‘WABBITS’!!!! IT’S WASCALLY WABBITS WHAT WE GOT UNDER OUR HOUSE…….!!!!!

HAD US A NICE RELAXING DRIVE THIS MORNING
Nice to see & feel the warmth of that big Arizona sun this morning.  We piled into the Jeep & with miles of open desert just a block away we headed off on some rough & tumble roads with no particular destination in mind.

THIS ATV TRAIL GOT A LITTLE NARROW IN SPOTS
 
We picked ourselves up a narrow ATV trail & that of course resulted in some new & rather dazzling desert pin striping for little Jeepers.  Sure glad we do not have a sparkly new Jeep because if we did I would be afraid to take it out & get it all scratched up.  Stopped a few places for a couple short walks & one small rock scramble.  Managed to see some new scenery & of course marveled at the green Sonoran desert surrounding us at all times.  How great it is to have all this beauty right at our door step.

KELLY CHECKS OUT THE TRAIL AHEAD AS I TRY TO GET THE JEEP UNTANGLED FROM A MESQUITE TREE
 
THIS WHOLE DESERT AREA IS GREAT HORSE RIDING COUNTRY
It was still early enough & the rocks cool enough that I was not too concerned about Rattlesnakes.  Later in the hot day, yes.  We had a Gopher (Bull) snake in our yard a couple weeks ago so we know the Rattlers can be out as well during the hotter part of the day.  Sandy & Simon saw a Scorpion a couple days ago while trying their hand at a little Gold prospecting out near Stanton. CHINLE wondered if we have seen any Tarantula spiders & the answer is yes, but not here.  One time at the Clark Dry Lake Bed just outside of Borrego Springs California & the other time while Ranch sitting near McNeal Arizona.  Both times I was able to get some close-up photos as I sat on the ground beside the big Tarantula’s as they passed harmlessly by our lawn chairs.  Tarantulas have an undeserved bad name & are not to be feared or mishandled.  Snakes I’m a bit sqeezy about but spiders don’t bother me.

THIS BORREGO SPRINGS TARANTULA WAS ABOUT 3’ FROM KELLY’S FOOT WHEN I SPOTTED IT
 
There was no mistaking the 38 pics from our Critter Cam this morning.  It is non-other that wascally wabbits we have under the house.  In other words….Rabbits!!  Kelly also saw 3 of them hopping around near the hole early this morning.  No point in trying to cover up holes because the varmints just dig new holes right beside the old holes.  We’ve heard Fox urine is a deterrent plus some kind of non-killing pellets.  At this point it looks like they are our only options.  Rabbits rapidly beget more rabbits & we could be easily overwhelmed here because of the bunnies being safe from Coyotes inside our fenced yard.  My winter planted Cacti will not stand a chance this summer against families of Wascally Wabbits.

ENTERING THE HOLE UNDER OUR FOUNDATION
 
With a new Artu cement drill bit, a fully charged De-Walt drill, & a stack of mustered-up patience I went at the task of bolting our porch posts into the concrete floor of our deck again.  Screws turned out to be too long for the drill bit but I managed to finiggle the bit in the chuck & gain an extra eighth of an inch or whatever to make the steel cement screws flush with the bracket.  Didn’t even have to use any cuss words or throw my hat on the ground even once.  Glad to have that project finally finished.  Nice of Les to lend me his tools.

WHAT’S NOT TO LIKE ABOUT THE SERENITY OF THE SOUTH-WEST’ DESERTS
 
Buoyed by the success of my porch post anchor project I quickly drew up a set of intricate plans & began immediate construction on a 9 man Interstellar Triple-Millennium Falcon Time Warped Star Ship with an Intergalactic Universal Fusitron System.  I’ve calculated this time shifting space traveler will reach the inner most depths of the Andromeda Galaxy in 7.6 nano seconds from it’s launch at 0:600 hours on April 1rst of this year from our back yard……………..10-4:))

 
In the meantime just to keep myself sharp I finished painting our utility shed doors this morning. That took a whole half of one hour & nice to have that checked off my ‘to do’ list.  As far as the rest of the day went we just spent it lazing around soaking up all this super great Arizona weather…………….:))

 
I THINK WE GOTTA GO THAT-A-WAY…..OR WAS IT THAT-A-WAY
We sure had ourselves noisy skies overhead all day.  Had it not been for a mostly sunny day one would have thought we were in the midst of a heavy duty thunder storm.  The American Air Force was hard at work over Congress.  Those daring young men in their flying machines were really putting their F-16 fighter jets through their paces.  Half a dozen times I rushed out of the house to see I could catch a glimpse of the fast moving jets but no luck.  The roars came in fast, turned tightly, & were gone over a nearby mountain ridges before I could get a telephoto lens on them.   I was wanting get the pilot’s name tags…………………:)) 

