While we were at the car show today, I managed to get this interesting image of a classic Pontiac Chieftain hubcap with my reflection in the chrome. Click on the image to enlarge.
Photography
Phainopepla
While we were walking the dogs this morning, Verna spotted this Phainopepla perched atop a dead mesquite branch near the road. She did not have her camera at the time and all I had was my little Canon pocket Elph 140. Regardless, I got a fair photo of the little guy watching us.
From Wikipedia:
The phainopepla or northern phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) is the most northerly representative of the mainly tropical Central American family Ptiliogonatidae, the silky flycatchers. Its name is from the Greek phain pepla meaning “shining robe” in reference to the male’s plumage.
The phainopepla is a striking bird, 16–20 cm (6.3–7.9 in) long with a noticeable crest and a long tail; it is slender, and has an upright posture when it perches. Its bill is short and slender. The male is glossy black, and has a white wing patch that is visible when it flies; the female is plain gray and has a lighter gray wing patch. Both sexes have red eyes, but these are more noticeable in the female than the male.
Full Moon Rising
I just posted about sunset a couple of days ago, so today I am posting the full moon rising just after sunset over the neighbor’s house with our lovely little cottage in the foreground along with saguaro and ocotillo. It was another gorgeous day today with a few scattered clouds and beautiful blue skies. We sure love it here. Click on the image to enlarge.
Sundown
I love when the clouds turn those wonderful shades of yellow, pink, orange and red after the sun goes down in the west. I pointed my camera west several days ago to get this photo of the nice colors. Click on the image to enlarge.
These past few days have had very little in clouds overhead and the temperatures have been nice – in the 70’s during the day and over 50 at night. It has been what I call the “tweener” weather – in between fall and winter when you dress warmly in the mornings and have to shed layers by the afternoon for it being too warm. The same tweener thing goes for transitioning from winter to spring.
We’re having warm days this weekend, but by Thanksgiving next week, we will be having much cooler days with highs in the fifties. Time to get out the sweaters and hooded sweats.
More Hummingbird Feeding
Despite cooler temperatures and some of our summer birds migrating south, our little hummers are still coming around to sample from Verna’s feeders by the back patio. This little guy paused to sip several times before flitting away. I was out the back patio door taking pictures of other birds at the other feeders out back when the hummer showed up. Click on the image to enlarge.
Sugar Skull
We bought this nice Sugar Skull decoration in a post-Halloween bargain pile at one of the supermarkets here in town. Other than a Halloween decoration, this could be used to celebrate “Dias de Los Muertos” or Days of the Dead that starts on October 31st through November 3rd to coincide with Halloween and All Saints Day celebrations.
