Southern Nevada Getaway

Last Friday, March 12, Rod and I headed out from cold and snowy Ruby Valley to the warmth of southern Nevada. We pulled out around 5:30 pm once he was home from work, and decided to brave the southern route, which shaves one hour off of our trip, even though there were unmaintained rough dirt roads we'd have to traverse. This was unchartered territory for us thus far, but Eric and Lowell assured us we'd be okay. Well, fifteen miles south of the refuge we started to have our serious doubts. After navigating several miles of muddy slushy sloppy roads, we felt we were at the point of no return, so we gritted our teeth, said our prayers, and continued into the quagmire ahead of us, hoping to come out on the other side. Though there are several ranches north of the refuge, there was only one we knew of south, the Blue Jay Ranch. We soon happened upon it, and I made a quick glance at the mileage, so that if we became bogged down somewhere on down the road I'd know how far we had to walk back to that ranch. By now it was twilight, which added to our uncertainty. We eventually (white knuckled and hearts fluttering) popped out by the Bald Mountain mine, where the roads we were told began to be maintained again. The timing was perfect - a mine employee happened to be walking from his truck to the office, so Rod leapt out and ran through 18 inches of piled up snow and scrambled over a barbed-wire fence to pick his brain about what was to come. He assured us the roads were fine from there on out, and said he'd be leaving later, so if we had trouble he'd find us. Relief! I was worried we may be spending the weekend out there until Jeff happened by us on Monday on his way down to Vegas!

On our way, we not only encountered the infamous "black cows" on the road (imagine traveling down the road at a pretty good clip, in pitch black because you're in such isolation there are no lights of any kind, and realizing - well, hopefully you realize in time - that there is an extremely large jet black object standing before you), but I saw my first "wild horses" - five of them. Three hours before making Las Vegas, I noticed a glow off on the southern horizon. We speculated - Rod wondered it we could possibly be seeing remnants of the setting sun even after 9 pm, but it was in the wrong direction... - and decided it had to be a large city. Las Vegas? Surely not - could we really be seeing Vegas lights three hours out?!? Sure enough, we followed that glow all the way in - what. a. site. Sin City should be named "City of Lights". We'd never seen anything like it. As we crested a ridge, down in the valley was the most spectacular collection of lights we had ever seen. The dichotomy between the stark barren desert we'd been driving through for hours and this was staggering.

But, Las Vegas wasn't our destination, not for tonight. We continued south, to one of the southern most towns in Nevada, Laughlin, near the confluence of Nevada, Arizona and California. We stayed at Don Laughlin's, for whom the town is named, Riverside Casino. We were there to enjoy the Wings and Wildlife Festival, and see a new part of our new state. Over the course of the next two days we went on two nature walks - Grapevine Canyon, where we saw some magnificent petroglyphs and I got a lifer Sage Thrasher, and a walk along the Colorado River with some very friendly birders - and took a 3 hour water taxi ride up and down the river with another group of birders. The weather was amazing - sun, sun and more sun - although we about froze to death on the boat. THIS is really what I was here for!







On Monday we leisurely slept in before heading north towards Las Vegas, where we'd spend the week. We stopped in Boulder City at Hemenway Park in an attempt to see the Bighorn Sheep which graze at times around the ball fields, but to no avail. Then headed north of Vegas to the Corn Creek Station of Desert National Wildlife Refuge (the largest refuge in the lower 48), where Rod has his first meeting at 2:30. While he worked, I played (all week, really). I birded around the station for the next 2.5 hours, seeing such birds as Phainopepla and Townsend's Solitaire. I met Becky, the wife of another FWS employee, also a birder and a botanist, who would become my companion for the week.




Once the meeting was over, we headed to the Red Rock Rescrt Hotel and Casino - WOW. I'll say it again - WOW. Hands down the most posh place we've ever stayed (of course, that's not saying much when we gravitate towards Motel 6's where we can have our dogs!). A full mini-bar, flat-screen plasma, jacuzzi with a TV over it, telephone by the toilet, leather-paneled walls, granite tiled bathroom, more pillows on the king-sized bed than we knew where to put them all... we felt like royalty! And if we chose, we'd never have to leave - several restaurants, a movie theatre, a bowling alley, and of course - slot machines. We did try our hand one night - we each got $3 from the casino, and put in $10 of our own. We walked away (well, rather, ROD walked away, I'm no good at it!) with $29. A $19 profit? Not too shabby.

