Damsel captured this image of a red dragonfly in the courtyard of the medical offices this morning. We’re not sure, but it looks like a ruby meadowhawk dragonfly that we spotted in California in October of 2007. Click on the image to enlarge.
Critters
Our Miniature Pinschers
Before we finished building our Arizona Home, we applied for adoption of our little Cabela (yes – she is named for the outdoor equipment retailers). Several months later, after the house was completed, we applied for adoption of Beethoven, who already had a name and we decided not to change it (he answers to “Bay Bay”).
Cabela (left above) has her ears cropped and tail bobbed – her previous owners had that done before they lost her. Bay Bay’s ears and tail are natural.
Contrary to the popular belief that Min Pins are miniature Doberman Pinschers, the two breeds are not related. Min Pins are a cross between Dachshunds and Italian Greyhounds. From Wikipedia:
The misconception that the miniature pinscher is a “miniature Doberman” occurred because the Doberman Pinscher (a breed developed by Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann around 1890) was introduced to the US before the miniature pinscher. In 1919 the miniature pinscher was introduced to the AKC show ring. At the time, not knowing that it was referred to officially in Germany as the zwergpinscher (little biter), the AKC referred to the breed as simply “pinscher” and listed it in the miscellaneous category. When the Miniature Pinscher Club of America (MPCA) was created in 1929 (the year of the breed’s official introduction into the AKC), they petitioned for miniature pinschers to be placed in the Toy group. The AKC’s description, that the dog “must appear as a Doberman in miniature”, led to the misconception common today that this breed is a “miniature Doberman pinscher”. The original name for this breed in the US was “pinscher” until 1972 when the name was officially changed to miniature pinscher.
Roadrunner on my Birdbath
Otherwise known as geococcyx californianus, meaning Californian Earth Cuckoo, this handsome roadrunner was drinking from my birdbath near the little wash out back. The bird has been seen hanging around for a few days, sometimes nefariously trying to catch a goldfinch at my thistle feeders out back. We wish it would leave the birds alone and keep on catching and killing the neighborhood reptilian population.
In any case, it is interesting to watch nature in the desert. Click on the image to enlarge.
Desert Spiny Lizard
I flushed this Desert Spiny Lizard the other morning when loading some aluminum cans into the truck. The lizard didn’t scurry under a rock right away, so I was able to get this shot of it still on the rocks where the bags with cans had been.
We have seen it several times since hiding near the compost where it (presumably) eats insects attracted to the heap. Cabela tries to give chase to the lizard when going out for a walk, but we don’t let her get close.
Feeding The Hummingbirds
I added an additional hummingbird feeder at the other end of the patio last week. Now there are two feeders, but the little hummers still seem to bicker over who gets to feed where. No matter, though, we have seen as many as four at a time perched or hovering at the feeders. The fact that they go dry every few days says someone must be getting fed! Click on the image to enlarge.
Walking The Dogs
Damsel and I take the dogs for a little walk after their breakfast. Today, she went ahead while I was recycling some kitchen scraps. I took this picture of them as they were coming back down the road just west of the house. The hot weather is here, and the pups are anxious to get back inside where it’s cooler as you can see from the leash tension. Click on the image to see the wider-angle view.
Triple Digits
It is a nice day today. The temperature got up to over 106° this afternoon. We are running the A/C (for the dogs, of course). Click on the image to enlarge.