Pima Air and Space Museum

Corona de Tucson

March 14, 2022 

What a crazy week we had.  Started off with nothing on the agenda and a couple of lazy days.  We like lazy days...and are figuring out after years of working and years on the road with one adventure after another, that sometimes you just need to be lazy.  On Wednesday, we had plans to visit Pima Air and Space Museum with Randy.  The museum is another one of those places Joe and I had never visited in all the years of coming to Tucson.    

Pima Air and Space Museum is one of the largest non-government funded aviation and space museums in the world. It originally opened in 1976 with a mission to preserve historic aircraft.  Today it features a collection of nearly 400 military, commercial, civil and experimental aircraft housed  in six indoor exhibit hangers and on display outside spread out over 80 acres. 

 

Once again, we have Randy to thank for sharing his time and knowledge as we perused several of the hangers and spent awhile outside walking several rows of aircraft.  

There is so much history, so many displays and such a large area to cover that I am pretty sure several visits to the museum are necessary to take it all in.  My brain gets really tired after a few hours !  

There are tiny planes...

...and gargantuan planes and everything in-between.

 Some had pointy noses...

 ...and others had multiple tale fins.

 Some aircraft had small crowded spaces...

and others had spaces large enough for a bed and bath.

My sense of it was that each plane had unique capabilities that earned a spot in this museum.

A-10 Warthogs...first manufactured in the mid 70's, still fly in combat throughout the world today.

We had a really good time, but the best part for me was watching and listening to Joe  (Navy)  and Randy (Air Force) .  They both have lots of memories and lots of stories.  

 

On Friday, Sally had her teeth cleaned and two teeth pulled.  She was most uncomfortable Friday night, Saturday and Sunday...even with the pain pills.  She is much better today...we can tell because her tail is up and wagging and no more whimpers.  

I'm wearing my vet tech hat this week! Sally has four meds.

Our plans to have lunch with Randy last Saturday were cancelled because we didn't want to leave Sally here by herself.  

So yesterday, he stopped by with a birthday gift for me...a Desert Rose.  A Desert Rose is a succulent plant, not like any succulent I have ever seen.  Google says they are not difficult to grow provided they get enough sunlight and warmth.  And overwatering is a no-no.  

These interesting plants do bloom throughout spring and summer, but may not produce blooms for several months.  Fingers crossed !  

You might already know that Arizona is the Copper State.  Copper is abundant in the Earth's crust, but what sets Arizona apart is its wealth of mineable copper which it owes to a copper-rich granite formed in ancient volcanoes.  

Beautiful Arizona rocks...

I hope to be posting photos of pretty red blooms in a few months !  Thank you Randy !

That's a wrap and another week gone by.  Until next time, enjoy the warm sunshine...

don't forget to look up...

and...

HAPPY TRAILS!

Paton Center for Hummingbirds

Corona de Tucson

March 6, 2022

It has been a quiet and restful week around the oasis.  Joe had both his MOHs surgeries and another biopsy on Monday with instructions to take it easy for a few days.  

We don't have any trouble around our house taking it easy especially when it is doctor's orders.  

Outside activities are  limited as the antibiotic Joe was given has directions to avoid excessive sunlight.  

Stitches come out on the 16th.

We had some days with highs in the 80s.  Dover prefers her naps in the sunshine and I spent a considerable amount of time in my rocker on the patio.

After hibernating all winter, the bees have awakened.  They are enjoying the oranges and I often see them on the water's edge in the birdbath drinking.     

It is also time for Hummingbird moths to emerge from their cocoon.  I was lucky enough to see one hovering over the lantana this week.

Hummingbird moths have a long proboscis for feeding on nectar.

  

As members of the sphinx family, they have heavy bodies and long front wings that are mostly transparent.

Spring is definitely just around the corner !

On Friday, we rode with Randy to The Paton Center for Hummingbirds in Patagonia, AZ.  

Can you believe we have visited Tucson for all these years and have owned a home here for a year and we had never been to Patagonia ?  I can't believe it either !  

The Paton Center for Hummingbirds is a place to enjoy, explore and experience the special birds of Southwest Arizona.   Gates are open from sunrise to sunset. It is free, but donations to the "Sugar Fund" help maintain the grounds, feed the birds, improve the habitat, and provide education and recreation programs.  

It all began with Wally and Marion Paton, homeowners with a big heart for birds and gardening, in 1973.  

They invited birders to their yard and thru the years added a canopy, benches, bird books, more and more feeding stations, water features (fountains) and a chalk board so visitors could record their sightings.  After their death (2001 and 2009), the home was acquired (in 2014) by the Tucson Audubon Society with the help from many generous donations and foundations.  To date, 224 bird species have been reported visiting this cozy yard.

We stood for awhile under the pavilion enjoying the bird songs and soft chatter from folks who seemed to be regular visitors.  I heard someone say the name of each bird as they appeared in the trees or feeders.  The White-breasted Nuthatches, Goldfinches, Cardinals, Broad-billed Hummingbirds, and Anna's Hummingbirds were very active.  

As I was snapping away and excited to see my first White-breasted Nuthatch, a bystander approached softly to say there was a RARE...definitely music to my ears when birding...Violet-crowned Hummingbird in the tree.

As you can see, my attempts to capture this rare sighting in the tree lacks clarity. I tried not to get in panic mode and was very happy when he came to the feeder.   So what makes this bird rare, you might ask.  The Violet-crowned Hummingbird is a Mexican species that barely reaches the border of the southwestern United States.  It is the only hummingbird in the U.S. that lacks a colorful gorget (throat patch). They prefer canyons at an elevation from about 3940 to 5600 feet where they have a particular affinity for sycamore trees.  They feed on nectar and small insects.     

While there, we checked out the Paul Baird Trail.     

Once we cleared the mesquite grove there was no shade and we turned around.  

Patagonia, AZ is also home to the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve.  It began in 1969 with 312 acres of property near the creek.  Since that time it has grown several times over and has been designated a National Natural Landmark.  The Paul Baird Trail connects to the preserve. 

We ended this wonderful outing at Gathering Grounds for grilled sandwiches and slaw.  

And I just had to make a quick stop at the Patagonia Trading Post...wet my whistle just enough to know I want to return to this quirky little town of less that 1,000 residents.  

I am way happy to report taxes are done, but only because we had motivation and support from the pups.   Jack insists on sitting behind me in my chair and the girls nap under the table.  They are never very far away !  

I can't believe we turned the page on the calendar and already another week just flew by.  Until next time, 

The Paton Center for Hummingbirds is a global birding destination with thousands of birders visiting from all over the world every year.  I have to pinch myself sometimes when I think this is practically in our backyard !  

Book room/reading room at the Trading Post 

HAPPY TRAILS !

Thanks again Randy...it was a wonderful morning !