Monday, January 27, 2014

DROVE US ABOUT 40 MILES TO FIND A SPOT ONLY ABOUT 6 MILES FROM WHERE WE STARTED OUT……..DUH:((

(this is Sunday’s post)

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A PAIR OF CACTUS WRENS WERE BUSY THIS MORNING GATHERING NESTING MATERIAL

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If anyone is up early enough & wondering what that bright round looking light is in the South-Eastern sky it is the Planet Venus.  With our crystal clear cool Arizona skies Venus really stood out this morning & caught my eye as soon as Pheebs & I stepped outside.

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TIPPY ACROSS THE ROAD FROM US PATIENTLY WAITS MOST EVERY MORNING FOR A SNUZZLE WITH THE BAYIELD BUNCH & ESPECIALLY SMOOCHES WITH THE PHEEBS

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We noticed a difference in Dally when we walked by this morning.  She didn’t come rushing over to the fence jumping up to see us.  She held back watching us at first then slowly approached.  Seemed like she was being very cautious.  Gave her a couple treats & she was happy to see us but the excited exuberance we had seen before wasn’t there.  Her experience may have settled her down a bit & she just might have been very, very, tired.

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THIS CACTUS WREN COUPLE HAS TAKEN UP RESIDENCE IN OUR FRONT YARD SAGUARO CACTUS

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I GUESS JUDY FROM TRAVELS WITH EMMA WOULD CALL THIS, ‘THE END’

Filled the bird feeders, fired up Jeepers & we were on the road before 10.  Kelly had read about a mineral hill up highway 93 somewhere.  We should have paid more attention to the map in the library gem book because it took us about 40 miles to find the spot we set out to find which turned out to be only about 6 miles from our house.  And all because we were not paying attention & missed a road sign.  Oh well nice morning for a drive but not necessarily on highway 93.  It’s the race track between Phoenix Arizona & Las Vegas Nevada.  I have a feeling there are a lot of drugs & alcohol on this stretch of road.  Why else would some of the crazies be driving the way they do eh. 

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AT LEAST THE DESERT ROADS WE WERE ON TODAY WERE UNUSUALLY SMOOTHDSC_0444

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AND HOW NICE TO BE IN A LAND OF JOSHUA TREES

We did finally find the area we were looking for at the western edge of the Date Creek Mountains.  That of course after a dusty stretch of desert road led us to a dead end & back.  Knew we were in the right spot though when we saw some people on a small hill digging with shovels. 

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KELLY WALKS OVER TO SEE WHAT THE FOLKS HAVE FOUND

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PHEEBS MAKES FRIENDS WHEREVER SHE GOES

Parked & walked over to where the folks were searching for Crystals.  They did have some nice small finds.  We spent about half an hour walking around picking up some prospects.  A lot of nice stones here but the elusive Crystals are hard to find.  Book says to dig for them & sort through the dirt.  They can be as small as half a fingernail or less.  Something that requires a trained eye to find.  The family digging on the hill was from Phoenix. 

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OF COURSE WE DO HAVE OUR OWN ROCKOLOGIST IN THE FAMILY

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MIGHT BE CRYSTALS INSIDE THE TWO ROCKS I PICKED UP

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THE CLEAR PIECE ON THE LEFT WAS KELLY’S BEST FIND

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PHEEBS DIGS HERE OWN HOLES LOOKING FOR CRYSTAL BONES

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BACK HOME KELLY LOOKS UP SOME GEM INFO ON HER LAPTOP

We were home before 2.  Kelly had a hankering to head on up to Yarnell to browse some stores which are only open on the week-end.  Pheebs & I took a pass on that.  I trimmed some more Mesquite & Palo-Verde trees on the neighbors property & that was about it for the day.  Kelly did return with a couple nice colorful southwest skirts.

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<<< ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEAS WHAT THIS BIRD IS??

