It's March Already...

Corona de Tucson

March 12, 2024 

Mica Trail at Saguaro NP East

After several e-mail's from our BIL who lives in Maryland reminding me very politely and patiently that we must be settled into February (our last post on Feb. 11) by now, I find myself sitting at the computer and trying to recapture the past few weeks.  I decided to take a break from blogging which turned into a much longer break than I had intended and find myself at odds trying to catch up.  Ronnie and Carol left Tucson on February 15, but not before we had some wonderful weather and one more great hike at Saguaro NP East.  We sure enjoyed our time with them...six weeks total between San Diego and Tucson.  

Mica Trail connects to Cactus Forest Trail and makes for a nice walk thru some beautiful desert and mountain scenery.  Afterwards, the four of us enjoyed a picnic in the picnic area with covered tables...sandwiches, apples (with yummy cream cheese, brown sugar, and vanilla dip), chips and animal cookies sure hit the spot.  We miss Ronnie and Carol and seem to be moving at a snail's since they moved on to Yuma.  

Joe and I spent one lovely afternoon at Madera Canyon.  Of course getting there on one of my favorite country roads is part of the fun.

Madera Canyon Road and gorgeous clouds...

We had no plans to hike but rather just to meander along the paths

and sit on the rocks next to the creek to enjoy listening to the sound of running water, listening to. the birds sing, while watching the deer enjoying an afternoon snack, and soaking in the warm sunshine.  It was so quiet...just the sounds of nature.

Madera Creek

At the end of February, our Mac Pro died.  The battery had swelled and popped out a few screws from the bottom of the computer.   We were told we were lucky it didn't explode!  The same thing happened a few years ago and it was repaired, but this time, there was no repair. It had to be replaced.  We decided on a MacBook Air.  Same size, but totally different.  In my opinion, if you don't upgrade often which is a never ending $$$$ then you get way behind on how to use the darn things. We attended a class last week which focused on the basics.  This week we will have to call the support help "on-line" number.  We much prefer a person to person help session, but apple does not do those.  We did manage to get our taxes done yesterday, but still can't figure out the spread sheet our budget is on...the format and formulas aren't the same.  

Joe had an eye check up and we made a stop at BK's for a dog, fries, and mostly the guacamole and chips.  Sally had a check-up and all is good.  Dr. Huang suggested Sally would benefit from a monthly injection of a medicine called Librela.  It controls puppy osteoarthritis pain.  Dr. Huang said we might not notice a significant difference in Sally's activity until after the second shot, but we did.  Our sweet little Sally was hopping around the house like a bunny within a few days and her appetite (which had dwindled down to almost nothing) returned to once again enjoying her food.  

Sally enjoys picnics too!

Another morning, Joe and I did the Freeman Homestead  Nature Trail at the SNP-E. It's an easy trail that passes by the remains of the Freeman family home built in the early 1930s. Stafford Freeman applied for a patent under the Homestead Act and was granted 640 acres to farm, graze, and mine.  In the early 1950s, the Freeman Homestead along with several home sites were purchased by the National Park Service.   The first part of the trail twists and turns thru the desert with Rincon Mountains in view. 

There is lots of information along the trail and I did learn something new...I had never thought about the thousands of spines on the saguaros before except to take note that you don't touch them.  

Saguaro skin is tough and waxy and pleated like an accordion so it can expand or contract with the amount of water taken in.  Those spines actually have a purpose too...to shade and protect these desert giants.  

And last week, we had a delightful visit with Janna and Mike.  What a treat it was to see them...its's been way too long.  They picked us up at our home and we road to Green Valley with them for lunch at Manuel's.  It was the highlight of our week with lots of conversing and laughing.  We sat on the patio for awhile when we got home...it was such a pretty day.  When they left, Sally spent the rest of her day wandering about the house looking for them...she likes company too ! 

We have enjoyed some walks...

Gorgeous weather...

The neighborhood Great Horned Owl...

A neighbor's yard...

Sunset walks are my favorite...

Back at the oasis, the Lesser Goldfinch are always busy and their feeder gets filled every morning. 

The Cooper's hawk stopped by for a visit...

and a Curved-bill Thrasher likes the butter bites.

February is peak mating season for coyotes. They have been very vocal the past few weeks.  

We keep a close eye on Sally these days...she loves lying in the warm rocks.

And I planted a pot of violas...they always put a smile on  my face.

This pretty much catches us up.  So until next time,

HAPPY TRAILS !

Settling into February...

