MOVED SOME DESERT DIRT TODAY

First thing I looked for when peering out of my bedroom window this morning was the tall dead grass near the road.  Was it moving?  It was not & that told me one important thing…….no wind.   Yay, we had ourselves a fighting chance for a better weather day.  Gave the sun a good head start on it’s ascending climb into the sky before we ventured out.  All was good & I was shedding my outer lined flannel shirt before we got back.  Think we may have even eeked our way up over the 50F mark this afternoon.  Maybe 60 by the end of the week.  Whoa there Buttercup, let’s not get carried away…….

  

ON OUR MORNING WALKS IT IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR US TO SEE A RED TAIL HAWK PERCHED HIGH ATOP A STAND OF ROCKS SCANNING THE DESERT FLOOR BELOW

IN A FLURRY OF FEATHERS THE HAWK LEAPS INTO THE AIR SPREADING HIS POWERFUL WINGS & FLIES OFF TO THE RIGHT

Hauled ourselves home two more loads of dirt today.  That completes another small Cactus garden in front of our house.  No idea where all these little landscape projects will end up but no matter, I enjoy what I’m doing. 

 

EVERY LITTLE BOY HAS TO HAVE A SAND BOX……RIGHT:))

 

AN INTENTIONAL TIGHT FIT & PHEEBS SOAKS US SOME WARM SUN

BACK OFF BOOGALOO >>>

An electrician fella was here today putting a new receptacle in my bedroom plus rewiring & remounting my bathroom ceiling light which had been hanging loosely by a couple wires.  He also repaired some frayed wires in our fuse box as well & will be back next week to replace a couple old receptacles.  Always something to do with older houses.

Little bit of talk on our morning walk about Winnie’s next mini-trip.  We’re still leaning towards Arizona’s Lake Pleasant area but it will depend on a couple things with weather being number one.  Not sure what day Les is coming over to put our porch posts up so we’re just playing things by ear at the moment.

Wasn’t sure on the ID of the Hawk in Monday’s post.  Looking at photos in my ‘Audubon Field Guide To The Southwestern States’ book I thought the head & color markings could have been a Red Tail Hawk as well.  It was the bands on the tail that made me guess at a Cooper’s Hawk.  JUDY, our in house all knowing ‘Bird Lady of Blog Land’ confirmed in a comment it was indeed a Cooper’s Hawk. 

GROANER’S CORNER:((   A policeman pulls a man over for speeding and asks him to get out of the car. After looking the man over he says, "Sir, I couldn't help but notice your eyes are bloodshot. Have you been drinking?"
The man gets really indignant and says, "Officer, I couldn't help but notice your eyes are glazed. Have you been eating doughnuts?"

-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

LATE THIS AFTERNOON WE HEARD A ‘THUMP’ AT OUR DINING ROOM WINDOW

About 5 this afternoon there was a thump at our dining room window & Kelly hollered, “come look at this large bird”.  I recognized it as a hawk right away & I am guessing a young Cooper’s Hawk.  Figure it was probably pursuing another bird when it zigged instead of zagged.  It didn't appear injured only stunned.  We have bird’s fly into our sunroom windows in Bayfield from time to time & I have learned to just leave them be.  They generally regain their bearings after a few minutes, pick themselves up, dust themselves off, & fly away.  Quickly grabbed my camera & took a few photos through our dining room window.  Could have stepped out on the porch for a better photo but I did not want to stress the bird more than it already was.  We just watched it sitting there looking around trying to get it’s bearings.  Took about 7 or 8 minutes for it to orient itself & with a quick flurry of wings it was gone.  By the way that is the brand new Ikea chair I just assembled that this fellow is sitting on. 

 

Woke up to colder temps than the folks back home in Bayfield Ontario.  We were at 29F & they were 32F.  I could feel the colder morning soon as I got up & knew we had us clear skies overhead.  Kind of a good & bad thing about clear winter skies here.  They bring us warmer days but also colder nights.  However, with a stiff 15 mph North wind this morning we kept our activities inside.  We even forewent our walk.  Just too uncomfortably cold as our temps remained in the windy low 40’s.  Had planned on bringing a few loads of dirt home today, but……….

IF IT WASN’T FOR A DOG SITTING ON MY LAP A LOT TODAY & A HAWK FLYING INTO OUR WINDOW I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD ANY CURRENT PICS FOR TONIGHT’S POST

More than a few RV’ers were/are unfortunately caught up in the bad winter storms crossing the country at the moment.  George & Suzie now out of it in Deming New Mexico sure had their troubles getting themselves across Texas a few days ago.  Here is just one of those days…FROZEN WATER PUMP 

 

  

Wind did die down later in the morning & I was able to get a few things done outside.  Kelly, who has been having a little trouble with the cold seized the opportunity to  head off to Wickenburg in the warm toasty Jeep for a couple hours.  Pheebs & I watched a couple ‘Corner Gas’ shows this afternoon.  She has been a big help in keeping me warm these days.  No sooner do I sit down in my recliner & she is on my lap all snuggled up keeping me warm.  

