Backyard Observations

This morning I went outside and saw a small feather moving across the rocks. I looked closer and saw this little ant carrying home his prize! There can't be too much nutritional value in feathers, can there?

We had a trace of rain last night, leaving these drops on my little grapefruit tree. This is new growth and I absolutely love this color green. By the way, there are three grapefruit on this little tree--we hope to eat them in February.

We have these two plants in our backyard. They bloom like crazy, but each blossom only lasts one day. The don't seem to mind the heat. Last winter they died back in our major freeze, but came back from the roots. Isn't this a lovely color of purple?

Saturday Nights at the Desert Museum

On June 30 we had dinner at the Ocotillo Grill at the Sonoran Desert Museum in Tucson. At 6 p.m. it was still 100 degrees, but we chose to eat on the patio outside! There was a big fan, so it was actually comfortable.

The sunset provides a nice hue to the desert landscape. Ususally we are hiking during the middle of the day, with the sun directly overhead. It was really pretty to see the long shadows form just before sunset.

Mica at Pena Blanca Lake

On July 4, after the parade at Patagonia, we had a picnic lunch at Pena Blanca State Recreation Area. We were the only people there, so Mica had free run. The level of the lake is quite low. We need rain badly.

July 4 Patagonia Parade

The colors of the good old USA were in full force in Patagonia, a small high-desert town in southern Arizona.


The best thing about the Patagonia parade is that both parade participants and spectators have license to throw water balloons, spray water hoses, and in general have a great time.