DO YOU INITIATE A WAVE OR DO YOU RESPOND TO A WAVE

After 2 days working around outside doing yard work I knew day 3 had to be a day doing something different. Not a lot of options so I conferred with the Pheebs. Took her about a third of a second to convince me it would be a great morning for a Jeep ride. So at 9:30 this morning we were out the door & heading down the road.

THIS HEAT HAZE OBSCURED AN OTHERWISE SUNNY BLUE SKY MORNING
Heat was already building & I knew it was not going to be a good photo day. Humidity had already built up a haze turning the clear blue morning sky into a pale gray color. No clouds, just a humid hazy dome over top us. Used our Tim Horton's gift card for breakfast again & headed north out of Clinton to the HULLETT MARSH. Thought maybe I could spot a few birds or butterflies. No such luck & soon as we exited the Jeep we were immediately set upon by biting Deer Flies. Toughed it out for about 10 minutes. No photos but Pheebs did enjoy exploring around & getting her paws wet in the nearby swampy water.

NOTHING STIRRING OUT HERE IN THE HULLETT MARSH EXCEPT LOTS OF STINGING & BITING INSECTS

As usual we wandered the gravely country roads enjoying the unfolding rural scenery. Both windows full down letting the country air flow through. We were fine as long as we kept moving & kept those breezes blowing through the Jeep. About 25 mph is our usual back road speed & that is slow enough to keep my hat from blowing off.

EITHER THEY ARE JUST GEARING UP FOR OR JUST HAD A BIG OUTSIDE PARTY AT THIS FARM…PROBABLY A WEDDING

SCARED THREE BUZZARDS OFF THE ROAD (300mm through the windshield before I could get the Jeep stopped) D3100

Can't say enough about how well Pheebs always behaves when we are out & about. I never have to worry about her wandering away when we stop.  She immediately comes when called. Likes sitting quietly in the Jeep upright in the passenger seat watching out the windshield or resting on her bed in the back as we plod up & down the roads. Never have to put her on a leash unless we encounter people & the only reason for the leash is to keep her from jumping up on people to put a smooch on them.  My simple solution for that is to simply not go where there are people present & that works out just fine for both of us.  She listens so well & waits in the Jeep until I tell her it's Okay to hop out & waits to be told to jump back in again. If she starts to chase a Bunny or a Squirrel she will put the brakes on if I holler a stern 'no' & clap my hands 4 or 5 times. If I can't visually see her she will immediately come to either a whistle, a name call or two loud hand claps. Usually I just clap my hands twice. She is not an Alpha dog which means she does not have any aggressive independent tendencies in any way. She has been very easy to train & work with & she is such a pleasure to be around. I just don't think we could have ever found ourselves a better best Pal:))

MY MOST BEST PAL

 

NEVER SAW THE GREEN SPIDER BUG ON THE BROWN EYED SUSAN UNTIL I ENLARGED THE PHOTO AT HOME

Pheebs & I were home shortly after noon & aside from dodging a couple thunderstorms this afternoon all was quiet here on the home front. Good thing Bayfield built themselves a new & larger library this past year because Kelly is going through their book supply pretty quick.

Ever notice how when driving in rural areas some drivers will wave when you meet them on the road.  The more remote the area the more people seem to wave.  I always watch the other driver coming towards me.  Not so much to see if I know who it is or what kind of a vehicle they are driving, etc.  No, I watch closely for a friendly wave in case I have to react quickly with an answering friendly wave.  I always instinctively move one of my hands to the top of the steering wheel in case of a needed wave back.  If an approaching driver gives me a last second wave & I don’t have time to wave back I feel bad about that.  If you were in my vehicle you might even hear a low audible ‘sorry’ out of me.  Tells you something about my personality.  I am never the first person to offer a wave though.  I only react to a wave.  So why wouldn’t I wave to the other driver first then.  Well, it’s simple.  If I waved at the other driver first & he didn’t wave back…..I would go home absolutely crushed…………………………………

GROANER'S CORNER:(( If you ever have the need to go to China in a hurry, here are some helpful phrases to help you communicate...
English Phrase - Chinese Phrase...............
I think you need a facelift - Chin Tu Fat
Are you hiding a fugitive? - Hu Yu Hai Ding?
See me A.S.A.P. - Kum Hia Nao
Stupid Man - Dum Gai
Small Horse - Tai Ni Po Ni
Did you go to the beach - Wai Yu So Tan?
I bumped into a coffee table. - Ai Bang Mai Ni
It's very dark in here. - Wai So Dim
Has your flight been delayed? - Hao long Wei Ting?
An unauthorized execution. - Lin Ching.
I thought you were on a diet? - Wai Yu Mun Ching?
This is a tow away zone. - No Pah King
You are not very bright. - Yu So Dum
I got this for free - Ai No Pei
I am not guilty! - Wai Hang Mi?
Please stay a while longer. - Wai Go Nao?
They have arrived. - Hai Dei Kum.
Stay out of sight - Lei Lo
He's cleaning his automobile. - Wa Sing Ka.
Your body odor is offensive. - Yu Stin Ki Pu
Do you know the lyrics to the Macarena? - Wai Yu Sing Dum Song

-------------------------------------------------------------
- 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.

