peace

 

                                                From me to you....
                                     Wishing everyone joy and comfort 
                          and all things merry and bright this Christmas.
                                                      ~norma~

great horned owl photos

The owls are back in town.

Actually, they are back in the palm trees. We had been hearing them at night hooting back and forth with each other. When we first moved here, I read about these owls and even googled the unusual sounds they were making. I listened to recordings of the different sounds and heard the exact pattern of sounds that we were hearing. I never knew owls had so many different hoots. There was a squawking  sound that intrigued me the most.  It was a male female and calling out to each other. It is a pretty interesting pattern of calls. If you would like to hear the sounds that we hear each night, this time of year, click on this link and scroll down to the "calls" and click on each individual call. I find it fascinating. One of the better "wildlife" moments around here. Of course, I have also read how these birds will swoop down and pick up cats and small dogs. They eat other birds and mice and regurgitate the pellets of undigested bones and fur. Yep, I find those in the yard under the trees. 

One early morning, Chuck had a big scare (finally) as he left out the front door for work. It was still a little dark and as he walked by the magnolia tree, an owl hooted at him. The big owl was eye level to him right next to his head. He said it really scared him! Huh. Imagine that?

Thanksgiving weekend was the first time I've seen them in the tree in the backyard. I told Rachel to take my camera and get some good pictures. So she did. We had fun watching these two. I'm not sure that I can say the same about the owls watching us!

They were sleeping when I saw them. As Rachel got closer to the tree, they started to wake up. See how his eyes are opening? 

He slowly opened one eye at a time. Just a little peek to see who was sneaking around under their tree.

Oh....playing a little hard to photograph I see.

There you are.

Uh oh. He doesn't look too happy that his nap was interrupted. Angry bird?

Oh. Hello.

I guess she got his attention. Look at the talons on that foot!

This is about the time that Rachel told me I was going to love the pictures she was getting. " You're going to love me for these pictures Mom!" I do love you Rachel!

This owl was grooming his foot!

 Keeping an eye on the photographer while he was doing it too.

And then he put his foot back down. All clean. And all sharpened it looks like!

Huh? Kinda cute with one ear tuft up and one down.

And then the other one finally woke up and decided to join the photo op party. Hello...

They really are pretty amazing birds. Huge.

The one on the left, perhaps it is the female, lost interest and proceeded to go back to her afternoon snooze. Maybe, she is a little tired from the late nights they had been hooting about?

The big guy kept an eye on things on the ground. Look at those talons! Yikes, no wonder the smaller mammals don't have a chance around them. I guess I should keep eating my beloved Oreos so I don't need to worry about being a smaller mammal!

Rachel took one of her favorite photos and did a little creative work on the computer. I love what she did... don't you? We may need to print this one and frame it. 

I enjoy seeing these big birds in the trees. I hope, someday, that their nesting will result in some little ones that we can be lucky enough to photograph. In the meantime, we will listen to them talk to each other when the sun goes down.

Good job on the photos Rach. You're right ...I do love them. And you!

BARN SALE review

I spent a great 10 days in Colorado stompin' around the old neighborhood and then some. The Barn Sale went really well. I arrived on Wednesday and jumped right in to the barn. We cleaned, tidied and set all of our goods around in this great barn space. We fixed and fussed, hammered and nailed, painted, primped and priced until 2 a.m! Jeanine had worked hard to cover all the walls in burlap and other great accent fabrics ahead of time, making the barn perfectly ready for the finishing touches. A good friend Bev stopped by to help out AND bring us some much needed chili for dinner. It was delicious!

Lori and I got up bright and early the next morning and set up the signs along the highway. As we entered  the barn we marveled at all our work. I walked around and took some photos and then the people started meandering in. Actually, the correct word would be scampering. Or rushing.

 Within minutes, this whole space was packed with shoppers. They told us the line of cars stretched along the lengthy driveway and out along the road, all waiting to get to the barn.

The first hour and fifteen minutes was non-stop selling. People were snatching our goodies up pretty quickly. I found myself at the checkout counter and never moved away from it. The ole' retail experience really kicked into high gear as I smiled, greeted, added, wrapped and thanked our new friends.

A few of the pieces are permanent fixtures...in case we decide to do this again some day.

