The Unique and Unusual

This is a view of the switchback trail we climbed yesterday to get to the Upper Ruins at Tonto National Monument near Roosevelt AZ. It was a 600' up and down climb. Seemed like a lot more!

Above this cliff dwelling wall, there is a nook higher up on the rock wall, where a couple of owls live. This is what the owls leave behind. Not a pleasant thought, but it does add color and interest to the cliff dwelling.

Also above the cliff dwelling was a hive of African killer bees. The longer we hung around the dwelling and their territory, the busier they became. This hive was just knocked down a couple of weeks ago (you can see the honey color residue to the right of the combs) and has grown this much since. I was happy to leave it and the bees behind.

If one looks closely, you can see a hand print left in the mud plaster on the wall of this room in the cliff dwelling. Our tour guide shared how a new coating was applied and everyone in the family worked to "paint" the wall. This dwelling was last occupied around 1400 AD.

This is desert mistletoe. It needs a host plant to grow and in turn eventually kills the host. You often see a tangled mass of usually brown vines, in the shape of a large ball, growing in a tree. That is a sure sign the tree will die in a few years.

A dead saguaro next to a live, healthy saguaro. We learned many saguaros also need a host plant to protect it as it gets its start in life. And often as the saguaro grows in girth and height, it will destroy the host. Older saguaros often have a "tree bark" look on the outer layer, especially the area nearest the ground. I always find the interior of a dead saguaro interesting with its 17 or so wooden ribs, and not a single trunk like a tree.

Another First!

Today I joined the Canyon Vistas hikers at Tonto National Monument, about 60 miles east of us.

I was there 2 years ago, but hiked to the Lower Ruins. Today, I did a 600' elevation, 3 mile hike to the Upper Ruins.

Ranger Ed was our very knowledgeable guide.

This is a view of Roosevelt Lake from a support post hole in a room of the ruins.

My ankle is pretty sore tonight, but I am so pleased I was able to make the climb up and back down, which was harder. More pics to come in the next few days.

A February Rainstorm

Monday morning the wind blew and the skies opened and ...

large, cold raindrops fell fast and furious.

There was even some "itty bitty" hail stones that fell.

Rain gushed through the down spouts

from the dark gray skies.

The ominous dark clouds...

foretelling of more rain to come.
And it did.

The good news is the sunshine has returned, until this weekend...

Today's Sighting

Today was a first. I love it when that happens, especially at this age.

This is our fifth season in this resort out in the desert east of Phoenix and Apache Junction. Every season we have heard there are javelina in the area. Other people have seen them, usually before we come and the resort starts to fill with people. We know of people who live along the desert fence who have seen javelina. But the only one I had seen was a dead one on the road when Kari was here visiting last month. That changed this morning.

I was out on the deck visiting with the neighbor when I noticed several people across the street gather and look toward the green way or walking path. Then I saw a large gray, bristly critter, moving down the asphalt path, heading north. It didn't look like a coyote or a dog. It was...

a javelina. He stopped at the neighbor's yard and rooted in a plastic bag,

until he found a potato.

He gnawed and chewed on it

while several of us stood around and took pictures.

He ate what he wanted and then took off to the east, jumping two 2' rock walls and crossing my back yard. Then he headed north toward the club house.

I wonder if they were serving potatoes for lunch today?

A resort worker told us a javelina had taken a 10 pound bag of potatoes off someone's patio just the other day. I'm thankful the potatoes were left out because he/she came looking for more today and I happened to be outside to see it. This guy was larger than I expected, very much the size of a pig.

From the Britannica Online Encyclopedia: The peccary has dark, coarse hair and a large head with a circular snout. The ears are small, as is the tail, which is generally not visible. Its spearlike canine teeth give the peccary its other common names, javelin and javelina. These teeth do not protrude but make notable lumps in the lips.

Now I know how it got its name. And so do you...

Guests from Home

Today it is raining, but yesterday was a perfect day for hosting guests and eating outside.

Lew & Monica came from Casa Grande.

Lee & Jan winter in Green Valley.

