How about a little…

 

protein with your sugar water?

This is a brand new feeder that Annie had just hung up earlier in the morning.  It didn’t take long for the ants to find it.

  

Or the wasps!!  See all the little ants bellied up to the bar enjoying a drink.

Wonderful Weekend…

 

We had a wonderful time in Strawberry and didn’t even land up in jail. :)  And the wash was running!  Actually it ran a couple of times during the rains. It was amazing how quickly it happened.

When we got there Friday night, it was cool and lovely. Slept with the windows open and the breezes blowing.  Saturday we had a lovely rain for most of the afternoon.

Now rain isn’t what time at the cabin is all about…but it sure helps with my coming-to-the-end-of-the-summer-can’t-take-the-heat-anymore blues.

  

We had such a good time…visiting, hiking (for those up to that), reading, beading, movie watching and just relaxing with no responsibilities or commitments.  It was lovely.

What’s in a name???

 

I’m sure I may have used this post title before, but c’est  la vie.  Didn’t know this was a multicultural blog did you?  :)

This sign has caught my eye for years as I head into Buckeye to visit with my buddy, Annie. 

The Bales family settled in the Buckeye Valley in the 1880’s and have been a part of Buckeye’s rich farming history ever since. There is a local road named Beloat after some of their early ancestors and fifth generation farmers still live on that road and continue their family tradition today. Coming from a girl who moved all over during her childhood and still finds it hard to put down roots, that amazes me. In the early years, the hay was stacked with a sling and derrick.

  

The above picture is courtesy of a Then and Now book on Buckeye by Verlyne Meck.  It has some of the most interesting pictures and facts.  I’m glad there are people who place importance on preserving and recording the history of an area.

I think it is very ironic that someone with the last name of Bales sells bales of hay.  Call me goofy…it’s okay…people do it all the time, but that strikes me as funny.  When talking with my sister-in-law about the post she said what about an orthopedic doctor with the last name of Bones. You get the idea. Do you know of any other examples of this type of phenomenon…yes, let’s call it a phenomenon. (I know there should probably be a question mark in there somewhere, but laudee with the way I talk…who know’s where?)

And speaking of Annie – you remember, way back at the beginning of this post – we’re headed to Strawberry again this weekend!  Yippee!  We actually got rain down here in the Valley last night, so I’m really looking forward to rain up north.  We’ve managed to talk a couple more of our bunco group into going with us, so I’m sure we’ll be raising hell. Watch the news for four geriatric women being jailed on charges of…well, I’ll leave that to your imagination.  Happy Friday and have the most wonderful weekend!  

What a difference…

 

a few days makes.  This is the shot of the newest baby dove on the 6th of August…just breaking out of its shell.

 

This is a picture of the baby at  just two days old on the 8th.

 

And this is the same baby at eight days old on the 14th.

I would guess in a few more days this little one will be flying and will have left the nest.  This is the momma’s  fourth clutch this summer…she’s been busy.   

Turtles and egrets and ducks, oh my…

 

Going…

going…

gone.

Tracy and I braved the hot weather and got out to take some pictures one day last week.  One of the stops we made was at Friendship Park in Avondale.  They have a nice pond there with lots of water fowl and turtles.

I think this duck has aspirations of being a flamingo.  He was quite comfortable standing around on one leg.  To sleep, some just preferred the old “looking behind me to see who’s sneaking up” style.

    

I never did get a very good shot of the Snowy Egret.  It was the only one of its kind at the pond and didn’t like it if we got too close.

I think his yellow feet are too cool.

 

There was something a little militant about this fellow.  Could be the stripes.

It was really nice to get out and about. It was WARM though by the time we headed home.  I guess that’s not going to change for another month or so.  We’ll just have to be brave and drink lots of water.

A sad little mystery…

 

The “New Beginning” pictures I just posted were taken on Tuesday morning. This is the picture of the nest that I took this morning – Thursday.

Now I know in the previous picture (plus I actually saw with my own two little peepers) that there were two eggs hatching that day.

 

 

But there is only one little baby in the nest.  I looked around to see if I could find the one who doesn’t seem to have made it, and I couldn’t find anything.  And I have to say, this little one isn’t so very little for only being in the world for two days.  Greg is thinking that maybe a roadrunner got the other baby, but I don’t know why it would leave one.  I guess it’s all about how life works, but I’m missing the other little fellow.

New Beginnings…

 

The momma dove has decided that the empty flower pot that hangs closer to the house has more shade.  She’s moved her house to this location for her latest brood.

 

On my way out the door yesterday morning, I noticed she had eggs in her nest and to my amazement they were hatching!!!

 

I was lucky enough to have my point and shoot camera with me. I’ve cropped these in pretty close and apologize for the quality, but I’m sure you can see the little ones poking their way into the world.

Put a smile on my face for the rest of the day.

Am I in the Library???

 

li·brar·y     

1.    a. A place in which literary and artistic materials, such as books, periodicals, newspapers, pamphlets, prints, records, and tapes, are kept for reading, reference, or lending.

