Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

Planning for the 2012 Annular Solar Eclipse

path.jpgAs Jack Horkheimer used to say (before passing) “keep Looking Up.” That’s why we’re starting to plan for a fairly short trip in May to witness an annular solar eclipse. The path of maximum eclipse extends from Asia, across the Pacific and then through the western United States. The path in Arizona will pass over Page and continue into New Mexico to Albuquerque.

Image: Path of maximum annular eclipse. Click to enlarge

Our target destination will be to go to Chinle, AZ, adjacent to the Canyon De Chelly National Park. In the image, you can see that the red path goes right over Navajo land and just along the southern part of the national park. Our plan is to tow a travel trailer to the area and find a place to camp after the eclipse that will occur on May 20, 2012.

I’m ordering some eclipse shades and a solar filter for each of our two cameras for the event. We are hoping for some excellent pictures of one of the most spectacular events to happen on Earth.

01 Feb 2012 by Astronomy Environment Retirement Travel

Red Amaryllis Update

quad-ami.jpg

The red amaryllis I posted a few days ago now has all four trumpets open. There is actually a fifth flower developing, but I don’t know if it’s going to amount to much. Bob held the amaryllis against the blue Arizona sky for this photo. Just beautiful, if I do say so myself. Click on the image to enlarge.

28 Jan 2012 by Arizona Flowers Home & Garden Photography

Obama – Self-Centered and Thin Skinned

finger.jpgBy now, most of us have seen the photo of Arizona Governor Jan Brewer wagging her finger at the President. The real story behind the incident is Governor Brewer met Air Force One at the airport to welcome the president and extend an invitation to return to Arizona to inspect the US/Mexico border. Rather than deferring an answer or thanking the governor, he griped to her about being characterized in an unflattering manner in Brewer’s new book.

I support Governor Brewer in standing up to the president, who like most socialists, tend to bully others in to thinking their way is better. I just wish she had used the same finger as I do when seeing the president. Now THAT would have been newsworthy.

On the topic of self-centered, let me quote Mark Alexander‘s “short” version of the State of Disunion speech . . .

The short version: “I went … I know … My … My … I took office … I’m president … I will work … I intend … I will oppose … I want … I took office … I refused … me … my … my … me … I will sign … I set … I will go … I will not … I promise … I hear … I want … me … My … I want … I am … I spoke … me … I believe … my … I took office … me … I will sign … my … my … my … I will not … I will not walk … I will not cede … I will … I’m directing … my … I will sign … I’ve … my … my … I’ve ordered … I guess … I will not … I will … I will not … I will … my … I told … my presidency …me … my … I get … I don’t … I recognize … I bet … I’ve … me … I will … I ask … I’ve … me … I believe … my … my … I can … I have … I will take … I mean … I intend … I’ve … I’ve … I’ve … I’m a Democrat me … I believe … I began … my … I sat … me for president … me … I look … I’m (Applause.)”

26 Jan 2012 by Arizona Whacko Politics

Rosemary Progress

mar2011.jpgLast March, we had the landscaping crew plant rosemary bushes on the embankment behind the house along the RV drive. They planted approximately sixty one-gallon bushes in diagonal rows of two or three down the slope of the embankment. They set up the irrigation tubes and started the automatic timer for the watering cycle. The photo at the right shows a section of the embankment with the newly-planted rosemary bushes.

jan2012.jpgYesterday, Damsel took this picture of the embankment. The two photos were taken looking toward about the same area of the embankment. The top photo was taken in the morning while the bottom photo in the late afternoon. It has been roughly ten months since the rosemary were planted and the progress is obvious. Eventually, we’re hoping that the rosemary will cover the entire embankment to help stabilize the erosion and to make a pleasant backdrop along the RV drive.

Click either image to enlarge.

25 Jan 2012 by Arizona Home & Garden Retirement

Categories

Archives