function yet, but will report back when I do so. The price has gone up a bit on Amazon and this machine is now $370.45.

My Next Project

Now that we are spending more time at the cabin, I realize how many spaces do not function optimally. We have a small hall from the kitchen to the laundry room, which also leads to a bathroom and the man door to the garage. I am not a fan of the boring white walls or the placement of the light switch either.

It has become a dumping ground for just about everything…and it bugs me. I am in the process of evaluating how I want this space to function and still look attractive. Hope to work on this next week. More to come.

Mary’s Must Haves

Since I am not a fan of Febreeze and other fragrant aerosols, I am curious about Poo-Pourri. The original before-you-go toilet spray, Poo~Pourri traps bathroom odor under the water’s surface, so it never enters the air, leaving your bathroom fresh. A pure blend of natural essential oils, you spritz it in the toilet bowl before you go.

I finally buy one in Fresh Sea Salt and give it a go. Remarkably, it works and you are not left with a room filled with an artificial aerosol smell (or worse). In checking their website, they also have products for foot, pets, babies, home and smoke odors.

Who knew? It has the Good Housekeeping seal of approval; it’s made in the USA and one small bottle has 100 uses. You can find it on Amazon here, or go directly through the Poo-Pourri website here. I am now a fan of this product.

After this week’s episode with the motorcyclist, I am in the market for an emergency first aid/trauma kit for my car. If anyone has a good resource, please let me know. This one from Homestock+ looks interesting as it has 216 pieces and is portable. Better to be prepared than not.

Enjoy the last weekend in July! We are getting lots of thunderstorms every afternoon here at the cabin~no complaints from me as we love the rain. Be happy and stay safe out there.

Finn’s babies

Bird nest update