Verna and Bob's Weblog

Photography

The Early Squirrel Gets The Nut

In the title, I paraphrased the 17th century proverb to describe the morning activity of the little White Tailed Antelope Ground Squirrels that inhabit the area around our little house. I usually carry a few almonds in my shirt pocket to toss out to the squirrels when they are brave enough to come out looking for a handout, which is more often than you might think.

This morning, the little guy in the image above was out of the burrow and into the open area in the wash behind the house to receive the nut that I tossed out for him (her?). I usually can’t tell unless a female that is nursing the little ones stands erect and I can see her teats exposed.

The one shown was the only taker this morning, although, on occasion, several might show up. I carry several almonds and can usually throw enough for all that want them.

Image: taken with my Canon EOS Rebel SL3, Normal Program, 1/500sec, F8, ISO 100, EF-S55-250MM Lens @ 250MM, cropped.

October 4, 2025 by Arizona Critters Photography

Devil’s Tongue Cactus Flowers

Once again it is fall in the desert and with it comes the beautiful flowers on our Devil’s Tongue Barrel Cactus. This trio, along with several others, was open today after a nice rainfall yesterday. Click on the image to enlarge.

Ferocactus latispinus is the binomial nomenclature for what is commonly called the Devil’s Tongue cactus. Wikipedia offers the following information about this cactus:

Ferocactus latispinus is a species of barrel cactus native to Mexico. It grows as a single globular light green cactus reaching the dimensions of 30 cm (12 in) in height and 40 cm (16 in) across, with 21 acute ribs. Its spines range from reddish to white in color and are flattened and reach 4 or 5 cm long. Flowering is in late autumn or early winter. The funnel-shaped flowers are purplish or yellowish and reach 4 cm long, and are followed by oval-shaped scaled fruit which reach 2.5 cm (1 in) long.

September 23, 2025 by Arizona Flowers Home & Garden Photography

Waxing Gibbous Moon and Craters

Clickable image: The image taken slightly past first quarter lunar phase makes craters near the light to dark region more pronounced. Leo-AI explains:

Lunar craters are depressions on the Moon’s surface formed by asteroid, meteoroid, or comet impacts. They are a record of the Moon’s impact history, providing valuable information about the early solar system’s asteroid-pummeled past. The Moon’s surface is relatively preserved due to the lack of liquid water and wind, making it an ideal location to study impact craters.

During the first quarter phase, the Moon is illuminated from the right, making it visible from Earth. This phase is characterized by a half-illuminated Moon with a right half visible and a left half in shadow. Many notable lunar craters are visible during this phase, including:

  • Tycho crater: A complex crater with a central peak complex, terraces, and a flat floor.
  • Giordano Bruno crater: A complex crater with a central peak and terraces, formed about 10 million years ago.
  • Linné crater: A young simple crater, thought to be less than 10 million years old, with a smooth floor and a diameter of about 1.4 miles.

These craters are just a few examples of the many impact craters visible on the Moon’s surface during the first quarter phase. The Moon’s surface is constantly changing due to meteoroid impacts, and studying these craters helps scientists understand the Moon’s history and the early solar system’s asteroid-pummeled past.

August 31, 2025 by Astronomy Nerdliness Photography Something Shiny

Cactus Wren

One of our favorite local birds, the Cactus Wren, perches next to the seed block feeder in the back yard. Click on the image to view enlarged.

From the link above:

The Cactus Wren is a large chunky wren with a long heavy bill, a long, rounded tail, and short, rounded wings. The Cactus Wren is the largest wren in the United States and is similar in size to a Spotted Towhee.

The Cactus Wren is a speckled brown bird with bright white eyebrows that extend from the bill, across and above their red eyes, to the sides of the neck. They have pale cinnamon sides and a white chest with dark speckles. The back is brown with heavy white streaks, and the tail is barred white and black—especially noticeable from below. Males and females look alike, but juveniles are slightly paler and have a brown eye.

Unlike other wrens that typically hide in vegetation, the Cactus Wren seems to have no fear. They perch atop cacti and other shrubs to announce their presence and forage out in the open. They do not cock their tails over their back the way other wrens do. Instead they fan their tail feathers, flashing white tail tips.

August 29, 2025 by Arizona Critters Home & Garden Photography Retirement

Kentucky Camping

Camping near Paducah, KY:

Paducah / I-24 / Kentucky Lake KOA Journey offers a variety of camping options, including RV sites, tent sites, and cabins. The campground is located near the highways and byways of North America, offering convenience to traveling campers. According to the reviews, the campground has a quiet country setting, with beautiful views of the water from some RV sites.

The campground is close to several attractions, including Kentucky Lake, the National Quilt Museum, and the Floodwall Murals in Paducah. The reviews also mention that the campground has a fishing pond with a cool fountain that lights up at night.

July 21, 2025 by Photography Vacation

Mexican Hat Rock Formation

We passed this southern Utah formation on our way to western Colorado. Photo by Verna. Click to enlarge.

The Mexican Hat Rock Formation is a unique geological formation located in southeastern Utah, USA. It is a remnant of a sandstone layer of the Halgaito Formation, formed from sediments deposited on a coastal plain next to a shallow seaway during Late Pennsylvanian time. The formation is a balanced rock, with a broad, flat, orange-red sandstone cap standing on a narrow pedestal of shale and siltstone, resembling an upside-down sombrero. This unique shape is due to different rates of erosion and weathering, where the softer layers of shale and siltstone were eroded faster from underneath the more resistant cap of sandstone.

July 11, 2025 by Photography Retirement Vacation

Avalon 1998

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