Getting Joy-ful

Months ago, my friend Jeanette decided to come out for a visit in February.  The emails flew back and forth as we planned and eagerly anticipated her trip to Sedona.  I met Jeanette through the wonderful Kane County Certified Naturalists program, and got to know her a bit as our paths crossed at various classes and volunteer events.  But it wasn't until her visit that I really got to know her and learn how lucky I am to have another amazing friend!  The title of this blog is a play on her last name - Joy.  And that describes her better than any word I could find.

After meeting at the Phoenix airport, we headed south for 2 days in Tucson.  First a warning - do not ever stay at the Days Inn on Craycroft Road in Tucson.  LOL.  What a place.  The divided room turned out to be a good thing, as Jeanette wasn't feeling well that evening.  She was able to crawl into bed and close the door, get some much-needed rest.  From the smashed lampshade to the bizarre shower "art" to the ever-present clanging of the security gate...abundance of plastic plants (in a climate where things grow as if by magic), and the unsettling number of "No Trespassing" signs around the property...let's just say that one night there was quite enough!

                   Saddest lamp ever

The only decoration in the shower

was this candle painted on the tile!

                                                                                                        

Even tho still not feeling quite right, Jeanette was amazing and determined to see Saguaro National Park and the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum.  We enjoyed the loop drive through the park, marveling at the thousands of giant Saguaros, each seemingly with its own personality.  Like snowflakes - no two were alike!  The weather was perfect, the sky was AZ blue, and we spotted a jackrabbit and a few brittlebush in bloom.  We stopped for a short walk along the Mica Trail, but before we could begin we met a gentleman who is a seasonal ranger at the park.  During our chat we discovered that not only was he a retired teacher from West Chicago...but he was Jeanette's high school English teacher!  How incredible is that? 

Jeanette with Mr. Leitner

We spent the rest of the afternoon at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum - what a place!  We saw many of the indigenous creatures in their native habitats, many more of our favorite Saguaros and a wonderful hummingbird house.  It was Saturday of Presidents' Day weekend, so we did have to share the place with thousands of other bipeds.  We crammed in as much as possible before heading north to Sedona.

Jeanette woke on Sunday feeling much better, so we took our first Sedona hike along the Baldwin Trail.  This beautiful little 2 mile loop skirts Oak Creek, with jaw-dropping views of Cathedral Rock.  The next few days were spent on morning hikes (Mescal Mountain and then Little Horse to Chicken Point), a picnic (in the car - quite chilly up in the canyon) at the West Fork Trail Head, a bit of sightseeing, a bit of shopping and non-stop yakking and laughing.

Hanging around at Chicken Point

I think she's having fun!

Of course, our time went by much too quickly and we were soon back on the road to the airport in Phoenix.  So sad to bid good-bye to my "Sedona Sister" - until we meet again!

Meanwhile, back at Casa Neglecta...

A bit of progress here and there.  New kitchen backsplash is in and love it!  Very happy with the tile choice and the difference it makes in the appearance of the kitchen.  Electrician coming this week to install new ceiling fans and light fixtures - good-bye 1970's decor!

Bird activity in the yard is at a frenzied pace.  Have never seen so many juncos in one place!  Trying to entice Western Bluebirds into the yard, and nearly killed myself falling off a ladder after hanging a nesting box.  While digging weeds yesterday, I looked up to see...a male bluebird on a yucca stalk!  I hope he tells his friends of the fresh water and bird buffet over here.

This Canyon Towhee got into the house

and led me on quite the chase. 

 Caught him with a blanket,

administered TLC, and happily saw him fly away.

I'm anxious to try my hand at vegetable gardening here.  Have been to a couple of seminars, planted early peas and lettuces, and hope I might have success with a few things.  The Coop of Doom is gone - yay!  Because that area is fenced in, I am going to use it for my little farm.  Our weather has been wild lately - on Friday we had quite the snowstorm, on Saturday we had a mix of snow and rain, and on Sunday I was digging weeds in the warm sunshine.  The winter bursts we get here are short-lived and I'll gladly take that over the recent snows in IL.  Altho I do really miss snowshoeing with my pals!

