CapnBob

Mothers Day 2025

We have no children or other descendants living close by, so we will be celebrating Mothers Day quietly while remembering our departed Mothers in Heaven as we prepare a nice Sunday Feast of smoked London Broil steak. The meat is marinating as I write this and will be put in the smoker soon.

Damsel is a Mother and Grandmother as well. We will celebrate her with a card and a gift from myself and the puppies for whom she does a good job of “mothering.”

Our three grandchildren living in California are now all Mothers since the birth of the latest (5th) great-grandchild in early March of this year. We will be wishing the young Mothers a very happy Mothers Day.

Mothers day falls in the spring when flowers from the various cacti are popping up. The (clickable) image above is of a saguaro cactus flower taken earlier on Saturday (05/10/2025), complete with some pollinators doing their thing.

So, we wish God’s Blessing on all the mothers out there, past, present and future. Happy Mothers Day!

Beltane – Celtic Feast Event

Celtic Beltane Feast — Click to enlarge.

We celebrated this ancient feast today with a traditional meal usually associated with our Irish ancestry: Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner with Low-Carb Veggies. Very tasty and filling, indeed. Happy Beltane!

From the LEO AI:

The Celtic Beltane Feast, also known as Beltane, is a traditional spring celebration marking the beginning of summer in ancient Celtic culture. It typically takes place on May 1st or May 2nd, corresponding to the spring equinox. During this time, the Celts would light bonfires to purify and protect their homes, livestock, and people from evil spirits. They would also decorate their homes with flowers, leaves, and other natural elements to welcome the arrival of summer. The Beltane Feast was a joyous occasion, filled with music, dance, and feasting, as the Celts celebrated the fertility of the land and the return of warmth and light.

Disclaimer: Our celebration of the Feast of Beltane in no way shall disassociate us with our firm belief in Jesus Christ and the Christian Faith.

As the Bell Trolls

I just back ordered one of these awesome hats from Trump Store for Damsel. It was on backorder since the hat trolling the leftist idiocy seems to be very popular among the supporters of this administration. We love the trolling and watching the idiots and leftists (I repeat myself) go berserk.

From Duck.ai:

The “Trump 2028 Troll Hat” has emerged as a symbol of both political satire and fervent support for former President Donald Trump. This distinctive headgear, often emblazoned with bold slogans and vibrant colors, serves as a playful nod to the idea of Trump running for president again in 2028, despite his ongoing legal challenges and the controversies surrounding his previous administration. The hat has become a favorite among supporters who enjoy the blend of humor and political commentary, using it to express their loyalty while also poking fun at the unpredictability of American politics.

In the realm of social media and political discourse, the “Troll Hat” has sparked conversations about the nature of political branding and the role of humor in campaigning. It reflects a growing trend where merchandise not only serves as a means of support but also as a tool for satire, allowing individuals to engage in political discussions in a lighthearted manner. As the 2028 election approaches, the hat is likely to remain a fixture at rallies and events, embodying the spirit of a movement that thrives on both enthusiasm and irreverence.

Caveat — Trump 2028 hats run USD $50.00 plus tax & shipping.

Easter 2025

Why seek ye the living among the dead?

He is Risen!

We wish you a Joyful and Happy Easter!

Cardinal Camo Failure
  and Happy Easter Weekend

With all the newly-grown green and yellow colors on the big mesquite tree out back, this Cardinal shows up big-time against the cooler desert hues. Seriously, these Cardinals come to the bird feeders up there and are a delight to see when they grace our area with their brilliant red-orange feathers and black trim.

I took this photo this morning (Good Friday, April 18, 2025) with my Canon EOS Rebel SL3 with the EF55-250 telephoto lens set to 250mm. I think that I took five or six images as the bird moved from left to right across the tree branch; this one was the best of the group.

Now for the message for all, that Jesus died on that fateful day when the sins of mankind were lifted from us on the cross at Calvary. We will be celebrating the sacrifice and resurrection of our Lord this weekend. Happy Easter. HE IS RISEN, INDEED!

Happy Easter!

V-22 Osprey Flyover

Late this afternoon (04/14/2025), an Boeing V-22 Osprey aircraft flew nearly over our place here at an estimated altitude of about 500 feet above ground level. Damsel snapped this photo after retrieving her camera when hearing the unusual sound from this one-of-kind aircraft type.

It appeared that the Osprey, in tilted up rotor configuration, might have been heading for a landing at our local airport, a couple miles west of us. Ospreys tilt the rotors up for takeoff and landing, otherwise the rotors are tilted forward for cruise configuration.

As I mentioned above, this aircraft makes a most unusual sound signature when flying by, especially in the rotors up configuration. At this low altitude, the sound was clearly something foreign to our quiet little abode here in the desert.

I haven’t been able to distinguish from the aircraft markings visible in the photo whether this is a Marine or an Air Force craft. While we have seen Ospreys flying over the past few years, this may have been the closest pass to our home to date.

Click on the image to view enlarged.

Light Pollution in the Southwest

For those of us who are stargazers that love to look up at night, one of our primary concerns is anthropogenic illumination, a.k.a Light Pollution. Damsel and I remember one night in southwestern Utah at Zion National Park when we looked up to see so many stars that it was difficult to discern any of the major constellations since the sky was virtually filled with visible stars. Zion is remote enough that lights from major population areas are far over the horizon, thus providing a memorable and overwhelming view of the stars and galaxies in God’s wonderful universe.

Here in Wickenburg, we have fairly dark skies, but depending upon the time of night, we still have a little light pollution that interferes with our stargazing. However, just sixty miles southeast of here is the giant megalopolis of Phoenix and surrounding cities that don’t give a hoot about dark skies. As a result of that, our views in the direction of the Valley are clouded by that massive amount of candlepower.

Referring to the image above, Wickenburg is in the approximate center of the image on the border of Maricopa (south) and Yavapai (north) counties — you can see our little light blob just at the west end of the “notch” in the north side of Maricopa County. The giant light blob to the southeast of our town is the afore-mentioned megalopolis. You can see how their pollution might affect the dark skies of our area.

About the images on this page: due to a fluke in the GOES Southwest USA Imagery, I captured these nighttime images without the normally present clouds and other observed phenomena. These are the pre-programmed night images sans the clouds. The image at the top is cropped to show our area while the image below is the entire background for the GOES Southern Rockies nighttime view. Click on either image to enlarge; use the scroll bars to navigate the large image below.

Complete No Weather Southern Rockies GOES image: