Gold claim here we come....

We are loaded up, puppies in tow and a hot cup of coffee to keep us awake for long day ahead. We have a 4hr drive ahead of us and much of it is without phone reception with signs that read, "rest area next 100miles." There is even a little place called nothing that we pass and it's fitting.

The next 6 days we will be living pioneer style out on our gold claim. Prospecting during the day, hoping for a gold nugget, and sewing by night. Yes I did say sewing! Matt brought an inverter so now I can power my sewing machine in the middle of nowhere.

Yesterday, whenever i could sneak a moment between packing and the never ending laundry, i disappeared to my office to work on my owls... I cut some cute patterns and am excited to sew them this week.

I took the dogs out for one last hike and said goodbye to our little ground owl friends. Everyday I walk the dogs and we visit our ground owls out in the desert. These little cutie's are my inspiration for my owl sewing fetish. They always bring a smile to my face.  Hitch the hound dog flushed out 3 jackrabbits during our walk. Im sure the rabbits won't miss the hound while were away. I was even lucky enough to see a roadrunner zip by me. They run so fast it looks like they're gliding over the ground. While we were saying goodbye to our backyard friends Matt had a little bird befriend him. While he was packing our supplies a little bird flew into the garage. Matt talked to the little bird while he hoped from one perch to another following Matt around. I could swear that Matt is Doctor Doolittle.  Such a beautiful day!

Well were about to leave civilization and phone reception so I'll post this now. Pioneer updates to follow...

On our way out to the claim on an old 4x4 road, if you can even call it a road. More like driving through the desert and these two silly pups of ours have to climb up in my lap so they can get the best view. Seriously, they have the entire back seat, two windows, and a dog bed back there but oh no, they want to crawl up in mommy's lap. So Spoilied!

 It took two trips into town to get all of our supplies out to the claim.  I'm thinking our next big purchase is going to be a military trailer...
We are in a race against the setting sun to get camp set up and I still need to collect firewood so we don't freeze tonight....

As Matt would say, "Hurry up and feed her before she turns into Jennzilla."

Our little home away from home. We managed to get camp set up just in time for a beautiful sunset. So happy to be back among the mighty saguaro...

It's about 40 degrees out tonight. Sitting by our campfire waiting for our bath water to simmer. Hound dog is asleep in the dirt next to me dreaming about jackrabbits and Matt is getting our firewood situation sorted out for the wood burning stove so he doesn't freeze tonight.

The saguaros are just barely illuminated by the moonlight and reach up so far they look like they're touching the stars... Goodnight