DOWN THE ROAD TO THE WHITEWATER DRAW WILDLIFE AREA

SPOTTED THIS FINE PAIR OF NORTHERN SHOVELER DUCKS TODAY
Our temperatures continue to climb with each passing day and we nearly hit the 80F mark today.  Such a welcome change from just a week ago.  Still down around the freezing mark every night but that’s the way it normally is for this time of year in this region of Arizona.

SAND HILL CRANES IN THEIR ROOSTING AREA
 
DON’T KNOW WHAT THESE BIRDS ARE SO I WILL JUST CALL THEM WATER WALKERS
Decided to do a short trip down the road a mile to the Whitewater Draw today. Knew we wouldn’t be too long and it was a test for Pheebs being left outside the Motorhome without us around for the first time. The completely fenced in 3.7 acres around the Ranch house is perfectly safe, but still, like a doubting parent I worry about ‘first time’ things. Pheebs has shown quite a talent for digging so I had visions of her speed tunneling under the fence to find us.

PLENTY OF SHELTERED COVER FOR BIRD LIFE
We were gone about an hour and everything was fine when we got back. Pheebs, Motor, Pearce and Gleeson were all sacked out in the Motorhome sleeping. We always leave our door wide open as a rule.

AMERICAN COOTS
 
MALE NORTHERN SHOVELER DUCK
It’s funny how ranch dogs Gleeson and Pearce love to hang around with us in the rig this year. They are almost like permanent furniture. Pheebs & Motor love having their Pals over. Well, maybe not Motor so much. For little Motor it’s kinda like dodging around in a big 4 and 2 legged Buffalo herd. Especially when we are all up and trundling around in the rig.

ONE OF SEVERAL VIEWING PLATFORMS AT THE DRAW
 
AVID BIRD WATCHERS INCLUDING BIRDER KELLY IN ORANGE

<<< I THINK SOMEBODY IS A LITTLE WEARY FROM SEEING ALL THOSE BIRDIES
Kelly was back on the phone again today with the hospital and insurance companies double checking things and sure enough, there is a problem!! We had been told on the phone by the insurance company that my upcoming test was approved. Today we find out that decision is still pending. It’s a classic case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing and confusion between all parties reigns supreme. So, as of right now, everything is up in the air again until we hear from our insurance company. Complicating all this is the time of year. People off for the holidays, offices closed, etc.

FEEDING NORTHERN SHOVELER DUCKS
 

WHITEWATER DRAW IS MADE UP OF PONDS AND CANALS
Yep, I got my medical exam procedure spelled wrong alright in Thursday’s post.  Thanks to Lynne from WINNIE VIEWS for pointing out my mistake.  It is a Renal (not Reno) Ultra Sound.  I have since corrected the mistake. 

OUR MOTORHOME IS VISIBLE IN THIS PHOTO JUST ABOVE CENTER ABOUT A MILE TO THE EAST OF THE DRAW
 
RANCH HOUSE IS VISIBLE IN PHOTO AT RIGHT
Larry from up around Tucson way reminded me it’s the University of Arizona and not the University Of Tucson we’re dealing with and it was bird feeders I moved closer to the Motorhome, not bird houses.  Larry, in his email said they are planning to stay at the Gadsden Hotel in Douglas soon.  Below is a photo of Kelly in the Gadsden’s Lobby a few years ago.  Rumor or legend has it that Pancho Villa rode his horse into that very lobby one time and right up those marble steps in the background, chipping the marble in the process.

 

And, JUDY corrected my Purple Finch identification.  Although they look like the Purple Finches we get at our feeders in Ontario, Judy says they are House Finches.  And, they are, because I looked in my AUDUBON SOCIETY FIELD GUIDE TO THE SOUTHWESTERN STATES today.  Good thing I have people keeping an eye on me out here.

 
A NORTHER HARRIER HAWK SKIMMING LOW OVER THE TALL GRASSES
This is our 4th year coming to the Sulphur Springs Valley in Arizona’s Cochise County.  Our memories here will last me forever.  Wrote a post one time called, A VALLEY OF LEGENDS.


