Getting Up and Down

With my next big adventure - hiking back to Phantom Ranch in early March - fast approaching, I've been trying to do some challenging trails here.  Hot Loop was a great hike the other day.  Glorious views of Woods Canyon and the Village of Oak Creek; running into my pal Kristi on her beautiful horse L; meeting a lady who moved here from Carol Stream. 

Two days ago - on the Bear Mountain Trail in Boynton Canyon...This is one of the more challenging trails I have done here.  A long climb with an elevation increase of 1000 feet, very steep and rocky in places.  Hauling myself up over some big rocks, around tight turns, stopping often to take in the view (and yes, catch my breath). 

Yes, this is the trail...

And so is this...

Going up, this trail is a quad-burning lung-buster; coming down is just, well, scary.  I pick my way very slowly over the rocks and around the turns.  But this view from the top is the payoff!

Gotta love that blue sky!

And speaking of blue...there was a small flock of Mountain Bluebirds.  Having breakfast of Juniper berries and showing off their beautiful hues.  A life-list bird for me - yay!

Male Mountain Bluebird in Juniper tree

After two challenging hikes in two days, I opted yesterday for the easy but beautiful Little Horse Trail to Chicken Point.  Started out early enough that I heard a few coyote yips as I headed toward the cliffs.  I think she was greeting the day with me.  I stopped at Chicken Point to enjoy the views and the solitude - one of the few times I've been there that no Jeep tours showed up...and then I realized the tile guy was headed to the house!  It was a fast 2 miler back to the car...but captured this view of the red rocks in the early morning light...

Cathedral Rock

And the update from the money pit...

Prep work for tile floors done yesterday; tile install may start later today.  Measuring done for screens for French doors - I want to be able to leave these doors open.  They lead from master bedroom to back deck but I don't want any uninvited guests (this means you, snakes and tarantulas!!!).

Working in the yard and right now it is like spitting in the ocean.  No sign of progress.  But I did see on-line that burn permits are issued and I will check into that today.  I have no other way to dispose of all this mess...and wish I had some KCCN'ers here to do a prescribed burn with me!

My shiny new power washer is assembled and ready to go.  I will try it out today and hopefully, get the chicken coop cleaned well enough that I won't need a Hazmat suit to enter.

Happy Trails!



Getting Thawed

I know, I know - so far our Midwest winter hasn't been bad.  I did miss out on the most recent storm and the chance to snowshoe with my pals.  But hiking in shirtsleeves?  Working in the yard in January?  Feeling the warm AZ sun on my face...what's not to like?

Haven't felt much like blogging.  Overwhelmed with chores/errands/decisions about the "money pit" and finding myself scattered.  Getting lots done, but also managing to do my usual stupid things.  Enjoyed a fabulous afternoon at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix on Tuesday.  That is, I enjoyed it until I accidentally deleted ALL of the photos I'd taken.  Later in Scottsdale, I was heading across a parking lot to the crosswalk when I walked smack into a low tree limb.  I hit the top of my head so hard that it knocked me on my ass.  One would think the second stupid act would have precipitated the first, but nooo.  I manage to do stupid things even without a head injury.

I have had some good hikes and lots of fun bird sightings!  The feeders at the house are attracting a great variety of birds - some of which I've never seen at feeders in the past.  The ones I've detected so far (you non-birdnerds can skip this part):  Northern Flicker (red shafted), Juniper titmouse, juncos (I believe they are the Oregon variety, which has a rusty patch on its back), house finches, Canyon Towhees, jays, Bushtits mobbing the suet feeder, Curve Billed and Crissal Thrashers (the latter of which sits in the platform feeder), Anna's and  Black-Chinned Hummingbirds, White Crowned Sparrows, Ravens, male and female Yellow-Rumped Warblers at the suet!  I bought a bag of mealworms yesterday - will be interesting to see who shows up for those.  There are Western Bluebirds all around, and I'm hoping a few of them might take advantage of free worms.

         Western Bluebird along the Huckaby Trail

Northern Flicker at my birdbath

 Another long drive down to Prescott yesterday for a variety of errands.  I was hell-bent on getting a pressure washer so that I can finally de-funk the chicken coop.  The problem was transporting it to the house.  Bought one at Lowes and had them remove it from the box.  Managed to fit it into the Z (amazing what you can get into that little car when you are as stubborn as I).