There was a nice sprinkling of holiday cheer throughout our displays. Hello me!

We had a nice collection of vintage treasures, antique pieces, repurposed goods, hand made items and some good newer re-sale things as well. Love that rustic wood cabinet there in the corner. A nice couple snagged that up first thing. They also bought my little gold bird table too!

I had my eye on that great green coverlet, but it was bought before I had time to even think about it.
In fact, there were many items that caught my attention, but we all did very well to not purchase a bunch of each other's stuff.

 I loved all the colors of the wool yarn in the basket on the floor. I don't knit, so a dollar or two were saved there also. My musical notes chair went to a really great home. Someone with very special children. I happen to know the family and am so thrilled and humbled that she bought some of my "artistic goodies". I hope that many great tunes will be played on the piano... while sitting on that chair!

The wood stove, along with keeping us cozy warm, got a lot of attention from the men folk. They were thrilled to see something "manly" in what they quickly labeled a "girly store". We had some good laughs at a few of the guys who wandered in thinking it was a real "barn" sale. Surprise!

My map lamp sold to a "grandma" of a German exchange student. They had been in early in the day and the high school girl really liked it. The lady came back later in the day to buy it for the young girl. She plans to give it to her for Christmas. She told us that she used to work in a lamp and lighting store so she knows how to pack lamps for shipping. This little lamp that I made will make its final home in Germany when the girl goes back after the end of the school year. Isn't that great? The young girl bought one of the Colorado license plates to send to her brother for Christmas. She was a sweet girl and I am happy to know that she will have this lamp.

 A near tragedy occurred when that cubby unit on the wall fell after the first attempt at hanging it. We had already started putting things in it and on the desk below. Luckily, I happened to be standing next to it when it gave way and I quickly held it against the wall. The others rushed over and we managed to clear everything out of the way, while holding onto it, and then reinforced it with more screws. Only one little cup fell to the ground and was broken. I couldn't believe we didn't lose more items.

A cute children's cupboard that did manage to find a home right up the hill in Jeanine's house. She just couldn't resist that one for her granddaughter!

The property and home were just lovely. An old farm house. My heart was all a flutter.

I painted, sanded and added some old sheet music to this mirror. It sold pretty early on.

My glovelies and quilttens looked pretty cute hanging from this old metal crib rail above our checkout counter.

And with that, our Christmas Barn Sale was over.

Three days of good company, good ideas shared between us, and just plain goodness all around.

Thank you for the invite Jeanine.

Thank you Lori for the hospitality and sharing all your great friends.

Thank you to all my dear friends from Montrose who drove up to see me. (and take some of my things home with them.)

Until the next Barn Sale...

BARN SALE

In this great old barn. 

 Well, I'm finally participating in my very first vintage sale! Can  you say "Hooray"? I'm saying it..."Hooray. Hooray" !! And the best part is... that I'm doing it with my very good friend Lori. Yep, she's the Lori that lives in Colorado.  She and her friend are holding their very first vintage Barn Sale. It is a reworked, repurposed, upscale yard/barn sale. We have all loved old goods for a long time and have recently decided to do some sales. We, collectively or partially, will participate in some here in the Phoenix area and hope to do some up there in the mountains of Paonia, Colorado.

My car is loaded and I'm heading out in the morning. I have some painted furniture items, stitched items (see what I was working on the night the Tarantula came to visit), found items and re-purposed things.
Lori has some great old rusty stuff, beautiful hand-made paper items, neat old wood stuff and Jeanine has some great vintage furniture finds and some great home decor pieces. Here are a few pictures to give you a peak at what is being set up in the barn.

Great cubby shelf that I believe use to house egg laying hens.

A nice cupboard and table that I have my eye on...but I've been told I can't bring "new" stuff back home with me. There are some items that will make great gifts for the holiday that is just around the corner. A little something for everyone.

I snapped these photos of some of the things I will be bringing. Can you tell It is still in the high seventies here? 

 I have done some collage and paintings on some small tables. A few frames too.

  Here is another table that I got a little artsy on. I have a few musical chairs... care to play?

Old maps have been inspiring me lately.

I call this..."One if by land, two if by see...the light."

A great old chunk of barn wood and some old spoons. Do I have you hooked yet?

