What’s all the buzz about?

 

Last year this hole in the tree was the home to several different families of finches.

 

This year it’s the home to several different bees.

 

 

 

All in the same family, I’m sure.

Again you must pardon some of the shots. I know they’re not the best, but neither were the conditions under which I was taking them…

My brother, Richard, has experience with bees and assures me that I’m probably safe until they start “pinging” my head.  Well, they stayed calm all through the photo shoot, but I didn’t want to push my luck. I was really only about a foot from the opening and I just couldn’t figure out how to get my tripod on top of the ladder. 

At least now I know I’ll have some bees to pollinate my flowers.  

Ah, those little road apples…

 

need to be cleaned up after a parade with horses and cattle.  Traditionally in Buckeye that honor has always fallen to the high school chapter of the FFA – Future Farmers of America.  Obviously they’re not a sexist organization. Everyone appreciated their efforts….and shovels. 

Arizona kicks off….

 

it’s centennial celebration in Buckeye with an old-fashioned….

 

cattle drive.  This was truly an amazing thing to see in this day and age.  Right down the middle of Main Street true life cowboys (not Hollywood wannabes) drove a herd of cattle to lead off the parade.

 

Cowboys come in all ages and sizes and most begin their ranch life at a very early age.

  

The cattle did have lots of opportunities to misbehave, but they didn’t stray from the herd.

 

Leslie, this cowboy’s for you!  (Leslie is my niece who’s currently relocating from Tulsa to Tucson)

 

And what can I say about this???  The badly dressed fellow on the end, I can make allowances for since he’s the rodeo clown who would be working the bull riding at the rodeo later in the day, but what’s up with the guy “driving” the horse?  We might have to take away his “real” cowboy status.

I had a wonderful time with Alice and Annie watching the parade.  You’ll see more pictures in the days to come.

Random shots…

 

“Who are you calling an Angry Bird?”

 

“Ignore her Hazel.  She’ll go away and take that camera with her.” 

 

                            “X   marks the spot.”

 

“Here kitty, kitty.” 

(Tracy has warned me this is not an original thought and says the lions and tigers are tired of hearing it. I think she’s probably right.) 

What am I??

 

No, I’m not Gene Simmons.

 

Not Jimmy Durante either.

 

Let’s not get rude!

 

I’m sure you’ve figured it out by now…

 

I’m adorable!!

Flying rainbows…

 

Today Tracy and I met up with Ramblin' Kathy and we went to the World Wildlife Zoo.  The day started out cold and windy, but by the time we went through the aquarium and predator buildings, it was warming up outside.

The macaws were scattered throughout the zoo and just beautiful.  It was challenging to get good shots because everything seemed to always be moving.

 

It was sometimes very frustrating to have to  deal with a chain link fence.  I mean what do they think, these birds might fly away?  :)

 

 

 

While we were taking this guy’s picture, I said “hello” to him.  He didn’t answer, but a fellow to the left did.  He finally worked up to very clearly saying “hello”….right up to when he told us “goodbye” and wouldn’t talk to us anymore.

 

    

This guy was dancing back and forth across this piece of wood. I think his day’s excitement was seeing if he could poop on the ducks swimming under him.

 

 

They truly are flying rainbows.

Where to focus?

 

Things have been pretty stressful lately and I do feel pulled in so many directions. Where to focus?

Ah, yes…always on the flowers.  :)

“It’s probably not much fun…

 

being a worm.”  These words of wisdom were spoken by Melanie at the fishing derby that was part of the fun day I shared with Tracy and Bill today.

 

 

  

 

 

This is Melanie again.  Do you notice the Ipad that’s on her lap?  A modern day of fishing.

I have more to share from today, but now I’m off to enjoy some of the macaroni and cheese I made for dinner.  Smells so good!

All wired up….

 

and ready for the weekend.  Happy Friday!

Great minds…

 

This morning while reading some of my favorite blogs, I happened upon a picture that looked familiar.  Judy, at Prescott Area Daily Photo posted a photo of a sign she saw while in Wickenburg…I was sure I had a picture of the same sign.

So off into the archives I went searching…

Well this is close…same style sign.  Hers is placed much better than mine.  Love the blue sky she got in her shot.

 

Again, a similar style and I actually have some sky in this one…but do you suppose I might have bothered to walk around to the other side of the sign so the sun was behind me?

 

Now we’re getting there…blue sky, sun’s behind me, but my subject matter deals with outlaws while hers has to do with chuck wagons.  

Maybe great minds do think alike, but I like her outcome better.  :)

Murder in the Heartland…

 

Okay, so I don’t live in the Heartland…I live in Arizona, but that name just popped into my head when I saw these guys in the yard across the street from Annie’s house.  I should mention I took this picture this last Sunday and some people may be disenchanted with Christmas decorations still being out on the 15th of January. Might explain the violence.

I’m happy to say, that I’m  starting to get out and take some pictures.  That always gets the creative juices flowing.

Settling in…

 

These last three weeks have been some of the hardest days of my life.  I had to finally make the decision to place our mom in a skilled nursing facility.  Although the decision was a joint one made by myself and my three brothers, it was the fact that I was beyond my abilities physically to care for her safely anymore that forced the choice. There is a ton of guilt I feel and struggle with daily even still.

It has been a difficult process and thank goodness we had my sister-in-law, Lisa, to guide us through all the twists and turns.

Mom breaking her leg was the final situation that necessitated the changes. I feel good about where she is and she’s getting therapy for both her leg and to help her unlearn some bad habits and learn some new good ones about moving around in general.  She is making new friends and I hope she’ll embrace this new phase in her life and enjoy herself.

But it  did feel like leaving my children on their first day of kindergarten.  :(   I love you, Mom.

Life is for the living…

 

whether you use “living” as a verb or a noun.  I want to laugh and I need to smile.

I double dog dare you not to go “ooh” and “aah” along with me.

 

 

 

Greg wasn’t sure if this last guy was a donkey or a pot-bellied pig… 

Laugh….it does lighten the load.   

When it rains, it pours…

 

I guess Elinor needed a friend to travel with her.  Our sweet little dog, Millie, passed away this evening.

You may remember her as our little nasturtium-leaf-beret-wearing sweetheart…

 

She’ll be missed.

Live each moment…

 

As I have been on hiatus, life in all it’s happiness and sadness has gone on.  Some of you may remember the wonderful wedding that I attended in September.

Jim and Elinor were married again after having been divorced for almost forty years. It was a joyous and truly awesome experience.

Sadly, Elinor passed away on January the 3rd.  I know that the last three months of her life were among the happiest she had, but her passing has left a hole in the world.

 

Jim has lots of people around him who love him and the support of a community that understands what “loving thy neighbor” is all about.  Mary is very lost without her mother, but struggles to honor her mother’s wish that she live a happy life.

 

Elinor was honored with one of the most intimate, heart-touching funerals I have ever attended.  She was tended to with love and respect at every step along the way.

 

She now waits for Jim to meet with her again, but understands we want him here with us for as long as the Lord sees fit.

She was my second momma.  I will miss her dearly.