A Vaca...

Queen Mine RV Park

Bisbee, AZ

Fall has arrived, but it doesn't feel like fall yet.  

I counted 13 more days in the mid to high 90s for Corona de Tucson.  No complaints...it is the desert after all.  I was wishing we could send some of the sunshine east to help dry things out from Helene.  We have children with no water and no electricity near Greenville and Joe's brother and sister in Spartanburg are the same.  No downed trees and home damages in either place...we are so thankful for that.  

Our week began with a celebration.  Chocolate and celebrations go hand in hand.  

We each had a different cheesecake.  My choice was Reeses Peanut Butter Cup!

We met Andra and Jamie last Sunday for lunch and to celebrate their first anniversary.  The year flew by.  

Joe had an early appointment at the eye doctor and we stopped at Baja on the way home for brunch.  Yummy Monsoon Benedict for me and blueberry pancakes and eggs over easy for Joe.  

Fresh avocado, smoked bacon, grilled tomatoes, and poached eggs,  with a yummy basil pesto hollandaise sauce 

Back at the oasis, a handsome Red-tailed Hawk waited patiently for breakfast in the top of the pine tree.  

And the Broad-billed Hummingbirds are keeping us busy replenishing the feeders and aren't very nice to the other hummers.  The poor little Black-chinnned hummingbirds don't get much nectar these days.

Sally has a new bone.  She keeps hiding it all over the house.  It was barely sticking out from under our bed one day, in the corner beside the futon one morning,  and under the kitchen table one afternoon.  It makes us happy to see her busy with a purpose.  

The rest of our week was spent taking our time to get ourselves ready for a little vaca.  For years (and years) I have been wanting to see Bisbee.  We have had reservations a couple of times and had to cancel...once for snow and once last year when we lost Dover and Jack.  The stars aligned this year and here we sit at Queen Mine RV Park excited that we have plans for a Mine Tour on Tuesday,  excited to see friends on Wednesday and lots of exploring to do.  If you have a favorite thing to do in Bisbee or a favorite lunch spot, please share.  

Bisbee is 86 miles from the MH storage with only 34 miles on I 10 East.  The rest of the trip took us thru Benson and Tombstone on Historic Hwy 80.  From November 11, 1926 to October 6, 1989, the Arizona segment of Route 80...also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway...shaped the west as a major transcontinental highway and was an important highway in the development of Arizona's car culture.  This historic route once began in downtown San Diego.  Today it is only 72 miles beginning in Benson and ending in Douglas.  There is a strong sense of western history, buildings from the 1800s, cowboy spirits, copper mining history, and a majestic marbled staircase as you traverse this Historic Arizona Road.   

Queen Mine RV Park is the only rv park in Historic Bisbee and within walking distance.  It is a cozy little hill top park with only 25 sights that form a circle around the perimeter of the park.  It is full hook-up (30 amp only) with mine pit views, mountain views and city views.  The lights from Bisbee were so pretty last night.  And I can't wait to go exploring ! 

I'll close for now...until next time, 

Happy Trails! 

It's Fall !

Corona de Tucson

September 22, 2024

It's so much fun to say "It's Fall!". And if we were back in Georgia we would add the "Y'all".    What a nice surprise to walk out with Sally yesterday morning and again this morning with temps in the high 50s.  In fact, this morning, I had on long sleeves and Uggs.  Of course I didn't wear them long as it warms up pretty fast once the sun is up.  The forecast calls for 10 more days in the high 90s before cooler days are here to stay.  

The Blanket flowers are seeding.  I removed spent blooms all summer, but have decided to let them seed.  These beauties are short-lived perennials meaning they grow/bloom for 3 to 4 years.  They bloom early summer til frost.  The plants we have enjoyed all summer are in pots on the sunny side of the patio.  We have plans to re-plant them in a few weeks in the yard.  

I read that Pentas are grown as annuals in most climates, but in warmer climates like Tucson, they are grown as perennials.  If they are damaged by frost, directions say to cut the damaged parts in spring to promote growth and blooms.  We haven't decided if we will re-plant them or not.  The hummingbirds have enjoyed the pentas as much as we have. 

The Gilas have been busy this week.  We have a pair that frequently visit.  They are so polite taking one white seed each time and flying away.

 

A pair of Curved-billed Thrashers have also been busy at the feeders.  

The Cactus Wrens are always noisy and busy and make us laugh out loud.

And this Gambles and lizard actually crossed paths...not sure which one was more surprised as neither one lingered.  

The highlight of the birds this week was a mature Cooper's hawk that perched on the fence.  It was interesting because on our Monday morning walk, we saw the hawks...3 of them perched in a dead tree by the cart path.  We stopped and enjoyed watching them for a few minutes...it is amazing to see them take flight and not hear a sound.  They were definitely hunting and circling for breakfast.  

What a wonderful surprise to have one of then visit during coffee.

Last Sunday,  clouds rolled in just before sunset.  

It sure made for a beautiful walk...

It also made for a wonderful nights sleep...it rained all night into the wee morning hours and what a real treat it was to smell the fresh desert air and see the clear blue sky Monday morning.

I missed the Harvest moon rising, but did get a photo of it setting,

And I will close with a few extra photos that make me smile...

sunshine...

If I ignore him maybe he will just go away !

Our sweet little morning helper...

The stink eye...

Snuggles with Sally...

Until next time, 

HAPPY TRAILS !

No News...

Corona de Tucson

September 15, 2024

Hummingbirds are amazing!

Simple phrases like..."No news is good news." or "A picture is worth a thousand words." or "A man's home is his castle." or "A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." all come to mind as I sit down to write a blog post this week.  The list could go on, but the point is I really don't have much to say this week.  Two adventures had us in the road last week.  First to Green Valley as Sally had an appointment to get her Librela shot...

and second to the city to meander thru the September market at Gather, enjoy our favorite fries, burgers and sweet tea at Five Guys, and make a quick stop at Trader Joe's.  

Back at the oasis, we have just been walking and enjoying piddling with this and that. Nothing blog worthy, but "no news is good news..." just doesn't cut the mustard. Sometimes, no news might just be not so good news and no one would ever know.  So, we will go with a "a picture is worth a thousand words..." even though I am not sure a thousand words best suits either...maybe a hundred words!

Photos from our neighborhood/cart path morning walks...

The backyard birds...

An immature male Vermillion Flycatcher...

And then there were two!

And the sweet little female Vermilion Flycatcher too...

The Gamble's are growing fast...

Our biggest piddling project for the week was picking out and framing family photos...

And last, our backyard skies...

We think good news is better than no news.  Life is good at the oasis.  Have a great week everyone ! Until next time,

HAPPY TRAILS !