STORM CLOUDS OVERHEAD & I THINK I KNOW HOW THE HORSE DIED

Checking our wind sock this morning we knew we had us some wind blowing.  Thermometer said 51F & with that wind we knew a colder day was fast upon us.  A few sunny periods helped a bit but were soon blocked by a thickening cloud cover.  That pretty much kept us inside for the rest of the day.  Like I have said many times before, neither one of us are cold weather enthusiasts.  Not hot weather enthusiasts either but somewhere between the two we are indeed enthusiasts of moderation.

 

PLANTED THE 3 CACTUS PLANTS KELLY BROUGHT HOME WEDNESDAY BUT DON’T KNOW WHAT KIND THEY ARE

Each day when I begin my post I always type the day’s name in the blog’s title space.  For instance I typed in ‘Friday Post’ for the temporary title today.  Helps keep me organized.  Last thing I do before hitting my post’s ‘Publish’ button each night is to think up & add a title to my post.  Wednesday night I forgot to do that & my post ended up simply titled…..Wednesday Post.  And now you know.

 

THIS PRETTY WELL SUMS UP OUR LAZY MAINLY INDOOR DAY  

If one is a traveler it bodes well to have an Airline pilot in the family.  Most of us are not that fortunate but the folks over at JUST FINDING OUR WAY not only managed to get themselves on an inaugural flight to Alaska for Christmas but had their Son at the controls of the airliner for the flight.  Now how nice is that.

<<< THIS IS THE FIGURINE KELLY BROUGHT HOME  OF A MEXICAN FELLOW HAVING A SIESTA UNDER A SAGUARO

And remember, if you are a horse person who enjoys trail riding & you are in the south central area of Arizona be sure to keep an eye on John’s DOG POUND SOUTH blog for some great scenic riding areas.  John often includes maps & always has some great trail riding photos as well.

On closer examination of the horse skull Kelly picked up under a row of Mesquite trees over at Sarge’s place I think I have an idea how the poor horse died many years ago.  There is a small almost round hole in the skull between the eyes.  I think the horse may have been shot.  It’s the way of the old wild West.

Les phoned tonight saying he would be over first thing in the morning to install our Pine porch posts.  That is if it isn’t raining.  Will be nice to have that little project finally completed.

A BRISK SOUTHWEST WIND TILTED OUR LITTLE CHRISTMAS TREE TODAY

Am wondering if anyone has had problems with blogs disappearing off their Blog Follower/Friend Connect gadget.  Kelly asked me tonight if I had taken ‘THE GOOD LUCK DUCK’ off our sidebar list.  I had not.  Kelly later saw a Facebook note from Roxanne saying her blog had disappeared off some peoples blog lists.  Several times over the years I have gone through my Blog Follower list & removed some folks who no longer blogged or maybe hadn’t blogged in a year or so.  But I have also had blogs disappear off there as well & twice the entire list did not show up.  Occasionally I will come across a blog or a name I recognize as once being on my list but when I have checked they were gone.  Just wondering if anyone else has had this happen.

 

STORM CLOUDS BEGINNING TO GATHER THIS AFTERNOON

A few posts ago I made mention of a few Cactus plants we have here that I thought were dead from being eaten or trampled on over the summer.  Some of those plants are struggling their way back to life so I took a few photos today of their resurrection.  Also just remembered someone asking about the color of the dirt we have been bringing home.  Yes, it’s real desert dirt.  If I dig a hole for anything on our property the dirt is always the same color as the dirt we have been trailering home.

  

As our afternoon progressed our Eastern sky continued to darken & became about as black as I have ever seen a stormy sky become.  Checked the radar & could see a storm moving from over Phoenix way heading for Prescott.  Weather site said we had a 50% chance of rain tonight.  Of course any talk of rain always sends us scrambling to close doors & vents in the rig, gather up the lawn chairs, & clear the front porch including Spencer.  Jeep windows up too.  We get so little rain here it always catches us by surprise & we have to do some running about.  Sounds like we could be in for a cold wet Friday.  When I opened the front door tonight to take Pheebs out I knew immediately it had rained.  No, couldn’t see it & no I couldn’t hear it.  But I could smell it.  The desert always gives off a pleasing distinct sweet smell when it rains.  It is the Creosote bushes that add to that. 

