Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

Early Spring Cholla Buds

Cholla Buds

For most of January, we have enjoyed warmer daytime temperatures, like in the high 60’s and low 70’s. It is still quite possible for winter to hit here again, but in the meantime, we’re enjoying “faux spring.” Some of the cacti on the lot also seem to be responding to the warm trend.

I was up on the hill behind the RV drive hanging the bird feeders that Damsel refilled yesterday afternoon. I walked over to inspect some of the buckhorn cholla cacti because I saw some cactus wrens and a couple of curve billed thrashers hanging around them. I thought I might see evidence of a nest or two being built, but all I saw was some new buds starting to appear on the cholla. Damsel reminded me later that the cholla on the hill always seem to get flowers sooner than the ones down on the front of the lot. Click on the image to enlarge.

28 Jan 2014 by Arizona Environment Home & Garden

A Rainbow in the Sky

Rainbow in the Sky

When I took the dogs out for their first run on Tuesday of last week, I thought I heard an airplane going over. When I looked up, I didn’t see a plane, but I was astonished at the sight of a rainbow in the clouds overhead. The sun is out of the bottom of the frame in the image above. I can’t remember ever seeing a rainbow arc away from the sun until I saw this. Click on the image to enlarge.

I uploaded the image to SpaceWeather.com and found out that this is a circumzenithal arc:

The circumzenithal arc, CZA, is the most beautiful of all the halos. The first sighting is always a surprise, an ethereal rainbow fled from its watery origins and wrapped improbably about the zenith. It is often described as an “upside down rainbow” by first timers. Someone also charmingly likened it to “a grin in the sky”.

Look straight up near to the zenith when the sun is fairly low and especially if sundogs are visible. The center of the bow always sunwards and red is on the outside.

Fairly rare to see. I feel blessed.

27 Jan 2014 by Arizona Photography Retirement

Mars Rover Opportunity Tenth Anniversary

Opportunity

Originally envisioned as a three-month Martian experiment, rover Opportunity managed to exceed its lifetime projection forty fold. I missed posting this yesterday, so here it is today.

From APOD and NASA:

On January 25 (UT) 2004, the Opportunity rover fell to Mars, making today the 10th anniversary of its landing. After more than 3,500 sols (Mars solar days) the golf cart-sized robot from Earth is still actively exploring the Red Planet, though its original mission plan was for three months. This self-portrait was made with Opportunity’s panoramic camera earlier this month. The camera’s supporting mast has been edited out of the image mosaic but its shadow is visible on the dusty solar panels arrayed across the rover’s deck. For comparison, a similar self-portrait from late 2004 is shown in the inset. Having driven some 39 kilometers (24 miles) from its landing site, Opportunity now rests at Solander Point at the rim of Endeavour Crater.

26 Jan 2014 by Aerospace Astronomy Rocket Science

Rodeo Practice

Rodeo Practice

We went out for a doctor’s appointment today and saw the rodeo guys warming up for the weekend events. There sure are a lot of horses, cows and trailers in town these days. We’re not complaining though, the town can use the revenue generated by the cowboys and cowgirls. Click on the image to enlarge.

24 Jan 2014 by Arizona Critters Photography

2013 Tax Returns Filed!

forms.jpgWe finally got the last of the tax forms in the mail today, so I finished up the (almost completely done) tax package and e-filed it in the Turbo Tax on-line repository where it will languish until the 31st of January when the IRS begins accepting returns. The tax program assured me that my return would be near the front of the line when the IRS opens the gates.

Our filing status did not change this year, but we had a considerable quantity if non-cash donations to local charities. When my Mother passed away last fall, we gave most of her personal things to Soroptimist and Habitat for Humanity. Between those donations and our normal ones, we had more deductions.

Because of the extra charitable donations last year, we overpaid both the Federal and State tax. As I may have mentioned before, I prefer to owe them each a small amount rather than letting them use our money interest free. I believe that I have adjusted both Federal and State withholding to underpay slightly this year. Meanwhile, we will be getting a total of less than $1K back.

By the way, I calculated what we would have owed Kalifornistan income tax just for kicks. I turns out that their tax rate is EIGHT TIMES that of Arizona’s in our income bracket. Between that little factoid and knowing what tax spenders out there spend the money on, makes me glad to be outa there. Hopefully, this is also the year we will be flipping our SoCal house and get out from under the outrageous property tax and insurance bills.

23 Jan 2014 by Money and Business

Polar Vortex – Wickenburg Edition

Vortex

With much of the country immersed in frigid conditions, I would feel remiss if I failed to report how the “polar vortex” is affecting us here. This winter, just like last winter, has it’s warmer and cooler days. This image is from earlier this afternoon on our back patio in the shade.

The Greenbats and media (but I repeat myself) will be all over this as being caused by greenhouse gasses, cow farts, etc. People, the climate cycles are nothing we can do anything about.

Both Damsel and I agree that we prefer summer here in the desert and often remark “Add thirty or forty degrees to that temperature – then it would be NICE.”

21 Jan 2014 by Arizona Global Warming Greenbats

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