  And then there are my stitched goodies. These are my glovelies and quilttens.

Quilttens and glovelies.

So, if you want to venture out to Paonia I'd love to see you. Do some Christmas shopping. Or just shop for yourself. I'm pretty sure you will be able to find something that you can't live without! Seriously.

Here is the info:

      BARN SALE
Thurs. November 29-Sat. Dec. 1
  9:00 am - 5:00 pm
15514 Fire Mountain Rd.
Paonia, Colorado


Directions (for my Montrose friends)
Highway 133 towards Paonia.
Go past Stop and Save.
Turn left off highway 133 on Fire Mountain Rd.
Follow sighs up hill turn rt.

note: you do not turn right off of the highway to go into town of Paonia. Just past the Stop and Save at the intersection will be Fire Mountain Rd on the left.

Follow signs on Highway that say BARN SALE.


I hope I get to see you!
~norma~

giving

                     for my family
                                           for my friends
                                                                    for the season


                                                 Happy Thanksgiving !

the saguaro cactus

This is a fine example of a saguaro.

pronounced: sa whar oh

We have taken a lot of photos of these giants since living here. I'm taking you on an educational saguaro photo tour. Enjoy.

This is a close up of a big cluster of short chubby arms. I thought I remembered reading that they do not get their first arm until they are 40 years old, but after looking it up on Wikipedia, it is actually 75 years old. So, imagine how old these are!

 And this is one with its blooms in the spring. Look closely and you will see a nest in the crook of one of its arms.

Here are the the blossoms at the end of the bloom. Once the blossoms fade the fruit matures into a very pretty red color. The birds love to snack on the fruit and then guess what? Colorful bird droppings! 

You're welcome.

 Here you can see the wear and tear and old age on this poor guy. If they get a crack or some damage to them they form sort of a scar.

 Here is that same one through kaleidoscope eyes. Remember those Thursday posts? I need to bring that back again... I think.

We have had a couple of those rare snow falls here in the desert. A snow capped saguaro looks pretty crazy. Notice the holes in this one? The birds make nests in them.

Here is a line of them on the horizon at sunset. I expect to see the cowboys on horses ride up any minute. Oh ya, we were the ones on horseback that evening. Our sunset ride ya'll!

This is probably our favorite way to capture a picture of these oddly amazing giants. 

  And here is one by the light of the moon.

 This is another favorite...with the crack of lightening behind it. Great photo props to Rachel!

The spines are razor sharp which really makes me wonder how the birds can land on these at all. And...there have been occasional sightings of bobcats and mountain lions climbing up and sitting on top of them. That baffles me completely.

 Each one is different. Some have one or two long arms that stretch straight up. Some have clusters of short stubby arms like the one at the beginning of the post. Some, like this one, have short stubby buds at the top of long stretchy arms.

Sometimes they lose an arm or fall over and eventually they will rot away and just the "skeleton" is left. It looks  and feels like petrified wood or a bit like large chunks of dried coral.

A hawk found a resting spot on top of this one.

One of our crazy stormy monsoon skies glowing in the background.

We see this one on one of our favorite hiking areas. It has a bundle of arms that look like they are all hugging each other.

I managed to catch this dove while it was looking for a juicy piece of fruit.

So here is the reason for this saguaro photo tour. While at the Botanical Gardens last week, we came across this docent that was setting up her display of bird nests of local birds. She showed us a range of tiny hummingbird nests to this big giant nest. I was fascinated to learn that it is the nest/home that is inside the saguaro. The cactus wren will peck its way through the cactus, making the hole that I pointed out earlier. As they hollow out some of the flesh from the inside, the cactus will form a scar to heal itself. The scar is that big football shaped looking thing she is holding. It felt like a gourd and was as hard as a rock. She said the wren just inhabits this as is. They don't put any leaves or twigs inside at all. They just plop the eggs out in the bottom and wait for them to hatch. After the wren abandons the nest, other birds will become squatters, so to speak, and take over this spot. It was pretty interesting to me to see that this is what is inside all of those holes on the side of the cactus. Thanks Miss Docent for the info.

Ok...you may have seen this cactus before, but hey...it's worth a second showing.

Can I get a thumbs up for learning a little something new about a saguaro cactus?