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

(this is Sunday’s post)

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

 

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.

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

 

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.

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

 

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. 

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

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. 

KELLY WALKS OVER TO SEE WHAT THE FOLKS HAVE FOUND

 

  

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. 

  

OF COURSE WE DO HAVE OUR OWN ROCKOLOGIST IN THE FAMILY

 

MIGHT BE CRYSTALS INSIDE THE TWO ROCKS I PICKED UP

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

PHEEBS DIGS HERE OWN HOLES LOOKING FOR CRYSTAL BONES

 

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.

<<< 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.

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………………

 

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?"

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…..