Lots of Green with Spots of Color...

August 4, 2024

Cotona de Tucson

Madera Canyon Road

Our only adventure last week was a hike at Madera Canyon.  We started our hike at the Amphitheater Parking lot and did the 3 mile hike thru the forest to Mt Wrightson Picnic Area and walked the road back to the jeep.  It's not completely shady, but it's a nice summer hike at 5500 feet elevation.  

We crossed a mountain spring and sat for a few minutes to enjoy the sound, colors, and smells.  

Green was the predominant color...lots of calming shades of glorious green...  

with spots of color here and there...reds, oranges, purples.

The manzanita bushes were gorgeous and thick...the berries and bark were quite showy.

We admired the locals...

and savored every morsel of a scrumptious Almond Danish we bought at the Gift Shop while we chuckled at the turkeys, hummingbirds and woodpeckers.

Madera Canyon Road is a favorite.  This time of year, it is lined with a mimosa bush that is the prettiest shades of pink.  And the Arizona Poppies are blooming too.

And if all that wasn't enough...a black bear cub ran across the street on lower Madera Canyon Road right in front of our jeep as we headed home.  I was shocked and even though he paused in the road to look at us, I wasn't even close to having the camera aimed and focused for a photo.  He turned around one last time...and a quick phone photo was all I captured. 

On the family front, Felix turned 8.  How can that be?  Not only that, he enters third grade this year.  

A celebration on his birth day with his family...

After a big outing to a Monster Truck event with friends and family, Felix had a party at home.  He designed and decorated his very own monster truck cake to share.

And Edith is the cutest little cowgirl EVER !

Back at the oasis, our morning walks have also been green with a few spots of color here and there. 

We have monsoon season to thank for all the green and colors we see everywhere. I don't think we have gone a week without a storm since monsoon season started.  This week was no exception and I found myself running from window to window to watch...the storms (so far) never grow old.  One of the several storms we had this week produced the loudest thunder I think I have ever heard. 

Wednesday's storm and our street was flooded...we were under an emergency alert for flash flooding...

Last Saturdays's storm also produced high winds, thunder and lightening, and pounding rains...

We have monsoon storms to thank for interesting skies...

...brilliant colors,

...and clean fresh air.

We can also thank these same storms for yard work.  

On rainy afternoons, Sally and Joe dodge the drops as best they can.

And nap as often as they can! 

I practiced with the macro lens this week...

That's a wrap on our week...we turned the calendar again and celebrate life everyday!  It was a nice week.  I will close with a few more photos...

A morning walk on the cart path...

The welcoming committee at the Gift Shop at Madera Canyon...

The Santa Rita Mountains...

A juvenile male cardinal...

Gorgeous views from the trail...

Memories...I emptied the vase and realized it is the first piece we purchased during our full-time RV journey...

Manzanita berries...

Until next time...

HAPPY TRAILS !

Fifteen Years and Counting...

Corona de Tucson

July 29, 2024

As August approaches, I am always reminded that school is about to begin.  It has been 48 years since I walked into my very own first classroom and I can hardly believe that this summer marks my 15th summer for retirement...how is that even possible?  I celebrated 34 "first days of school" and each year it was the same flurry of emotions...excited, nervous, anticipating, hoping I was ready and prepared, and so eager to meet my school "family" for another year.  Kindergarten and First Grade are special years and for many children it was/is their first school experience.  For me, it was the joy throughout the year from all the "firsts" these children experienced in our classroom and the successes they had that we all celebrated together that comes to mind.  Learning to read changes lives and I loved every day I had the opportunity to "do my job"...teaching children to read.         

The three of us had a wonderful week at home.  We have had several nice storms and one night it rained just about all night...with some wind and thunder and lightening in the mix.  It is wonderful to hear the patter of rain on the windows and even more wonderful to wake up early and be greeted with cool, clean air that smells of rain and the desert when you step outside. The sun is shining.  The sky is blue. What an awesome way to start the day ! 

We are really enjoying my flowers this summer.  I have to report that the zinnias did not make it past the first two storms, but the other flowers seem to be holding their own.  They have enjoyed the rain as much as we have.  

Blanketflower 

Pentas...I have this color and dark purple and red

Begonias and Spider plant

Copper Sun (Blanketflower)

The succulents and cacti add a bit of color too.

This is the other side of the cactus shown in the photo above...It has a very interesting way of growing.

Two days this past week, our street was under going a major upgrade.  The potholes and cracks were bad and now it is all smooth.  I'm not sure when the final coat will be applied...the date changes with the weather.

Joe and our neighbor (and friend) from across the street are on stand by to supervise.  

The birds are entertaining...especially just after the feeders are filled.  The Butter Bits (with calcium) are a favorite.  They go fast and the birds have learned "the early bird gets the food" and so they gather. 

The Butter Bits are more like suet.  We fill up four small cups every morning.  They are not messy and if you don't like seeds, they are a great alternative.  Calcium is vital for birds for many reasons.  It is a key component of eggshells and females need the calcium to produce strong eggshells and replenish what they loose after laying eggs.  And other than the common reasons like their skeletal system, they need it for beak and feather health as well. 

The babies are growing fast...

I just happened to have camera in hand when a Cactus Wren stopped by on his way to the palm tree...

And we are really going to miss the beautiful little females when they move on...

And this little Curve-bill Thrasher finally landed on the suet feeder after struggling to do so a few times...

Storms and amazing skies just go hand in hand this time of year in Arizona. 

Joe and I made a pound cake this week.  Have you ever had a buttered slice pf pound cake toasted in the oven with crispy edges?  Yum, yum!  Breakfast, lunch or dinner...it just doesn't matter to me !

Well thats a wrap on our week...life is good at the oasis ! Until next time...

...hope you have a great week.

HAPPY TRAILS!