Relaxing in the garden with a cat

Relaxing in the garden with a cat
Originally uploaded by kretyen

Memorial Day we went to the Tumacacori Mission. This is in the courtyard garden. Had a beautiful morning there.

Jenni is in Louisville this week. I'm sure she wishes she were back here in Arizona.

Tomorrow I'm taking Carlos (and Mica) up to Madera Canyon for a little morning hike. Should be interesting.

I got a new swimsuit. For the last 6 months I've been saying, "I've got to get a new suit," each time we went to the pool. But did I order one? No. So finally went online to Land's End and ordered one. Very satisfying.

Go ahead, tell me I'm cute

Go ahead, tell me I'm cute
Originally uploaded by kretyen

At the concert in Reid Park last Sunday I saw this cute Chihuahua.

Many people brings their dogs, but we forgot to take Mica.

I'm hoping to go to the concert again on Sunday with Karl's family (Jenni is in Louisville), so maybe I will remember to take Mica this time. She would enjoy it, I think. I know she would be well-behaved.

Pomegranate flowers

Pomegranate flowers
Originally uploaded by kretyen

We spent Memorial Day morning at the Tumacacori Mission. This flower is on a pomegranate tree in the courtyard garden. It was so peaceful. We enjoyed sitting for awhile in the shade of this tree. I'll be posting more photos of the mission over the next several days on my Flickr site.

The Tumacacori mission was founded in the late 1600s. I can't imagine living in this desert 300 years ago. I give both the O'ohdam and the Spanish credit for hardiness!

Tucson Pops Orchestra in Reid Park

Tucson Pops Orchestra in Reid Park
Originally uploaded by kretyen

Sunday night we went to Tucson for a concert in the park. Lovely evening outdoors. The music is quite good, too. It's fun to watch all the different people. Combined with a picnic on the lawn in advance of the concert makes a very enjoyable evening.

This concert was the "Memorial Day" concert. At one point they play all the "Service Songs," that is, the Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Air Force Hymns. The ask all the veterans to stand. It's a very nice tribute to those who helped maintain our freedom.

Bookend for May 24 #2

Bookend for May 24 #2
Originally uploaded by kretyen

Saturday evening.
Most of my day was spent fixing the water softener. On Friday it was discharging water down the drain (something it should do when it recycles) all day. It was running in the morning when I went to work (strange, I thought), and was still running when I came home from work (a problem, I thought).

When I put the water softener in 3 years ago I didn't install a bypass valve system (it was supposed to come with one, but didn't). Now, after fussing with the controls to no success, I had no way to shut it off without shutting water off to the whole house.

So Saturday morning I set out to put in a series of valves that would let me bypass the water softener. The repair guy I called was very nice, but said he couldn't get to us until next Thursday. I needed to get this thing bypassed.

I went to the hardware store, bought the requisite valves and tees, cut the pipe, installed all the stuff, went to Karl's house and borrowed his torch for soldering. Then I soldered it all up.

The problem was, this was all 1" copper pipe which I have rarely soldered. I didn't heat each joint evenly. Some parts of the joints I overheated, driving the flux out. The result was that when I turned the water on, thinking everything was well-soldered, I was treated to a shower--with virtually every joint leaking.

So I called Karl and groveled. He graciously came to my rescue. It took too of us to unsolder all the joints, properly clean them, put it all together, and then let Karl do the honors of applying the proper heat for a professional job.

Thanks, Karl!

So after this I made a fire in the chiminea and we enjoyed watching the mountains change color. Very relaxing.

Human pyramid

Human pyramid
Originally uploaded by rkramer62

Rachel has joined Flickr! She has posted quite a few fun shot. This one is from last summer at the Conference Grounds.

I can't believe that it was more than 40 years ago that I spent time on this beach. It must have been about 1965, before I started working at Ludema's, that I got to spend a whole summer at the beach. Transistor radios (not tubes) meant you could carry a radio down to the beach. We could pick up WOKY from Milwaukee. The played the Beatles, Herman's Hermits, the Byrds, the Supremes, Peter and Gordon, .......... Those were the days.

What it is I don't know

What it is I don't know
Originally uploaded by kretyen

Seen at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum last Saturday. It was in the hummingbird house. Pretty cool, huh? Even looks like a little hummingbird.

We're happy to have had 0.2" rain last night. Today is only going to be a high of 70, after hitting 100 earlier in the week. Strange weather.

Looking forward to a long weekend with Memorial Day. No specific plans.

Obliging Smile and Desert Rose

Obliging Smile and Desert Rose
Originally uploaded by kretyen

Here is Kervens at the Desert Museum on Saturday. We took him along for a brief hike in Saguaro West National Park, then had lunch at the Desert Museum. He really was interested in the plants along the trail. He found these cool bean seeds that we could wear as rings. We spotted dozens of lizards. And in the hummingbird house, Kervens was the best at spotting the tiny nests.