Tuesday Becky and I visted Henderson Bird Preserve - a collection of 9 ponds absolutely TEEMING with birds. It was an amazing place. Wednesday we took a guided hike at Red Rock Canyon on the Moenkopi trail - more great sunshine and warmth! Wednesday night there was a retirement party at a restaurant for Marti, who we owe Rod's job to. I had the chance to meet some of the FWS employees for this region for the first time. Everyone was SUPER friendly, and I made a really good contact of someone who, oddly, used to live at Ruby Lake and knows a coauthor of mine at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. Thursday it was back to Red Rock Canyon to hike the Lost Creek and Oak Creek trails. Then yesterday it was time to call an end to our vacation - sigh. After another leisurely morning, we ambled northwards, stopping at Pahranagat NWR. Funny story - the first bite Rod ever got on a FWS job was the manager position at Pahranagat. After he interviewed, we got pretty excited, researching the area. Of course, he didn't get the job, but yesterday we got to visit the refuge that we once thought we may be at.






On our drive home, we saw our first elk - three of them - standing off the roadside. We continue to be amazed (and a little intimidated) at the sheer vastness of this state, of the west. You could really get in trouble out here! We would literally drive for HOURS - sometimes on highways, sometimes on dirt roads - and not see another soul. Not what we're used to back home!

I am pleasantly suprised today to see that most of our snow has melted while we were away, and that the high today is 52 and tomorrow is 58! Is spring really on its way???

A Day at the Circus = Supporting Animal Abuse

Disclaimer: The source for the following information is PETA. I realize this organization polarizes people, and do not condone nor condemn them. However, this is information I think people should know about.

"In the Ringling Bros. circus, elephants are beaten, hit, poked, prodded, and jabbed with sharp hooks, sometimes until bloody. Tigers are viciously struck with sticks so they'll perform difficult and confusing tricks."



Watch other videos like this, and see photos and more information here.

From this page, you can also click on "Help Stop Big Top Cruelty" to send a quick email to Secretary of Agriculture Thomas J. Vilsack and "demand that the agency seize the elephants whom Ringling hauls around the country in filthy boxcars and forces to perform under the constant threat of punishment".

And at the very least... steer clear of the circus!

It's Official - We've Been Nevada Residents for 1 Month!

Saturday marked the 1 month mark from the day we arrived in Ruby Valley. I would say we're feeling pretty settled in and at home, despite the huge changes in our lives! We've unpacked most of the boxes, been to Elko shopping for groceries, etc. a few times, been socializing with our new friends and neighbors, and Rod is into the routine of up and at 'em bright and early to head to work.

We've had quite a bit of snow this week in Nevada! Rod's FWS uniforms arrived, so after a big snow last Sunday we went out and took pictures (which, amazingly, Rod suggested, and those of you who know Rod know this is SO unlike him!). He looks pretty darn cute in those browns doesn't he?

Here is Rod's office, and his charge - Ruby Marsh:

Poor Rod - he had quite the day Wednesday. He drove 3 hours south, past the Maverick mountain range, to Ely, to obtain a government ID badge. Upon arrival, the lady couldn't login to her computer. After trying for 2+ hours, she sent him back to Ruby Lake! Sigh - what a day. He had to drive back in the snow and the dark. It was pretty white knuckle, and he was tired when he got home! I think next time he's going to try Salt Lake City. Maybe he'll have more luck there!

The Gallagher Fish Hatcher down the road got a new employee 2 weeks after we arrived, and he has a wife and son. So, on Thursday, the refuge and hatchery had a welcoming potluck for both us and them at the bunkhouse. It was so nice! We got to meet three other close neighbors of ours too.

On Saturday, Eric, Rod and I headed to Elko for the annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. We checked out the vendors at the Red Lion Casino before heading to the Northeast Nevada Museum.

Outside the museum is the

which used to be actually located on the south end of the refuge.



From here, we headed to the Western Folklife Center, then onto the Convention Center for some Rowdy Rodeo Rhymes. We got a pretty good taste I think of the cowboy poetry before calling it a night and heading home, when we stopped by Jeff's for some refreshments and to watch "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt".

YUMMY VEGETARIAN SOUPS

It's soup season! Here are some great veggie soup recipes. If you're like me, you love to throw things in the crock pot then- wa-la! Supper's ready! ALL of the recipes' ingredients can be combined in a crock pot in the morning and slow cooked all day. ENJOY!

