Verna and Bob's Weblog

Arizona

Merry Christmas 2015


Verna and I wish each and everyone a very Merry Christmas! We hope that you all have been and will continue to be blessed as we have been.

We are spending our Christmas with each other and our dogs at home, away from the hubbub and secure in our little house. We plan to travel and visit with family and friends after the new year begins.

Verna took the image seen in the animation above on New Year’s Eve, 2014, just about a year ago. It was the ONLY snow day that we have seen in the five years since moving to Arizona.

Again, blessings to you and yours and enjoy the Christmas Holiday.

December 24, 2015 by Arizona Climate Holidays Photography

A Sugar Skull Handbag

Sugar Skull Handbag

We were doing a little last-minute shopping down in the touristy part of town today. We saw, but did not buy, this nice handbag featuring “Day of the Dead” (Día de Muertos) imagery. Click on the image to enlarge.

We were shopping for another person (my daughter-in-law) with Christmas Eve as a birthday. We finally settled on a nice hand-made shawl for her. We shipped it 2-day USPS today, so it should be there in time.

December 21, 2015 by Arizona Culture Photography Something Shiny

Red Amaryllis

Red Amaryllis

I planted two amaryllis bulbs a few weeks ago. Today, the first set of flowers opened. I took this photo in the courtyard so there would be sunshine on them. Click on the image to enlarge.

The flower stalks are starting to open in the other pot I planted. I will update this post when I have photos of the other ones.

December 20, 2015 by Arizona Flowers Home & Garden Photography

Custom RV Plate Ordered

Custom RV Plate

Yesterday, I got on the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) internet connection and searched for a custom plate for the “Roadrunner,” our new RV Motorhome. Luckily, the alphanumeric sequence of “VRNABOB” was available. Had there been the availability of eight, rather than seven, character limit, I have no doubt that I would have been able to get both of our names complete without having to concatenate the “E” out of VERNA’s name. Click on the image to (slightly) enlarge.

December 18, 2015 by Arizona Leisure Retirement Vacation

Frozen Rain Bucket

Frozen Rain Bucket

When the Daddy walked Bay Bay and me this morning, we noticed something about the water in the rain bucket that the Mama keeps under the drain spout. The water was very hard and cold! I sniffed at it and tried to take a drink but I couldn’t.

The Daddy said the water was frozen and then took us into the warm house where I could get a a cookie and a drink. Click on us to make us big.

December 15, 2015 by Arizona Climate Critters

Phainopepla

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.

December 1, 2015 by Arizona Critters Photography

Avalon 1998

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