I have had a truly deep love for libraries ever since the fourth grade when I was allowed to visit the public library after school in Sumter, South Carolina.  I have moved all over this country and even been to France.  The one thing I remember about every place since South Carolina was where the library in town or on base was.

These are not books.  These are movies.

The other side of this aisle had just as many video games.   I have to say, I have never (until today) checked a movie out of the library.  But I also have to say, I will in the future.  They even have several series from television.  I can see that it would be a great benefit for kids to try a new video game out before investing.  So, I’m trying to embrace the changes that libraries are undergoing, but I’m very sad to say….  

that in this branch of our county library in the fiction section at the end of this second set of books, we are already through the letter “C” and working on the letter “D” by author.  That’s not very many books.  Once when I asked at another branch of the county library for several of the classics…John Steinbeck, Pearl S. Buck…I was told they didn’t carry copies of those books because that wasn’t the demographic they were going for. Huh??  

How about you?  Do any of you still frequent your county or city library?  Are you enriching your children’s lives with the love of literature in whatever form that may take?

Sleep over movie night…

 

I’m such a big kid at heart.  I conned Nicole and three of her friends into watching the Paranormal Activity movies with me last night.

I’ve always loved “scary” movies as long as they’re not the bloody, gory kind.  I like suspense and thrills.  I have a memory of my childhood where my two older brothers and I sat up in our family room watching what are now “the old black and white” Werewolf and Frankenstein movies. I fell asleep and they turned things off and went to bed. I woke up and was afraid to walk through the dark house to my room and was crying.   My oldest brother heard me and came and took me to my room.  He’s always been my hero since then even though as often happens with brothers and sisters we’ve had our share of troubles.  But I know if things get dark and scary, I can always count on him.

But when you stay up  ‘til the very wee hours of the morning watching movies, this is what you find in the morning…

young people asleep on the couches, floors and in your spare room. I love it! 

Written on stone…

 

While spending time in the Pine Cemetery, Annie, Theresa and I noticed that on the back of several of the headstones the names of the person’s children were listed.

 

I can honestly say I have never noticed this before.  Is this something that you find common in your area?  If anyone knows anything about the tradition, please share it with me.

Chuparosa….

 

Isn’t that a lovely word?  It’s colloquial Spanish for humming bird, and I have become familiar with the term by following a wonderful blog Las Aventuras.

I took these shots of humming birds while up in Strawberry. I was very busy reading and relaxing, but managed to get a few shots.

I’m not very good a identifying humming birds and so have asked Chris to help.  I’m guessing this is a female of some kind.

 

And my angles weren’t the best, but I needed to stay seated or risk scaring the little jewels away.

 

  

Looks like this one is flying on one wing and a prayer, but it’s an optical illusion because their little wings go so fast.

Here’s another word I learned from Chris…Las Libélulas which is pronounced "Lee-bay-loo-lah".  As Chris says, it’s a fun word to say.  I don’t have a recent picture of one, but here is an older one from a fun trip with Tracy to one of the lakes at Estrella Mountain Ranch.

It’s so nice to be exposed to lots of new things by following blogs from all over the country as well as the world.  Makes the world a smaller, friendlier place.

Okay, Chris, help me out with my humming bird shots…such that they are. 

What are you reading???

 

These are just a few of the books I have my nose in right now. 

I am also reading “Hunting Sweetie Rose” by Jack Fredrickson.  I have a long list of books waiting in the wings too.  What are you reading this summer?

Sweet manna from the skies…

 

Yes, Annie and I were blessed with rain this weekend in Strawberry!  It was such a lovely sight.  It made the air so sweet and cool.  I had just about forgotten how nice an afternoon and evening rain could be.

The clouds started building around noon on Saturday.  They did not disappoint.

 

We were in “town”…that means Pine which is just three miles down the road from Strawberry…picking up some goodies from the Honey Store when the clouds burst.

 

It rained for half an hour or so and then let up by the time we got back to the cabin.  We settled in for some scary movies and soon were being serenaded by another shower.  I fell asleep that night listening to the rain through the open window, snuggled all warm under my blanket…perfect sleeping weather. 

Living down in the Valley, we get used to short cloud bursts or more often than not…only wind and dust, no rain.  I really needed this time with the rain.  I’m pretty sure I must be meant to live in Oregon or Washington.  I’m not a very good desert rat.  

I’ll get caught up with all your blogs as soon as possible.

I’m going out on a limb here…

 

and betting that you can guess where I’m headed this weekend.  Especially if I tell you it involves Annie, books and scary movies…and I’m hoping rain.  I knew you would guess!!  Strawberry here we come!  We are headed up to check on the progress being made by the young man she hired to do some yard work.  It’s very important that the underbrush and lower limbs of trees in areas like Strawberry are kept cleared away in case of fire.  So you know that we’re being responsible stewards and not just getting away from the heat and chores here at home.  :) 

I’ll play catch up with all your blogs when I get back down to the Valley.  I wouldn’t want to miss one single post.  Have a lovely weekend and be safe!

