May 16 - May 31, 2025
Tombstone, Arizona
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| Wispy Arizona summer skies. |
I take my time over a couple days cleaning and unloading PJ. There's really not much to do, but I'm in no hurry. She'll be a guest room in a couple weeks.
The mornings are warmer now so I enjoy watching the sunrise and reading while the birds and other critters come to visit. While the sun feels good, it makes it difficult to capture decent pics of any birds. I'm looking forward to this year's baby Quail which should start arriving soon.
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| I hope the beautiful Grosbeak will bring friends, but it's always a solo visit. |
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| My second morning back a lone Javelina comes for a drink. |
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| Watching me watch her. |
My birthday comes again despite my trying to ignore it - my last year in my sixties. Good lord! Fun to hear from friends and family, Jeff makes me a favorite dinner.
Much of the pain in Bill's hands is arthritis, but some is nerve pain from his dialysis fistula. His surgeon thinks he can give him some relief so we head for his appointment in Tucson. I figure killing time at a movie is a good idea on a 95 degree day. Accountant 2 is okay but slow, so when I get a message that he's done already I don't hesitate to leave before the movie's over. We grab late lunch at Amelia's where the food is good, but the inside dining is claustrophobic at a very tiny table.
It's not a full-fix, but he does get some relief during the first days following the procedure. I'm hopeful in the days to come it will be even better.
Last May all four of Bill's sons, and one grand with his mom, came to visit for a couple days. While Travis doesn't make the trip from VA this year, the other three, minus the grand and mom, drive over from SoCal for Memorial Day Weekend. With Jeff here, this year there's even more catching up.
They arrive with flowers and cake - so sweet :-)) I fail to take a pic, both are very pretty.
Always lots of sparring and laughter, it's delightful having all the added energy filling the house.
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| Post dinner card game - Corey, Nick, Jeff and Richie. |
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| Bill is happy to catch up with his boys over a game of cribbage. My boys and I didn't get the cribbage-gene. |
Nick stays in PJ and agrees she's great :-) They spend an afternoon in Tombstone, but mostly we just hang out enjoying each other's company. The time, as always, goes too fast, and Monday morning they're on their way home.
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| My damn kid. |
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| We wear out the youngest :-) |
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| Corey, Nick, Bill and Richie |
Our deer stop by daily at the water trough - up to 15 does and fawns, just one small buck so far this year. Tessa generally ignores them, but it's always funny to watch the fawns tentatively get closer to her on the other side of the fence. They're very curious about this fluffy dog.
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| Rare sighting this year - a young buck. |
I think the Jack Rabbits are getting bigger every year! The couple in the backyard every evening are bigger than Tessa. Those ears are so tall!
I'm not a fan of Javelina but can't deny that their babies are pretty damn cute. I saw the twins a few weeks ago when they were no larger than Quail, but they were too far to catch a pic. So I'm especially excited to see them coming to the trough with some adults. A little bigger, but still cute!
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| There are nine in this squadron, but they usually arrive in smaller numbers. |
I'm excited to share the critters with Ezra and Elliott when they come for another summer visit the middle of June. Always fun to plan our road trips and visits!
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| Penelope shares little sister Magnolia with cousin Oliver. |
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| Ezra had a great time on the end of school trip to Universal Studios. |
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| Cassidy stops to smell the flowers. One must. |
Hi Jodee…one must always stop to smell the flowers! So cute! Ezra is practically grown…good golly where has the time gone? It is so awesome the boys come to visit with Bill! And I know exactly what you mean about the “energy” in the house! Those baby javelina are so cute, but like you I am a-little cautious of them. The Blue Geossbeak is so pretty! And what’s not to love about the baby deer? It’s great you give them all water.
ReplyDeleteIt's a real symbiotic relationship with the wildlife watching and the water trough. I so enjoy the front porch "show".
Delete"No Bad Days", is on a sticker on my truck. And it certainly applies to a visit from family. Those moments are special.
ReplyDeleteSuch a verity of critters at your watering hole. The young javelina are indeed cute, but not so much the parents. I'm gonna wait till you have pictures of the quail to decide cutest ;)
LOL, those tiny Quail are hard to beat on the cute-meter :-) We always feel blessed when family can come see us.
DeleteWhat a great time with your family! Love all the critter pictures, especially the deer!
ReplyDeleteReally hard to beat having family and critters all come to see us.
DeleteCassidy smelling the flowers is a classic! I sure hope Bill gets some relief soon, it's horrible to have pain all the time! I too am not a fan of javelina--they can be agressive. So cool that Bill's sons came to visit. Enjoy your upcoming visitors!
ReplyDeleteWhile I enjoy seeing the babies, Javelina in the neighborhood also means I have to watch for our trash can being "attacked" on pickup day :-(
DeleteLove seeing the family gatherings....people and critters! I know we're not supposed to feed the deer, but there isn't an edict against watering them, right? I wish I could smell the flowers like little Cassidy! Even Dave is jealous.....
ReplyDeleteI of course thought of Dave when I saw the Cassidy pic :-)))) Someone in the area is feeding the deer because they often come running when they hear me filling the bird feeders. Not a good thing for them to trust humans so we don't feed them. We also have a bird and bunny "water dish" under one of our trees on a slow and steady drip.
DeleteI have to say I do not envy you the javelina's. I think they are all ugly, big or little. But boy would I love to be able to bend over and smell the flowers like that. Ahh the good old days.
ReplyDeleteHope Bill continues to get pain relief from the doctor's procedure.
You got pretty close to that when you smelled the chocolate flowers :-)))) The pain isn't all gone, but he does seem to have it much less often so an improvement at least.
DeleteHow great to have a family gathering over the holiday weekend. Sorry to hear Bill is having trouble with his hands. Arthritis is bad enough but to throw in something else, ugh! Hope he is still continuing to get relief. You do have a wonderful parade of wildlife visiting. Having the watering tub is much appreciated by them I'm sure. Those baby javelina are so cute. The parents, not so much. Oh, my! Is that photo of Cassidy not just the cutest:) She must be related to Dave Bank!!
ReplyDeleteWe really appreciate the kids making the drive to see us! It's been so dry the last several months that our trough has become a "regular stop" for our local critters. Keeping it filled is the least we can do so we can share the space with the wildlife. Yep, I think Cassidy was channeling some "inner Dave" :-)))
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