June 1 - 15, 2025
Tombstone, Arizona
I'm back on wake, wildlife, small projects, town and repeat mode these days. Note "town" is Sierra Vista, "city" is Tucson :-) Reading a great book on the Pueblo Revolt in New Mexico, and traveling vicariously through Sherry's continued travels on her way back to VA are the highlights. That and preparing to go pick up Ezra and Elliott on the 17th!
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| Each year we get a few Mule Deer with an ear infection, but this poor doe has two. She looks miserable :-) |
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| We have more Scaled Quail this year. |
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| Their markings are unique and beautiful. |
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| Mourning Dove in her fancy dress. |
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| Another baby Javelina braving the water trough on their own. |
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| House Finch |
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| Grosbeak |
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| Juvenile and adult Northern Cardinal |
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| Adult Cottontail |
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| Cuteness overload, this baby Cottontail. |
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| The baby bunny is smaller than the Quail! |
Maybe it's early but I'm wondering where all the baby Quail are?? We have baby Finch and Cardinals. Javelina and deer and bunnies. No Quail babies beyond the three that became one that hasn't returned. There have also been more snakes (sadly as road-kill) than in previous years.
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| After just a couple visits I never see them again. |
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| June starts off with two days of intermittent, good rain and cloudy days, but sadly they don't last. |
Every year for the rest of my life will be the hotter than the one before. I've heard this numerous times over the past few years and sadly it's been true. Every year.
Mid-July usually brings our hottest temps, but we're already under extreme heat warning for three days. A month early, and very unwelcome. Come on monsoons!!
Saturday we have two power outages of a couple hours each - yuck!
One can always "just stay inside" when it's over 90 outside (over 100 for the second outage), but not only does the house warm up quickly in the afternoons with no AC, our water is from a system of community wells so no power, no pumps. Staying inside becomes less of a desirable option.
Things like automatic garage door openers and electric recliners become a hinderance instead of their normal convenience! It's only funny the first couple times :-)
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| Sunrise turns the Junipers to gold. |
The procedure on Bill's hand didn't resolve the issue, although there are prolonged periods of relief. Just having randomly occurring pain with no recognizable trigger is frustrating. Otherwise he's feeling pretty good :-) A week with a couple grands will give him a boost!
I've been putting off the time-consuming project of labeling all the photos in the albums I organized a couple years ago. While complaining about having too much time to consume........ Perhaps there's an opportunity I'm overlooking? After the boys' visit :-)
Meanwhile the family embraces summer.
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| Little M makes us all proud with his Math award - especially his teacher-parents! |
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| Enough school! - M&M enjoy some beach time. |
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| Oliver has a gentle touch for his giant bubble. |
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| Ezra holds Elliott in the palm of his hand. |
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| Elliott and Ezra at Universal on the first day of summer break - so excited!. |
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| They took their parents too! |
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| Magnolia is a happy, giggle-girl! |
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| Reese, Penelope and Magnolia take their parents back to SoCal for some Disney fun. |
Good morning Jodee! We love watching the baby bunnies too. The baby javalinas are cute too…a family of five crossed the path in front of us the other morning and didn’t pay any attention to us and Lucy, thank goodness! I love the scaled Quail. We have not seen any here. Their markings are gorgeous. Joe and I have both noticed that we have only seen a few baby quails when walking on the cart path and have had none in our yard. Lots of grown gambles visit so that’s a good thing. I love sunrise this time of year with its golden glow…the junipers are gorgeous! Oliver’s photo with the bulble could easily win a contest and Magnolia put a smile on my face…happy babies are so sweet! Safe travels to pick up the grands…
ReplyDeleteThanks Gay. Last year we had two Scaled Quail and I didn't know what they were! This year several more and so pretty. They have a really strange call :-) I agree Oliver's pic is really special.
DeleteOk, over 100 and no power means I will never move to Arizona. Every year is hotter. That is a true and sobering thought. It's going to be 90 here this week and mid June in the foothills of Virginia that is unheard of. BUT if we all move to Vermont or Montana will that help or will it be colder there every year? What a mess we've made and we are still doing it. Uggg!
ReplyDeleteUgg also that Bill's hand still has random pain. You do have cute neighbors and darling grandchildren. Glad to hear the two are coming for a visit. I look forward to hearing about that to distract me from the Swedish Death Cleaning.
Happily the power outage was one day so far, but the triple digits are unusual for us at 4500'. Especially this early! While I don't want to be in months of snow, I'd be okay with colder temps all year. LOL to your cleaning plan. The books are very popular and I'm anxious to see how you find the system!
DeleteComing from Northern Canada,do appreciate the pics of the unique & cute critters to your region.Have personally undergone CTS surgery so really empathize with Bill.Perhaps it might be worthwhile for those potential 110 degree days to acquire a generator or Bluetti power bank --perhaps your RV 's generator could come to the rescue?All the best.
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun to see what animals roam different areas. Northern Canada sounds lovely right now!! Fortunately power outages are rare and hoping that continues. In a pinch the generator in the RV could help out. And the propane frig could take on some of the stuff from the house frig/freezer :-)
DeleteIn times past I have said, "I could live in AZ year round." I think I've changed my mind this year and especially if there are power outages! I've never seen a blue grosbeak! And yes, we all have too much time on our hands but yet those projects (cleaning out my pantry room in the basement) just aren't what we want to do at the time! Your Magnolia is a happy girl--we too have a Magnolia in our family, she is a red haired almost 4 year old spit fire!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know there were other colors of Grosbeak - they're all so pretty! It wasn't the plan to be in AZ during the summer for many years even when they were cooler, but alas here we are. Montana sounds wonderful :-) LOL to "those projects". There's always plenty on the list.
DeleteOh, that poor doe! I've never seen one holding her ears that way, it must be painful. When we get home, I think we'll make some sort of "watering hole" like you have. We provide water for the birds, but no one else. Thoughtless of me! That little bunny baby is so sweet...we once had a cat (in the olden days when we still let out cats outside) that brought us a tiny bunny. We nursed it and kept it in the bathtub til it was strong enough. I wonder if Bill's hand procedure will gradually lessen his pain episodes or is it what it is now? Tough to deal with pain all the time, give him our best.
ReplyDeleteThat water trough has brought us a lot of entertainment and made some happy critters over the years. The galvanized steel seems to hold up well in the harsh elements. I put a couple bricks on the back for the shorter legs, but the deer tend to knock them down a few times a year. You'll enjoy having one. Your bath bunny sounds so sweet :-) Bill says thanks!
DeleteI love all your wildlife. What fun to live in a natural zoo. I've never heard of the Scaled Quail. So unique. That poor mule deer:( I've seen a couple quail families on our hill out back. One family had two little ones, the other had three. They are few weeks old. We don't see many families around town running across the road when we bike like use to. Definitely not as many quail running around as previous years. Glad to hear you're keeping busy and finding lots to do. Also great to hear Bill is doing well. You'll be crazy busy with the boys there!! Keeping you young. Ezra is SO tall!! All legs.
ReplyDeleteI do love the look of those Scaled Quail! We still have dozens of adult Quail so I'm hoping for more babies - but it's soooo hot for them :-( It's still weird to see Ezra so grown up, but he's almost the shortest kid in his class. He and brother have us hopping this week. I love it!!
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