The Sedona International Film Festival was wonderful!  I've never been much of a movie-goer, but I saw 5 films in one week and loved everything.  I volunteered on the last day, handing out and collecting ballots for audience votes.  We had a great time at the KebMo' concert on opening night - so excited that Keb came to Sedona!  I chose all environmental documentaries with our pass package, plus one for which I bought a separate ticket.  I highly recommend all of the following:

Carbon Nation - about climate change and the innovative ways people and companies are working toward lessening the impact on the planet

Chasing Ice - a photographer set up cameras to photograph shrinking glaciers (Iceland, Greenland, Alaska, Canada, Glacier National Park) and put together time lapse images of the changes.  Breathtaking!

Pad Yatra - a group of people follow a Buddhist leader on a hike across the Himalayas.  They collect 800 pounds of plastic along the way, and teach local villagers how to avoid its use and impact.  Amazing that plastic soda bottles find their way to the roof of the world...

Go Ganges - two young American guys travel the length of the Ganges River in India.  An amazing journey, and they are hilarious as they try to negotiate their way by any means possible.

Any Day Now - the one non-environmental film I saw.  Based on a true story from the late 70's, of a gay couple's attempt to adopt a teenage boy with Down Syndrome.  Alan Cumming ("The Good Wife") is incredible in this thought-provoking and heartbreaking story.

I am now anxiously anticipating the arrival of the Nerd Herd!  Six of my wonderful friends from IL will be here in early April.  I know I will enjoy sharing Sedona with them and look forward to spending time with everyone.  I have really hit the jackpot in the friend lottery!

Happy Spring!

Getting Un-Stuck

My least favorite month of the year is over - yay!  I'm sure it has to do with spending 30 years in the Midwest - the holiday rush is over and the long, bitter winter just beginning....I convinced myself that once January was over, I could make it through winter.  Unrealistic perhaps, but whatever gets one through, right?

Here in  Arizona, I'm finding that with many January days above 50 (and even 60) degrees, plenty of sunshine, it is less to dread.  But I'm already getting spring fever and anxious for things to green up and flowers to bloom.  Time passes quickly enough - I need to stop trying to rush everything.

I've been stuck in neutral for quite a while, getting nothing done in or around the house and not hitting the trails.  Gorging on junk food, packing on the pounds while killing brain cells with mindless tv...the worst possible combinations.  Just after the first of the year (nothing like resolutions, right?) I set a goal to hike at least 20 miles per week.  I did great for the first week and then was felled by what I thought was the flu.  Turns out it was the head cold from hell and I was miserable for several days, but not nearly as bad had it been the flu.  There went the hiking program.

The weather is rebounding from a couple of cold snaps (and even an inch of snow!), so I'm trying once again to get moving.  I painted an accent wall in the master bedroom, preparing to paint in Otis' room, in the process of ordering new window treatments...that flushing sound you hear is money going down the dark hole of a pit. 

Front yard on New Year's Eve

Had a great hike yesterday on a trail that is new to me - the Mescal Trail.  Only about 3 miles round trip, this beautiful, easy hike skirts Mescal Mountain in Boynton Canyon.  The trail was quite muddy from recent rains, but what's a little mud when the sky is blue and the scenery is breathtaking?  It's a new favorite trail, and one that I will enjoy sharing with friends who visit (along with the 100 other favorite trails).

Trail view

Love how this Juniper found a way to grow

on this ledge

Most exciting news for now?  Pal Jeanette will be out here in two weeks - I am anxiously awaiting her arrival!  Trying to keep up with her should get me unstuck, for sure.  Or it might do me in...we shall see.

Next exciting news?  Some of the Nerd Herd (6 at last count) are heading here in early April.  Jeanette could not come during that time, so she's getting a jump on the group.  For the rest - won't this be a fabulous week of Nature Nerd-ing, sightseeing, talking/laughing/eating/drinking?  Based on our brief trip to see the Sandhill Cranes in IN a few years ago, there are bound to be lots of laughs and great memories to be made.  Luckily, we won't be straddling any time zones...

Have been on a couple of good bird walks, saw a few javelinas (including 2 babies), attended an outdoor concert at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix (imagine, in January!), saw a Ruby Crowned Kinglet at my feeders yesterday (first time seen in the yard), did some weeding (imagine, in January!), continuing with Rangering and will be helping out at the Sedona Marathon this coming weekend. 

I learned to make tamales and if I say so myself, they are delicious!  They freeze quite well, so I'll be preparing huge batches in anticipation of company.

My first batch of homemade tamales

The Sedona International Film Festival takes place in February and looking forward to seeing some great indie films and a performance by KebMo' on premier night.  Also have a mosaic class just after Jeanette heads home. 

