good-times-rollin

Sunday, September 8, 2024

Patiently Waiting...

Corona de Tucson

September 7, 2024

That's right...two more weeks and it will be officially fall. I don't know why this year I am especially excited to be putting out scarecrows and pumpkins...I love fall and all the colors that go along with the season. Not today, but yesterday, the morning air at first light seemed a bit cooler as Sally and I stepped out the door for her first outside for the day. I think Sally even noticed the difference and how nice the cool fresh air felt.

It's been one of those busy weeks at our home...my hair is a little shorter than it was last week, Joe doesn't have stitches anymore, and the eye doctor says Joe's eye looks a little better than it did three weeks ago. Joe is still on antibiotics...capsule and drops...and the contact was replaced to protect the cornea. Of course along with busy weeks comes yummy things to eat. Tuesday, after my haircut and a little shopping, we had a yummy lunch at Wildflower.

It was nice enough to sit on the patio for lunch.

I sure enjoyed my warm lobster and artichoke salad with grilled asparagus, roasted tomatoes, greens and the bestest truffle vinaigrette dressing served with bread and pesto. Joe chose fish and chips and we shared Bars of Sin for desert.

After the eye doctor on Thursday, we stopped at Baja for breakfast. Every time we go to Baja, I order the Liege Waffels...they are sooo yummy. So, I made myself try something new. If you like Benedicts, Baja offers 13 different choices...from Classic to Arizona Snake Bites. I chose the Monsoon Benedict and was not disappointed. Toasted English Muffin layered with fresh avocado, smoked bacon, grilled tomatoes, and two poached eggs all topped with house made basil pesto hollandaise, arugula and balsamic glaze.

I ate every bite!

We enjoyed walks on the cart path and logged in just under 10 miles this week. I have had issues with my heal and finally it is much better.

Sometimes we cross the street on our way home. See the row of homes (roofs) way off in the distance on the right side of the picture? We live on that street much further and out of sight on the right side. Our home backs up to what was the 10th fairway.

This is the cart path that meanders behind our home...

Back at the oasis, we completed a project that had been on the back-burner for way too long. Joe has been the best motivator and friend to encourage me to display some of my photos. It's no secret I love the birds so I chose a few favorites...some water birds from San Diego and some backyard birds from home. It was a trial by error sort of project as I began to sort thru pictures and order photos in 8X10 size. For what I had pictured in my mind, all the photos needed to be vertical and all the frames the same. I am very happy with the finished display hanging in the foyer.

It's a lot harder than it looks like getting all these photos in a straight line and evenly spaced......

The birds are usually waiting...not so patiently...for food and water when we finish our walk. I start the coffee and Joe starts the backyard chores.

Our backyard is really small and I think photos make it look bigger than it really is. After years and years of Georgia living with an acre lot that was constantly needing attention, we enjoy the size and simplicity of our desert oasis.

Hail during last Saturdays monsoon storm...

And our sweet Sally....

Back in North Carolina...there has been an out crop of saguaros !

Felix, Edith and their mom and dad enjoying time at Aunt Jill's in NC.

Aunt Jill and Edith...

That's a wrap on our week. Until next time,

HAPPY TRAILS!

Saturday, August 31, 2024

August is a Wrap!

Corona de Tucson

August 31, 2024

I have been keeping an eye on the front yard bottlebrush tree. This immature male Rufous Hummingbird has been hanging out there all week. He won't be staying around here as he is migrating from Alaska...nearly 4,000 miles they travel...to southern Mexico. What a treat it was to have him visit for a few days !

And speaking of migrating...the White-winged Dove has made himself quite at home here. They migrate here to enjoy the nectar, pollen, fruit, and seeds of the saguaro cactus. All of this is totally essential to the preservation of the saguaro and ironically the Sonoran Desert is the only place in the entire world where the saguaro cacti exist !

They are so dependent on the saguaro that they time their migration and nesting to match the fruiting schedule. I read an interesting fact...the saguaro seeds are the only tiny seeds the White-winged Dove will bother with and that is because those tiny seeds...2,000 +... sit in a large cup-shaped fruit that makes them plentiful and easy to eat.

We don't think these White-winged Dove are going anywhere !

I can't believe August has come, has gone, and is now in the memory bank. This week was another nice week as we had not one thing on the calendar except to change the AC Filters and pull a few weeds in the yard. We headed over to Jamie and Andra's last Sunday for a visit and had lunch with them at a nearby Mexican Cafe...Ole Mexican. It is so cute with all the colorful murals, the service was great, and the shrimp tacos, refried beans, and guac were yummy. On Thursday, we made a trip to the post office and took the long way home. Houghton road is a long, straight road almost from the base of the Santa Rita Mountains to Catalina Highway which is the road we go Mt Lemmon on. We headed west towards the Santa Ritas.

Headed towards the Santa Ritas....

We stopped for pictures along the way...

The road ended and we had to turn around...

The Catalinas in the distance as we headed home...

Friday morning, we went to see if Madera Creek had running water. We are happy to report that it did.

It's also nice to take a walk with shade...

Back at the oasis, we pretty much carried over what we enjoyed last week...napping, watching the clouds, and rocking on the patio, making for another uneventful and quiet and wonderful week. I did make parmesan crusted tilapia baked with cherry tomatoes...