 
AMAZING HOW SOME ROCKS END UP IN THEIR FINAL RESTING PLACES
Hey it was Chica’s Birthday over JIMBO'S JOURNEYS.  They met a year ago & have been best & closest Pals ever since covering lots of territory in their travels together.  Chica got some new toys & a one year Birthday cake complete with a candle.  Groovy:))

WE SURE DO LOVE OUR PEACEFULLY QUIET & WIDE OPEN DESERT SURROUNDINGS
GROANER’S CORNER:((  A middle eastern King was down on his money and began to sell off his valuables. The last of these was the Star of the Euphrates, at that time the most valuable diamond in existence. He went to a pawnbroker who offered him $100,000 for it. "Are you crazy?", said the King. "I paid one million dollars for this gem! Don't you know who I am?"
The pawnbroker replied, "When you wish to pawn a star, makes no difference who you are."

PHEEBS HAD AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE VET TODAY

UM ‘HELLO’………. I’M HERE FOR MY 3 O’CLOCK APPOINTMENT WITH THE VET

Ahhhhhhhhh shucks folks I won’t need to get out into the sun to tan up my newly exposed face cause I’m all red from blushing now.  Thank you all for your kind & flattering words.  I certainly did not expect that……. 

IF I DON’T GET SOME ATTENTION AROUND HERE SOON I’M GOING HOME!!

Not too often we can walk outside at this time of year at 8:30 in the morning in short sleeves but by golly that’s just what we were able to do Monday morning.  Makes for hotter days but I do enjoy the warmer mornings.

YAAAAY SHE’S OFF THE PHONE & I’M GETTING A YUMMY TREAT FOR WAITING

Pheebs had an appointment with the Vet today for her anti-venom Rattlesnake booster shot.  Think it was nearly a month ago when we had her in for the initial shot.  She’s good for a year now.  Had her dew claws trimmed up as well.  She is always such a good little Girl at the Vets.  All the time she was on the examining table her tail was wagging.

IS THIS THE DOOR THE DOC COMES OUT MOM?

Not having too much luck with the Critter Cam.  First night I had it aimed to high & the only images I got were a couple of a Palo Verde tree’s branches moving in the breeze.  Second night only pic was of my shirt in front of the cam setting it up so it doesn’t look like any critters entered or exited the new hole under our foundation.  Also noticed another new burrowed hole at the front of the house.  I have the cam set up for the hole at the back of the house again tonight.  Gol darn Varmints!!

OH DEAR WHAT HAVE I GOT MYSELF INTO THIS TIME

After the Vet we slipped ourselves downtown Wickenburg to pick up some ‘pulled brisket’ from the HOG TROUGH.  Kelly had phoned in the order & we picked it up & took it home.

WOW ANOTHER TREAT BEFORE GOING HOME

You can see Kelly’s haircut in today’s photos.  She said when she washes her hair & get’s it fixed up the way she likes it I can take some pics.

‘YOUSERS’ :)))))))))))))))))

And again thanks to everyone for your kind words.  I’m sure not used to receiving many compliments so it was a pleasantly overwhelming & surprising experience for me to read all your responses to my simple haircut & beard trim.  You are all one big bunch of kind hearted folks & I thank you for that………………………… 

  

SUPPER TONIGHT WAS TAKE-OUT FROM WICKENBURG’S ‘HOG TROUGH’

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A pair of chickens walk up to the circulation desk at a public library and say, 'Buk Buk BUK.' The librarian decides that the chickens desire three books, and gives it to them...and the chickens leave shortly thereafter.
Around midday, the two chickens return to the circulation desk quite vexed and say,' Buk Buk BuKKOOK!' The librarian decides that the chickens desire another three books and gives it to them. The chickens leave as before.
The two chickens re-turn to the library in the early afternoon, approach the librarian, looking very annoyed and say, 'Buk Buk Buk Buk Bukkooook!'
The librarian is now a little suspicious of these chickens. She gives them what they request, and decides to follow them. She followed them out of the library, out of the town, and to a park. At this point, she hid behind a tree, not wanting to be seen.
She saw the two chickens throwing the books at a frog in a pond, to which the frog was saying,
"Rrredit, Rrredit, Rrredit..."