ENCOURAGED BY SOME AERIAL PHOTOS OF YARNELL I SAW TODAY

 

WONDER IF THIS IS THE BLUE JAY WHO IS MISSING HIS FEATHER

Our areas cooler morning temperatures have energized both Kelly & I into some overdue tree trimming in our back yard.  A messy Mulberry tree had to go for starters & as I sawed it up Kelly hauled the branches over to the utility trailer.  That was a positive sign that Kelly continues to improve from her yet unknown condition.  She has not been resting as much during the day & has picked up her step on our morning walks.

 

ONLY HAD A FEW SECONDS TO GRAB THESE QUICK PHOTOS OF AN ELUSIVE SCARLET TANAGER TODAY

All the Mulberry's on the ground create a rather messy problem in the house.  The squashed juice berries stick on our shoes causing purple stains to our indoor living room carpeting.  Kelly has beige carpeting in her bedroom & that just makes it worse.  The Mulberries themselves taste Ok & I suppose would be good for baking things like Mulberry Muffins or Mulberry pie.  Fortunately for us & especially me, Kelly is not into baking.  Not that she can’t do a fine job with that or we don’t enjoy pastries, but more because of health issues.  Slim Kelly worries about her weight & overweight AL doesn’t worry enough about his weight.  Kelly can eat half a Muffin & leave it.  I can eat 3 Muffins & still crave 3 more.  No, no pastries of any kind are needed in our house.  If I was married to someone who enjoyed baking I would probably be one of those people you see on national television being carried out of a house on a heavy duty shipping pallet.

  

ONE SAWED UP MULBERRY TREE WITH LOTS OF MULBERRIES LEFT BEHIND TO GET ON OUR SHOES & STAIN OUR CARPET    

We have a lot of vegetation on our property & it seems this year’s growth has really exploded.  Maple, Mulberry, & Walnut trees have been springing from the ground like weeds creating a shadowy canopy over lower Cedars & Pines.  It is the thicker & slower growing Evergreens we want to nurture so I have been busy either cutting down or topping trees to allow more sunlight in to spur the Evergreen’s growth.  It’s been a busy few days & I am happy to report despite being up & down a couple ladders, my leg/hip has not been bothering me.  Other than my Arthrotec & the occasional Tylenol Arthritis pill I have been good to go.  Been getting Pheebs out for more walks around the Goose Pond & Pine forest as well.

 

OUR BACKYARD PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS IS IN BLOOM

Despite keeping an eye on mainstream news reports & on-line news sites we still have no idea as to the fate of Yarnell’s unique town community which spans both sides of highway 89 for maybe half a mile or more.  We also do not know where the fire is right now or for sure which way it is headed.  With much of the media’s attention focused on the Zimmerman trial in Florida it seems we are getting most of the Yarnell fire situation news from our own Canadian news media.  However, I am encouraged by a link sent in this afternoon by Dan in California.  Aerial photos show the main hub of Yarnell & to me being familiar with the downtown layout it looks like the little town’s business section along the highway may have been spared.  Looked at the photos closely & am optimistic that is what I am seeing.  Not so sure about the SHRINE OF ST. JOSEPH area.  Although I see green trees along the road leading to where I think the Shrine is it looks like the Shrine area itself could very well be burnt.  This is the link….. YARNELL...AN AERIAL VIEW.

OUR GOOD NEIGHBOR MAUREEN WITH HER GOOD FRIEND CHIPPY THE CHIPMUNK

 

LOVE TO SEE THIS KIND OF INTERACTION BETWEEN HUMANS & ANIMALS

I remember a commenter asking if I used my Nikon D3100 to take the photos in this past Sunday’s post.  The butterfly, the bird perched on the stick, 3 of the ditch lily pics & the Blue Jay feather were all done with the D3100.  Rest of the photos were done with my D90.

