Verna and Bob's Weblog

Arizona

Second Spring

Devil’s Tongue Flower

The really hot days of summer are now over, it seems, with forecast highs ONLY in the 90’s. Some of the cacti around the yard are opening flowers like spring has sprung. This is typical of this time of year which the locals (and that includes us) refer to as “second spring.”

The photo above is the last flower of many that opened on our Devil’s Tongue Barrel cactus over the summer. We brought this cactus from the old place in California, put it in the ground here and it has been happy ever since, having grown to twice the height and a significantly larger diameter than when it arrived. Click on the image to enlarge.

October 13, 2015 by Arizona Flowers Home & Garden Photography

Our Desert House

Our Desert House

Verna and I were doing some minor outdoor chores today. I was spraying to kill some weeds that had cropped up over the summer, and she was snipping off the “sucker” branches from the palo Verde and some Mesquite trees on the property.

After surveying some of her work, she snapped this photo of the house as it appears today. Our new retention wall in front has done its job this summer and kept the property from eroding in spite of a millennium rainfall and runoff last July 18th. Click on the image to enlarge.

September 29, 2015 by Arizona Home & Garden Photography

Eat and Fly

Eat and Fly

After more than a week away from home, the birds that usually gathered beneath and on the bird feeders were mostly shopping elsewhere. It took a day or so for them to gradually start coming back to the (now replenished) feeders.

This is a shot of a woodpecker that snatched a tidbit from the seed bell and is (apparently) headed somewhere to either eat it or to share it with a mate or offspring. I’m not sure which.

The birds (quail, woodpeckers, curve billed thrashers, etc.) have returned, but not yet in the droves as before we left on our trip. I am sure that the numbers of birds will return to their previous state in a few days. Click on the image to enlarge.

September 26, 2015 by Arizona Critters Home & Garden Photography

Pretty in Pink

Pretty in Pink

I took this photo of Verna looking for photo targets of opportunity in the rock and cactus garden yesterday. There is always something in the desert to photograph, including the photographers, themselves. Click on the image to enlarge.

September 25, 2015 by Arizona Family Photography Retirement

Arizona Flag Sunrays

Arizona Flag Sunrays

I’m certain that Arizona sunrises and sunsets like this were the inspiration for the Arizona State Flag. We fly the state banner below the Stars and Stripes on our flagpole (when the monsoons aren’t here) and the similarities between the design on the flag and the setting sun last evening are quite clearly evident.

I am so glad to be repatriated to my birth state and Bob is glad to be an expatriate from California in favor of this beautiful place. God blessed the desert with beauty and tranquility (most of the time). Click on the image to enlarge.

September 4, 2015 by Arizona Climate Photography Something Shiny

Wickenburg Poster

Wickenburg PosterLast February, we bought a colorful poster from the town Chamber of Commerce for twenty bucks. We intended to get it mounted and framed, but as life events dictate (read procrastination), we put it off until last week when we took the poster to the shop in town that framed our bathroom mirrors; we asked them to mount it and frame it suitable for hanging.

We got the call from the framers today on our way back from grocery shopping, so we stopped in the shop and picked up the masterpiece. We both think it looks great and it is now proudly hanging on the south wall in the guest bedroom.

Click on the image to enlarge.

September 3, 2015 by Arizona Home & Garden Something Shiny

Avalon 1998

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