Celebration, Cowboys, and Cactus

Corona de Tucson

November 8, 2022 

The week began with yummy fried fish tacos in Green Valley with Randy on Wednesday.

And someone at the oasis had a birthday dinner...

and celebration this week !  

Our sweet Dover had surgery on Thursday to remove four suspicious growths...one on her upper lip, one on each side of her neck and a bigger one on her back left leg.  We were up and out the door early as she was to be at the vets in Green Valley at 7:30.

 

She has always liked to ride and go wherever we take her.  When it is just the three of us, she likes to sit up front with me so she can see out the big window.  The clouds were dark and rain was in the forecast for the day.

We are hoping for biopsy results by the end of the week.  She is sporting a fancy collar and I am always amazed at what a great little patient Dover is.

Saturday we headed south for 22 miles to Empire Ranch.  You might remember we went to the Cowboy Festival there this time last year.  Getting there is half the fun...Hwy 83 is a designated Arizona Scenic Highway.  

And once there, the wide open space is jaw dropping.

This year's festival had lots more exhibits, presentations, vendors and food trucks.  The proceeds go toward the Empire Ranch Foundation which protects, restores and maintains the historical buildings and landscape at the ranch.  The ranch is and has been a working cattle ranch for over 140 years.  It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.  Empire Ranch now comprises the 45,000 acre Las Cienega Conservation Area.  

Some of my favorites: 

We watched a lesson to teach a horse how to maneuver a teeter-totter board... the beginning stage of learning how to cross a creek.

Branding skills

The Chuck Box...making biscuits that were cooked in huge black iron skillets with lids over an open wood fire.  They smelled yummy !

 

Charros Modelos de Tucson...

My very first cowboy hat!

And my most favorite, Forever Home Donkey Rescue & Sanctuary located in Benson.

The weather here has been perfect.  It's chilly in the morning but warms up nicely.  Joe and I always prefer to get up and get going early so its a big adjustment for us to wait until mid-morning to walk or run errands.  Monday was grocery store day and we decided to change the routine just a bit.  Our favorite hiking close to home is Saguaro NP East...and Cactus Forest Trail was calling my name.  Hiking before buying groceries is much more fun !

I can't believe that the last time we did this trail was in August...it was green and the barrel cacti had gorgeous red blooms.  Yesterday was a different picture. 

The grasses were a golden brown with hints of yellow from the flowering broom weed plants.

 

And the barrel cacti were topped with yellow fruit.

I am a fan of all the desert seasons and can't really pick a favorite. I love it every time I go ! 

The mesquite trees had lots of seed pods.

The cholla were glowing.

Tiny little Pincushion cacti growing among dead prickly pear cacti. 

And not forgetting to look up, I noticed this beauty had a flower bud.

Back at the oasis, we have a mystery.  We saw this bird perch in the pine tree beside the cart path a few houses down from us.  I managed to snap a decent photo I could zoom in on.  

Does anyone have an idea what it is?   I have googled, but can't find an ID.  I suspect it might be a juvenile owl...

This little cutie is no mystery...striking a pose for the camera !

We enjoyed a nice sunset...the skies never disappoint !

So that's a wrap...looking forward to another week. Until next time, 

HAPPY TRAILS !

Back at Home...

Corona de Tucson

November 1, 2022

Sunset Sunday evening

Time is such a blur these days.  I know we were gone for two weeks.  We have the memories and the photos and the blog posts to look back on.  But it just doesn't seem possible we have been home for a week, October is history, and 2022 only has two more months.  

Puppies are so adaptable.  When we loaded them in the MH to go to Payson, they immediately settled in to ride as if it had been only a week (and not almost 9 months) since they had traveled in the MH.  Dover, Sally and Jack are terrific traveling buddies !  Of the three, Sally was the most excited to be home.  She was quite funny as she ran down the hall, back up the hall circling thru the family room and kitchen then back again several times before settling in her favorite indoor spot.  I am pretty sure they just love to be wherever we are.  Dover on the other hand studies everything.  She made sure I knew just where her doggie food needed to be stored before curling up in her bed in the family room. And Jack definitely made sure his ball was safe in its usual spot in the drawer before working very hard to get the throw blanket on the sofa just the way he wanted it so he could curl up and nap.  

Other than a couple of appointments and a grocery store run, we stayed close to home this week.  It was quiet...we love it ! Joe did remove the old base moulding around the kitchen island and replaced it with a wider, prettier moulding.  Out with the old...

...in with the new !  I am always happy when some little thing makes such a big difference.  

The birds didn't get mad and leave while we were gone.  I don't think it's the food they miss.  I think it's the fresh water.  There isn't any water around our neighborhood except for other neighbors who, like us, provide it.  The Cactus Wrens were the first birds I saw in the yard when we returned although we did hear the noisy Gila Woodpecker a few times from inside.    

Fresh water

Quite busy winterizing his home under the fronds

I planted a pot of violas this week.  I have another pot the begonias were in that is empty now and might just plant a second pot. Violas are my favorite flower...dainty,  cheerful, colorful and hardy.

I saw the Goldfinch at the birdbath first and knew it was only a matter of time before they discovered the thistle feeder had been filled.

The temps have changed.  I love this weather with its cool mornings and warm afternoons.  It has, however, thrown a kink in our very early morning walks...it's dark and chilly when we get up now. No worries...coffee by the fire works.  I'll be grabbing a blanket before I know !

Sunrise this morning

Until next time, 

HAPPY TRAILS!