GROANER’S CORNER:((  After a long and successful life, Hillary Clinton passed on and found herself at the gates of heaven. As St. Peter was signing her in, off to one side she saw an enormous collection of clocks, in all shapes and sizes. Some of them were huge.
Hillary asked St. Peter, "Why do you have so many clocks?"
St. Peter explained that they're called Lie Clocks. He told her that every person has a Lie Clock, and that each lie you tell on earth causes the hands on your clock to move.
St. Peter went on to show her Mother Teresa's Lie Clock, and told her the hands had never moved even once. So Mother Teresa never lied while on earth.
"Fantastic," said Hillary.
Then St. Peter showed her George Washington's clock. The hands had only moved a few times, and not very far. So George had only told a few small lies. Very good for a politician.
"My husband Bill must have a clock here somewhere." said Hillary.
St. Peter cleared his throat and said, "Bill's clock is over in God's office. It works great as a ceiling fan."

-------------------------------------------------------------
- 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.

REMEMBERING YARNELL ARIZONA

 

KELLY’S FAVORITE YARNELL STOP IS/WAS THE CORNERSTONE BAKERY ON HIGHWAY 89…NO IDEA IF IT SURVIVED THE FIRE

So sad to hear news this morning about 19 firefighters losing their lives in that ongoing Yarnell fire. Nineteen young men leaving Prescott Arizona to battle a forest blaze about 25 miles south of them. Nineteen young men who would never return home again.
 

YARNELL’S WIDELY KNOWN HARDWARE STORE WHERE I BOUGHT MY WHEELBARROW ETC LAST NOVEMBER
We have many fond memories of Yarnell & the surrounding Peeples Valley. With the exception of passing through Yarnell on a quiet dark early April morning on our way home a few months ago I think the last time we drove around up there was with Aunt Jean last winter. We drove through the very neighborhoods that are now or were on fire. Watching video clips from the parking lot of the RANCH HOUSE RESTAURANT we can see fires burning homes across the road. Think the last time we ate in that restaurant was when Kelly's brother Peter & wife Leslie were out to visit us last winter. I forgot GEOGYPSY had left the area awhile back to resume her summer job at the Grand Canyon's North Rim. Judging from the videos we saw this morning I would say it is doubtful Gaelyn will have a place to come back to in the Fall. The video clips showed fires destroying homes in that very area.
---

 

RIGHT ON HIGHWAY 89 IN YARNELL

We are not too worried about our house in Congress because it sits at the foot of the Weaver Mountains. No forests of pine trees there like atop the Weavers. The difference in landscape between YARNELL & CONGRESS is like night & day.  Yarnell, about a half dozen miles away from our house sits nearly 2,500 feet higher & the terrain is green & forested.  Congress sits on the floor of the Sonoran Desert & fire just doesn’t have the same abundant fuel source the higher elevations have.  I would think the only danger to our house would be if the winds began blowing south carrying hot embers over the town of Congress. Lots of old wood buildings there but at least it is not a densely populated area. We have a few things going for our house. Three quarters of the roof is tin/steel. The old wooden structure is now encased in adobe & I spent a lot of time last winter clearing dried brush, grasses, & dead tree limbs all around the perimeter of the property. Part of my reason for doing that was the risk of a brush fire.

  

  

NO IDEA IF ANY OF THESE PLACES ARE STILL STANDING
If anyone types ‘Yarnell’ into the search bar near the top of this blog’s right side column they can find my past posts pertaining to Yarnell.  I'm sure we will see a difference this fall when we pass quietly through the tiny town on our way to Congress. Double checking MAPQUEST this morning I see our house is 10 road miles southwest of Yarnell. Much closer & half the distance I thought it was in Sunday night's post. I'm guessing maybe 5 or 6 miles from our house the way the crow flies.  Last we heard tonight the fire is moving northeast & that would take it away from Congress.  And thanks to the folks who have sent in ‘fire update sites’.

 

THIS IS THE ‘RANCH HOUSE RESTAURANT’ THAT APPEARS IN SOME OF THE FIRE VIDEOS I HAVE SEEN…THEY HAVE GREAT FOOD HERE….OR AT LEAST THEY DID

  

FROM WHAT I SAW ON NEWS REPORTS TODAY THE FIRE DEFINITELY WENT THROUGH THIS AREA WHERE GAELYN FROM GEOGYPSY SPENDS HER WINTERS

 

NOT SURE IF THE FIRE WENT THROUGH THIS AREA OF THE PEEPLES VALLEY

Rather than write a lot today I decided to include photos of Yarnell & how we saw it not so long ago.........................

 

 

WE DON’T KNOW IF THIS ‘SHRINE OF ST, JOSEPH’ SITE IN YARNELL HAS BEEN DESTROYED BUT IT WAS ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WHERE THE FIRE WAS

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A professor arrived late for his lecture and found a most unflattering drawing of himself on the whiteboard. Furious, he asked the class, "Who is responsible for this atrocity?" From the back of the room, one joker whispered loudly, "I strongly suspect your parents!"

-------------------------------------------------------------
- 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.