New Metal Art

Before we left for home last spring I bought a new piece of metal art for the back of the house. Now most people do not decorate the back of their house, but the back of our house is seen from the street. I think it is fun to have something to look at if you are traveling the same roads/streets several times a day. When we entertain and use the back patio, it is nice to have some wall decor.

 Besides, the wall decor takes the eyes away from the other 

not so attractive stuff at the back of the house!

 This is the new piece, a colorful Kokopelli.

 These three pieces were added one-by-one; 

I looked for just the right piece.

Unfortunately the saguaro faded over the summer.

I bought some paint and repainted it.

It doesn't have the pretty, unique designs it had when I bought it;

but it shouldn't fade again. Upon the advice of Daughter I applied

several coats of a protective UV spray. In fact, all the pieces got a new coat.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

to our 

Family & Friends

Praying Hands as in the Hike Destination

After the excitement of last Friday's hike, anything else seems very dull and boring. But the hiker took the photos and I have had them ready for a blog post, so you are getting the photos from the hike to Praying Hands. I am also including the link to Kari's photos and her hike there in February.

I'll start with a color photo... 

 Katie & her Great Dane

It was the Great Dane's first & last hike of the season

 The Hands

The hikers taking their snack break

And end with color

Here is a link to the March 2011 hike to Praying Hands

Fireworks Without the BOOM!

I posted these sunset photos on facebook. A friend commented the sky was full of fireworks without the boom! That described it exactly. Enjoy what we have seen the last few evenings.

It was amazing to watch the colors and clouds. We are blessed.

Hummingbird Feeder Update

We had a cold spell late last week. I had hoped it sent all the bees into hibernation or migration. On Monday I mixed some sugar water solution and after rubbing Skin So Soft all over the base, I filled the feeder and hung it next to the deck. I wanted to be able to observe if the hummingbirds did return after a feeder absence of several days. And I wanted to see if the bees hung around.

The hummers did indeed return. I think the first visitor was a female, but she was gone before I could grab the camera. On Thursday I had the camera ready as I sat outside reading.

This one sat on the brace for a long time. He allowed me to get quite close and snap many photos until the battery died. I was trying to decide if this was the Alpha hummer. His head feathers were scruffy looking until I realized when he rested he puffed his feathers. When he is flying, the feathers are close to the body and sleek. (Learned something that afternoon.)

It took several shots to get one with his beak in the hole. It helped that he was sitting on the perch and not fluttering.

This feeder was easiest to apply the SOS. It does not have any yellow on it as I heard this was the color the bees liked. A friend painted all the yellow parts of their feeder red. The bees aren't bothering it now. I'm afraid spraying the others would clog the holes. Another friend suggested finger nail polish. I hope the bees are gone and it doesn't become an issue until spring.

Then lo and behold...

Three hummers at the same time alighted and drank from the feeder. That was a first! And it was two males and a female. I doubt either male was the Alpha male as I saw him chase several other hummers away that afternoon. I'm not sure I will see that again, but I sure am glad I had the camera and captured it that afternoon.

Speaking of Helicopters...

What are the many, varied and unusual reasons why this visitor is above the BLM land next to our resort?

training exercises

looking for lost cattle

looking for escapees

rounding up coyotes

looking for illegals

watching the geocachers

following someone

looking for a landing pad

lost

looking for drug smugglers

learning to fly

taking lessons

looking for the homeless guy

hunting

Choppers have been in the air over the Bureau of Land Management land next to the resort almost every day for a week. The fly. They hover. They raise and lower. They move on. All reasons for speculation. Especially if it is a slow day....

A Little Excitement on Yesterday's Hike

Friday was a beautiful day for a hike in the Superstition Mts. The group was scheduled for a  moderate-difficult 5.6 mile hike with an elevation gain of 1370'. 

 This is the trailhead for a couple of hikes in the Superstition Mts.

Fremont Saddle was one of my first hikes in 2006. I thought I was going to die. 1370' in less than 2 miles???? I don't do well in extreme elevation gain.

 I don't remember the interesting rock formations. My memory is of sitting on a large rock waiting for the hikers to come back down the trail as I listened to gunshots below me.

 Some folks were having target practice in the desert below me. The gun shots echoed among the hills and canyons. I had no idea who, what or where as I sat wearing my tan hiking club T-shirt, blending in with the rocks. I was very relived when some of the hikers came back and as a group we went back down. Safety in numbers, you know. I have not hiked it since. I may have missed an awesome opportunity based on the above photo.

 The Lone Pine Tree is .5 miles from the saddle of Fremont Saddle. A trip out to the tree adds a mile with very little elevation gain. The tree was the destination of most of the 30+ hikers this morning because of the awesome views from that point.

More interesting rocks...

and a spectacular view of Weaver's Needle.

The Lone Pine Tree was really important Friday because it was the landmark the helicopter pilot recognized when he needed to land the Search and Rescue chopper to rescue one of our hikers.

One of the gentlemen (an experienced AZ hiker) fell and was unable to get up. He was placed on a stretcher and carried to the chopper... 

 for transport to the hospital. He has a broken rib and a small lung puncture. He is a lucky man.

As the chopper lifted off the hikers headed back down the mountain.

Looking at the rock formations from another angle. 

Before they reached the parking lot, some of the hikers saw a rattlesnake on the trail. Hubby wasn't in that group, so I don't have a photo. Some of the group also watched some folks hang gliding off the mountain. But I don't have a photo of that either. 

This hike was NOT typical of the CVHC!

The Hiker

I have neglected to update the blog, mostly because not much has been happening. Hubby has been hiking, so that is what I will post.

This hike is called Hackberry Springs: Garden Loop

It is in the Superstition Mts. on the backside of what we see

of the mountain

A couple of our oldest hikers;

Carl is 79 and Mary is 76

This guy was the surprise on the hike

This is Carolyn's photo of the tarantula

as it scurried across the desert floor

Balancing rock

Very little elevation gain on this hike

A very picturesque hiking trail in the spring

January 2011 hike to the same location

2012 Veteran's Day

The resort celebrated Veteran's Day on Friday, but I am posting on 11/11.

The day started with a parade:

a group photo of most of the parade entrants*

 pace setters (walkers) leading the parade

 then the golf carts

 hubby, one of two bike riders

 a short parade

then to the flag raising ceremony

A new flag was raised at the resort, replacing the flag that was raised on 11/11/11.

 Shelly's daughters leading the National Anthem

John & Wilma leading the Canadian National Anthem

honoring the Canadian servicemen and women

 Shelly, CV Activity Director sharing the story of her father,

a WWII prisoner of war

 Marlene wearing her patriotic pants & vest

table center pieces for the luncheon

the wall decor behind the serving line*

the greeter outside the door*

snack wall decor*

 shiny stars

patriotic bouquet

ceiling decor

shimmery & shiny

stars

Veterans from each branch of the service were honored at the luncheon of delicious roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables, salad and cookies for desert. One of the resort residents shared his Viet Nam story through words and music of the late 60s on a DVD. 

The day wrapped up with an evening of  "war" songs from the 40s to the 90s sung by 3 very talented sisters, Uptown Angels. An awesome ending to a day honoring those who have served their country. 

*

Thank you Veterans for serving your 

country and keeping our freedom.

*photos courtesy of Marge Raudstein. Thanks Marge. You new camera works well.