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A dog’s property rules:

1. If I like it, it's mine.
2. If its in my mouth, it's mine.
3. If I can take it from you, it's mine.
4. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.
5. If I'm chewing something up, all the pieces are mine.
6. If its mine, it must never appear to be yours.
7. If it just looks like mine, it's mine.
8. If I saw it first, it's mine.
9. If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.
10. If its broken, it's yours.

-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

NICE MORNING FOR SOME OUTSIDE PUTTERING & WARMER WEATHER HEADED OUR WAY

A heavy cloud cover overnight kept the pre-dawn temperature from rattling our teeth this morning.  No wind earlier today & with old Sol radiating his heat earthward from a clear blue Arizona sky it was a fine & comfortable time to be outside puttering at odd jobs.  Some days the odder the job the better it is sometimes.  Our air got to about 45F today but if one stayed in the sun it felt much warmer than that.  Not exactly a short sleeve shirt & shorts day but no matter, I’m not a shorts guy anyway.

 

Burned me up some brush & old cardboard boxes.  Removed a few dozen nails & screws from some old sticks of lumber I have been saving & figured I would try assembling a tin storage shelf we had found at a garage sale awhile back.  Got me the flimsy tin shelves, legs, struts, braces, & a package holding a million nuts & bolts out of the box.  Sat in a lawn chair for a few minutes contemplating what I was about to attempt.  Contemplating turned out to be the most important tool for me as I carefully put all the shelving pieces back in the box.  Didn’t figure there was any point in me ruining my day wrestling with a flimsy bunch of tin.  Maybe someday we can sell it at a garage sale for half the money we paid for it & still come out ahead. 

A PAIR OF CACTUS WRENS ON OUR NEIGHBOR’S CACTUS

I think the only news oriented program I can tolerate anymore is CBS’s SUNDAY MORNING with Charles Osgood.  Charles Kuralt hosted this show at one time.  Show was good then just as it is today.  That’s the way news used to be before it became an entertainment spectacle with all the giggling, over the top back & forth banterings, & ratchet jawed anchor people spewing forth their attention grabbing quips & asides.  Check out CNN’s early morning show sometime as an example.    Those ‘Happy Gang’ morning shows started years ago on commercial radio & was the driving force which drove me away from that kind of annoying schlock into the waiting warm & soothing arms of Satellite Radio.  Thank you, thank you, thank you Sirius XM.  But getting back to TV…..how nice Sunday mornings to sit quietly & listen to a single newsperson present a well thought out maturely produced educational & informative news program for a change.  Far as I know it is probably one of the last news oriented programs not to use a whole gaggling herd of over opinionated babbling heads.

I have heard it said short wheel based & light Jeep Wranglers are tricky to handle on snow & ice covered roads.  Fortunately we have not had to find that out yet but not so fortunate for JANNA & MIKE up there in wintery Montana.  A deer suddenly crossed the road in front of them & Jana can tell you what happened next:((

A DROP OF MESQUITE TREE SAP

An increasing heavy cloud cover brought a bit of wind with it & by mid afternoon my outside puttering moved inside.  Managed to finally plug a problem hole leading from the original house to my bedroom addition so that should end any more critters getting in that way.  Weatherman says we are in for a sunny week with warming temperatures.  Yahouie Louie:))

Chile for supper tonight so that broke our 3 day Turkey gorge.  Turkey porridge for breakfast, turkey sandwiches for lunch along with turkey, dressing, & mashed potatoes with gravy for supper every night had run it’s course.  Even so I’m already looking forward to turkey sandwiches for lunch tomorrow.

Although we have never spoken of the idea I’m sure we both have thought of Dally as a second dog for Pheebe.  But there’s a problem.  Dally is very hyper & we can only let Pheebs in to play with her for a few minutes because Dally runs Pheebs into the ground.  They get along great but it’s too much for Pheebe.  And it would be too much for us as well.  A second dog sometime is not out of the question but it would have to be exactly the right dog.  We have Pheebe to think about as well as ourselves & I don’t think it would be wise for us to get a second dog with way more energy than we have or are prepared to deal with.  I’m sure Dally would make just a super companion for the right person.  We stop & pet her over the fence every morning & I can tell under all that young starved for attention exuberance she has a kind loving heart. 

