3D Cholla Cactus
This is the same cholla cactus that I posted about 3 years ago in a previous 3D article. It has grown, but we keep it trimmed back since these can really get out of hand.
You will need your 3D glasses to view the image above.
If you don’t have the glasses, you can see the 2D Version here.
2026 Harvest Moon
Tonight’s full moon is the “Harvest Moon” of lore. At this time of year, the moon rises rapidly into the fading twilight, thus providing extra illumination for farmers to bring in the sheaves or whatever. For us, it’s an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors in the evening as the moon rises high and casts Moonshadows.
The tranquility of our desert place and the peace we enjoy is a major benefit with which the Lord has endowed us. Praise God Almighty.
Camera: Canon R10 mirrorless with 100-400mm lens.
Sheba — Maltese Chihuahua Mix
We’re now officially in Foster-to-adopt status for this little one. “Bathsheba,” named after the Biblical character – David’s Wife and Solomon’s mother – Sheba for short. She is a Maltese/Chihuahua mix and is just under three months old.
We brought her home today and she is getting used to her new digs and our other dog Tucker. We think she will adapt well, judging from her first reactions to the new environment. She is learning well and seems to be happy.
She will need a lot of patience and TLC over the next few weeks and months, since she is newly experiencing almost everything: house, people, other dog, the desert outside and myriad new things for her.
Click on the image to enlarge.
Dueling Cameras
We were out taking photos of various things around the house and yard when we both stopped to photograph each other photographing each other. The composite photo above (click to enlarge) is the result.
She used her Canon EOS Rebel T6i DSLR with the EF 15-135mm lens and I used my Canon R10 Mirrorless with the newly acquired RF 24-240mm wide angle to telephoto lens. We both get pretty good finished products.
A couple of the photos we took – Her first:
Ocotillo
Turkey Buzzard
And mine:
Devil’s Tongue Cactus Flowers
Lemon Ripening
Astronomical autumn begins at 00:05 UTC on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 — that’s 5:05 p.m. Mountain Standard Time on Tuesday, September 22 here in Arizona. As you may know, most of Arizona stays on MST year around. Some of the reservations still do DST.
May this fall find y’all to be happy and healthy as we transition to our cooler months. God bless!
Verna and Bob 💖💖
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
—2 Corinthians 13:14
Lately, these little weeds with yellow flowers have been popping up all around our area. I got curious as to what they were, so I asked Grok, which came up with the following:
These are cinchweed (also called manybristle cinchweed), Pectis papposa.
It’s a native Sonoran Desert annual that germinates quickly after summer monsoon rains and often appears in abundance among rocks and gravel in September. The small yellow daisy heads (typically 8–15 mm across) sit in clusters at the ends of forked stems, and the leaves are narrow and linear—exactly as in your photo. Crush a leaf and you’ll usually get a lemon or spicy scent from the oil glands.
It is common around Wickenburg and throughout the mid-elevation Sonoran Desert on rocky slopes, washes, and open ground. The plants are short-lived and will fade once cooler, drier weather arrives.
Since they aren’t much of a nuisance, we will let them do their thing before they fade away in a few weeks. Click on the image above to enlarge.
