quote monday

                    I prefer just being with people I like. 
                          That's my way of celebrating. 
                                                                       -Michael Jackson

We are celebrating a lot this week and last Saturday night kicked it off at the Colorado Rockies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game. Austin suggested it would be a great thing to do on his birthday and the Rockies happened to be playing here. They won... which was extra great! This is birthday month around here, with three out of five of us celebrating their special day. I like being with my people. In fact, I love it. Celebrate on!

Happy Monday!

Happy BIrthday's!

~norma~

four fotos on friday

It's been a while ago that I took these photos. I found them while scrolling through my files the other day. It was so neat to watch these guys that afternoon. There are scary things that I see in our yard, but there are some pretty cool things too and I feel lucky when I happen upon them. So, because it's Friday and the title worked... here are your four foto's....

one

 two

                                                                                   three

                                                                        four

                                                                       Smile!

I watched these three dragonflies on the dried agave stalk for way too long. It was interesting because one would fly up and circle around, then two, then three, and then all land back on the stalk. Sometimes in the same order, sometimes a different order.  I watched them for probably a good thirty minutes or more.  One flew off for a few minutes and I lost sight of it, then suddenly it appeared right back where it had been. They also stayed evenly spaced, probably the exact amount of room needed for wing span and flight take off. These things are the most interesting color and when we first moved here I snapped a pic for this blog and I commented something about a sunburn. I had never seen a dragonfly that color and after living in Arizona, one does tend to get a sunburn and tan now and then.

Happy Friday!

the tortoise and the runner

I was going to title this... the tortoise and the hare, but I didn't want the runner (who this story is about) to take offense that I was comparing him to a hare or even to the fable about the tortoise and the hare. The only comparison is in this case...this story is about a tortoise and a fast runner!

Jay is Rachel's boyfriend.
Jay likes to run and run... fast.
Rachel likes to run and is learning to run far.
She doesn't like to run as fast.
But they like to run up and down mountains.

This is the view from one of the mountains they like to run up and down often.
It's called South Mountain, in Phoenix.

Here is Rachel running with a smile. This is desert trail running in the best possible way. Best because of the views. The terrain seems tough. The heat can only be awful this time of year. I always worry about rattle snakes. We hear of people hiking trails getting struck by them, so it is always my concern that she will come across one. Especially when she goes off on her own. Me no likey.

She is training for a marathon, which is roughly a 26 mile race. She will run it on (or about) her 26th birthday, which is the 26th of July. it will be in Silverton, Colorado. Pretty awesome huh?  

Here is Jay. He trains and runs a lot and will be running a 100 mile race in Leadville, Colorado in a few weeks. One hundred miles. Did I mention he runs a lot?

 The other day I got a text from him with a photo attached.
Jay texted: "Met this guy on the trail today. Thought of you!"

 

 I said something like..."A desert tortoise!!! Chuck will be so jealous! "

We have seen every other creature that live here in Arizona. We've actually been lucky enough to see things that many people haven't seen while living here their whole life. You know I say "lucky" with a little reservation...you'll remember that tarantula night!!!

This is the desert creature that Chuck most wants to see. After seeing these photos Jay sent, I can see that we have probably walked right by one and never saw it. He is very camouflaged with this surroundings. 

Jay didn't see it... he heard it.
Here are his words he texted to me about how it all happened:

"I encountered him around mile 10 of an 18 mile run, (ok...are we all saying really? 18 miles?) up towards the top of South Mountain near the towers. He hissed as I ran by. I actually woud've never known he was there if not. I believe I startled him going by. (well sure Jay, I imagine a slow tortoise like him rarely sees or hare's a runners feet zooming by). So, I stopped to see what made the hiss, expecting to see a snake. I looked around the back side of a rock and there he was! He went in his shell a bit, but let me take pics of him. Never moved and was in the same spot when I took off. Probably a 90 second encounter."

                                                             90 seconds of cool!

 He said it was about as big as a soccer ball!  I think they can grow to be pretty huge.

Hello big guy!

Here they are on top of a mountain. Based on the snow I think this was a Colorado run.  Well Jay, I know turtle neck sweaters are a good clothing choice in the winter, but what exactly do you call this hoodie? Not to compare you to the tortoise.... you're too fast for that. But...your hoodie? Ha!