Kelly brought home a couple DVD’s last week & we watched one called ‘Lincoln’ with Daniel Day Lewis.  Seemed like a good movie but both Kelly & I had trouble following it.  Neither one of us are politically minded so it was a bit of a stretch understanding some of the terminology therefore making it hard for us to understand what was going on.  We had a little trouble with some of the audio as well.  Other than that it looked like a well done movie. 

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A driver tucked this note under the windshield wiper of his automobile. "I've circled the block for 20 minutes. I'm late for an appointment, and if I don't park here I'll lose my job. Forgive us our trespasses."
When he came back he found a parking ticket and this note: "I've circled the block for 20 years, and if I don't give you a ticket, I'll lose my job. Lead us not into temptation."

-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

COLD WEATHER KEPT US INSIDE CLOSE TO OUR HEATERS TODAY

Two factors contributed to a warmer house this morning.  First was the addition of our propane Legacy Blue Flame heater to the mix & secondly was finally remembering to close the damper in our fireplace when not in use.  If that damper is left open the natural draft it creates sucks all our heat right up the chimney.  I remember we made that same forgetful mistake last year a few times & couldn’t figure out why our heaters were not keeping up with the cold.  Instead of waking up to a 50 degree house this morning we woke up to 60 degrees.  Wow, a veritable interior heat wave for sure.

 

WE SOMETIMES SLIP INTO A NEIGHBORS YARD & LET PHEEBS PLAY WITH THEIR SADLY NEGLECTED DOG DALLY

Three Coyotes crossed our path this morning.  First Coyotes we have seen this season.  No sign of any Javelina’s so far.  A few posts ago I made mention of a few old rocking chair pieces we saw in the desert.  This morning we picked those pieces up & carried them home.

 

Having already assembled 3 Ikea Poang chairs in the past one would think one would have a pretty darn good idea how they went together.  Not so.  My mind did not retain one shred of ‘know-how'.  It was start at instruction number 1 & proceed.  With a bit of grumbling, some inaudible mumbling, & help from Kelly the chair was finally assembled.  Only 1 small rubber washer left over.  Chalked that up to the chair manufacturer tossing in an extra washer knowing Al would probably loose one.  I didn’t:))

 

WORKING ON THE IKEA CHAIR ASSEMBLY EARLIER TODAY

ALL FINISHED

Decided not to paint my new bathroom closet & just leave the wood look.  Les dropped off 4 shelves for the closet this morning.  Struggled with fitting those shelves for awhile which in turned caused the air in my bathroom to turn blue……  Les will be back in a couple weeks & I will help him install our 4 Pine front porch posts.

And to answer MERIKAY'S question, “Didn't you buy a little heater for the Winnie? Do you bring it into the house?  Yes, we did buy a small propane Buddy heater but it just has the small green gas bottle on it.  We are using our bigger propane Legacy heater in the house.  That is the one we used to have plumbed directly into the Damon.  We have the Legacy adapted to a 20 pound propane tank.  Works fine.

 

DOGGY ON MY LAP KEEPING ME WARM TODAY & THEY SAY IF YOU CAN KEEP YOUR NOSE WARM YOU CAN KEEP THE REST OF YA WARM TOO

Our day remained mainly overcast & with a gusty wind blowing it pushed our already cold temperatures even lower.  I doubt whether we even made it out of the 40’s.  Spent the afternoon indoors close to the heaters.  Me in my recliner with a doggy on my lap & Kelly in her recliner with a book on her lap.  Not what I would call an exciting day by any means but at least we were inside out of the weather.  And when the weather forces one to stay inside it’s nice to have lots of space to stay inside of.

 

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Some witty student answers…

- A college student in a philosophy class was taking his first examination.
On the paper there was a single line which simply said: "Is this a question?" - Discuss.
After a short time he wrote: "If that is a question, then this is an answer."

- Teacher: What is the axis of the earth?
Student: The axis of the earth is an imaginary line which passes from one pole to the other, and on which the earth revolves.  Teacher: Very good. Now, could you hang clothes on that line?
Student: Yes, Sir.
Teacher: Indeed, and what sort of clothes?
Student: Imaginary clothes, Sir.

- A high-school student came home from school seeming rather depressed.
"What's the matter, son," asked his mother.
"Aw, gee," said the boy, "It's my marks. They're all wet."
"What do you mean `all wet?'"
"I mean," he replied, "below C-level."

-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

‘BRRRRRRRRRR’ IN YAVAPAI COUNTY ARIZONA!!

