Reid Park

Yesterday I took my friend Dawn to Reid Park. I didn't realize she had never been before. She has re-discovered photography, and enjoyed taking pictures as  much as I did. I call the little fellow below My Mosaic Turtle. I don't know why he's that color or what the red mark represents. He's probably trying to blend in with the water.

My birder friends are going to be very disappointed in me because I don't know what kind of duck that is. Perhaps a pintail. I liked his green bill.

Dawn remarked that this guy looked like he had silken feathers. I agree, but don't know what kind he is. The figures below represent an area of the park that I've not explored before. It's called Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Plaza.

 I loved the iron work. There are plaques that give information about cancer statistics and inspirational quotes from famous people. 

We visited the Rose Garden, and of all the pictures I took, these two are my favorites. I'm getting out and enjoying our current weather before the temps start to sizzle. I'm also playing in my yard decorating my back patio with new pots filled with new flowers and some who weathered the winter.

Backyard Birding

Please bear with me while I try to learn my camera. It was a beautiful day here in Tucson for sitting on the back patio and playing with my Cannon 3Ti. All the photography blogs tell you to know your manual, contrary to people who hate to read instructions. While I was playing around, these are some of my pics.

I couldn't decide which of these poses were best, so I decided to show all. This cactus wren is really having a time with that piece of suet.

This beautiful guy is a house wren. What a bland name for such a colorful bird! We know it's a guy, because in birdland, most guys show more color.

This, too, is a cactus wren, but because of the lighting, he appears to be black and white. He is in the tree with light directly on him, whereas, the first one is protected by the house and patio cover. Location, location! One of the reasons birders go crazy when trying to identify birds. Stop bitching; great day!

In Retrospect

I was struck with a thought this morning while making my bed and preparing for my morning walk: I am truly blessed to not have to worry about snow. Oh, maybe wonderful rain, when we are lucky, and some wind which is irritating. Don't get me wrong, snow can happen anywhere anytime, but my aim in life has been to stay away from it.

What kind of person leaves behind a home town where snow is normal and purposefully heads to where she  knows it will more than likely be warm? Did I mention that this person is only 17 years old and eloping? I have met a lot of people over the years who did just that. Most of the guys enlisted in the military after high school, if they weren't going to college.

I've met some young people while birding who come to the Southwest every winter for a short vacation to get away from the kids and weather, and to see the sights and birds. When asked why they don't move here, I get a well-thought answer that shows their kind and generous spirit: we couldn't take our children away from their grandparents. I suppose they also mean that they would miss their family and friends, and aren't willing to sacrifice that and brave a new adventure.

I could shoot myself when I start thinking deeply usually about the past. I guess that's what old people do and hate acting that way. Better to think about my up-coming trip to Florida. Watch out gators!

Plotting and Planning my summer trip

Yesterday I got my toad and the Jamboree hooked up. I'm really excited about hitting the road again, but plans keep getting side-tracked. I talked to my sister last nite, and it seems that since she broke her arm/elbow, she doesn't feel she can afford to do New England with me. Oh rats! I'll just pick up a hitchhiker. I could vent about this situation, but it would be an exercise in futility.

I haven't watched the news in a long time, and I couldn't sleep last nite after my conversation with Diane, so I caught the 10 o'clock news. I never saw so much sensationalism and half-truths. It was so disgusting to think that we have to sift through that crap. No wonder there are so many morons in our country. I guess it was the sleeping pill that put me to sleep after that.

My new job in life is waiting for Darwin Cole to show up and put the new A/C on my roof. I'd like to get it out of the garage, so I can park the Tracker next to the Highlander. I wonder what would happen if they mated? Bitching isn't productive, so I'm out a here!

More Fun

This is a video that I did during one of my walks. The railroad plays a very important part in veggie growing process: the reason they are so fresh when they hit the market.

This is a quarter of a mile down the road from the video. Here I thought I was out in the middle of the desert. My first shock was to come upon a house (which I didn't take a picture of) and then this street sign. Imagine!

I mainly did this post to assure myself that I could upload video. The last time I tried, it didn't work. Maybe I'll get one of those little camcorders that the guys at Best Buy weren't too impressed with. Right now, both of my cameras do a fine job for what I want.

New Year 2011

Since it's a new year, I decided to resurrect this blog and use it sort of as my daily diary. Cabbagemama is more of a travelogue of on the road adventures. I'm hoping to use this one for my deep thoughts which have been really wild lately. I spent a quiet first day of the new year trying to keep warm. My hose froze during the night so I didn't have water for coffee. I ran over to the club house and filled my cup from their pot. The guys in there told me that I would have to make coffee for a month now: only if they hog tie me! I read and watched movies the rest of the day. Carman called and we talked for over an hour about the possibility of combining resources to travel together. It's tempting, but I know I'm just too independent and set in my ways. He'd have to give up too much to make it happen. Today I called my friend Norma to see if she wanted to go to lunch, but she had already had an early lunch. She was scrapping greeting cards. She's very talented and is trying to teach me. If only my fingers would cooperate. I walked over to Coyote Wash to the IGA and bought milk and some veggies. The sun felt good, but it's getting cold again. I guess unless I go to the South Pacific, I'm going to have to have some degree of winter. Oh rats!

Straight Talk Express

I couldn't believe it! I was getting ready to pull out of Paws & Claws when what to my wondering eyes should appear but the Straight Talk Express. It turned on Third Street and I figured it was headed to Elephant Butte. When I passed Hodges Corner Restaurant, I saw a group of people anticipating something. I had to stop and get gas, because the red light was on. By the time I finished the big bus was parked in front of Hodges. I parked in the storage lot and walked across the street with my camera. A gentleman introduced himself to me as Frank. Jared Bartoo was standing next to me and he said that Frank was one of John McCain's prisoner buddies. After Mr. Frank left, Jared looked at me and said, "Hi, Dolly Loftus!" That's what happens when your students grow up, and I do mean UP. He's well over six feet tall. "If I'd known you were a Republican, I would have behaved better in your class," he said with a smerky smile. I think he's practicing to be a politician. At that point Clyde Woods came over and gave me a hug. Then I spotted Josh Ashbaugh. He wanted to know if I was going to come inside the restaurant and hear what the entourage had to say. I declined since I was quite cruddy from working at the thrift store all day. I could kick myself now. I took some pictures of Kathy Vickers, Cindi Senn, and Tom Stroup and hurried home with my unexpected treasures. Now I know why I very seldom part with my camera.