Listening to music from the 40’s on Sirius Satellite radio this afternoon I realized for the first time while listening to Nat King Cole singing Route 66 that we have actually been through the majority of the cities & towns mentioned in that song.  Chicago, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Amarillo, Gallup, Kingman, Flagstaff Arizona & don’t forget Winona, .  Much of Route 66 can still be seen running alongside I-40.

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And I did tough out the annual Grammy Awards show tonight simply because I wanted to see Paul McCartney & Ringo Star.  I well remember the days when I enjoyed the Grammies.  There was a time when it was all about talented musicians & their music.  Oh there are still a lot of greatly talented musicians out there but I do not associate talented musicians with rap music.  For every minute that offensive noise is on stage it is taking away valuable time from truly talented & genuine musicians.  Keep in mind folks this is just old Grumpy’s opinions here.  Did enjoy seeing & listening to Chicago, Paul & Ringo together, Willy Nelson, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson & Blake Shelton.  Nice to see Carol King is still going & of course Taylor Swift is always easy on the eyes.  And I would have got into the Metallica segment if we had had a decent sound system here.  But tinny TV sound automatically means…..no bass.  Liked the tribute to Phil Everly by Miranda Lambert & Greenday’s  Billie Joe Armstrong.  Heard a few tunes from the FOREVERLY album by Billy Joe Armstrong & Norah Jones last week & thought it was totally excellent.  They really nailed the Everly Brothers harmonies………………

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SHE SURE LOVES STRETCHING OUT ON HER VERY OWN COUCH

GROANER’S CORNER:((  When we were looking to buy property I had this over zealous Realtor show us what can only be described as a totally worn out old farm. I mean the land had just been worked to death. The weeds were hardly even growing. The smiling super salesman said, "Now really, all this land needs is a little water, a nice cool breeze and some good people." I replied, "Yeah, I agree, but couldn't the same be said of Hell?"

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Canadians & especially Ontario folks will recognize these two characters depicted here as Laurel & Hardy.  Justin Bieber on the left & Toronto’s mayor Rob Ford on the right.  I think the picture sums these two Ontario headline grabbers quite well…..

14 comments:

  1. Gotta love that giant marriage love each other event they had. We watched and had the same music taste as you.

    I like your two famous Canadians pic.

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  2. What a life - Pheebs has her very own couch! I hope Dally hasn't been too traumatized by her experience.

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  3. I think your bird may be an American Kestral http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=american+kestral&ei=UTF-8&fr=moz35

    I'm sure Judy will tell us if I am wrong but the markings on the head seem to match. I'm having fun learning to identify birds but I still make a LOT of mistakes.

    I sure hope Dally is doing okay. You and Pheebs are such good neighbors to these dogs.

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  4. Suppose to be opalite in the Deer Creek area as well. Looks like a kestral to me also. Sure do love seeing AZ while I'm in South Africa.

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  5. Another fun day exploring the Arizona country side. An do love those Joshua trees too.

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  6. I love the pic of Tippy waiting for the Pheebster. I'm sure hoping Dally is just tired and not totally traumatized. Glad somebody knows a kestral from a robin. Would not be me.

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  7. Hoping Dally hasn't lost too much trust in us humans after being 'dog-napped'. Kelly is looking quite "stylish" in those pics :). The Biebs and Ford...'nuff said! We do have more than our fair share of attention loving wannabes everywhere.

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  8. I'm with you Al on the rap music! Did you guys ever search for crystals out in the Kofa Mountains. We did with Rollie and Gina finding some small ones.

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  9. It's funny, the first thing I thought about Dally was I wonder if she got pregnant. Love your photos--especially the flower one.

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  10. Crystal Hunting time is enjoyable. Poor Dally, I don't think we want to know what has happened to her.

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  11. The best crystals we ever found were at Hickiwan..As for the Grammys..We don't even watch anymore..I get too irritated watching junk while waiting for the handful of "real" singers and musicians to perform...

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  12. Me too Sheila! What pretty little birds! I have never gone gem hunting. It sounds like fun.
    I'm behind on my reading....we have had lots going on here. So glad Dally was found and your neighbors garden is beautiful!
    Have a great week!

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