BUILT MYSELF A LITTLE WOOD FIRE THIS AFTERNOON

I know a lot of folks have it much colder with far worse conditions than we do here in Congress Arizona but even our milder cold still spells cold for me.  Tried out my new sleeping bag last night & it worked just fine.  Lots of room inside for my nightly wanderings & it kept me warm as toast in my room’s 52 degrees.  Kelly’s room dropped to 48 degrees. 

<<< YEP, IT’S COLD ALRIGHT

Switched to warmer fleece lined track pants for the day instead of the usual cold denim material found in blue jeans.  I remember the locals telling us about last year’s winter being the coldest they have had in quite a few years.  Am hoping this winter is not going to be a repeat performance.  Saw a group of Sparrows this morning clustered around a Gila Woodpecker trying to convince him to chop a hole through the ice in the birdbath.  In fact it was cold enough in the house last night Kelly didn’t even have to put the Turkey in the fridge.  So cold in my bathroom first thing this morning the water to the toilet stiffened up to a point where it wouldn’t run.  Kelly’s liquid honey was too thick to spread on her toast.  When the steaming hot water from my shower hit the icy cold air of my bathroom I had a pea souper of fog going on.  That was the grooviest part of my day:))   

Jeep has been starting every time without a problem so we have been dragging our feet on the ‘new clutch switch’.  Seems it was a loose wire like Jim had figured.  If it were not to start again I have a pretty good idea which wires to wiggle, but……………

Kelly headed off for Wickenburg this morning to have a look at the results of her liver enzyme blood test a few days ago.  When she arrived home this afternoon she said the test looked reasonably good.  Three of the 8 or 9 markers had higher than acceptable levels but she wasn’t too concerned.  A copy of the test has been faxed to both her Bayfield Doctor & her Specialist in Stratford Ontario.

Planted my Agave ‘Pups’ around the property this morning.  Turns out I had 19 of them.  I think they are just an absolutely beautiful Cactus but with their dagger like needle point tips one has to be very careful around them.  Puttered about in the Cactus gardens a bit  more before the overall cold & brisk wind drove me back inside the house.  

Fed-Ex truck rolled in today & it looks like I have another Ikea Poang chair to assemble.  This will be my 4th one.  First two rode with us in the Damon for about 5 years.  One went with the Damon when it was sold, one is in our Bayfield sunroom, I’m sitting in the third one right now typing this, & the new 4th one will sit on our porch here & act as a 4th sitting chair in the living room when needed.  I will tackle that chair assembly in the morning……if I don’t wake up on the cranky side of my bed that is.

HOPE TO ASSEMBLE THAT RED IKEA CHAIR IN THE MORNING…FED-EX ALSO BROUGHT A NEW WARMER COMFORTER FOR KELLY’S BED

Whenever it warms up I have a couple paint projects lined up.  A small upper section on our garden shed needs painting & I have my bathroom closet to do.  Just waiting on a few shelves first before starting the closet project.

And an update from Nina at WHEELING IT.  She has just moved their successfully growing blog to a newer & larger blog site.  Stop on over & check out the new changes:))

THANKS AGAIN ROSE:))

Gathered myself up a couple handfuls of wood this afternoon & fired up our fireplace.  Had a nice fire going for about an hour.  The fireplace isn’t really heat efficient but at least it does throw some heat.  Debating now whether to get a load of firewood or not.

  

GROANER’S CORNER:((  How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?
-Border Collie: Just one. Then I'll replace any wiring that's not up to code.
-Rottweiler: Make me!
-Lab: Oh, me, me! Pleeease let me change the light bulb! Can I? Huh? Huh?
-Dachshund: You know I can't reach that stupid lamp!
-Malamute: Let the Border Collie do it. You can feed me while he's busy.
-Jack Russell Terrier: I'll just pop it in while I'm bouncing off the walls.
-Greyhound: It isn't moving. Who cares?
-Cocker Spaniel: Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark.
-Mastiff: Screw it yourself! I'm not afraid of the dark...
-Doberman: While it's out, I'll just take a nap on the couch.
-Boxer: Who needs light? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark.
-Pointer: I see it, there it is, there it is, right there!
-Chihuahua: Yo quiero Taco Bulb?
-Australian Shepherd: First, I'll put all the light bulbs in a little circle...
-Old English Sheep dog: Light bulb? That thing I just ate was a light bulb?
-Basset Hound: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
-Westie: Dogs do not change light bulbs -- people change light bulbs. I am not one of THEM so the question is, how long before I can expect my light again?
-Poodle: I'll just blow in the Border Collie's ear and he'll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.
-Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid burned-out bulb?

-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.