Giddee Up, Horse Back Riding Poms

There were two lucky poms going horseback riding, top photo is one, bottom photo is his fur sibling on the other side of the horse.  Let me tell you, they get a LOT of attention and smiles!

Watching While I Eat My Icecream

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These little birds were all around the outdoor tables at the ice cream parlor at Goldfield Ghost Town, Arizona.

Tough Housing Market, Gotta Build Somewhere

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Above:  Look close, there is a nest in that Chainfruit Cholla.  That has to be one brave bird.

Above:  This bird obviously has no need for privacy or a cool spot for it's nest, just built it out in the open on an "arm" of this Chainfruit Cholla.  One thing for sure, not much of a chance of getting poked by the cholla.  Maybe it won't need to sit on the nest either to hatch those eggs, just let the abundant hot sunshine hatch 'em.

Above:  This bird has to be the worst nest builder I have ever seen.

Above:  See, it is even worse than you thought when you get a closer look at this nest.  Calls going out for a LOT of adobe and assistance, this bird obviously needs both!

Above:  Now, I am fully aware that most of this photo is horribly out of focus.  Man took this one for me because I was not tall enough to get it.  He was not getting any closer to that cholla, and in fact, did not think he had managed to get any shot at all.  But, there in the top right corner, are 3 bird eggs in a nest in a Chainfruit cholla, found on a hike up Silly Mountain near Apache Junction Arizona.  I don't blame Man for staying away from the cholla, those barbs are way beyond nasty!  But, there is proof, that some birds will build a nest next to those nasty barbs, AND they also manage to fill those nests!

We stand duly impressed!

Therapy Times Four

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These four were spied in Mesilla New Mexico.  Don't cha love their ride??  They are therapy dogs out for a little shopping R & R between visits to schools, hospitals or nursing homes.  Trouble is, I do not recall where the mommie said she took these cuties to spread their cheer.  We know they spread their cheer even while shopping, Nita and I were smiling, who could resist??

The Saguaro and The Superstition Mountains

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Taken at Goldfield Ghost Town Arizona.  Hard to get enough of the saguaro OR the Superstition Mountains, both in one photo, cannot resist!

Globemallow, PB (Pink and Bee)

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Taken at Casa Grande National Monument, Prehistoric Ruins.

Goldfield's Newest Guard Dog

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(The shopkeeper who owned this cutie told me he was about 3 months old.  He seemed to stay pretty close to home, but, knew HE owned the territory.)




*Goldfield Arizona is a re-created gold mining town, hokey history at it's best.

Saguaro, The Inside Story

The inside of the magnificent saguaro, at the
Casa Grande National Monument Prehistoric Ruins.

Friend Bob and Man investigating (same location).

Out in the desert.

Left a living Saguaro, Right, a skeleton of the Saguaro.

Great Horned Owl

Man and I visited the Casa Grande National Monument, Prehistoric Ruins near Coolidge Arizona.  This great horned owl was sitting under the cover for the Great House, the tour guide told us a couple of nesting owls have been residents for some time now.  The volunteers recently constructed a platform for the nest, guess the eggs were rolling off.  This may be the male.  Photos taken with 20 zoom, the ruins are 4 stories high, so, guessing he is sitting about 50 feet up, maybe more.  Photos have been edited, sharpened for sure, hard to hand hold and get anything at that distance with 20 zoom.

This photo is NOT color corrected, only sharpened a little.
You can see all the roof structure and supports.

This photo was "auto corrected".  The process took out most of the
sandy color, sharpening the photo made him a bit more clear.

Auto correct took color out of this photo as well.
Looks like he was going to try to catch some shut-eye.
They are nocturnal.  We can only imagine having a tour of
your home would be rather annoying during your sleeping hours!
LOL

Note, tail feathers.
Yes, out of focus, even after sharpening the photo.

OK, I love this photo!

I could not resist blowing up that last photo to see him closer,
yes, sharpened, several times.  Gotta love photo editing programs!
WAHHOOO

High Tailin' It Outta Here - - Round-Tailed Ground Squirrels

Photographed at the Casa Grande National Monument, Prehistoric Ruins.  They scurry around, fast on those 4 little feet.  They blend in well with their environment.  They were about 20 feet away (I guess at those measurements sometimes, take that into consideration please - LOL).  Sony was zoomed probably to just about 20 times.  It was a very bright and sunny day.  I cropped, and adjusted the brightness and contrast a little to get them to stand out from the same colored background.

And, he says, "I'm OUTTA here! Enough photos Carol!"

* To learn more about round-tailed ground squirrels, visit this page from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and of course, Wikipedia has data as well.

When Mom's Away, We Cannot Play, Oh, Rats!!

Top photo, the "Boys".  Left:  Captain Hook, aka, Cappy, aka, CH.  Right:  Gallagher, aka, Mr. G.

Bottom photo, the one who considers herself queen, Chantilly, aka, Tilly.

Before you think I am mean by crating the kids, please know that this is to protect the yorks from themselves.  Yorkies have been known to get themselves into some pretty nasty fixes, such as accessing the stove while the parents are gone and eating all the food on the stove (true story).   So, this is where they spend their travel days, and time while Mom and Man are out sightseeing or running errands.

Safe and Sound.




*No, it was not my yorkies that ate all the food on the stove. Did have 2 little boys that tried to eat the Venetian blinds in a past RV tho.  Ya, they did!  Sigh.

A Saguaro With - - Well, Have a Lookie See

There are Saguaro everywhere!  Growing in the desert, planted in yards, gardens and flora plantings everywhere.

This one is at the Arizonian RV Resort where we are staying.  So far, it has to be the most unusual one I have seen, with that cluster of "fingers" at the top left.  They almost look like a baseball glove, eh??

Aloe Blooms

There are several different types of Aloe, could be a aloe nobilis.

Got Food?

"Got Food??   We will follow you anywhere."

(Say the Gambel's Quail to the Rabbit.)