OK, HERE’S THE HAIR & BEARD PICS BUT DON’T SAY I DIDN’T WARN YA…………………

NICE TO SEE THE BRITTLE BUSHES BEGINNING TO BLOOM

Commenters Ruth & Pam inquired about Dally.  We saw Dally three days ago in her yard & she was as excited & jumping as high as ever.  Haven’t seen her the last couple days.  Her owner has been taking Dally with her to Wickenburg some days & that might explain us not seeing her the last couple mornings.  Last we saw her she was being loaded into the back of a pick-up truck………

MAMA KEEPS AN EYE ON HER RECENTLY NEW BORNS

 

When Kelly finished cutting my hair Sunday she said, ‘we better get a picture of that for the blog’ & I said ‘no’ there’s been enough photos of me in the blog lately.  She took a couple anyway but I forgot they were in my Canon point & shoot.  That’s why no pics were included.  So with some reluctance on my part today Kelly did take a few more photos & I have included them below.  What’s left of my beard may stay or it may not.  It was an afterthought as I began chopping away so if I keep it I will have to refine it a bit.  Mike McFall over at North Ranch has a similar style beard & I always thought it looked good on him.  Of course Mike is a heck of a lot better looking feller than I am for sure………

I AM PURPOSELY LOOKING GRUMPIER HERE THAN I NORMALLY DO

  

THESE WERE THE 2 PICS IN MY CAMERA I FORGOT ABOUT…MINUTES AFTER THESE WERE TAKEN I SLIPPED INTO MY WASHROOM & STARTED CHOPPING AWAY AT THE BEARD

 

NOT BEING BORN WITH A HAPPY SMILEY FACE IT’S HARD FOR ME TO STRETCH MY STONE FACIAL FEATURES INTO A GREAT BIG SMILE…I ACTUALLY DID THINK I WAS SMILING IN THESE PICS, BUT………..

Kelly & I headed off for Wickenburg earlier this morning before the heat got up to high.  Groceries at Safeway & two quick stops at TSC & Stewart’s Hardware.  I went along to Safeway to brush up on my people socializing skills a bit.  I do that once & awhile.  Did good but of course there were not too many people in there to test my patience.  And nobody tried to mow me down with their cart.  Hey, maybe it was the haircut & the fact I wasn’t looking like the wild man of Borneo for a change.  Say, ya don’t suppose there’s some hope for me yet do ya………………….

  

ROSE BUSHES BLOOM IN A NEIGHBOR’S VACANT YARD

Sassy has a ‘must read’ post for all Canadian travellers to the U.S.  It is from the ‘CANADIAN SNOWBIRD'S ASSOCIATION’ & it clearly answers many of the questions travelers may have regarding lengths of stays in the States, plus some medical info & helpful do’s & don’ts at the border crossing.  Another month or so & many of us will have to be doing that border thing again.  And after reading this report did you know the border people have technology in place to hear what you are saying in your vehicle up to a mile away.  How many of us sit in our RV’s cursing the long waits & lengthy inspections of the vehicles in front of us eh.  Well Kelly does I know:))

NEW PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS PADS FORMING

And for all you talented wood working do-it-yourselfers out there just a reminder about the KAYAK PROGRESS over at John’s blog at ‘Just Finding Our Way’.  Amazes me the skill & patience these types of people have.

Les dropped by to install brackets into the cement at the base of our porch posts.  He’s one busy guy & didn’t have time to do it but left his tools for me to do it.  Drill the holes in the cement & power the screws into the holes.  Easy enough for anyone right?  Nope, easy mechanical stuff anyone can do rarely works for me & today was no exception.  I might as well go flap my arms & try flying to the Moon as to try doing anything mechanical:((

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A doctor is in the habit of having an almond daiquiri every evening on the way home. One night, the bartender finds himself out of almond extract, so he substitutes hickory instead.
The doctor complains.  Says the bartender "It's a hickory daiquiri, Doc".

She read "David Copperfield" when she was pregnant and, sure enough, when her son was born he was full of the Dickens!

I’ve been reading something very interesting — Stephen Hawking’s latest book about anti-gravity.  I just can’t put it down.

What do you get when you cross a pig and a centipede?
Bacon and Legs.

MOST OF MY HAIR IS GONE, SO IS MOST OF MY BEARD….’OH DEAR’

THESE GUYS DROPPED BY TO SEE IF PHEEBS COULD COME OUT TO PLAY

Partial cloud cover today but no sign of much needed rain yet.  Only a few drops of rain all winter so far.  I think all plants including cactus are waiting patiently for that first substantial shower to burst them forth in all their early Spring finery.  Looking forward to seeing trees leaf out again & flowers blooming in the desert soon.

