Swirling clouds glow golden red in Pahrump, Nevada. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

Every evening I check the sky to see what surprise awaits me. Last night was exceptional. Clouds swirled across Nevada’s big sky and literally glowed golden red! Mother’s Nature extraordinary palette always puts me in a state of awe.

Einstein and Miss Piggy sing Happy Birthday

Ladies and gentlemen, let me present to you Miss Piggy and Einstein!

What an exceptional birthday treat — the most brilliant man and most beautiful female singing Happy Birthday to me via Skype! Ah, the wonders of technology.

Yuk! What’s that on Miss Piggy’s snout?

Mount Charleston viewed from our "winter home" neighborhood in Pahrump, Nevada. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

After three days of brooding clouds, intermittent showers and chilling winds, sunshine returned today to southwestern Nevada. Snow dusted Mount Charleston, adding sparkle to the tan, brown and gray palette of Spring Mountain Range. Wispy clouds painted brush strokes on the brilliant blue sky. And the temperature rose to its customary l0w-60s.

Life is pleasant here!

Andrea, Rose and David after a hearty lunch in Shoshone Village, outside Death Valley National Park.

As of last Saturday, our “home” is the Escapees park, Pair of Dice, in Pahrump, Nevada. Although Las Vegas is only an hour or so east of here, this quiet, beautiful desert location feels remote. Certainly not a place close to our friends’ travels.

Yet, we had the delightful surprise of hearing from our Denver friend, Andrea, that she and her husband were flying into Las Vegas and driving through Death Valley on their way to Joshua Tree National Park. Could we meet them for lunch near Death Valley? You bet!

This spur of the moment opportunity combined seeing friends and the excuse to go to Death Valley now rather than later! We met up in Shoshone Village where we got reacquainted over lunch in the Crowbar Cafe before going into the park. (Thank goodness we made final arrangements when they were still at the Las Vegas Airport. We discovered there’s no cell phone service in the area we chose to meet!)

Andrea is also a business associate. She’s the graphic designer who does the beautiful layout of David’s photos in our Out of Denver magazine column. Take a look!  California’s Giant Trees, Towering Waterfalls and Intriguing Caverns and Life on the South Oregon Coast

Together on Longboat Key beach, Florida: Debby, Rose, Bonnie, Suzanne (left to right) Photo credit: Kind stranger

A week has already gone by since this priceless day together on January 2, 2012, and the warmth I feel in my heart is still glowing!

Each of us “girls” has her unique way of viewing the world and expressing who she is. I relish that.

We really enjoy being together. That, I know, is extra special!

And nothing can rival our giggle sessions!

Thank you, dear sweet sisters, for being YOU, for your love, loyalty and support. Each of you is a precious gift in my life.

Mustangs graze on BLM land outside Fernley, NV. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

Wild horses roam the ranges of Nevada. As a special treat on Christmas Day, we headed to a Bureau of Land Management area  just outside of Fernley town limits where they are known to graze. The mustangs steadily moved toward us, giving us better and better views of their handsome markings and winter coats.

Seeing horses in the wild made our Christmas in Nevada extra special!

Unusual clouds beautify the morning sky. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

The sight of these unusual clouds greeted me this morning. Big skies with dramatic clouds and colorful sunsets are one of the natural qualities I love about the western United States. Just when I think I’ve seen it all, something new pops up!

Trains roll down the tracks 24/7. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

From our vantage point in northwest Nevada, U.S. commerce is hopping!  Our RV park sits in the midst of it.  The railroad tracks and Interstate 80 lie to the north. Alternate U.S. Hwy. 95 runs down the small town of Fernley’s Main Street to the south.

Throughout the day, a steady stream of semis haul cargo. (Fortunately, the speed limit on Main Street is 35 mph.) Trains rumble down the track night and day. When they carry heavy loads in double-stacked cars, they make the earth shake — and our RV tremble.

Commerce rolls along at a steady pace here. Despite the hum, occasional roar and ground shaking, I’m glad for it. It’s a healthy sign that we’re doing OK.

"Yummy birthday treat!" Sonya smacks her lips after devouring who-knows-what she found while scavenging a field. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

Amazing as it seems to us, Sonya turned 11 years old today. She’s been celebrating her birthday doing what she loves to do — run untethered in the open air, sniff everything within reach, eat and then nap all afternoon, warmed by the sunshine streaming through the RV window.

Sonya still runs quick as lightning and has a strong, lean, muscled body. And she’s still as sweet and affectionate as ever. Fortunately for us, she gave up the frenzied behavior of her puppyhood by age 7.

She’s a wonderful companion at home and on the road. Happy Birthday, Sonya!

Snow covers the hills behind the field where Sonya romps. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

Snow came early to the northwest Nevada desert. Early morning temperatures hover around 20 degrees, and frost clings to the car. When an RV site opened up at a park in Fernley, less than 10 minutes from the Amazon.com fulfillment center, we snapped it up. The 65-mile round-trip commute from the RV park in Sparks was a challenge, especially driving in the dark when it’s snowing or sleeting.

David is playing Santa’s elf at Amazon.com during the holiday rush, packaging all those Christmas gifts you folks are ordering over the Internet. (Amazon.com has a seasonal work camping program for RVers at three locations during the holiday rush. In addition to a decent hourly wage, the program pays for the RV site rental.)

Besides proximity to Amazon.com, the little town of Fernley (population 4,153) provides the basics: Scolari’s grocery store, Starbucks, several fast food franchises, some restaurants, Wal-Mart and Lowes. We feel we belong here now that the local library has given us temporary cards to check out books and movies. Best of all, Sonya can run free in the huge, fallow field just across from the RV park.

Clouds hover over snow-dusted slopes near Fernley, NV. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

Holding to my exercise commitment, I drive into Sparks four days a week to work out at Planet Fitness. (I’m already seeing the positive effects!) My drives are in bright daylight so they’re enjoyable, especially when I catch sight of wild horses. And on Sundays, David and I feed our souls at the Center for Spiritual Living,Reno. In addition to having a great ministerial team and energizing music, the center brings in top guest speakers: Karen Russo in October and Karen Drucker this month.

so far, the heaters are keeping our rig cozy enough. Life is good.