Harry & Florence are in Green Valley for a month.
The guys were in school administration and have known each other since about the late 70s.
I made my favorite salads for lunch, and had cheesecake with fresh berries for dessert.
We had a great visit.

Downtown Phoenix

A couple of weeks ago I won two tickets to a play in downtown Phoenix. I asked a friend if she would like to go because I didn't think it was Curt's kind of thing. (Good choice.) The play [Title of Show] was my reward for attending exercise class 4 days a week.

I did my research and planning. It was a 45 minute trip through rush hour traffic. It was easy to find the Herberger Theater. We had dinner at My Big Fat Greek restaurant. Good Greek food; reminded me of my trip to Athens in 2000.


These cool sculptures were in front of the theater.

A basilica was across the street. Oh, yes, the musical. I enjoyed it. I'm glad Nancy was my date for the evening as I enjoyed our visiting as much as or more than the play. The props for the play were 4 chairs. There were four actors/singers and a keyboard player. Beautiful voices. Interesting concept for a Broadway show...

Girls Day Out

Five of us enjoyed visiting an arts fair in downtown Mesa last Saturday. This horse was in the yard and back entrance to an art museum. We enjoyed recognizing and identifying objects from their other life.

There was a lot of jewelry and some photographs for sale by the sidewalk vendors. We admired a lot and bought a little. Then we went into an antiques store. Now that was interesting as I saw several items for sale that I have an exact replica of in my home! YIKES! But I did find a new red hat for Red Hat. Here is the before I decorate it...

you'll have to wait for the after decorating for a couple of weeks. Too busy right now!

Today's Hike

Today's hike was to Picket Post and the Arizona Trail. Curt did climb to the top of Picket Post (2000 feet in elevation) several years ago. Today he walked the AZ Trail along the base of the mountain. We are told that if one continued on the AZ trail, you would get to Mexico. Sounds reasonable as we know the Mexicans came this way looking for gold in the Superstition Mountains. It is so green in the area right now because of the rains in the last month. This morning the humidity here was 80%. Not typical for AZ during the winter.

(Thanks, Nancy H. for the photo.)

Retired Military Planes

Our final side trip while in Tucson was to drive by the areas where the military has parked the many airplanes no longer in use.

Row upon row of planes

which have served their purpose and our country

but now in their final resting place.

Saguaro National Park

Our trip to Tucson last week included driving through the Saguaro National Park.

Saguaros grow slowly. In the most favorable conditions it may take 35 years for a plant to reach 6 feet; more commonly it takes 47-67 years.

Petroglyphs more than 800 years old were located on one of the trails in the western park.

Saguaros can grow to 50 feet tall and are the largest member of the cactus family in the US, but not in the world.

Saguaros start life under a tree or shrub to protect them from drying out and be hidden from herbivores. They often outlive their host plant.

Saguaros are protect by law throughout Arizona.

San Xavier del Bac Mission (Interior)

Here are photos from the interior of the San Xavier del Bac Mission near Tucson, AZ. This is the high altar area.

the ceiling of the domed area

Man in the Maze

"The man at the top of the maze depicts birth. By following the whole pattern, beginning at the top, the figure goes through the maze encountering many turns and changes, one acquires knowledge, strength, and understanding. Near the end of the maze, one retreats to a small corner of the pattern before reaching the dark center of death and eternal life. Here one repents, cleanses, and reflects back on all the wisdom gained. Finally, pure and in harmony with the world, death and eternal life are accepted."

The lower half of the walls within the church area are painted like this. It really caught my eye the first time and did so again on this trip. It reminds me of M. C. Escher's work.

Mardi Gras Parade

Our resort celebrated Mardi Gras today with a special parade this morning. Leading the way was Marlene, parade marshal.

Of course the Red Hats made an appearance. This was one of the two golf carts we decorated.

Other decorated golf carts

Some of the 'dressed for the occasion' walkers

Another parade entry

And the convertible loaded with beauties

The Kayak Club also had a 'boat' entry.

A fun, silly morning for the old folks! Yes, we know it isn't Fat Tuesday, but it was the weekend our resort could use the decorations. It really was a perfect morning to go for a walk or ride in the AZ sunshine.