THIS MALE SHOVELER’S MATE TOOK OFF SO FAST FROM LEFT TO RIGHT THAT I MISSED HER
Question again if I am professional photographer.  No, just a guy with an interest in photography who is fortunate enough to have some reasonably good camera equipment and the ability of SEEING WITH A PHOTOGRAPHER'S EYE. (click)

NOW YOU SEE HIM…..

NOW YOU DON’T…..
 
THE WILD WEST TOWN OF TOMBSTONE ARIZONA IS JUST OVER THE HORIZON IN THE LEFT PHOTO….ELFRIDA & SWISS HELM MOUNTAINS ON THE HORIZON IN THE RIGHT PHOTO

THE WHITEWATER DRAW IS HOME TO UPWARDS OF 20,000 SAND HILL CRANES DURING THE WINTER MONTHS
The Last Paragraph: Watching ‘THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA’ tonight.  I like movies that appeal to my boyhood imagination.  ‘The Hobbit’  ‘Lord Of the Rings’ ‘Peter Pan’ and the ‘Harry Potter’ movies all come to mind.  A fine escape for a young mind.  A fine escape for a few hours, and a fine escape from the realities of having to be an adult.
GROANER’S CORNER:((  The Fourth of July weekend was approaching, and Miss Pelham, the nursery school teacher, took the opportunity to tell her class about patriotism. 'We live in a great country,' she announced. 'One of the things we should be happy is that, in this country, we are all free.'
Trevor, who was a little boy in her class, came walking up to her from the back of the room. He stood with his hands on his hips and said loudly, 'I'm not free. I'm four.'
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-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.

BETWEEN ME AND MY WORLD OF CONFUSEMENT

ARIZONA’S MULE MOUNTAINS BLEND INTO THE RANCH HOUSE ROOF LINE WHILE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS TWINKLE ALONG THE DRIVEWAY
Sure nice not to have stiff water lines first thing in the morning from overnight cold temperatures.  We moved a couple wooden bird feeders from the far side of the Ranch house to the apple trees right beside us so it’s also nice seeing all the birds right outside our window first thing in the morning.  Purple Finches, Cactus Wrens, Red Wing Blackbirds, Curved Bill Thrashers to mention a few I recognize.



   
We actually ate breakfast outside this morning under our awning.  First outside breakfast I can remember since we were at PANCHO VILLA STATE PARK in Columbus, New Mexico back in December of 06.

 
OUR FIRST OUTSIDE BREAKFAST WITH MOTORMOUSE, MAX, AND CHECKERS DECEMBER 24TH 2006 AT PANCHO VILLA STATE PARK IN COLUMBUS, NEW MEXICO
THIS WAS BACK IN THE DAYS OF THE ORIGINAL BAYFIELD BUNCH WHEN WE HAD OUR 5TH WHEEL
I sure would be in a big world of confusement if it wasn’t for Kelly.  Ever since this kidney stone thing she has taken the bull by the horns handling all the phone calls between our insurance company and the University of Arizona Hospital.  She sorted out all the confusing fax numbers for having records sent back and forth.  She talked to forgetful Department Heads ensuring things were staying on track.  The Nurse Practitioner even gave Kelly her own personal cell phone number.  Kelly has spent hours on the internet researching kidney stone info and other things found in my Cat Scan. 

She is relentless in her pursuit of information to arm herself with when talking to medical or insurance people.  She is totally efficient in her approach to this medical problem and deals with each missed phone message or incorrect phone fax number with ease.  Nothing ever phases her or gets her down and she knows what to say and when & how to say it.  Kelly handles any other kind of situation as well and that is precisely why her managerial and fine people skills are so much appreciated at Deer Park Lodge back home where Kelly is the Lodge’s invaluable manager.  Like I have said in the past, I honestly don’t know where I would be if it wasn’t for my wonderful wife.  And, I think most other men, if the truth be known, are in the very same boat as I am when it comes to competent and capable caring Spouses.
Thanks to Kelly’s patience and perseverance I have an appointment scheduled at the University of Arizona hospital for next Wednesday morning at 11 a.m.  I will be undergoing a Renal Ultra Sound and was happy to find out it will not require any poking, puncturing, prodding, or drinking vast volumes of foul tasting liquids.  In other words, it’s a fist clenching, face gritting, and scream free procedure.  I think I can handle that.  Had it been the injecting of radioactive isotope stuff I may have had to put out a plea in my blog here for a stand in volunteer.  By the way, our insurance company is MANULIFE FINANCIAL of Canada and this morning they agreed to pay for my upcoming thousand dollar Reno Ultra Sound.  Thanks Folks:)) 

