Running to Catch Up (Las Vegas, NV)

I'm exhausted, but in a good way.  The last few days have been very busy, so I am going to get you caught up with what I have been doing.

Cruisin' The Strip

We cruised The Strip on our first night here.  So much to see all at once is an understatement.  I have whiplash from trying to see everything as we crept along The Strip.  Jam packed with buildings, people, lights, music, smells of food, huge advertising signs - it's another world that's for sure!

New York New York

Paris on The Strip

Easter Sunday

I hope everyone had a great weekend and Easter.  We went to Boulder Station for the Easter Brunch Buffet yesterday.  So much food, not to mention delicious!  We spent the next four hours walking around to different casinos to view gardens, fountains, and massive decorated hotel lobbies. 

I have so many photos to edit from our walking around yesterday and that is just day 1.  I'll be chained to the computer for awhile after this visit.  This photo is from the Bellagio's Conservatory.

Floral Camouflage 

I'll catch you up on Las Vegas later...

On the Cutting Board

Off the cutting board is more like it!  All three Uncle Sams are done!  WooHoo!   Kim was right.  I needed a break.  After a nice rest, I picked up one Uncle Sam and I could not stop working on them.  I will list one a day - starting today.  

So, I'm all caught up on my Etsy projects.  Time to start some new ones....hmmm

Thoughts on Pahrump

Our stay at Pair-a-Dice Skp Co-op was pleasant, but we did not find the area appealing.  People are friendly and very helpful.  Pahrump doesn't have much to offer except for a super Walmart, and a few small grocery stores.  I found the area a little too dry and not much to offer for my quilting needs...okay,  wants.  Not even a JoAnns or a bookstore.

Permanents with building between them

There is very little imagination going into the park so I did not take very many photos. The Co-op offers one cookie-cutter style building with two connected sheds.  They are all painted in similar colors.  No different designs or styles so there is no individual tastes except for what the owner does with the porch and the front yard.

view of shared building.  Front yard belongs to the other side.

The shared owners are parked on opposite sides with plenty of space for a large rig and their vehicle.  Hopefully, everyone likes their neighbor since they are sharing the building.  Each owner also gets a porch/patio and a front yard on the opposite sides facing the street.  There are quite a few permanents so less are available for travelers.

Patio and covered porch with front yard on our side.

Everyone looks for something different.  For us, our two favorites are Benson, AZ and The Ranch, NM.  We still have a few more to visit though so there's always a chance we will change our minds.

Oh! and last but definitely not least ~ 
I won a $50 Amazon card from Social Strand Media.  WooHoo!  All I had to do was follow them on Twitter then Tweet that I was following them.  I have been getting their newsletter for awhile now and I have learned a lot.  Social Strand Media advice is great for business and non-business bloggers.  They plan to have another contest on 20 April, so go visit Social Strand Media!

Whew!  I'm winded!  Have a great week!

Traveling Through Death Valley (Pahrump, NV)

Ashford Mill Ruins

We got a late start on our visit to Death Valley National Park.  We planned to visit Scotty's Castle and the northern end, but it wasn't going to happen.  Not today anyway.  A truck had jack-knifed across the two lane highway with no impact that we could see.  From the way people were just standing around and there were no emergency vehicles, I would say no one was hurt.  They were just waiting for the road to be cleared.

Change of plans...  We turned around and drove to the center east entrance to Death Valley.  The weather was almost perfect - cool and a little windy.

Ashford Mill Ruins

Only a golfer would come up with the name The Devil's Golf Course for this area.  I have no idea why anyone would think to golf here.

Devil's Golf Course

 We stopped to see the Natural Bridge.  This a view from the trail head.  I could not have asked for a more picture perfect day.

Here's Dan standing in front of the Bad Water area.  Cars on the main road look like ants.  That's how far away we are in this photo.  It is so amazing how far we can see.  It just goes on for miles and miles and miles.

 The walk was only a half mile.  Thank goodness, it wasn't miles because it was all uphill.  Yep, I was a little winded.  I need to start walking more.

Natural Bridge

 This is my favorite spot.  We are standing 282 feet below sea level.   Five miles of salt flats with crusty ridges going every which away.

Bad Water

Turns out it is not as dry as it looks.  Dan and I were kneeling to get better close-ups of the salt.  Both of us ended up with a wet knee.  When the spot dried, we had a salty crusted knees.

Side view of the ridges

Close-up of the dry salt

Small threads of salt 

The mountains surrounding the valley are so colorful..black, orange, red, yellow, pink, and green..yes green soil.

 

All righty then!  We are off to explore the northern end of Death Valley and Scotty's Castle.

Tuesday Treasury

This treasury is for all the hard working burros, donkeys, and mules.  The artists did wonderfully amazing work.