Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

Environment

Quail Brood

Quail Brood

We stopped at the last rest stop in Arizona before crossing into California on our way out to the old homestead today. We have to stop in order to (as Bob says) “Californicate” our carry weapons. You know, unload and lock the guns away where they are of no use to us for self defense purposes. But, enough about the unconstitutional state of Kalifornistan.

At the rest stop, a family of quail, a mama and papa and their brood of seven chicks were browsing the area just as we were leaving the rest stop. I took several images of these cute little birds as they made their way to wherever they were headed. Click on the image to enlarge.

27 May 2014 by Arizona Critters Environment Photography Second Amendment

Saguaro Forest

Saguaro Forest

We were on the road today to the West Valley and back. The trip is scenic in the areas where the saguaro and teddy bear cholla grow. These saguaros are on a hillside above the little pass on US 60 between Morristown and Wickenburg. Click on the image to enlarge.

01 May 2014 by Arizona Environment Photography

Global Warming Hits Arizona

flagwx.jpg

More than a month after the first day of spring, a cold front is passing through Arizona today. We’re having breezy, showery weather with temperatures sub-sixties. Both of us (and the dogs) have bundled up a bit, since we’re already getting used to the eighty and ninety degree days of late spring. Shorts and tank tops gave way to sweat pants and hoodies.

The weather in Flagstaff, AZ, shown above, is not typical of this time of year, even at their 7000 foot elevation. Yarnell, AZ, just eighteen miles north of us, is forecasting snow showers this afternoon at their 5500 foot elevation. We don’t expect snow here at 2000 feet above sea level, but the windchill had us scrambling for our winter wardrobe having already been put away.

The good news is that we’re going to see a warming trend in the coming weeks. Tomorrow will be fair enough for me to do some outdoor grilling. We’re looking forward to that.

Meanwhile, the GREENBATS® will blame the weather on CO2, no matter what the actual climate engine brings us.

26 Apr 2014 by Arizona Environment Global Warming Greenbats

Curve Billed Thrasher Nest

Curve Billed Thrasher Nest

Some of the best things about living in the semi-rural desert is watching the wildlife and seeing the beautiful cactus flowers. There is always something going on.

I was out in the front yard spraying for weeds yesterday, when I noticed a curve-billed thrasher suddenly flush out of a nearby cholla cactus. I put down the spray bottle to investigate and discovered that the thrashers had restored their nest in the cactus from last year. I peeked in and saw three eggs in the nest. Luckily, I had my Canon SX40 still strapped around my neck and held it above the cholla to get this shot of the eggs in the nest. Click on the image to enlarge.

24 Apr 2014 by Arizona Critters Environment

Celebrating Earth Day

Just like the President who is jetting to the Pacific Northwest and Asia today, we are celebrating Earth Day by cranking out as much CO2 as possible. We started by taking the 6.0 liter GMC truck in for service and firing up Damsel’s car to transport me round trip to take the truck in and pick it up later. We’re just sorry that we have to stick around home this week and can’t load up the dogs and go for a 200 mile scenic tour of our beautiful desert.

This evening, we will celebrate by watching two baseball games on our two big screen TVs simultaneously. Although we seldom do this, we will turn on the outside sconces (all seven of them) three in front, three on the garage and one on the back patio. We might even turn on the four RV drive floodlights.

To understand our motivation for doing this, we invite you to visit the Climate and Global Warming Resources Page which will direct you to several works that expose the Global Warming Hoax for what it is – a political sham. Read this page to see why the sun is the major factor in climate determination.

22 Apr 2014 by Environment Global Warming Greenbats Whacko Politics

Vernal Equinox

Vernal Equinox

The first day of spring is finally here, although we already have longer days than nights (12hr, 10min of sunlight today) and the temperatures have been spring-like for weeks. The wildflowers and cacti are in bloom and the garden flowers are open. The Red Bird of Paradise shrubs in the courtyard are sporting their seasonal growth. We expect to see their colorful flowers as early as May or June.

The image above is a screen capture of the dynamic depiction of the grand octal earth orbital clock at Archaeoastronomy.com. I captured the image when planet Earth paused briefly at the Vernal Equinox position in the orbit. Click on the image to enlarge (slightly).

20 Mar 2014 by Astronomy Environment

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