Verna and Bob's Weblog

Bob

Lot Combo Approval

Lot Combo Approval

Image: Aerial Photo Map showing the combined properties (green outline)

Way back in 2018, we started the process of combining our two adjacent properties into a single parcel. This process included (1) purchasing the adjacent parcel, (2) obtaining approval from the Town Zoning Administrator and (3) getting a lot survey to provide the legal description for the combined properties. Those three activities were completed.

That left the fourth, and final, approval from the County Assessors office to be done. In May of this year (2021), we finally applied for the lot combo through our attorney. Now, the lots are combined into a single property.

The combined properties are now eligible for us to begin construction of an RV garage in the south part of the lot. Had the lots not been combined, town ordinances required that the first structure would have to be a residence. Now, we have a go-ahead for the RV garage plans to be submitted for approval by the town.

Stay tuned for RV Barn Progress . . .

August 31, 2021 by Arizona Retirement

Dying Tree Removal

Landscape Crew Working

One of the Palo Verde trees on our property was suffering from root poisoning according to our neighbor, Tim. Apparently, an adjacent cats paw tree was emitting something into the soil that was slowly killing the big tree next to it. If you click on the image to enlarge, you can see one of the crew standing under the diseased tree. Note how some of the green wood on that tree has turned brown.

The tree is now gone, thanks to the landscape guys who took it and the adjacent cats paw down. Click here to see the after photo.

July 19, 2021 by Arizona Home & Garden

Fifteenth Blogiversary

Roman Numeral Fifteen over a Saguaro Flower

Our first post on VERNABOB.COM was on July 17, 2006. We put up a couple of photos of us taken in our leisure time since we were still reporting to work in those days.

Now, after nearly twelve years of retirement, we’re still going strong in our desert abode. We are currently in a phase of summer weather called “monsoon season” where it isn’t exactly a “dry heat” in the Arizona desert. Even so, we’re mostly indoors where it’s a nice cool 80° with controlled humidity. It’s very comfortable.

As we move further into our retirement years we plan to keep blogging here from time to time. There will be a change in the blog format since we’re being forced to upgrade the WordPress blogging software to the latest version which is compatible with the latest version of PHP on our host servers. We may experience some outages as that conversion takes place.

The image above is of one of our summer saguaro flowers with the Roman numeral fifteen superimposed upon it. To see the flower image full size, click here.

July 17, 2021 by Blogosphere Entertainment Retirement

More Mars Helicopter in 3D

Mars Helicopter Ingenuity in 3D

Another 3D photo from Mars: Ingenuity as seen from the Perseverance Rover on about June 21, 2021, Earth time. Click on the image to enlarge.

From NASA Mars Helicopter Pages:

NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter is seen here in 3D using images taken June 6, 2021, by the left and right Mastcam-Z cameras aboard NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

As of June 21, 2021, Ingenuity Mars Helicopter has successfully flown its 8th flight, traveling about 525 feet (160 meters) south-southeast from Airfield D to the new Airfield E! This marks the third flight in the Operations Demonstration Phase of Ingenuity, in which the team will continue to push the flight envelope of the aircraft while learning valuable operational lessons. Flight 8 was also the first flight the vehicle executed since performing an update of its Flight-Controller flight software and all telemetry indicates that the update was a success!

In the event that you do not have your 3D anaglyph red/cyan glasses handy, you can see the 2D photo here.

June 27, 2021 by Aerospace Bob's 3D Stuff Nerdliness

Beltane – A Celtic Cross-Quarter

beltane.pngThis 5th of May, 2021, Verna and I have decided to skip the traditional “Cinco de Mayo” and celebrate “Beltane” instead. The Cross-Quarter day (midway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice) of Beltane, an ancient Celtic day of importance, occurs on May 5th this year according to the “Grand Octal Clock” which can be seen at the Archaeoastronomy.com website.

So, to celebrate the Celtic First Day of the Summer Season, we will be preparing a traditional Irish dinner of Corned Beef and Cabbage along with some boiled vegetables. I know, we just had that on March 17th for St. Patrick’s Day, but we like to have this meal more than once a year.

I discussed our Irish Ancestry in a post on St. Patrick’s Day last year. I also have English, Welsh, Scottish and some other mixed Northern European heritage along with a couple of Italians and one Choctaw great6th grandmother. Doing the math, that Indian ancestor qualifies me for Native American heritage benefits four times greater than Senator Elizabeth “Fauxcahontas” Warren. Of course, I wouldn’t do that – I’m not a Democrat.

So, since neither Verna nor I have any Hispanic Genealogy, we will probably be more inclined to celebrate Beltane than Cinco de Mayo in the future on May the 5th. That being said, we will still, of course, indulge in Tex/Mex Cuisine from time to time.

Happy (Insert Your Preferred 3/5 Celebration Here) to you!

May 5, 2021 by Culture Food and Dining Holidays

Avalon 1998

Categories

Archives