The Dixon's go Camping!

We decided this year we would try and go camping for 3-4 days every month to the local State and County parks as we enjoy all the wildlife, birds, hiking trails and just sitting out and having a campfire. New since last year, you have to go online and reserve your site and pay for it in advance and since we have favorite camp spots, I thought I was so smart because i went online mid-November and booked us 4 nights at Usery Mountain County Park so we would get one of our favorite spots! Well low and behold after weeks of above average temperatures and clear sunny skies, the weather lady says we are in for a cold front and heavy rain, 2 1/2 of the 4 days we are planning to camp! Talk about Dixon luck! Of course we are too stingy to cancel our reservation because we would lose too much money, so off we went. We had arranged with a group of friends to join us Saturday night for a campfire and get together before 3 of them headed home to Alberta for Christmas.\

 

 We are just setting up at our campsite and you can already see a few clouds gathering in the sky. I am also wearing my cotton sweater which is unusual for me!

This is our campsite from a distance and you can also see the rain clouds gathering force in the distance

 

 Of course Doug has to take a picture of me with layers of clothes on as he says no one would believe him otherwise. It kills me to have to dress like I was back in BC!

I had to take a picture to prove there were some blue spots in the sky throughout the day.

We were lucky the rain held off and we could have a campfire Thursday evening and enjoy the sunset and listening to the coyotes howl. Earlier, 2 very nice and healthy coyotes walked right through the desert next to our campsite and just kept an eye on us as they went by. They were no more than 10 - 15 feet away from us! Of course I didn't have my camera handy to get a picture.

 This is Friday and Doug and I are out for our walk and watching the clouds very carefully as we didn't want to get too far away from the trailer if those rain clouds decided to let lose!

 We could just see the rain coming, the temperature had also dropped and I had to resort to dressing like it was winter so I could stay warm on our walk. Just walking fast wasn't cutting it!

 I was standing outside the washroom waiting for Doug and didn't catch him taking my picture. I am wearing my beaver headband and mittens Catherine had given me for a Christmas present a few years ago. They were made by the Dene women in Fort Providence NT, and boy did they feel good!

 Doug figured he needed a close up in case I denied I ever wore them in Arizona!

 The sun still tried to peak out as it was setting Friday evening. The rain did start shortly after and it came down in a deluge so we were unable to have a campfire Friday night. It rained all day Saturday so we went to a few garage sales and then just sat in the trailer watching TV, me knitting and reading a good book. We both found it very relaxing and enjoyable. Of course our gathering of friends was canceled due to the weather - boohoo

 Of course we had our share of birds: here you will see the Gamble's quail and pigeons of course

 This picture shows the feeders with wood peckers, quail, finch and pigeons all enjoying the food we put out

 It was very entertaining watching all the birds at the feeders, knocking the food out for all the birds on the ground!

 Sunday proved a beautiful if cool day so we rescheduled our campfire gathering but only 4 of the 11 people were able to come up on Sunday. Ron & Elaine and Rink & Lona all from Revelstoke joined us and we had a lovely fire. The sunset was spectacular as were the stars and the company!

 This is looking out from the back of our camp site just as the sun is setting

 These were the skies in front of our trailer. There was colour everywhere 

 The views got better the longer we sat there.

The sun has been set for about half an hour when we then get the magnificent orange sky

 Of course this is Monday morning, the day we return home when the skies clear and it was just gorgeous out. We were able to go for our walk with just shirt sleeves.

 Of course Doug had to take more pictures of our house as he added more decorations and lights

He had to take a picture of his truck because he added some battery powered lights to the front of his truck. They were judging the house decorations last night and we'll see how we do this year. A lady around the cornor from us has done a spectacular job of decorating her place so I am sure she will win first prize but as we won last year, we don't expect to win anything this year. We'll keep you posted.