ARLENE'S BEANS

1 medium onion - chopped
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c ketchup
3 Tbsp. molasses
1 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. tobasco
16 oz. lima beans, drained
16 oz. kidney beans, drained
16 oz. black beans, drained
32 oz. vegetarian baked beans
3 Tbsp. mustard
1 tsp. chili powder
salt and pepper to taste

Mix and simmer for 1 hour in large pot.

BEAN CHILI

1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 medium onions - diced
2 bell peppers
2 minced garlic cloves OR garlic powder
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1.5 Tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. diced oregano
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
32 oz. stewed tomatoes, undrained
32 oz. black beans, drained
16 oz. kidney beans, drained
16 oz. pinto beans, drained
jalapenos (optional)

Heat oil in large pot - saute onion, peppers and garlic until tender. Add remaining ingredients - bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Nutrition information: Makes 8 - 1 cup servings. Per serving: 257 calories, 2.7 g fat (0.3 sat), 12.8 g protein, 49 g carbs, 14 g fiber, 0 mg cholesterol, 4.5 mg iron, 876 mg sodium, 150 mg calcium

BLACK BEAN SOUP

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 chopped onion
3 minced garlic cloves OR garlic powder
1 tsp. cumin
3 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. oregano
48 oz. black beans
1 tsp. black pepper

Combine all ingredients - simmer in pot for 1 hour. Serve with sour cream.

POTATO CHOWDER

4 c water
2 c potatoes, diced
1 medium onion, diced
16 oz. veg-all, drained
2 cans cream of celery soup
2 vegetable boullion cubes (optional)
1/2 lb. velveeta cheese

Simmer potatoes and onions until tender. Add other ingredients. Warm slowly until cheese melts. Serves 8.

PUMPKIN SOUP

1 30 oz. can pumpkin/pie filling
1 can coconut milk (can use light version)
2.5 c vegetable broth
1 Tbsp. butter
salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients and simmer until steaming.

TACO SOUP

1 small onion, chopped
16 oz. can pinto beans, drained
16 oz. can kidney beans, drained
16 oz. can lima beans, drained
16 oz. can diced tomatoes
4 oz. can chopped green chilis
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1.5 oz. package taco seasoning mix
1 oz. package original ranch dressing
1.5 c water
1 small can tomato sauce

Combine all ingredients, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes. Top each bowl with cheese and sour cream, serve with tortilla chips. Serves 10.

MOM'S EASY VEGGIE SOUP (all from a can!)

1 drained can of any of the following you prefer:
veg-all
creamed corn
whole corn
green beans
sliced carrots
sliced potatoes
peas

1 Tbsp. salt
1/2 Tbsp. pepper
1/2 Tbsp. chili powder
1/2 Tbsp. creole seasoning
1 can diced tomatoes or Rotel (undrained)

Mix ingredients in pot and simmer until steaming. If too thick, add water. Weight watchers points: whole pot = 9 points!

NANNIE'S VEGETABLE SOUP

1/2 c brown rice (not instant)
1/2 c dried lentils or butter beans
1/2 c barley
2-3 chopped carrots
2-3 stalks chopped celery
1 small diced onion
1 large potato, cubed
1 can diced tomatoes
salt, as desired

In a large pot, add rice, beans and barley to 6 cups water - bring to a boil, then cover, reduce heat and simmer for 40 minutes. Add remaining ingredients, along with more water if needed, and simmer until veggies are tender. Allow to sit for a few minutes so grains may absorb some water, then add more water if needed to reach desired consistency. Serves 10.

Movin' in to Ruby Valley - Take 2

On Sunday, Rod and I ventured back into Elko (now that we had plenty of space, coolers, a list of what we knew we needed, etc.), had lunch and did a major shopping trip. Saw lots of wildlife en route: mule deer, Rough-legged Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks (including some dark morphs), Prairie Falcons, a Great Horned Owl, and Rod's first good look at a Golden Eagle. Rod was very happy when the DISH network guy came Monday – he was missing TV! Monday night, we had dinner with some people from the valley we'd met at Niki's party. Shauna and Rex had us over, and also there were Stephanie and Marlo and LesAnn (and their kiddos). Shauna made a GREAT mexican meal, and Rod got recruited for the LDS basketball team.

So now he's into week two of his job... finally he's not coming home pondering aloud what in the world he's gotten himself into and doubting his ability to learn this job. It is really overwhelming for him right now, but I have no doubt he'll catch on and do great. One of his major duties is to monitor water levels on the refuge, so he has to drive the levys and take water measurements at several locations.

