February - coldest in 35 years

February lays behind us and it was the coldest in 35 years,
according to the weather service. Many people agreed with that. Heavy snowfalls in the coastal mountains and rain in the lowland with strong winds.

Snow in the mountains along the coast, visible with tele lens

We got some sprinkles and some of the days the trailer was rocking in the gusts like a boat on the sea. 

During some of the colder weeks propane supply was sold out at our favourite place in Holtville. 

Etnic costumes

Luckily the weather was great when we went to look at the annual Carrot Festival Parade and Fairgrounds

Float with vegetable display 

Enrique from "Silverado Ranch"

On the Fairground

Despite bad weather we participated in a big Birthday Party.

Birthday party in rain and wind

Three participants got each their big cake.

Three Birthday Cakes

By the second week of February our new trailer axels arrive in Yuma and we went to get them mounted on.

Waiting for the axles to be mounted in the morning

While that was under way we took a drive to Mittry Lake. As last year, it was far from the idyllic place it used to be. 

Mittry Lake, AZ

 Lots of 4-wheelers, motor bikes and trucks racing along the gravel roads trailing big dust clouds after them. 

Clark's Grebe courting

Great Blue Heron

Western Grebe

We had our lunch sandwiches with a view over the water, 

watching the birds for a while before we.

There was a moment of panic after we picked up the trailer and when we found out that our keys had gone lost, either while shopping or while at the lake, and the spare key was locked inside.  But with help of a friendly locksmith, and a hefty bill, we got back inside and now we have two new sets of spares. 

The puppies have grown up a little more and by the end of the month they were all gone to new owners. It was about time, because the guy who cared for mother and puppies, got overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work and sleep deprivation. 8 puppies make a lot of noise during the nights. All the women smiled and said: "Welcome to motherhood. WE know all about that!"

Puppies in their new lager pen

In the end several neighbours pooled together, one built a bigger pen, and helped looking after the pups during daytime for about a week ans until they got old enough to go to their respective new families. 

JP did not take the one he had singled out for himself and I am glad about it. One big Dixie is dog enough for me.

Dixe and Emma visiting

By the end of the month the big migration started. Several friends were packing up and got ready to move out either to go home or to visit other places on their way north. Some of those friends, who had stayed here during the winter for nearly 30 years, we will never see again. This season was their final in the desert. Old age, illness and higher insurance costs are the reasons for keeping them at home in the future. 

It is always bittersweet to say goodbye. Their places look now empty and desolate. We surely will miss them very much.

On the last day of February our good neighbours from Saskatoon left too. No more morning coffees and good company. No more exercises and shopping sprees. 

Hopefully they will have a good trip home and we might even see them again in the fall. One never knows.

Later in the afternoon another couple, coming back from their stay on the Baja in Mexico, took up the vacant spot for a couple of days, until a better place came available. Better place means: more open to the breeze that keeps the bugs and critters (snakes, scorpions) away when the weather warms up. 

Jupiter and 3 moons in line with Venus

seen with tele lens