Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

Roadrunner on my Birdbath

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.

16 Jul 2013 by Arizona Critters Environment Photography

Monsoon Day

monsoon.jpg

Contrary to forecast for 105° and mostly sunny, the weather has been rain, thunder and lightening and gusty winds since noon today. The rain has been heavy at times and the clouds to the south have all but cut out satellite TV.

The closest lightning strike so far today was about a half mile away according to the time from flash to report. It is after 3PM now and the thunderclaps and rain continue. Looking at the radar on the NWS, it appears to be one big stationary mass of precipitation. “Little” Casandro wash, the road in front of our house is flowing with the runoff from the canyon to the west.

And, of course, the rain flushes out the anthills. I took the Ortho sprayer out a few minutes ago and laid a band across entrances to the patio, house and garage.

In spite of all this, we still love our little desert home.

15 Jul 2013 by Arizona Environment Retirement

Bishop Flowers Keep on Coming

Bishop’s Cap Flowers

It was another beautiful summer day in the desert today! I went out to the courtyard this morning and noticed that the Bishop’s Cap Barrel cactus was literally crowned with uncountable flower buds. This afternoon, I took this photo of them mostly open. I think this cactus likes its native Arizona. Click on the image to enlarge.

10 Jul 2013 by Arizona Flowers Home & Garden Photography

Mars Rover Opportunity 10 Year Anniversary

opportunity.jpg

Today marks the tenth anniversary of the deployment of the Mars Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. Spirit has not been heard from for several years, but Opportunity keeps on chugin’ along. This is quite an achievement for JPL, NASA and the subcontractors that put these remarkable spacecraft together. Several years ago, Damsel and I visited JPL and took the tour that included the ground facilities for the rover program. It was quite impressive.

Here is an excerpt from Dr. Tony Phillips’ article about Opportunity:

Opportunity’s Improbable Anniversary

July 1, 2013: When NASA’s Mars rover Opportunity blasted off from Cape Canaveral in 2003, many onlookers expected a relatively short mission. Landing on Mars is risky business. The Red Planet has a long history of destroying spacecraft that attempt to visit it. Even if Opportunity did land safely, it was only designed for a 3-month mission on the hostile Martian surface.

Few, if any, imagined that Opportunity would still be roving the red sands of Mars–and still making discoveries–ten years later.

On July 7, 2013, Opportunity celebrates the 10th anniversary of its launch and more than 9 years on Mars.

07 Jul 2013 by Aerospace Rocket Science

Sunflowers

Sunflowers

We shopped a day earlier than usual today because of the holiday falling on our normal Thursday shopping day. I was looking for some red-white-blue floral displays and was a little disappointed that they had none. I settled for these nice sunflowers to serve as a colorful and festive centerpiece for our Fourth of July celebrations this long weekend. Click on the image to enlarge.

03 Jul 2013 by Flowers Home & Garden Photography

Helping the Yarnell Fire Victims

Food and Supplies

Damsel and I took some canned goods, some packaged food, a few blankets and bottled water to the Wickenburg Community Center today. The center is being used to stockpile and distribute food and supplies to the victims of the Yarnell fire disaster. We were glad that we had a stock of items on hand to be able to take them there today. Click on the image to enlarge.

Of course, there were plenty of other community members who brought a lot of items. Click here to see more.

02 Jul 2013 by Arizona First Responders

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