                                 Rachel was jumping for joy on one of her recent runs. Awesome photo!!

Keep on running. Watch out for snakes. The views are incredible! But, keep your eyes open to all the beauty the desert has to offer! And good luck to both of you on your upcoming runs. Most especially for the golden birthday in Silverton!!

quote monday

The storm is an artist; 

the rainbow is its masterpiece.      

                        -Matshona Dhliwayo

We have been having some heavy cloudy skies. 

 

A welcome relief from the hot, dry sun.

The rain has been needed for months. 

One hundred and thirteen days is what had been logged without any reported rainfall in the Phoenix area. That is a long time. The humidity is a hard thing to take when the temps are still over a hundred degrees. But, I'll take it. It's a change. Soon, the clouds will go away and we will back to be normal. A better normal, because things will be greener and fresher from the purging rain.

I'll be looking for the rainbow.

Happy Monday!

~norma~

quote monday

                              In the cookies of life,
                          sisters are the chocolate chips.
                                                                                          -Author Unknown

Chocolate chips cookies are the best!
Even gluten free!

Happy Monday!
~norma~

plant jungle

There are a few areas in our yard that are thriving. Green and lush, without too much effort on our part. Then, there are areas that are dry and brown,  barely hanging on with the lack of rain and high temperatures that we have been experiencing.  It is, of course, the green lush spots that we savor and enjoy. Like this one in the first photo below.

It is a small corner off the back patio. You will note the plant in the foreground, a snippet off my Hoya that Leah planted in soil and we are experimenting with it outside this summer. Many of you know that I have a large plant that is a cutting from my moms plant. I have had it for years and have never planted it in soil. It lives in water and has always bloomed. Until I moved it here to Arizona.  Leah has a couple snips that she has planted and they are doing quite well outside. I'm planning on snipping a bit more, rooting it and then planting it in soil. I want to  keep it outside after she takes hers back to Flagstaff with her in August. I'd like to see how it does compared to the big one inside.

Oh...goodness...were you distracted by the Hoya in the foreground and miss what was peering through the plants in the background? I did too the other day when  I was out watering my plants! I watered all of them on the patio and then moved out in the yard. It was when I was out there that I happened to notice a different pattern of color under these plants!

Well...hello! 

Sneaky little thing. It has been around for a few weeks. I have seen it just "passing through" on the patio but, had not noticed that it was tucked up under these plants. It's not real big and its spots are faded which makes me think it is a young one. Chuck said he has noticed a few feathers here and there, so he/she is most likely having lunch now and then. I was able to get pretty close to snap a few pics and he never took his eyes off of me (and vice versa) while I continued to water. I know things are lurking out there more than I ever notice, although I still keep a keen eye checking wherever I walk. And, I'm always careful about sticking my hands down into a plant or stepping near something I can't see under.

Because... it's a jungle out there!



Meanwhile....later that night. Chuck and I were outside cleaning the pool after a windstorm blew through (it's haboob season) and looked around to see him scooting around the yard. A few minutes later Chuck looked up and saw him up on the fence and snapped this photo. He looks a little more menacing posed like this on the fence. YIKES!

Speaking of menacing...our neighbors were just telling us they had seen a Gila monster around the cul-de-sac and we commented we hadn't seen one in a year or two. Chuck took the trash can to the curb Thursday morning and look what he saw...Gila!!

Wild jungle.

happy Independence Day

                                                 
Chuck is working today and I have plans to do this...poolside... with a friend. Seems like a good thing to do since it is suppose to be a hot one today!  Cheers to celebrating the red, the white, and the blue! It's time we get back to honoring our country and all the goodness it has given us.

                                                            Happy Fourth of July! 

quote monday/manak monday

Let us dance in the sun, 

wearing wildflowers in our hair.

             -Susan Polis Shutz

Yep this is me. At age one. I just brought this framed photo home with me from Texas. The only resemblance to me now is that I part my hair on the same side. Although, I have sometimes felt like it should have gone the other way and hair dressers always want to part it on the left. It tends to fall naturally the opposite way from where I part it...cowlicks in the back and such. But, obviously, it's been this way a long while and any time I've tried it to the left it felt strange. So, right it stays. 

Happy Monday!

Happy Birthday to me!

~norma~