After Kelly’s haircut Saturday & the fact Simon recently had the majority of his longer hair cut off I said to Kelly this morning, ‘it’s time for a haircut cause I can’t take this unmanageable mop any longer.’  Half an hour later I was sitting in a chair wrapped in a blanket with my graying locks falling like dollups of snow from an old pine bough.  Head definitely felt colder & I noticed the sun’s rays heating up the back of my neck right away when I stepped outside later.  However, I was on a roll with my new do so marched myself right into my washroom, closed the door, fired up my electric clippers & sawed off about two thirds of my beard toote sweete.  And yikes there was my darned face just staring right back at me in the mirror again just like it did years ago before I covered part of it up.  Noticed I had a few extra furrows & ruts in my skin that I do not recall seeing the last time I saw those parts of my face about 7 years ago.  Now that is a little un-nerving to say the least. 

We thought maybe we would do a day trip somewhere today but it seemed to be warming up fast on our morning walk so we shelved that idea.  No A/C in the Jeep.  Kelly was feeling a little under the weather anyway & I was suffering post traumatic shock from seeing myself in the mirror earlier so we just stayed home.  I did manage to peak out between the tightly closed curtains a couple times.  Now if I could just lose about 60 pounds I would be about ready to Boogie.  We both did manage to recover later in the day from our temporary maladys:))

<<< JUST A FEW FILE PHOTOS TONIGHT & WONDER IF ANYONE REMEMBERS WHAT THIS WAS

Turned out to be a pretty normal Sunday for us.  Kelly read a bunch, I grumbled a bit, & we both sat in the backyard sun for awhile soaking up some quiet.  Pheebs played with her toys & chased a few bunnies out of the yard while I spent a little time on the front porch listening to a couple noisy Gila Woodpeckers & watching half a dozen little House Sparrows busily gathering materials for their early spring nests in our Saguaros.  Just a mighty nice relaxing & pleasant Arizona Sunday.

AUNT JEAN GIVING PHEEBS A TUMMY RUB LAST WINTER >>>

Had to dust off the Critter Cam today because tonight it has a job to do.  Something is burrowing either into or out of our house foundation again.  I had securely blocked off the Skunk hole a few months ago but a new hole appeared a couple days ago right beside the blocked off section.  I blocked that hole off & we noticed this morning there is still another hole beside that.  I guess our first step is to identify the culprit so out with the Critter Cam tonight.  Going to be very disappointing if it turns out to be more Skunks under the house again.

Dragonfly from THE JOURNEY OF LITTLE SANITEE has just joined us on our Blog Followers list.  Now here’s an interesting artsy Gal hoping to be on the road this year with her small vintage trailer.  Read a couple of her recent posts & see that she is a ‘thinker.’  I generally always find those types of people interesting:)) 

And Bruce our good friend & neighbor from back home in Bayfield sent us along this link today which I’m sure a lot of folks in our age bracket will remember & enjoy.  MUSIC VIDEOS & MUSIC FROM THE 50'S & EARLY 60'S.  This site is chalked full of great memories for we Boomers……………

THIS GROOVIN LITTLE HOUSE SPARROW HOLDS EVERYONE’S ATTENTION WITH HER VERSION OF THE BOOGALO BOOGEY

Interesting comment by first time commenter Mike Goad on my Saturday post regarding the topic of the Full Timing RV decision many folks go through.  Lots of pros & cons to that decision just like there is with anything & I think what it boils down to is simply what preferences are given to each & everyone’s needs, dreams, preference’s, & desires.  And fortunately we are all different with our thoughts in each one of those categories………… 

GROANER’S CORNER:(( George W. Bush, in an airport lobby, noticed a man in a long flowing white robe with a long flowing white beard and flowing white hair. The man had a staff in one hand and some stone tablets under the other arm.
George W. approached the man and inquired, "Aren't you Moses?"
The man ignored George W. and stared at the ceiling.
George W. positioned himself more directly in the man's view and asked again, "Aren't you Moses?"
The man continued to peruse the ceiling. George W. tugged at the man's sleeve and asked once again, "Aren't you Moses?"
The man finally responded in an irritated voice, "Yes I am".
George W. asked him why he was so unfriendly and Moses replied, "The last time I spoke to a Bush I had to spend forty years in the desert.