Valentine's day

Happy Valentine's Day to all. It is cold today. sunny and windy. Frost last night. Supposed to warm up again next week. I hope so. I am looking out for the animals today and tonight. Jacquie has gone to Tucson to meet Paul and stay over night at his brothers. So far the dogs have escaped and run off for a couple of hours. Not good to do on the weekends as the hunters are out on State land shooting at anything that moves. They came back looking tired but happy. Than the U.P.S. delivery truck came up the laneway and left the gate open. I hope the donkeys didn't take the opportunity to make a fast escape out to the road. They hopefully where in the back 40 when that happened. Will know at feeding time as they don't like to miss a meal. Then a chicken managed to get out of its run into the dog run and couldn't figure out how to get back . So chased it around for awhile before I caught it and carried it back to its own area. Have to lock them up at night as the coyotes are out and about every night . Guess they have young to feed as well.
So much for lounging around doing nothing.!!!!

Snow

Woke up to this white stuff this morning. What is going on ? It is not supposed to snow here.

The mules don't seem to mind the cold or snow. The natives and visitors aren't too keen on it.

heat and rainbow

Have had a couple of weeks of heat. Not complaining, been to Tucson as well. Seems to take a whole day to leave here, navigate the bumpy road. Make stops in Benson , at the dump,and the feed store., Then on to Tucson with a stop at the recycle bins. Then the grocery stores, lunch, and this week Jacquie had a meeting at her work office. I did a little wandering around while waiting for her, Then a stop at the pet store for dog food . Headed back to Benson for a few extra things at the grocery store and the hardware and by the time we got back home it was starting to get dark. Time to put the hens in for the night.

Rained last night. Still cloudy today, but the sun does peak out. supposed to get much colder this week. I am getting used to the heat so hate to hear about a cold front moving in. Am becoming a real wimp about cold weather.

This roadrunner visits everyday. He runs so fast and looks so funny. Just like in the old roadrunner cartoons at the movies.

Rain and Hiking the desert

Rained for two days last week. The desert smelled so wonderful after the rain. Seemed like a lot of water fell but am told it was less than an inch.

Sunday morning joined my daughter and an interesting group to view some rock art. left the house about 8:30 met the others around 9:15, and 3 four wheel drive vehicles full of men ,women and children proceeded slowly, along a windy dirt road, around the cactus patches. Arrived at a locked gate,with hardly enough room to park the cars, ( really wondered how they would turn them around without dropping into the valley below, but they did manage .)

With backpacks,full of water and of course our lunch we all walked about half a mile down into the valley bottom. Under a barbed wire fence and onto the rock strewn river bed. Heard lots of birdsongs and the bird expert in the group did tell us the names, but as I was so busy looking down so as not to trip on the rocks only got to see a few. Finally came to a side canyon with the rock art in a sort of cave. The river bed would have been flooded during the rains , and could see evidence of that a long way up the walls of the canyon. Early Southwestern Native People wouldn't have lived here all the time. The rock art looks like it was hammered into the walls of the canyon and cave.

This is thought to be a panther Not the best picture. Not sure what the one below is. I thought it was a rabbit, others didn't think so.

I think the others are a snake, turtle, circles,,there where many more. The bottom picture of Jacquie's foot and two holes or depressions in the rock is thought to be called bedrock mortars.

We ate our lunch at the site and thought about the lives of the people who lived here centures ago.

The walk back up the hill wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. We arrived home about 2:30 tired but satisfied with our outing.

Finished at last

The side fence is now all painted brown., took four days,but looks good. Of course the dogs tried to take a short cut right through the fence slats. Have wired it back together ,can hardly be seen.

Also painted the fire pit the lovely bright colour of the shed. Seems a shame to start a fire in it and dirty it all up.

Cloudy today and windy. Still very warm though. Supposed to rain in the next couple of days.

Sunday A day of rest

Yesterday and today have been very hot... like 80. Tried judo again Sat. morning. I'm still pretty pitiful but I gave it the old school try. Come away so relaxed that nothing gets done for the rest of the day. Mainly sat around and watched Paul and Jacquie work. Did go to the neighbours place and help (???) Jacquie feed and water the three horses and two donkeys . One followed us home and checked out what Paul was loading on the truck.

Slept in this morning and missed the morning feeding, but I did let the hens out. A very important job as have to lift one hen , Goldie,down off the roost. Not sure what is her problem, At first thought it was because the rooster really chased her and pecked her head. She stopped laying eggs . He was getting very aggressive to people as well. The rooster has gone to another home along with 4 hens. He attacked the new owner so last we heard the rooster was in "time out". In the run next to the hens, but not in with them. Back to Goldie , she still wouldn't come off the roost after the rooster was gone. Maybe she is afraid of heights? Also not laying eggs either.

Thought I'd add a picture of the great colour I painted the shed.

Bumpy ride.

Wednesday drove the van to Tucson. This is more of an adventure than it sounds. Ten miles of dirt road that seems like 30, over bone shaking , dusty, rocky, branch scratching, rough cattleguards and blind curves. Add a few stray cattle , mangy dogs and the chance of some wild animals running across in front of me.. Well, it was some trip. Everything in the van vibrates , and I mean vibrates, at any speed on that road. Top speed was 30 mph. but most time it was 10. Not a fast trip. Stopped in Benson at a tire store. On their advice , changed the air pressure in the tires. Really didn't make the return trip any more comfortable but maybe it will save the tires.

Went through the drive -through coffee hut after that. By then, really needed a strong drink , but since it was 9 in the morning had to settle for coffee.

Did some shopping ,checked out cameras . picked out a simple to use one, after much thought and then wouldn't you know, it was out of stock...

Went to lunch at a new Greek restaurant,with Jacquies in laws. Food was great except the greek salad was mainly lettuce. Don't think a real greek salad has lettuce in it. What happened to the onion, peppers,tomatoes ,and olives?

On the way out of town stopped at another store and bought a camera. The same one I had decided on at another store. Took pictures of cattle on the paved road on the way home.

Was so busy trying to keep the van on the dirt road didn't get to look around for the wild animals , but another day when I'm not driving am sure will see lots to click at.

The donkeys were at the top of the lane way , but they had enough sense to get out of the way as I roared up the hill .

Yesterday the coyote was up to the hen house twice. Just looked at me as he lopped off down the gully. Of course I didn't have the camera with me... Next time....