The challenge now will be to complete the assembly and figure out how to use the thing.

My reward for all those errands was a few hours spent walking the trails near Willow and Watson Lakes in Prescott.  I'm glad I found this spot and hope to go back when I have a whole day to spend.  It was a hot-spot for a birdnerd, as well as peaceful and scenic.  The Granite Dells are such an unusual sight, and there is lots more to explore.  Waterfowl were all over the lakes and side streams (N. Pintail, Coots, Canvasbacks, Green Winged Teal; as many as 7 Cormorants perched at once in a snag in Willow Lake; a couple of Great Blue Herons posing on the rocks; a N. Harrier fly-by; and a cute Black Phoebe on a nearby fence.  And those are just the ones my limited skills could view and identify.  And just to be sure I don't miss the Midwest too much - a few Canada Geese!  Had my lunch perched on a big rock near the water, and below is the view...

It is just getting to be daylight here now (a bit after 7 a.m.), and I'll be heading out for a hike after the mountain lions have had a chance to finish breakfast.  Will try the Hot Loop Trail again - last time I headed there, I missed a turn and got lost.  So...if this is the last you hear of me you'll know why.  LOL!

Getting on to a New Year

2011 is now a fuzzy memory - like one of those movie clips where they show calendar pages flipping by to represent the passage of time.  Most people I know agree that the days and weeks are flying by, and we are powerless to slow it down. 

There were certainly some bright spots in the year, with wonderful opportunities for hiking and exploring in the southwest.  Many great hikes in and around Sedona, a few days here and there at the Grand Canyon.  Accomplished a bit at the new house, getting the kitchen cabinets installed and some yard work done.  Progress has been slow, but am hoping that the next few months will see a completion of the kitchen and hopefully, flooring.

Despite the drenching rains from Hurricane Irene, I enjoyed the opportunity to attend my nephew's wedding in Mississippi, and the road trip that took me to the east coast. A great (but too brief) visit with my dear friend Teresa, a chance to see the wild ponies of Chincoteague, and tour some of our nation's most famous landmarks in beautiful Washington, D.C.

Nature nerd duties closer to home - seed team, tree steward, work days - all satisfying work done with fun and interesting people.  Wandering in a beautiful restored prairie, bucket and clipper in hand, collecting seeds that will eventually improve our natural areas - the smells of Mountain Mint and Gray-Headed Coneflower and Monarda seed heads, Big Bluestem waving in the breeze, a variety of plants still in bloom late in the season...perfect way to spend a few autumn mornings.

Our annual "seed mixing day" gave us volunteers a chance to see the results of our labors - giant sacks (and tiny bags) filled with harvested seeds.  Nearly doing a face plant into a sack of Mountain Mint chaff - aromatherapy at its best.  Delicious pot luck lunch and a chance to talk and laugh with staff and volunteers, and look back on another season in the fields.

     Sarah, Paul and Kim H. - cleaning Blue Flag Iris seeds

Huge sack of Mountain Mint chaff - heaven in a bag!

The holidays were enjoyed with family and friends, a bittersweet feeling knowing that this was the last season for us in Illinois.  As anxious as I am to be settled in Arizona, I know that I will leave here with much sadness as this nearly 30-year chapter of my life comes to a close.

In looking forward to 2012, I will continue to volunteer as much as possible with the Forest Preserve District of Kane County and Northern Illinois Food Bank.  I have made many great friends through both of these organizations and have gotten back far more than I have given.  In early March, I will again hike to Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.  My friend Mary was kind enough to invite me to join her and her sister in this adventure, and I can hardly wait!  My experience in 2009 was amazing, and I am incredibly lucky to be going again.  

The other corny image running through my mind is that of the hourglass - I think it was an old soap opera that used it - like sands through the hourglass, so go the days of our lives.  Was that it? 

Wishing all of you health and happiness, and time to enjoy whatever you love.  Stop to listen to those bird songs - you don't have to know the type of bird to savor the singing.  Ditto for the flowers along your path, the trees, and the critters who share our world.  Don't hibernate all winter - our natural areas offer lots to see even in the cold months.  As the trees have shed their foliage, it is much easier to spot birds and nests, and a dusting of new snow provides a chance to to study wildlife tracks.  The best thing I learned in the Certified Naturalist Program - put down that cell phone, turn off that I-Pod - learn to be still.  The world is at your feet.

Purple Coneflower in my garden at home