 

THIS GILA WOODPECKER STICKS HIS HEAD OUT OUR FRONT YARD SAGUARO TO SEE WHAT ALL THE COMMOTION WAS ABOUT AS WE CLEARED OFF OUR FRONT PORCH

GROANER’S CORNER:((  In a small southern town there was a "Nativity Scene" that showed great skill and talent had gone into creating it. One small feature bothered me.
The three wise men were wearing firemen's helmets.
Totally unable to come up with a reason or explanation, I left.  At a "Quik Stop" on the edge of town, I asked the lady behind the counter about the helmets. She exploded into a rage, yelling at me, "You Yankees never do read the Bible!" I assured her that I did, but simply couldn't recall anything about firemen in the Bible.
She jerked her Bible from behind the counter and ruffled through some pages, and finally jabbed her finger at a passage. Sticking it in my face she said "See, it says right here, 'The three wise man came from afar.'"

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

WEDNESDAY POST

SAW THIS SINGLE ROSE IN A NEIGHBOR’S YARD ON OUR MORNING WALK

Despite wearing a cool short sleeved shirt today I still managed to work up a sweat outside puttering about the yard.  Oh the trials & tribulations of traveling south in the winter:))

OUR MESQUITE TREE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AGAINST THIS MORNING’S FIERY SUNRISE

Tonight’s photos are a collection of pics from this past week that didn’t make it into my other posts.  Kind of a mish-mosh of this & that.  Below are a few more pics of Lake Pleasant.

 

A RESTING RAVEN, A SCOOTING COOT, & A SEA GULL WITH A SNACK

 

A PRIMITIVE SHORELINE CAMPING SPOT & A HELICOPTER PAD AT THE PARK’S NORTH END

 

THERE IS A PAVED ROAD UNDER THAT WATER AT LEFT…CONTROL GATES AT THE DAM

A PARKING LOT FULL OF STORED SAIL BOATS

  

A FATHER & DAUGHTER FISHING & ONE OF MANY INQUISITIVE BURROWS AROUND THE LAKE

PHEEBS SNIFFS OUT A CAMPSITE

Trimmed some more Mesquite tree branches, planted a couple more Cactus, added a couple more wood pieces to the inside of the utility trailer box to stop dirt from spilling out, & watched a couple F-16 fighter jets rolling through tight turns overhead in mock combat.  That resulted in some big engine roars & half a dozen flares in the sky.  Didn’t get any photos because I knew as soon as I took my eyes of the jets to grab a camera I would never find the fast moving tiny specs again.  So I just stood & watched the show until they disappeared into the blue.

STILL A TOUCH OF AUTUMN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Kelly headed for Wickenburg about 11 & wondered if I wanted to come.  Figured she needed a break from all my grouching & grumbling so I respectively declined the invitation.  I know when I am along & waiting in the Jeep she rushes through some of her favorite stores & a woman should not be rushed through her favorite stores.  When I head into town for something I generally always come home with whatever it was I headed into town for.  It is always an anticipated surprise to see what Kelly comes home with each time she makes a trip anywhere.  This morning she set out to pick up a few groceries & came home with a chair, 3 potted Cactus plants, a figurine of a Sombrero Mexican fella having a siesta under a tall Cactus, a large pot once used for melting down gold, & a horse skull……….. Sometimes it’s just best not to ask about what Kelly sometimes drags home.

Figured it was a good idea for me to stay home anyway in case Les drops in to begin installing our front porch posts.  We want to wait until that little job is done before venturing out again in the Winnie Wagon.  For 2 cents I would suggest we just turn right around & head back to Borrego Springs again for a bit.  But I don’t have 2 cents & my suggestions sometimes just simply go the way of the Dodo bird & are never heard from again.  I think our plan this winter was to hit some new spots where we have never been before.  Problem is the weather.  We are pretty much limited to southern Arizona & California this time of year.  Just too cold at the higher altitudes north of us.  But I guess I shouldn’t grump about the cold.  Have a look at RETIRED ROD'S post & see how he handles the cold weather over there in Kansas.

AND A FEW PHOTOS FROM OUR ABSENT NEIGHBOR’S YARD

 

GAMBLE’S QUAIL

  

GILA WOODPECKER IN A JOSHUA TREE & A PERCHING BLONDE HAIRED SAGUARO MONKEY:))

Gaelyn from GEOGYPSY is less than a month from traveling back to South Africa again.  In her post titled, ‘Is It Safe To Travel In South Africa’ she answers that frequently asked question.  Her answer, suggestions, & tips, could apply to any traveler traveling to most anywhere. (except getting eaten by the Lions of course)  On this side of the ocean her thoughts readily apply to Mexico & Canada or right here in the United States.  Common sense is essential while traveling anywhere & Gaelyn adequately points that out.

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Some Musical Christmas Advice……Make out your Chopin Liszt early before Debussy season, when you have time to check out Verdi good bargains are, can still get gifts Faure good price, not have to Handel large crowds and have time to give Bach things you decide you don't want.

