Wind Turbines photo by Joshua Winchell

If I had a couple of these today they would be cranking out enough electricity to power Las Vegas.  As it is I am just watching most of the Jornada blow away.  Our ranch should be in White Sands by now – and most of the sand west of the Caballo Mountains is now relocating to our back yard.

I decided a couple of years ago after seeing how scoured the earth is after a couple of these wind storm days that this is the Goddess’ way of getting a good scrub on the desert.  We don’t get those gully washer rains that more temperate climates do – we get wind storms in the spring.  If it isn’t tied down (and often if it is) it blows away.  There.  Clean.

An interesting thing I’ve discovered as a rock hound, is that the winds often uncover some very interesting rocks.  It is always worth while to have a little walk about the day after one of these storms to see what the wind has brought up from beneath the sand.

You remember, of course, the old cowboy movies where the bad guys pull the bandana up over their face to rob the bank?  I’ve discovered that it is actually quite useful to have a bandana over your face if you must be outdoors in one of these wind storms.  For one, it is actually blowing hard enough to take your breath away.  For another, it keeps at least some of the sand out of your nose and mouth.  You’ll still be washing it out of your eyes and digging it out of your ears when you get back in.  You’ll be surprised how much sand manages to stay in your hair and on your skin.  I come inside, shed my clothes and wild rag, and scrub myself all over with a rough towel.  Then dig out my ears with Qtips.  I’ll shower the rest of it off tonight – after I’m done being outside for any reason.  No point in doing it before then.  I’ll hang out in the house in a house dress and only put the “dust” clothes back on to go out and feed dinner.

When I looked out this morning the mare was head down in “her” feeding spot, her four legs spread wide to remain balanced.  It really is blowing that hard.

I have three new blogs to work on today – although two are just “rejuvenation” jobs.  Plus I’ll continue my little task of cleaning a lot of old images I’ve created off the computer and putting them in the Free Clipart blog.

I found a very cool source of free public domain photos of wildlife and so forth yesterday – it’s where this wind turbine photo is from – The National Digital Library which has photos taken by Fish and Wildlife and other Gov’t employees. Expect to see lots of photos from them gracing this blog! I added them to all the other resources at my Public Domain Clipart lens

Speaking of blogs and Squidoo I am super proud and happy to announce that my hubby has joined Squidoo and created his first lens, a Vegetarian Taco Pizza Recipe. He is also going to be taking over the old Vegetarian Blog which is one of the ones I’ll be working on getting started again today.

Lastly, I would like to ask you, if you have ever enjoyed any of my work or found it useful, if you would please help us out with a donation. As you may know, hubby can no longer work. However, SSD says he is not disabled until after he starts dialysis (if then). I’ve been job hunting for a month with no success. We have just enough gas to make his next appointment for surgery (200 miles each way) if we do not make any more trips into town for anything. Then… that’s it. No income, other than the pennies I make online. So, if you could see clear to helping us out – even a little – $5 will buy almost two gallons of gas and a trip to town (we pay 20 to 50 cents extra a gallon for gas in our little town). I know everyone is having it tough this year. 2009 was the first year (hubby just did my taxes) that I had no profit at all on line. And we don’t even claim all of my expenses. I’m not whining – just saying I’ve given my art and writing away for free for ten years. Now I need help if you can afford it. Thanks.

Summer Fey Foovay

P.S. SQUEEEEEE – the Census just called! I will have a job beginning April 12th. ***DOING HAPPY DANCE OF GREAT JOY*** We still need enough for gas and chicken and cat food and I don’t know where training will be yet – it may be in “the big city” 200 miles each way. BUT – if I can just somehow manage to make it that far we’ll be sitting pretty for at least a while.

I better get all the web work done I can before then…

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