"Garden Totem" made in my first mosaic class -

will be fun when I can plant flowers with it!

Writing this made me realize there are lots of fun things to look forward to.  That's a good thing - the busier I am, the less homesick I feel.  Reminds me of Dory (Ellen DeGeneres' fish character in "Finding Nemo") -

Keep Swimming!

Getting into Woods Canyon

Woods Canyon is a beautiful, secluded place south of the house.  I can access the main trail via a social trail - right out my back gate!  The early section crosses some old ranch land that still has rusted water tanks and troughs in place.  And although I've never seen any cattle out there, I have seen cow pies so there must be a few still in the area.

Today I decided to go farther along the trail than I have previously been.  I think the complete route goes about 11 miles into the Canyon.  I doubt I'll ever get that far...but it was a perfect day for a 4 1/2 hour trek.  I'm not good at guessing distances, but estimate I did about 7 miles round trip.

This easy trail is mostly level, with a few gradual climbs.  Dry Beaver Creek runs through here, and only has water after spring snowmelt and most likely, after monsoon rains.  There are hundreds of sycamores and cottonwoods lining the washes, and many of them today still have their golden autumn leaves.

           The sun shines through the colorful leaves

                         of an Arizona Sycamore

I followed these elk tracks for quite a while along the trail, but never got lucky enough to see the large guy (or girl?) that made them.

The phone from hell finally comes in handy -           

 to show the scale of these prints                     

It was a beautiful day for a hike - a bit chilly at first, but I soon took off my light gloves, jacket and ear band.  The sun was warm but the breeze was cool - just right!  Not a lot of bird activity, mostly Juncos and Scrub Jays - but I did see a small flock of Bridled Titmice.  A very cute, active little bird.  So active that I can never get a photo of them!

There were butterflies along the way - now I'm thinking it will be interesting to see how late in the year they are still around.  I saw Cabbage Whites, Checkerspots, and this California Sister perched on a pine tree. 



One last shot of the trail on the way back.  Gotta love that AZ blue sky!  And oh yeah, the red rocks...



Getting Into Fall

Wow, time has flown since my last post.  And since the move - 6 months already!  Here it is, mid-October and summer is over - at least according to the calendar.  The autumn weather here is spectacular.  Days are still warm, even hot (mid to upper 80's), with lots of sunshine and clear blue skies.  Overnight lows in the 50's, so the a/c is off and the windows are open.  Great sleeping weather.  Great hiking/gardening/reading/doing anything - or nothing - weather.

The weed wars continue, and my side isn't winning.  After the summer rains, many more things grew and bloomed and spread.  Some were nice - a reappearance of globe mallow and four o'clocks, broom snakeweed providing widespread color (yellow) in the yard and along the trails.  Lots of asters, camphorweed and gaura.  Finding wild morning glories and scarlet creeper trailing along the ground and up the fence. The Devil's Claw really went crazy!  The plants got huge, producing dozens of seed pods that are beginning to split and form their "claws."  Mary O collected some of the pods to send to a Supai friend - hopefully, some of my dried pods will be used in her basketmaking!

Unfortunately, lots of nasty things as well - Palmers Amaranth, the dreaded Puncture Vine, an unclassified spurge that I consider a scourge.  All of which have dropped their seeds so that next year they will most likely run me out of town.

Haven't seen any mule deer in the yard for a while, but almost daily fresh deer scat.  I know you're out there!  George the Roadrunner has been MIA, as have the quail.  Still hearing the Great Horned Owls in the wee hours of the morning, and a Guilded Flicker arrives each evening to hang around under the eaves on the front deck.  Spike the Horned Toad visited a few days ago.  Had fun taking photos, and even got brave enough to pick him (her?) up...while wearing gloves.  Very cool little creature, and I hope he (she, they?) hang around.  There are certainly enough rocks and weeds out there to provide shelter.

Gotta love that face!

My beautiful daughter Kelly was here for a week in early September, and we had a great visit.  She enjoyed some time at the condo pool, and we had fun playing tourist and visiting Jerome.   Dear friend and hiking buddy Mary O was here for a few weeks.  Went on several hikes, a birdwalk in Flagstaff, and toured a Lava Cave (also in Flagstaff).  We always have great adventures - including a hike on the remote Mooney Trail where we came upon tracks (and scat!) of a black bear.  Suddenly, Mary was very interested in my hiking sticks!

