On our way back from the Ford dealer this morning (we had to return the GMC seats for our trade-in) (love the new truck, by the way), Verna took an image of the cloudscape over the mountains in the distance as we crossed the Hassayampa River. The clouds are forming over the Bradshaw and Weaver Mountains twenty plus miles distant, while the underground riverbed dominates the foreground in this image. Click on the image to view the panorama full size.
The Hassayampa River flows underground for most of the year, but when the monsoons come, the water flows big time. This is one of the pylons under the pedestrian bridge in town that clearly shows the high water marks when the big surge comes down the river from the headwaters. When that is going on, it is NOT a good time to be anywhere below the floodplain. Click on Verna’s image to enlarge.
It’s hard for a dark-colored dog in the desert sun running barefoot on the hot sand on the road in front of the house. That’s why we have a wading pool for them when they get back on the patio. Bay Bay voluntarily jumps in the pool, but little Cabela has to be helped in. Once she’s there, she appreciates the Mama dipping her and rubbing cool water on her skin. Click on the image to enlarge.
I snapped this photo of a cloud that resembled a whale floating in the sky this morning. Bob thought it looked like a Goldfish cracker, but I’m sticking with a whale. Just another example of desert Pareidolia. Click on the image to enlarge.
A few weeks ago, I spoke with the landscaping folks about our ocotillo out front. The one they installed a couple of years ago had completely died and was being consumed by termites or some other wood eating vermin. The landscape crew came out shortly after and removed the dead plant.
Today, the crew showed up with this beautiful living replacement for the old ocotillo. Luckily for us, the landscaper has a policy of replacement of anything they planted for up to five years. When the saguaro they planted failed, they promptly removed the fallen cactus and eventually replaced it.
Hopefully, the new ocotillo will prosper in the new location and produce the beautiful little arrays of red flowers on the tips of the canes. This is a young ocotillo and has the potential to grow in height and have more canes and flowers in the spring. Click on the image to enlarge.
Sometimes I like to have the Daddy or the Mama throw my squeaky toys in the air. I will then jump up and catch the toy and shake it and squeak it. It is fun for me. I like to play. Click on the Daddy’s picture of me catching my wally gator toy to make me big.
