Desert Messenger

16 www.DesertMessenger.com August 6, 2014 SNOWBIRDS Furnished Trailers For Rent $325/mo. + up Cactus Patch RV Park 928-927-6717 Ma & Pa's "A Little Bit of Everything!" Downtown Bouse, Arizona Tons of New and Used Hardware, Plumbing and Electric; Odds and Ends Galore! TOOLS! Antiques, Incense, Indian Jewelry, Books, VHS Tapes, Rocks and Cacti. NEW Arizona T-Shirts and Tank Tops $3 each or 2/$5* (While supplies last) PROFESSIONAL PROPANE SERVICE AND QUALITY SUPPLIES! Custom Made Hoses, Regulators, Fittings, Hose-by-the-Foot, New Quick- Release Fittings, Extend-a-Says, and Tanks in Various Sizes for Sale 5 Gal Exchange Tanks - RV & Home Service, New Valves Installed, Certifications, Testing & Inspections on Heaters and Propane Systems We also BUY-SELL-TRADE Estate Sales, Yard Sales, Consignments FREE Appraisals! Open 10am – 4pm Wed. thru Sunday - Closed Monday & Tuesday 928-699-1338 Jane Finley (Gypsy Jane) writer * artist * teacher (stretching, exercise, relaxation, meditation) The Going-Away Party What a surprise, my going-away party! (As if it weren't hard enough to leave Quartzsite for the summer.) They were all there: the most frequent visitors, "my" much-loved birds and bunnies; several lizards I didn't know well; some chipmunk-like creatures I just met; and a whole family of quail with as many as a dozen babies, but I can't be sure; they run so fast -- tiny, speeding puff balls of energy. About 10,000 ants were there in spite of our ongoing battle! The rattle snakes declined, preferring to avoid day-time temperatures of 100+ degrees. They sent their regrets. (We were secretly glad.) And there were special guests: an unusual rabbit with HUGE ears and a fl at, black tail; and a roadrunner who was too busy to stop wished me a quick fare-the-well as he sped by. Poems from the road The coyote missed the party explaining he got the dates mixed up and would stop by next week (when of course I will be gone.) I provided the usual refreshments: fresh water in the tall bowl for the coyotes and the fl ying birds and some in the low bowl for the rabbits and small animals. The hanging bird feeder held assorted seeds and leftover fruits and vegetables were strewn across the yard. So here I am (when I should be packing), writing about all my desert friends who came to tell me goodbye. It is looking more and more like I'll leave tomorrow instead of today, in spite of the note I write myself every year to absolutely, positively, without exception LEAVE MY DESERT PARADISE BEFORE JUNE! Quartzsite, AZ June 5, 2014 Jane's book is WANDERINGS: Living the Ordinary Extraordinarily (Stories from the Road). This column consists of poems from the book. (email: janefi nley@yahoo. com, website: janefi nley.com) Across from McDonald's • Quartzsite NEED CASH? Jim Buys GOLD! Broken Jewelry, Old Teeth, Coins, Nuggets, etc. 1240 W. Main Street Special to Desert Messenger By Lyle Browning ~ University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Service The Dandelion For most of us, experience with this plant involves killing it. However, it has some very redeeming qualities. In the genus Taraxacum, dandeli- ons are regarded as both an ed- ible green and a medicinal herb in many parts of the world. There are also dandelion loyalists here in the States. Young leaves can be eaten in salads prior to fl owering and they are very nutritious. Dandeli- ons have been used as a medicinal herb for hundreds of years. They can also be used for making wine. If your only interest in this plant is pulling, poisoning or otherwise ridding yourself of it, good, but it might be kind of fun to try some in a salad. Drop in to our offi ce at 2524 Mutahar Rd., Parker, or telephone us at 928 669-9843. We are always inter- ested in talking with you. The dandelion- more than you think Fire restrictions scaled down Scaled Down Fire Restrictions In Effect on BLM Lands in Lake Havasu and Yuma On Friday, August 1, 2014, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands administered by the Lake Havasu and Yuma Field Offi ces will go from Stage 2 to Stage 1 fi re restrictions. "Fire weather conditions have improved to lift Stage 2 restrictions in our area because of higher relative humidity and even some scattered rain; however, conditions have not improved enough to cancel fi re restric- tions completely," stated Assistant Fire Management Offi cer James Stewart. The public is reminded that the following acts are prohibited until further notice: Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fi re, campfi re, charcoal, coal, or wood stove. Campfi res and charcoal are permitted in developed recreation sites or improved sites where agency- built fi re rings or grills are provided. Smoking, except within an en- closed vehicle, within a developed or improved recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least six feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all fl ammable materials. Welding or the use of any torch or metal cutting or gridding implement. Violations of these restrictions are punishable by a fi ne of not more than $1,000 and/or imprisonment of not more than 12 months. For fi re restriction information in Arizona and New Mexico: Call Toll Free: 1-877-864-6985. Visit the web- site: http://www.fi rerestrictions.us/

• Cover