Black bear print - I'll refrain from

posting the photo of the scat

After many weeks of anticipation....Peggy, dear Peggy!  My wild and crazy friend from my days at the Food Bank came to visit (I have made so many wonderful friends through volunteering - I sure am lucky!).  We had a busy, fun week as I dragged her here/there/everywhere we could manage to get during her (too short) time here.  She was the perfect houseguest and game for anything (she made me say that).  We had 3 great hikes, a day in Jerome, a day at the Grand Canyon.  Lots of laughs, good food, girl time. 

Always amazing at Shoshone Point

It was fun to use my home-made prickly pear syrup* to whip up Prickly Pear Margaritas - delish!  On our last night, we had a lovely dinner outside at Tii Gavo (at the Enchantment Resort).  Watched the full moon rise behind the red rocks and while driving back through Boynton Canyon - we HOWLED.  If you've never howled at a full moon, try it.  You'll like it.  And if you are one of the Luney Ladies from home, you can back me up on that one!

*My first ever try at harvesting Prickly Pear fruit and making syrup from its fuschia-colored juice!  Took some time and lots of caution to avoid the spines and glochids, but the process was easy and fun.  I managed to perforate my skin only a time or two, and also kept from splashing the juice floor to ceiling.  It is now frozen for future use (baking, toppings, and the all-important Margaritas!).

    Prickly Pear fruit, fresh from the cactus!

Pureed fruit - amazing color!           

Prickly Pear Margaritas - Cheers!

All jokes aside, I am thoroughly enjoying my duties as a Volunteer Park Ranger.  Meeting people from all parts of the world, hopefully giving them a smile or two and contributing to good memories of their time in Red Rock Country.  Funny how many people I meet from IL - a couple from Bartlett, a fellow from Aurora, others from Barrington and Arlington Heights and Schaumburg.  Lots of people from Italy (many of whom take our photos) and the UK (people from Wales are surprised that I've heard of their country!), Spain, China, Japan, Australia...and some very cute boys from Luxembourg!  All of the other rangers with whom I've worked have been terrific, and I'm proud to don my cowboy hat and head "uptown."

The interior of the house has come along...somewhat.  I have actual furniture now, and fewer boxes stacked in every corner.  Would love to cover these white walls with some soft colors, but have to decide on hues and find someone to paint the living area.  All of the flooring is done and the guest room is complete (hint, hint!).

Somehow it all still feels temporary, especially this time of year.  For the last several years, I've spent most of October here and then returned home to IL.  Perhaps that's why I'm feeling that my time is winding down here...but when Halloween comes and goes, I shall remain.  For the first time, I'll witness the real change of seasons here from autumn to winter.  The fall colors will fade, as they do in the midwest, but will not be followed by any extreme weather.  And I can live with that!  Last week in Flagstaff, I enjoyed the first snowfall of the season up at the Snowbowl ski area.  Elevation above 9000 feet.  Gorgeous views of the mountains and the golden Aspens dusted with snow - but I drove less than an hour back to Sedona and left it all behind for temps in the 60's.  And as my bud Teresa said, if I'd continued driving south another hour, I would have seen the saguaros growing and the temps above 70.  Gotta love it!

First snow of the season

Aspen leaves hanging on

Getting Stoned

A couple of weeks ago, Fred Flintsone delivered 18 tons of river rock to the yard.  When I ordered the rock, I was told it would not be as much as I thought.  I pictured a mountain of rock as high as the house.  They were right - I'll need more.  But this was certainly enough to get started.  Yet another one of my "it seemed like a good idea at the time" decisions.

   

Fred backs up into the driveway












Pouring crushed river rock along the west side of the house





I rented a rototiller, and set out to un-compact the flattened, neglected, weed-infested soil.  Afterwards, it was nice to see red dirt that was "fluffy" compared to its formerly concrete-like state.

As if having to finish spreading all this rock was not a big enough job, I decided I would create a path from the driveway, downhill to the flattest part of the yard.  That meant weeding, raking and smoothing the path area, laying landscape cloth, and hauling - bucket by bucket - the larger river rocks to create a path edge.  All of this while dodging the mere thought of snakes and tarantulas...After that, countless wheelbarrows full of crushed rock to be dumped and spread onto the path.  Except for some fine tuning, the path is now done. Yay!