Corona de Tucson

February 11, 2024

Settling in at home is a wonderful thing...putting things in their place, adjusting to space, our very own little oasis, a roomy shower, and a much larger washer and dryer are just a few things that help settling in wonderful.  There are many things we enjoy about home, but the quiet might just be my most favorite thing of all about being here.  

Monday, we were up early and headed to Lazydays KOA.  Just saying/writing Lazydays KOA floods my brain with so many great memories of days gone by.  Carol and Ronnie left SD when we did and pulled right in to the KOA for two weeks of Tucson time and Monday we had plans to hike at Catalina State Park.  Anybody that has visited this beautiful Arizona state park knows that to do most walking/hiking there one must cross the wash.  Sometimes, the wash is dry...that is always sad to me...and sometimes the wash has running water...that always makes me happy.  Memories of laughing all the way across with garbage bags wrapped around our legs come to mind...just ask Sue !  No bags this week, but there were lots of laughs heard while wading thru the better than ankle deep cold water.  

Catalina is a favorite hiking place.  Joe and I both agree that we don't get there enough as it is just shy of 45 miles from home.  Afterwards, we enjoyed a picnic before heading back to town.  

Another day this week we enjoyed perusing The Gallery in the Sun with Carol and Ronnie.  The gallery DeGrazia built is a work of art in itself and while we like some of his art...not all of his art...it makes for a colorful morning with a little history thrown in the mix.  Carol is quite the artist herself and I enjoyed watching her stroll thru the gallery and pointing out things I would never even think about.  

There were two rotating exhibits on display until September 4th. 

"Rodeo" is a series of oil paintings DeGrazia did in 1954 that were inspired by the Tohono O'odham Nation Rodeo and Fair in the community of Sells, AZ. DeGrazia referred to these paintings as his "dramatic" paintings...works that capture a decisive, dramatic moment in paint.   

Titled : Wild Horse Race
oil on canvas, 1954 
I loved the bold colors and action in this painting.

And "Master Thesis Paintings" featuring a selection of watercolors and oil paintings  from his 1945 University of Arizona Master of Arts Thesis.  

Based on movements from popular classical music, his work demonstrates his theories about the correlation between the melodies, harmonies, and rhythms of music and the shapes, colors, and rhythms of abstract paintings. 

Tschaikowsky
Concerto #1 in B flat minor
oil on canvas diptych 1944
(I had to look up diptych...a painting on two hinged wooden panels which may be closed like a book.)

Throughout the gallery, are tables, benches and chairs that DeGrazia made.  I love the simplicity. 

In DeGrazi's studio, the buses caught Carols' eye.  

And in the courtyard, Carol and Ronnie paused...

to study the self image DeGrazia did in a sculpture like form that hangs in a tree.  

We also took the time to see Mission in the Sun, the first building DeGrazia built on the grounds.  

Afterwards, we enjoyed a nice lunch at Cafe a La C'Art in town.  A delightful morning, a yummy lunch, and time with friends makes for a really nice time.    

  

Back at the oasis, it has been a hodge podge of weather days....mild and sunny, rainy, windy, and cold.  

We only had one decent day for a walk...

No complaints...we need the rain! And a great day for being lazy!

The doves practiced their ice skating skills...quite gracefully I will add. I felt really bad when he started pecking at the ice for water. 

Yesterday (Saturday 2/10) we had plans.  Andra and Jamie and Carol and Ronnie came for lunch.  I made lasagna, salad and bread and Carol brought cherry cheesecake.  It was a wonderful time visiting.   It was also cold and snowing !  I didn't get photos of the people, but I did get some of the snow.  

Ozzie loves the snow!

The best part about snow  here is that it was gone by late afternoon.

We weren't sure how many birds we should see after having been gone for a month.  Filling the feeders was the first thing we did! No surprise that the Cactus Wren was the first to show.  We have had the pleasure to see Cardinals, Gila Woodpeckers, Curved-bill Thrashers, House Wrens and Sparrows...all the regulars!  

And we had a new bird in the yard...a Yellow-rumped Warbler.  What a nice surprise! 

The thistle feeder has been the busiest !

And this morning, this sweet little Costa's Hummingbird waited very patiently while I took his feeder inside to refill it.

Sally had her annual vet appointment this week.  All is good with her.  We think she is happy to be home too...

February is off to great start.  It is almost Valentin's Day !  Love is in the air...in the whisper of the trees, in the thunder of the seas, in the rising of the sun, when the day is nearly done, everywhere I look around, every sight and every sound, love is in the air.  (taken from lyrics to "Love is in the Air" by John Paul Young.)  

Until next time,

HAPPY TRAILS !