I took a walk up to the north property line today to get a panoramic image of the property from that vantage point. I discovered several hedgehog cacti that were obscured by a fallen palo verde branch. I moved the branch to expose the cacti. Hopefully, Verna will be able to go up there next spring and photograph the bright pink flowers these plants produce. Click on the image to enlarge.
One of the best things about retirement is being able to get out of bed at your leisure and your biggest decision is what to have for breakfast. Last Saturday, Verna made a stack of macadamia nut pancakes with maple syrup. We don’t often “eat sweet,” but these hit the spot on a cool desert morning. Click on the image to enlarge.
Note: We posted this item two years ago today. Verna and I remember our Dads, love them and miss them on this Veterans Day 2012.
This Veterans Day, I would like to remember our two very special veterans. My Dad, Jack and Verna’s Dad, Bill. Both of them are gone now, but we remember and thank them for their service and for their devotion to their families.
The photos of Jack (left) and Bill were taken in 1944 and 2004, respectively.
Jack was aboard the USS Brooklyn, CL-40, from Casablanca for the east coast 17 November 1942. Between January and July 1943 The Brooklyn made three convoy escort voyages between the east coast and Casablanca and then steamed to the Mediterranean where she carried out screening and fire support duties during the invasion of Sicily.
On 15 August 1944 the USS Brooklyn furnished part of the heavy naval gunfire which preceded the landing of Allied troops on the coast of southern France. She remained on duty in the Mediterranean until 21 November 1944 when she departed Sicily for New York, arriving 30 November.
Bill, served in U.S. Naval Aviation. He was stationed at Gibraltar in 1948 where Navy Patrol Squadron 26 had a detachment in those days.
The Cold War was fully in progress, and Bill’s Squadron was right in the thick of it all. Bill was a flight crew member and flew missions on the Navy version of the old B24 – the PB4Y-2 ‘Privateer.’ He flew missions all over the Mediterranean, Europe, the North Atlantic Ocean and back to the US for logistics and repairs.
We’re proud of all of our veterans and salute them on this day. And we’re especially proud of our Dads.
We tossed a few remnants of a celery stalk up in the wash this afternoon. Eventually, a few (about eight) javelina followed the scent and browsed around in the wash until the celery was gone. It took about seven or eight minutes until the critters moved on. I took this picture of Verna photographing the critters. Click on the image to enlarge.
We just got out of the Spa, probably for the last time of our “second spring.” The forecast is for fall temperatures to actually hit here tomorrow and this weekend. We’ve had highs in the mid 80’s and that is going to drop to the 50’s and 60’s.
Tomorrow, we’ll drain the spa and “winterize” it by pumping out the excess water in the pipes in case of freezing temperatures. The pipes could burst in a hard freeze. We need to do the same thing in the travel trailer.