Beginning of the path

Longest part of the path

Curving toward the end

End of the path - with Devil's Claw

growing in the rocks on the right

I had been searching for a native plant called Devil's Claw.  I have known of it for some time, as Native Americans use it in basketry.   Was lucky enough to get a few seeds a while back, which I planted and carefully tended on the north side of the yard.  Nothing ever sprouted, and I forgot about them.  When I was working on the last part of the path, a plant was growing that was unfamiliar to me, so I laid the path around it and let it grow.  Then I discovered the flower underneath the large, fuzzy leaves - Devil's Claw!  I have since found 3 more plants scattered in the yard, and 2 by the gate.  I don't know if the seeds I planted got redistributed by bird or beast or magic, or if these were waiting to sprout after I disturbed the soil.  In any event, I am happy to find them and look forward to seeing them produce fruit and after that, the pod and "claw" that give the plant it's name.

     Devil's Claw - Proboscidea parviflora

Devil's Claw flower

I plan to place a bench, bird feeders and bird bath at the end of the path, along with flowers to encourage hummers and butterflies.  There are some nice wildflowers growing in the yard, along with far too many noxious weeds.  Puncture vine (the name says it all!), purple nightshade, filaree, bindweed - will someday, hopefully, be choked out by native flowers such as globemallow, Mexican hat, twinberry, gaura - and many more.  I have sown some seeds for both flowers and native grass (Side Oats Gramma - Bouteloua curtipendula), and am nothing if not determined.

Each sprinkle of rain brings new weeds, but with any luck, new flowers as well.  I have been saving seeds collected and purchased, both at home and locally, and it could be fun to see what pops up.  It could be discouraging, too, as I've already killed a number of plants purchased here.  Gardening in the high desert is not for sissies!

Seed sorting on the front deck -

my KCCN friends will know this is not quite

the production of Mixing Day at Aurora West,

but I have a bigger stash than I'd thought!

Here's to some good rains for the remainder of Monsoon season (and for the parched Midwest), spectacular sunrises and sunsets, and maybe a hike or two when I decide to drag myself away from Casa Neglecta.

Getting Tougher

OK, this isn't exactly nature-related, but it is kind of an adventure.  As I work on things inside and outside of the AZ house, I often get frustrated because I don't know how to do a certain project.  Where to start?  What tools do I need?  If I figure out what tools I need, will I know how to use them?

I have realized what a disservice it is to us women, and to our daughters (and theirs), that most of us are not taught even the basics of tool use, simple repairs, how to measure/paint/fix even the simplest of things.  In my case, I often don't even know what questions to ask.  Google has helped, but one still has to have a vague idea of where to start.

We need to teach our daughters and granddaughters how to do things for themselves!  Do we really want to call someone to charge us a small fortune to fix something we should be able to easily do for ourselves?  Do we always want to be dependent on someone (a man) to do these things?  Ever since I asked a "certain man" for help with something a few years ago, and was given directions on where to find the Yellow Pages, I swore I would become more self-sufficient.

In the last few months, I have stepped outside of my comfort zones and by determination and necessity (and pure stubbornness), have figured out how to:

Prep and paint a rain barrel (which I scored free at Home Depot), install the diverter kit and hook it up to the downspout;

Purchase and assemble and use a push mower;

Purchase, figure out how to fit it into my little car, and assemble and use a power washer;

Assemble a 2-drawer lateral file cabinet;

Patch a dry-wall hole;

Remove carpet and padding;

Remove rotting wood decking;

Repeatedly clean a disgusting chicken coop - ok that one was better left to either experts (are there such people?) or left to rot.  I can't burn it down due to our current fire restrictions, but it will eventually be dismantled and disposed of.

The above is not bragging, just examples of what a determined woman can do.  I've also had to remove various live insects from the house, using a cute ladybug jar provided by my friend Tracy.  OK, the tarantula in the condo is enough to disprove this whole theory, but there are just some things I can't yet do.  And probably won't, ever.  The snakeskin I found in the yard was the worst of the bunch so far - I cringed every time I saw it and tried to avoid that entire area.  I figured where there's a snakeskin, there must be...However, I just had to clear the weeds from that spot and decided if I just got rid of the darn thing I wouldn't have to worry about it every time.  So, it got scooped up and bagged with the dead weeds and now it is gone.  But I know its owner is most likely still there somewhere...

As you most likely know, I have also faced down a mountain lion.  Well, not really, but I did see one from a distance for about 4 seconds. 

I'd like to know what you have fixed or what project you have taken on that challenged your skills (or lack thereof).  Send me your stories so I can do a follow-up.  I implore parents to teach their daughters (and yes, sons) how to do some of this stuff.  They'll most likely roll their eyes and sigh, but they'll thank you for it someday.  Kind of like most of the stuff we teach them anyway.  I mean, men are only good for one thing.  And how important is parallel parking, anyway?