OVERHEAD SAND HILL CRANES TODAY
I have been asked a few times why I don’t respond to reader’s comments.  Short answer…volume of comments.  If I wrote a post maybe once or twice a week or maybe every other week or so I could see personally responding to each and every comment.  Because my comments and response to comments comes from the heart it generally takes me awhile to think and put a comment together.  To do that each day with every comment received is just too much for me to do.  I think many other daily Bloggers will understand that.  I have been making a better effort to respond to questions in my posts though.  Just thought of one from MERIKAY a few days ago.  The $800 travel insurance we pay for me is for 182 days.  Kelly’s travel insurance is $700 and is separate from mine but covers the same length of time.

THIS FEISTY LITTLE DEMON ROOSTER ATTACKED ME JUST SECONDS BEFORE THIS PHOTO >>>
I was also recently asked if I read all my comments.  My answer to that is a resounding, ‘YES’.  Since the very beginning of my blogging days years ago I have never missed reading a single comment.  Each and every comment comes into our Hotmail account in the form of an email & I have thousands upon thousands of comments saved and filed away for each one of my blogging years.  Why do I save all the comments?  I dunno, I just do.  Things like that are important to me.

Sometimes the doggy snoring wakes me up.  With 4 dogs just a few feet from my bed last night they all seemed to be snoring in marvelous harmony.  Similar to the lyrics of a Johnny Cash song…..Gleeson snored Base, Motor snored Tenor, with Pheebs and Pearce joining right in there:))

FINDING A LITTLE SHADE ON A WARM SUNNY DAY
The Last Paragraph:  We all have our little quirks and foibles. Here are a few of mine. - Don't like using a metal spoon to stir my coffee because of the clanking sound the spoon makes. I always stir my coffee with a plastic spoon. - No matter what, I never do the sleeve buttons up on a long sleeve shirt. Can't stand that tight feeling around my wrists & same for the top button on a shirt - When I make my shake in the morning I never pour it in a glass. The blender is my glass. - It is extremely rare for me to answer a ringing telephone, or for that matter, pick up the phone and make a call. - I never tell a joke but have forwarded countless thousands of them over the years on the computer to my 'jokes gang.' - I'm the only person I have ever met who daily enjoys mixing milk with lettuce and other exciting vegetables...check out SOUNDS YUKKY - TASTES YUMMY. Spending hours keeping a vehicle all shiny and sparkly doesn't interest me anymore. Nor does swimming. - I have carried a notebook and pen with me every day for the past 28 years. Why would I need all this iPlop stuff. - Wherever I go somewhere I make it a point to arrive early and never be late.  Just a little something called respect - I will take the extra time and drive the extra miles just to avoid the traffic chaos of a large city. - Rare for me to wear shorts and I never wear sandals. - Can't read or watch any movies or television with animals because inevitably the animals end up getting hurt or mistreated somehow. - I avoid groups or crowds of people because I feel very uncomfortable in those situations. - I am in a definite minority when I say I do not play cards or table games. - BBQing, cooking and sports hold zero interest for me. – Rap music should be called what it really is….offensive and aggravating noise.  Say, did I ever tell you about ME AND QUEEN ELIZABETH:))

GROANER’S CORNER:(( 
- How does the pope buy things on eBay?
He uses his papal account!
- Did you hear about the American who got in big trouble after he dismembered a grizzly?
He misunderstood the 2nd amendment when it said he was entitled to bear arms.
- Is it proper to eat a hamburger with your fingers?
No, you should eat your fingers separately!
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-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.

