We have been in Arizona for a little over a week, and a lot happened! As mentioned in my previous blog, our kids started studying for their ham radio technician license while we were travelling to Arizona. The goal was that they take their ham radio test at the ham fest in Quartzsite AZ. With many grumbles, our 10 year old studied for the test (but mom, I am only 10!! Yeah, yeah whatever!). We reached Quartzsite AZ on the first day of the ham fest. We found the testing site and went to speak with the test coordinator, Steve. He listened wide eyed to our daughters’ plan and was super excited to hear that he would be testing a 10 year old. He told her that if she passed the ham license test, she would get a free ham radio from him!! Now Leena was excited!

The next few days were spent studying and attending various technical talks on ham radio. We also went for a 5 mile dirt road bike ride, as we had done last time. This time we left our older dog, Rosie in the bus with the chickens, and took Kylo along. He did amazingly well and didn’t seem tired despite the long run. We were very pleased with him!

Test day turned out to be a big, exciting day for us. The kids were already famous by then. The ageing ham population is always excited about youngsters taking up this hobby. But they especially loved the idea of a 10 year old girl attempting the test. I am happy to report that they both passed and both got a free baofeng ham radio as a present from Steve! The girls attained a hero status there. That afternoon they were called to stage with other new hams amid cheers. So that was definitely encouraging for them. And of course, a proud moment for Johan and me.

They have also started using their radios and their new call signs today! This is an exciting development since it was quite a barrier for them to cross to confidently use their call signs on the radio for all to hear.

Other news from our parts. Leena turned 11 this week. We had a quiet but fun birthday celebration. She (literally) brought the house down on her birthday. I baked a brownie and that may have resulted in the bus electrical system to go down on her birthday. Uh oh!! We went out for breakfast and later did a little treasure hunt for her to find her presents.

Ham fest was over a couple of days back. Yesterday we left Quartzsite, AZ and moved to Ehrenburg, AZ, where they have a different kind of fest known as Skooliepalooza. This is a place in the middle of the desert with 300 or so school bus campers (school buses that have been converted into campers) parked for a week of hanging out, mingling, selling little trinkets, music and visiting each other’s buses to see their conversions. If you think about it, its mind boggling. None of these buses are factory manufactured campers. Each has been converted by someone to make a living space. Some people live in these buses exclusively. Some, like us, are travelling for a short time. We arrived towards the end of Skooliepalooza but are enjoying the atmosphere.

Lastly, it was my birthday yesterday. We did pretty much the same things as we did for Leena’s birthday (except this time I bought the cake!). It was made exciting by my Smule friends who put up sweet songs to celebrate my birthday. That was very lovely. More next week… oh wait! The animals are tugging at the keyboard! Over to them.

Kylo Ren: First things first, I am very smart (phew, glad I got that out of the way). I can even open the bus door!

So I begged until Rosie let me blog instead of her (psst, I think she just wants to sleep so she didn’t care). So yes, we have been on the road for a few days. That means a lot of work for me. I make sure the family is ok, clean my wife Rosie since she just sleeps all the time, and take care of the chickens (ok, they are just my playthings!). You know, I just wish my humans trusted me more (sigh). Today I escaped and ran to this stray dog who was peeing on every last bush. Hey, I had to set my boundaries too! Stray and me were best buddies until his friend, this tiny yappy dog, came in between and then humans separated us. Oh well, tomorrow is another day! Over to Crazy Cookie!

Crazy Cookie: I think Lazy Laurie is on top of the pecking order (boo hoo hoo, I tried so hard). She got the biggest piece of pancake that day. I am laying eggs and should be the one on top, but the older chickens are hard to beat. Psst, I think they are turning into roosters. They have these new side claws (called spurs) which is very rooster-like. Anyway, moving on. I am still very popular in these parts. I keep my feathers clean. Today two kids came by. From the whole flock, I was the one they got out of the chicken tractor. They put one of those awful leashes on me and walked me all over. I tried to hide but they tugged on me. The other chickens were impressed so that’s a positive, I guess. My agenda for the week: Fight for the potato peels and bits of grits, Go in zen mode so I can lay eggs and hopefully climb that elusive pecking order. Laters.