Friday Marti and her husband Ken came back into town for her retirement party. We all loaded up, and I met Allen, the fourth fish hatchery employee, and we rode with him over Harrison Pass (our first glimpse at this route - we saw around 75 mule deer) to the Jiggs Bar. WHAT an experience! A true cowboy bar. We spent a couple of hours here, socializing with a crew from California making their annual boys' vacation here, before driving into Elko to have supper at Sergio's Mexican. Mmm-mm. On Saturday, Rod and I drove into Elko again. This time we were on a mission to open a bank account so Rod could set up his direct deposit. After, we had lunch then did some more shopping before heading back home. The wildlife was a repeat of last time - lots of raptors and some deer. Makes the 2 hour drive enjoyable! Sunday a technician came out and hooked up our internet – NOW we’re cookin’!

So, week three of living in Ruby Valley-

Tuesday night was book club – Niki took me to introduce me, I’m on my own from here on out! This month the book is The Far Pavilion. I need to order the book and get on it! Wednesday night Jeff had us over to his house for supper: Niki, Ian, Eric, Lowell, Rod and myself. Thursday we all went into town. Everyone had an errand they needed to run, so it just made sense to all go together. Rod and I applied for our Nevada driver’s licenses. We ate at The Star, an historic Basque restaurant, for lunch. The Basque people are sheepherders that came from the Pyrenees region of Spain and France and settled here, and have a fascinating history. Jeff gave us a tour of Elko’s Red Light District – crazy. We picked up some Papa Murphy’s pizza before heading back home, and all got together at Eric’s Thursday night to eat it. Friday afternoon I spent some time with Niki learning about the refuge’s concession (t-shirts, books, etc.) which I am taking over the sales of.

A big event in Elko is the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, and the annual event kicked off last night and lasts all week and into next weekend. There was a free showing by Richard Elloyan at the LDS church down the road, and Eric, Rod and I went yesterday to watch him. Rod then stayed and played basketball, and Eric and I came home. Well, Rod realized at about 8 pm as they were about to leave the church to drive home that I’d taken the car keys with me. So, I got in the little Focus and putted up the road to Rex and Shauna’s house, where he’d left his car parked, to take him the keys. The roads were icy and it was snowing, and I mean I went SLOW... it took me about 30 minutes to travel the 12 miles to their house. I only slid once... when a Great-Horned Owl flew twice back and forth in front of my car.

Now we’re heading into our fourth week in Nevada! Rod says we have more of a social life here in this isolated valley than we've ever had, and is hoping for a quiet week to be able to do some of his own unpacking and settling in!

Westward Ho!

Exactly one month ago we underwent a lifechanging event. We left the comforts of our home in Northwest Arkansas, surrounded by friends and not TOO far from family (in Missouri and Alabama), for the unknown wide open spaces of northeastern Nevada.

On December 23, after spending our last night in Northwest Arkansas with our good friends the Brewsters, with heavy hearts we pulled out of Fayetteville and headed to the south of Kansas City to spend Christmas with Rod's family.



After a very enjoyable week visiting with his family and several of our friends, we left to drive west to our new home on December 30. The first day we drove through the entirety of Kansas to Limon, Colorado, where we spent our first night. On day two we continued on I-70 to Denver, then headed north through Fort Collins and up into Laramie, Wyoming (where I'd visited once before when considering the University of Wyoming for graduate school). From here we hopped on I-80; somewhere along the route the winds really kicked up, and the snow was blowing in such steady streams across the road it looked like fog. After dark, the temperature dropped and the road started getting icy. After my little Focus fishtailed in the middle of the interstate, we decided it was time to call it quits. We made it to Rawlins, which HAS to be the windiest city either of us had ever been in. It was miserable - bitter cold and biting winds made us wonder what we'd gotten ourselves into! After checking into our motel, we ventured to Cappy's, the restaurant nearby, where we celebrated with a New Year's Eve supper before retreating back to our room to watch the festivities on TV. A pretty low key holiday this year!

On day three we drove through Salt Lake City, past the Great Salt Lake, and into Nevada. What a beautiful landscape! Exhausted by the third day and SO ready to be there, we finally made it to Elko, where we'd spend the final night before heading to our new home. After checking into our last night of a motel, we grabbed supper at Pizza Hut then drove around a little bit, exploring "our new city" - after all, it is the closest city to Ruby Valley and where we'd be doing all of our shopping. We were satisfied at the wide selection of merchants in town - any fast food place you could want and then some, 3+ grocery stores, Wal-Mart, K-Mart (my new Target?), CVS, Home Depot, and some local chains we were unfamiliar with. Plus a plethora of casinos, should we get an itch to gamble (doubtful).