Happy to report, I'm good at that, too.

Getting into Summer

Here it is, July already.  June went by in a blur, even though at times the days seemed to drag.  I remember as a kid, being bored on hot, steamy LA days.  We were always sent outside to play (no video games to play in the a/c back then).  Whining about nothing to do, no one with whom to play.  And then bam, it was late August and back to school.  NOOO!  Even though I know that summer will last much longer here than back in IL, I don't want to wish it away.  I love the cool mornings and evenings, the star-filled skies.  The hot middle of the days is great for reading, and I've really caught up on some page time.

A few weeks ago, I was lucky to spend several days with Ken at the fabulous Pelican Hill Resort on the Newport Coast of CA.  An incredible place of gorgeous surroundings, perfect weather, delicious food and impeccable service.  The trip was an Acura reward for Ken for achieving their Precision Team "Dealership of Distinction" status.  And don't ask for further explanation, because I cannot provide one.

Kelly came out to Sedona a couple of days before I headed to CA, and she and Otis hung out at our condo.  Well, Otis hung out at the condo while Kelly spent her days at the pool.  She was here for a couple of days after my return, and it was so good to spend some time with my beautiful daughter. 

We took a ride up to Walnut Canyon National Monument (near Flagstaff) to see some 800 year old Sinaguan cave dwellings.  Picturesque location, with hundreds of ruins nestled in the cliff walls.  A trail takes you down (about 180 steps, I think) for up-close encounters with the long-ago homes of these Native people.  Those same stairs take you back UP, by the way...

          Looks like the Sinaguan people were about

                        the same height as Kelly

Every step down is a step back up

After our visit to Walnut Canyon, we enjoyed a fun lunch at a cute Mexican place in old town, Flagstaff.  Yum!

After leaving Kelly at the Phoenix airport on Saturday (will that ever get any easier?), I took in an excellent exhibit at the Heard Museum in Phoenix - about Geronimo and the Chiricahua Apache people.  Heading back to Sedona, I encountered some traffic congestion just south of my exit.  An 18-wheeler was on its side off the road - scary.  Look at what temp registered on my car - I guess with all that concrete and vehicles running, it cranked up!

But it's a dry heat...

We are starting to get some clouds early in the mornings and then again late afternoons, and hoping that we will get some rain from them soon.  I know it's been a crazy summer in the Midwest, with everyone reporting hot, humid temps.  I'm still hearing about that terrible storm from the weekend and many still without power (including dear Shirley).  I hope everyone else came through safely and without major inconvenience.

I am hoping to have my first rain barrel hooked up tomorrow.  I scored two free ones from Home Depot a while back and one has the knobs and dials and doo-hickeys attached.  I sprayed it tan to cover the heinous original blue (but hey, it was free), and now I need to cut the hole in the downspout and hook it up.  It will be very exciting to have this done before any significant rainfall.  The other barrel will most likely be set up with the "trap" in the top to collect random rain - we only have one downspout.  I know, weird.

The birds and critters continue to entertain me.  I haven't seen any large mammals lately, but bunnies abound.

The excitement for today was the appearance of a male Rufous hummingbird.  I spent way too much time trying for a decent photograph, but this manic little guy is more interested in chasing all the other hummers away than in eating.  I have 4 hummer feeders out - you'd think they could share???  (If a Calliope makes an appearance soon, I will be one ecstatic bird nerd!)

Not the best pic, but I'll keep trying

The Gambel's Quail are about the funniest birds I've ever seen.  A little family has been coming through the yard regularly.  I have a pan of water on the ground for the quail, doves, bunnies...and have to wonder who might be there at night!  Here's the quail family sharing a drink:

There were 7 young'uns but now only 6...

another not-so-great shot, but you can see their

 little doo-dads on their heads

And here's one of my bunny friends

 - a tiny guy I call Peanut.

He was busy nibbling on this low branch
of a  scraggly mesquite

I guess that's the wildlife report for this time.  I am still homesick and missing everyone.  I now have a brand new queen sofa sleeper in the guest room, and in a few weeks should have new couches/chairs for the living room.  I do have indoor plumbing, and chilled Sangria in the fridge.  So come on out!

I'll end this time with these two pics of Mother Nature at her best...

Sunrise...

Sunset...