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

KELLY PUTS UP THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, I STAIN THE TRAILER SIDES & WE BOTH WATCH ANOTHER MOONRISE

THIS MORNING’S MOON SETS BEHIND A ROCKY RIDGE

A setting Moon is quite often just as awe inspiring as a rising Moon.  And so it was this morning as I watched the full Moon sliding down over a high rocky ridge about a quarter mile behind our house.  Another nice way to start yet another mighty fine Arizona day.

A ROUND BLUE CAMERA LENS REFLECTION

 

A MORNING MOON

 

Noticed our Mexican neighbor Raphael putting up her Christmas decorations Monday so that lit the Christmas spark for Kelly this morning as she busied herself hanging colored lights in our Mesquite trees.  Sure is different from years ago when we would put up decorations outside with winter hats, mitts, coats & snow boots on.  Now it’s short sleeved shirts.  I helped with putting up the decorations by finding a couple extension cords.

  

Had a couple little ‘fix-it’ things around our main fuse box & then it was off with the lid to the Cedar stain & away I went staining the wooden sides or our utility trailer.  A nice easy low stress job for AL.  I like that:))

 

Kelly rustled herself up a Skype call this afternoon with her daughter Rebecca, baby Ella, & husband Ricardo.  They had just returned from a 3 week holiday in Spain.

 

KELLY WAS ABLE TO STEP OUTSIDE WITH HER SMALL ACER NETBOOK & SHOW THEM OUR ARIZONA DIGS

For a second night in a row we were once again able to watch yet another beautiful Moonrise from our front yard.  Think we got up to around 70F today & that made being outside tonight comfortable.

  

Some of our Cactus plants from last winter that I thought were dead & gone from severe Sheep trauma are slowly making a remarkable comeback.  Once trodden upon & nibbled on I am seeing signs of green emerging from what I thought were dead & blackened plants.  Cactus are a hardy breed with their harsh desert living conditions & I am seeing their tough resilience now in our Cactus garden.   

KELLY, OUR IN-HOUSE ARTIST PERSON HAS BEEN BUSY AGAIN…WELL DONE I’D SAY:))

Sure glad I brought two of our older wooden bird feeders to Congress with us time.  I had stopped using them back home in Bayfield because they were too easy for the Squirrels to jump on & tip the birdfeeders over knocking them to the ground.  We do not have any pesky Squirrels here so those feeders are working out perfectly.  Our Arizona birds sure love them.  So much in fact I think we are going to go broke just buying birdseed again this winter……………… 

SPOTTED THESE 2 RING NECKED DOVES SITTING ON A POWER LINE THIS AFTERNOON WITH A ‘SUN DOG’ IN THE SKY BEHIND THEM

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A parent's night before Christmas…………………

'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house I searched for the tools to hand to my spouse.
Instructions were studied and we were inspired,
In hopes we could manage "Some Assembly Required."
The children were quiet (not asleep) in their beds,
While Dad and I faced the evening with dread:
A kitchen, two bikes, Barbie's town house to boot!
And, thanks to Grandpa, a train with a toot!

We opened the boxes, my heart skipped a beat....
Let no parts be missing or parts incomplete!
Too late for last-minute returns or replacement;
If we can't get it right, it goes in the basement!

When what to my worrying eyes should appear,
But 50 sheets of directions, concise, but not clear,
With each part numbered and every slot named,
So if we failed, only we could be blamed.

More rapid than eagles the parts then fell out,
All over the carpet they were scattered about.
"Now bolt it! Now twist it! Attach it right there!
Slide on the seats, and staple the stair!
Hammer the shelves, and nail to the stand."
"Honey," said hubby, "you just glued my hand."

And then in a twinkling, I knew for a fact
That all the toy dealers had indeed made a pact
To keep parents busy all Christmas Eve night
With "assembly required" till morning's first light.

We spoke not a word, but kept bent at our work,
Till our eyes, they went bleary; our fingers all hurt.
The coffee went cold and the night, it wore thin
Before we attached the last rod and last pin.

Then laying the tools away in the chest,
We fell into bed for a well-deserved rest.
But I said to my husband just before I passed out,
"This will be the best Christmas, without any doubt.

Tomorrow we'll cheer, let the holiday ring,
And not have to run to the store for a thing!
We did it! We did it! The toys are all set
For the perfect, most perfect, Christmas, I bet!"

Then off to dreamland and sweet repose I gratefully went,
Though I suppose there's something to say for those self-deluded.….I'd forgotten that batteries are never included!

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