The next morning (Sunday), we shopped around before purchasing a pair of boots for Rod to replace the ones he'd forgotten at his Dad's, grabbed lunch at Taco Time (a GREAT fast food Mexican place), loaded up on groceries, then headed south, towards Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, our new home. The way we must go in the winter, without a 4 wheel drive vehicle, is about 80 miles over Secret Pass, which takes us 2 hours - 1 hour on pavement, 1 hour on gravel. Upon arrival at the refuge, we stopped at the visitor's center, where we met the entire staff: Niki, who after living in Ruby Valley most of her life and raising four kids here, unfortunately just took a job in Portland and left yesterday (we sure will miss her, she really welcomed us with open arms), Jeff, the refuge biologist and interim manager, who's been here for 19 years, and Eric, the man who can do/fix anything you ask! That's it! Now that Niki is gone, the entire staff consists of Jeff, Eric and Rod - then there's me. :)



We had the option to choose between two houses, and we LOVE our house!



Right now Ruby Marsh is covered in snow and mostly frozen (except for the spring-fed collection ditch, which remains open, thus attracting lots of wildlife) - here's the view out our front window:



They gave Rod tons of keys - keys to our house, keys to the office, keys to his new Ford F-250...



We unloaded everything we'd managed to pack into our two cars, plus the critters, blew up our air mattress, and called it a day. Sunday we spent exploring a bit of the refuge. We took the truck out on the auto-tour route, and took the dogs on Cave Creek trail, a short trail just down from our house that goes up to the cave where the creek flows out of that provides our water. Mmmmm, good clean fresh pristine water, right out of the mountain! We get it for free and it's as pure as it comes! We walked the road that runs in front of our house and played around with our new Canon Rebel XSi camera while birding the collection ditch (wigeon, scaup, ringneck, mallards, goldeneye and Trumpeter Swans):









Rod went to work Monday for his first day, and I bummed around the house/hiked Cave Creek again. Monday night Niki had everyone over to celebrate Justine (her daughter's) birthday. We had a nice supper and then played Balderdash, one of my fave games.

On Tuesday our ABF truck showed up (even thought it wasn't supposed to come until Friday!) and it was SO amazing - Niki had called around and 7 people showed up within 10 minutes of its arrival to help us unload! Niki, her son Ian, Jeff, Eric, and Lowell, Scott and Craig from the Gallagher Fish Hatchery down the street all showed up to help. What took 4 guys we'd hired 3 hours to load took us all about an hour to unload! It was awesome. So, once finished (and after lunch break), everyone returned to work and I went to work on our house. I spent the first week unpacking and arranging our house. I was VERY happy when on Thursday our phone service was hooked up. I had lots of calls to make!

On Thursday, Eric had Ian, Jeff, Lowell, Rod and I over to watch the Alabama Texas game. On Friday, Ruby Valley had a going-away party for Niki at the community center at the opposite end of the valley. It was incredible. SO MANY people showed up - she's dearly love and will be sorely missed. We met SO many people! Marti, the refuge manager who hired Rod and just retired, came into town and we got to meet her - SO sweet.

S.W.A.T. - Student Waste Audit Team

I am SO proud of one of my groups of students at Haas Hall Academy that I wanted to blog about what they've done here.

Scholastic and Lexus pair up to put on the Eco Challenge - this is the second year I've had students participate.

Last year 5 students formed The Light Savers and tried to convince the city of Fayetteville to convert their traffic lights to run off of solar energy.

This year a group of 8 students formed the S.W.A.T. - Student Waste Audit Team - in an effort to increase recycling efforts at HHA and educate their peers on why they should recycle. We've had a recycling program in place since my biology classes started it in 2006, but many still throw their recyclables in the trash. The students thought it a worthwhile effort to attempt to prevent this.



So last Tuesday, January 19, we submitted the results of all of their efforts. Now we cross our fingers and wait!

Their results:



That means the pounds of recyclables they pulled out of the garbage that SHOULD have been thrown in recycle bins. Yes, they dug through the school's trash EACH DAY to get those data!

Take a look at their website:

http://www.hhaswat.comxa.com

And their blog:

http://hhaswat.blogspot.com/

And if you have a facebook, join them!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/SWAT/362132965092?ref=ts

But my personal favorite is the video they produced - check it out!



GREAT JOB LEXUS ECO CHALLENGERS!