Oh Happy Day!

Tucson/Lazydays KOA
Tucson, AZ
January 12, 2015



 It has been far too long since my last post. I didn't have anything to really write about and haven't even been out with the camera so there weren't any pictures to share either.

I think I see a puppy nose...

I did a fun project on Christmas Eve while Joe was at chemo. I covered all the sofa pillows. I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun it was. I have never really liked to sew. I found it very frustrating to have to undo stitches when mistakes were made. Sewing these covers is the first time I have actually sewn anything in too many years to know exactly how long it has been. I was pleased and Joe had a nice surprise when he got home. We picked out a machine washable fabric and I used an envelope pattern I found on the internet...easy on, easy off!

A huge thanks to Lisa of  www.metamorphosisroad.blogspot.com fame for letting me know Verdins like oranges. Oranges are in abundance around here and what a treat it has been to watch these little acrobats maneuver on, under, and all around. I stuck orange halves on as many tree branches as I could.

Shortly after Christmas and his last chemo treatment, Joe got pneumonia. No fun! He had a chest x-ray on Dec 29 and a PET scan on Dec. 30 and another chest x-ray on Jan. 9 after a round of antibiotics.



Dover and Jack waiting patiently...

Well, today was the day we have been waiting for...Oh happy day! Joe is cancer free and the pneumonia is almost gone...so much so that Dr. Chen said she wouldn't worry about him. But a promise was made to call her if anything doesn't "feel right". So, tentative plans to go to San Diego for a month are now a go! We were really busy when we got home getting things in order to pull out in the morning. Yippe!

So, until next time from sunny Southern California, take care and...

happy trails!

An Unlikely Pair?

Tucson/Lazydays KOA
Tucson, AZ
December 18, 2014

Those of you that have been following our blog for awhile already know that photographing nature is just about my most favorite thing to do. Hiking has not been apart of our daily/weekly routine for sometime now because of Joe's lack of energy and strength from his chemo. Something we intend to work on after a good bill of health...a great way to start the new year! Anyhow, I have been so at peace just sitting on the patio or taking walks with the pups around the park looking at everything and "playing" with the camera. Day before yesterday, when I returned from a lengthy walk with Sally and Dover (Sally and I are on a mission to loose a few pounds!) I heard a familiar sound...the hummingbirds. I glanced at the feeder and to my surprise there were 2 birds enjoying an afternoon snack. One was an Anna's Hummingbird. With camera in hand, I snapped away with hopes of capturing a picture I could use to help me identify the other one. I recently purchased The Sibley Guide to Birds, second edition as recommended by the bird lady of blogland...Judy Bell. I can easily "get lost" in that guide reading about all the birds so identifying a new bird which should have taken a few minutes, took about an hour. The bird in my photograph turned out to be a Verdin. Quite an interesting little bird.

After the identification was made, I was on the internet finding out all about this tiny grayish bird with the yellow face and reddish patch on the bend of his wings. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum has a great web-site with an awesome description of many birds...including the Verdin. I learned from their info that he is not closely related to any other bird in the western hemisphere; they are second only to the hummingbirds as flower visitors, but insects are their main menu; and they build 2 nests...one for roosting and one for breeding. Judy (www.travels-with-emma.blogspot.com), who just posted about the Verdin she saw, had this to say... "They're quite acrobatic and don't sit still for long. Kind of reminded me of an Olympic athlete on a bar or a ring routine." Well, I cant top that!

Peek-a-boo!

Until next time, take care and...

happy tails...um I mean trails!