The Desert Blooms

March is probably the best time to visit the desert. There is little fear of rain, and the heat hasn't set in yet. The winds are pretty fierce, but it isn't like being in a convection oven. 

You see, I loath the desert. When we drive to Ridgecrest, and we turn off the 15 to the 395, I am assaulted with trash. I hate to see trash along the roadside, and the desert, with its constant blowing gales force winds, blows mountains of trash all over the place. If there is  fence, it becomes a catch all for the trash. The trash will also catch on the scrub shrubs and Joshua trees, tumble weeds and anything else that stays put for a few moments. After a few short miles, I find myself looking at all the odd places the trash seems to find to hid from the wind. All that trash. Everywhere.

But in March and April, it's Blooming Time! There are actual flowers that bloom in the desert. They are while, yellow and purple. I have to search hard to see them through the trash, but I actually saw them this trip. I did see the Joshua trees last year in bloom, so I feel doubly blessed at seeing this event in the desert I so hate.

Another thing I see when going though the 395 is the solar plant. It used to be operated by Luz, but someone else bought it and fixed most of the mirrors, and the mechanisms to make them rotate. While it may not be a natural wonder, it is a wonder to see. Right next to the solar acres is a little airport with not much going on, except it has a super well maintained Cessna 140 tail dragger in the only hanger. It's hard to not want to stop and lay hands on it!

The visit with Granny Franny and Cliff was pretty good. We usually take a few guns with us to go up to the BLM land where we can target practice for free. Or at least the Husband and Cliff and any other man around go. Granny usually wants to take me shopping. Shopping. In Ridgecrest. The town of Kmart, Walmart and the brand new Home Depot. We did go to a couple of thrift stores, and drove to a couple more that had closed. We went to the grocery store and Big Lots. Okay, I am not a shopper, but the most fun was the thrift stores. I would have rather gone target shooting. I never get to go! And it makes me Sad! We don't have time when we are all home to go to the range, and this is the only time we could have. Thankfully, the Husband set aside some ammo and when we left town, we stopped at the BLM land and I got to shoot off several rounds. Happy Day!

However, now we go back to trash. At the shooting spot, there was a dump! People just dump trash around. The paper says, pack out what you pack in. Including shell casings. We always have, but I can tell you, lots of people don't! For my target, I used an old car seat. There was so much trash that I was feeling the need to bathe when we left. But that may be because of the blowing wind mixed with the desert sand/dirt. What is wrong with you people! Oh I can not go on.

It was good to get away, I enjoyed spending time with the Husband. Next time we go somewhere, it won't be to spend all the time with the family. We are planning to attend the reunion this fall in OK. That gives me several days without family and alone time with the Husband. We need that.