WE NEARLY HIT 70F TODAY….NOW, HOW NICE IS THAT:))

I think this morning takes the record for the latest we have ever shoved our noses out the door and headed outside.  It was after 10 o’clock before we stepped into the welcoming morning air.  Normally by this time of day we would have already been back from our morning walk.  I actually had to check my own pulse to see if I had died in the night.  Is it the colder outside air lately, are we letting our age take advantage of us, have we been lulled into a lazy laptop start to our days??  Methinks it is a combination of all three.  I’m figuring our ‘too relaxing’ lifestyle is in need of a good swift kick up the old tail pipe.

I DECLARE THIS JEEP……MINE!!

Slipped into Douglas for groceries this afternoon and there were convertibles and motorcycles on the road so you know how warm it was here today.  We were close to 70F.  Wow, won’t be long and I will be complaining about the heat eh:))

 

STOPPED AT ELFRIDA’S ‘HIGH LONESOME’ STORE TUESDAY AND SPOTTED THESE YOUNG FELLERS PRACTICING THEIR ROPE WORK

We had thousands upon thousands of Sand Hill Cranes directly overhead this morning heading back to the Whitewater Draw.  Finally decided to haul my tripod and 700mm telescope lens out to try for some nice close-ups of the birds in flight.  Kelly remarked that by doing that it would probably stop the overhead flights.  It did!!  Never even got the big lens on the tripod when I noticed the flights had abruptly ceased.  Why is that anyway!!!!

A week from this Thursday we will be having a special visitor flying in to the Tucson Airport and coming down to spend a week with us here at the Ranch.  Stay tuned as our Senior traveler and adventurist at heart makes her way from the warmer humid temperatures of central Florida to the colder dryer air of Arizona’s Cochise County in the Sulphur Springs Valley:))

Plucked this slogan off the Internet.  I’m not real big on cutesy slogan stuff but this one rang my bell.  I have had a bad habit of coming back and apologizing for my blog opinions sometimes.  Thought this slogan sums up my feelings quite well. 

  

OH DAD, I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU MADE ME PUT THAT HAT ON

An Anonymous commenter hit the nail on the head when, in part, saying, “Al, I don't think you'd like to winter over in Florida...there are comparably fewer sights to see for "roaming around" and sightseeing....most folks seem to get to their winter base place and stay-put for the duration of the winter...seems to me you'd be duplicating your summer stay in Bayfield...and you do seem to be real restless then.” -- My very thoughts exactly and it is my number one chief concern about our Florida option if we have to go that route.

 

GLEESON, PHEEBS AND PEARCE

 

PHEEBS IS HAVING A REAL BLAST HERE AT THE RANCH AND LOVES PLAYING ROUGHHOUSE WITH GLEESON…THE SHOWING OF TEETH IS NOT SERIOUS

Received several emails from folks with helpful medical insurance and hospital info advice.  Thanks guys, everything is appreciated.  Also this site from SHARON AND RON BUCHNER which may be of interest in future plans. 

 

COUPLE OF ABSTRACTS OF THE MOON AND PLANET VENUS I TOOK A COUPLE NIGHTS AGO

The Last Paragraph: Yep, been giving some thought to revving up my ‘Last Paragraph’ segment again.  Kind of got away from it last summer for whatever reason.  Maybe it’s getting about time to share a few thoughts and opinions again………10-4:))

GLEESON AND PHEEBS ALWAYS FINISH UP THEIR PLAY TIME WITH A COUPLE HUGS >>

GROANER’S CORNER:))  After the Great Britain Beer Festival, in London, all the brewery presidents decided to go out for a beer. The guy from Corona sits down and says, "Hey Senor, I would like the world's best beer, a Corona." The bartender dusts off a bottle from the shelf and gives it to him.
The guy from Budweiser says, "I'd like the best beer in the world, give me 'The King Of Beers', a Budweiser." The bartender gives him one.
The guy from Coors says, "I'd like the only beer made with Rocky Mountain spring water, give me a Coors." He gets it.
The guy from Guinness sits down and says, "Give me a Coke." The bartender is a little taken aback, but gives him what he ordered. The other brewery presidents look over at him and ask "Why aren't you drinking a Guinness?" and the Guinness president replies,
"Well, I figured if you guys aren't drinking beer, neither would I."

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-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.