Last week we drove from Wickenburg, AZ. to Lake Pleasant near Peoria, AZ. Driving along AZ SR 74, you can see a lot of beautiful scenery. I took this photo of the road and the cloud topped mountains beyond the saguaro-dotted landscape. Click on the image to enlarge.
While shopping at the garden center today, I decided to take a photo of flowers on a lantana bush. Just as I was getting set to shoot the photo, a sachem skipper butterfly landed on the flower. Click on the image to enlarge.
Federal Judge Susan Bolton who is presiding over the hearing on Arizona SB 1070, the immigration enforcement law, wonders why the DOJ would ever pursue the law as a Federal preemption case.
“Why can’t Arizona be as inhospitable as they wish to people who have entered or remained in the United States?” U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton asked in a pointed exchange with Deputy Solicitor General Edwin S. Kneedler. Her comment came during a rare federal court hearing in the Justice Department’s lawsuit against Arizona and Gov. Jan Brewer (R).
Bolton, a Democratic appointee, also questioned a core part of the Justice Department’s argument that she should declare the law unconstitutional: that it is “preempted” by federal law because immigration enforcement is an exclusive federal prerogative.
“How is there a preemption issue?” the judge asked. “I understand there may be other issues, but you’re arguing preemption. Where is the preemption if everybody who is arrested for some crime has their immigration status checked?”
Captain Ed at Hot Air speculates that the Feds will get laughed out of court sooner than later.
I bought a dozen bright “Hot Princess” roses when we shopped today. I put them in the vase with the yellow “Isabel” roses from last week and the colors compliment each other perfectly. Click on the image to enlarge.
In addition to it’s old western town charm, Wickenburg has another feature which we enjoy – it’s a railroad town. The trains no longer stop in Wickenburg – they stopped operations back in 1969 but the track that runs through town is still active with trains coming through several times a day.
The old Santa Fe railroad station has been restored and currently houses the town’s visitor center and Chamber of Commerce. Behind the station is this nice old coal-burner on a siding with a tender and a caboose.
Image courtesy Damsel – Click to enlarge.
Our California residence is a quarter mile from the tracks and we rather like to hear the trains as they pass through the nearby railroad crossings. I come by my affection for trains it honestly. Both my Dad and maternal Grandfather worked for the Pacific Electric railroad in Southern California – Dad worked in the powerhouse and Granddad was a motorman for the famous Red Car.
Our new home will be about a half-mile from the track that runs through town. There is a switch northwest of town about three miles where the trains can be routed west toward California or north toward Kingman and Las Vegas.
The first (I hope not only) Golden Torch cactus flower opened up last night. I took this photo of it this morning. I say I hope not only because last year there were a half dozen of the little flower-pods by July and this year I only see the one. Click on the image to enlarge.