Not so scary…

 

I know that a lot of people consider cemeteries to be scary places. Haunted with ghosts, ghouls or zombies.  I find them to be very peaceful places that touch me in many different ways.  Recalling the hardships of life gone by, the love of family, the loneliness of neglect, the triumph of the human spirit…I could go on and on.

 

On our last trip to Strawberry, Annie and I visited the Pine cemetery.  It was established in 1881 and the land was donated to the town by a local family.

 

I am drawn to the older parts of a cemetery and appreciate the ornateness (my word) of the headstones there.  It may be hard to see, but this one says of David - “A gem so fair we could not keep”.  And of Louisa  - “None knew her but to love her.”  What wonderful sentiments.

 

This marker was for a child who died at birth. It was not small by any means and stood testament to the love and hope this child represented for his parents through the nine months his mother carried him.

 

There were balloons,  cars,  stuffed animals and flowers left to comfort or honor the dead.  But I found this toy gun especially poignant.

 

And for John - “He rendered home his happiest place.”  Doesn’t that bring peace to your heart?  Does mine.

 

And what more needs to be said but, “We loved him.” ? 

I know I’m not the only one who feels this way about cemeteries.  There were benches and tables and chairs left close to loved one’s grave sights so that family or friends might stop awhile and spin the yarn of memories across their minds and hearts.  I don’t believe the spirits of any of these people linger here.  I believe visiting is for the comfort of those left behind.

But at one point, I felt a small tug on my shirt tail and imagined it was a small boy asking if I had seen his toy gun…     

Don’t know what….

 

to call this post.  I am still having trouble posting on three of my favorite blogs.  I don’t want you to think I’ve forgotten you.  I visit and read each of your posts.

So, Chris at Las Aventuras, Betsy at My Five Men and Steve at The Fourth Dimension don’t give up on me.  I’m still trying to figure out what’s wrong and why I can’t post to your blogs.

I’m also at a quandary….can you be “at” a quandary or do you need to be “in” a quandary….as to what picture I might add to this post.  You know me.  When in doubt post a flower!

 

Or maybe several…these are blooming right now profusely. 

Since my technology girl…that would be Tracy….is back from the beach, I may be able to get this solved soon.  Don’t give up on me!!

At last…

 

We are finally getting some rain.  This shot was taken on July 4th when the Phoenix valley had a lovely rain.  Last night (no, I did not get up to take any pictures) we had another nice rain.  We had to endure the required dust storm before last night’s rain though. It’s steamy today, but I don’t dare complain.  Love, love, love the rain!

On a side note, I’m having trouble posting comments to some of my favorite blogs.  They don’t seem to be recognizing my Google profile.  I’ll keep working on it, but in the meantime, know I’m still checking in with your blogs everyday.

The skies held lots of…

 

clouds and promises of rain, but we didn’t get any.  It was disappointing, but if I have to be disappointed, Strawberry is a good place to be when it happens.    I have more things to share, but I’m running on my battery while doing this post and I’m just about to run out of battery.  (As I was typing and got to the word “about”, everything went black. I guess I was closer to running out of battery than I thought.)  

So anyway, the skies were beautiful, but no rain fell.   We even stayed an extra day hoping to get rain.  But I’m glad to be back home and getting caught up with all your posts.

It ain’t all about the boys…

 

Tracy drug politely invited me to go with her to see the Tumbler Tour that was passing through town promoting the new Black Knight movie.  It was sweltering a bit warm, but we got there early enough to beat most of the heat.  I’m kidding you and you all know it!  I love when Tracy comes up with these fun, off-the-wall kinda things to do.

I did learn one thing…Batman ain’t all about boys.

 

I also learned that even though Chris is a big time fan, he couldn’t guess what the mystery item was on Tracy’s post yesterday. 

 

The news was there and I am so hoping that I didn’t accidently get in any of their footage.  You know the camera adds fifty pounds, right?  :)

 

This is how the Tumbler and the Bat Pod travel from location to location.  Gotta wonder why…they both had wheels of their own. Oh, I forgot to show you what we went there to see, didn’t I.

Well to see that, you’ll just need to jump on over to Tracy’s blog linked above and check it out.

And a big BTW…I’m headed to Strawberry in the morning and won’t be back on my computer until Saturday.  I’ll miss you guys, but am so looking forward to heading up north. We actually had rain here in Phoenix today and I’m sure it’s really lovely in the pines. I’ll miss you all, but catch up when I get back!

Blessings!

I spy with my little eye…

 

something that poops.

I had been noticing on the sidewalk under a certain part of this tree an abundance of, well let’s just say it…poop.  I went out after sunset to investigate and looked up into the tree to spot three little bird bottoms.  Luckily this wasn’t a time when pooping was taking place.  I had to use my flash, but these three young doves (probably siblings) stayed right where they were so I could get their picture.  Mystery solved!