Desert Messenger

June 17, 2015 www.DesertMessenger.com 17 First locally-owned and operated music station in Quartzsite, Arizona. Proudly serving the communities of Quartzsite, Bouse, Brenda, Rainbow Acres, La Paz Valley and beyond, since 1988. Quartzsite Radio • Quartzsite's Favorite "CLASSIC HITS" • Local Information • Weather • 24 Hours Day / 7 Days Week! KBUX 94.3 FM 928-927-5111 http://kbuxradio.com Traveling with Gypsy Jane by Jane Finley writer * artist * teacher (stretching, exercise, relaxation, meditation) Leaving Quartzsite (NOT) Quartzsite, AZ 6/5/15 OK, so I am supposed to leave Quartzite tomorrow, BUT this morn- ing as I was putting Borax around my house (in hopes of discouraging the impossible-to-discourage ants), it was just SO lovely outside. About 6:00 a.m., it was actually cool, and there was a slight breeze. I realized I didn't want to leave yet, and I didn't have to. Besides, I had all that food in my freezer; too much to transfer to my RV. If I waited another week, I could eat 21 more meals, and I wouldn't have to fi nish all those "leav- ing chores" today. I could spread them out over the next week. SETTLED! So, I relaxed on my front porch with a cup of coffee and the wildlife to entertain me. Some doves were waiting for breakfast, and within min- utes, there were quail, house wrens, pigeons, and rabbits gobbling up the pieces of bread I tossed into my front yard. Talk about CONTENTMENT. I was MUCH more than happy. (I think "contentment" basically hangs around, while "happy" comes and goes.) The wildlife in Q is fascinating! As I sit on my porch in the morning with my coffee and in the late afternoon with my tea, I feel almost like a scien- tist doing research, kind of like Jane Goodall and the apes. I have become an avid observer of all kinds of birds and rabbits, and to a lesser degree lizards, coyotes, snakes, and some little animal that looks kind of like a meer- cat (as seen on the PBS series) and may be a ground squirrel. I haven't seen those for a couple of years now, and I miss them. They are comical little creatures. (I wrote a story about them once "Entertainer of the Week.") I see lizards of all kinds and col- ors, measuring from mere inches to almost a foot. They too are fl eeting, never hanging around long enough to really get to know. They glide away so fast and smoothly; they seem to be on roller blades. Snakes I don't see too often (thank goodness!). However, just last month, I opened my front door to a snake right before my eyes. I slammed the door shut and tried to still my rapidly beating heart. Of course, to me, all snakes are either poisonous or rattlers. By the time I called the park manager, and she called the fi re department, and the offi cer appeared, of course the snake was gone. But I learned some- thing. When the offi cer asked if it was a rattle snake, I said I didn't know, but I didn't think so because when I calmed down, I looked at the snake's tail, and there were no rattles. The of- fi cer said it was probably a king snake, valuable because it eats rats. He said rattle snakes are usually coiled and rattle when approached. I try to be on the alert for snakes, even more so when I heard about my neighbor and a librarian being bitten by a rattler and fl own to Phoenix for treatment. They lived, but the librar- ian said her whole arm turned black. I have had two close encounters with rattlers. One time I was picking sage, and as I reached toward the plant, I saw the snake coiled beneath it, within inches of my hand. They are so per- fectly camoufl aged. Another time, I was unlocking the back door of my RV, and I heard a strange sound. A rattler was coiled up about four feet away. YIKES! I left the keys in the lock and darted for my porch, heart pounding. Now, when I walk, I always have a walking stick and a fl ashlight at night. And now to the coyote, my personal totem. I love its sense of wildness, freedom, and loneness. There is a coy- ote that visits my front yard after dusk almost every evening. I watch for it and sit very still inside my home, because it leaves if it sees the slightest movement. There is a warning of its approach; the yard quickly clears of all wild life seconds before it appears. The coyote is a shy creature. It stops to observe the yard before entering....very tenta- tively. It walks in just a few feet, looks for something to eat, and then quickly retreats to the road to eat what it fi nds. It repeats this several times, ventur- ing farther into the yard each time and eventually eating what it fi nds where he fi nds it. He methodically covers the whole front yard; there is nothing left in the morning. Watching the coyote is a delicious part of my evening.... truly a gift from nature. The darling bunnies are always around and add so much to my enjoyment. Bunnies usually come alone. They dominate all the other animals as far as food is concerned. When they approach a piece of bread, the birds back off. I love to watch a bunny eat. If it has something like a green bean, it will take one end in its mouth and slowly eat the whole thing until it gradually disappears. Some- times another bunny will come along my driveway, and if there is another bunny there, they will face off in what I consider a friendly, playful way. And this is the very best part: They kinda stare each other down. Then all of a sudden, one bunny will jump straight up a couple of feet into the air, time and time again. After doing this for a while, one bunny races off at lightning speed, with the other bunny chasing it. It is just so funny! And now for my bird friends, saved for last because there are so many, and I have so much to say. But alas, I've decided this story is much too long already; so I'm going to save the topic of birds for my next story: "Birdology in Quartzsite." Stay tuned...... *~*~*~* To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refi nement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden, and uncon- scious grow up through the common. This is my symphony... ~ William Henry Channing, Unitarian Minister *~*~*~* Jane's book is WANDERINGS: Living the Ordinary Extraordinarily (Stories from the Road). This column consists of stories from her book email: janefi nley@yahoo.com, website: janefi nley.com

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