Bean Pod As Ring

Bean Pod As Ring
Originally uploaded by kretyen

We took a short hike Saturday in Saguaro West National Park. Kervens came along with us. He was on the constant lookout for interesting things along the trail. He found this bush that had flowered, produced seeds, and had left the dried up seed pods that had curled. He collected a bunch and gave us rings. If you go to my Flickr page you can see photos of the bush.

We also spent a couple of hours at the Desert Museum, where the highlight was seeing baby hummingbirds in a nest.

Doing my best Yoda impression

Doing my best Yoda impression
Originally uploaded by kretyen

After cleaning the house this morning, we're off to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. Will also do a little hiking in the Saguaro West National Park. It's a beautiful day. So far this year we haven't had any hot (for us) weather, although it is supposed to hit next week. So well take advantage of being outdoors today.

I'm hoping to get some photos of hummingbirds at the Desert Museum. I remember last year during May there were several hummingbirds sitting on nests. With my new camera I should be able to get a closeup shot without being too close physically. We'll see.

Rose Hip

Rose Hip
Originally uploaded by kretyen

Sometimes one can find beauty even after the initial bloom fades. It's all in the way we observe things around us. This is something I'm learning by watching photographs of other people around the world. Of course, most take pictures of flowers and birds and children and lovely buildings and majestic mountains. But others take pictures of things that we don't normally look at--buildings falling down, faded flowers, old people, and fallen petals. It is fun to try to capture the non-obvious and try to make it interesting.

#5 Left the Nest

#5 Left the Nest
Originally uploaded by kretyen

The first of the owl chicks left the nest today. She was at the front door of the church this morning. Later she moved up into a juniper tree next to the front entrance. The other two moved further away from the nest, but still on the planter ledge. The mother was keeping a sharp eye out for them, however.

Keeping Watch

Keeping Watch
Originally uploaded by kretyen

It is so fun in the evening to be greeted by Mica and Panda. Often about 5 o'clock is when they decide to play together. They run and chase and tumble. I've tried to get pictures of them playing, but I usually just get blurs. So here they are all still and tranquil.

I like this shot because in the midst of all life's busyness and hectic scheduling we should, at times, just take some time to sit and observe. It pays, also, to be able to sit with a good friend.

Look out! Those are sharp

Look out! Those are sharp
Originally uploaded by kretyen

Do you ever feel like this? Knowing you've got to rest but the only place to sit is prickers and thorns? That is what it's been like for me the last couple of days--too much to do, and none of it pleasurable. The work at the church has continued to pile up and I've had such a hard time concentrating and being very productive. I'd like to turn my back on the whole thing.

I've just had a co-worker stop by my office to ask about progress on a new brochure--which I haven't started on. I guess I've put it off long enough. Back to sit on the prickers.

Do you see the zebra hiding here?

Do you see the zebra hiding here?
Originally uploaded by kretyen

Last Saturday we went to visit friends in Apache Junction (outside of Phoenix). They are returning to Colorado this week, so we wanted to see them one more time this year. We went to their pool for a couple of hours in the afternoon. They played water volleyball with their neighborhood regulars--we were invited to play but declined. We just lazed about in the other pool and I took photos! This one is interesting because of the shadows.

Last night we went to an outdoor concert of the Tucson Pops Orchestra. It's sort of like Ravinia in Chicago where everyone comes early, sets out blankets with a spread of food, has a wonderful picnic, then hears outstanding music. They do these concerts during May and early June--it's warm enough at night, but not yet really hot. For example, it was 90 degrees when we got there at 5:30, but 72 when we left at 9:00.

Baptism of New Tilley Hat

Baptism of New Tilley Hat
Originally uploaded by kretyen

Saturday we went up to Apache Junction (outside of Phoenix) to visit friends from Colorado who also have a home in Arizona. They are leaving next week to return to Colorado, so this was our last chance to see them before they are gone. We had a great day visiting them--we spent hours just sitting on their back patio watching the birds at the feeder and ducks swimming in the pond. I'll upload more photos over the next few days. We also spent some time this afternoon at the pool.

Jenni bought a new hat and wore it for the first time. She wanted a stylish hat--I wanted her to get one with plenty of sun protection. This one offers both.

King of all Cholla Blossoms

King of all Cholla Blossoms
Originally uploaded by kretyen

Jenni finished her jury duty today. Hung jury. Quite frustrating to have to spend nearly 3 whole days and then have the whole thing dismissed. At least it's behind her and tomorrow she can try to get back into some kind of "normalcy."

We are enjoying our weather. Earlier this week we actually had 0.1" of rain at our house. During the afternoon one of my co-workers said, "It's raining, at least on this side of the church." Sure enough, the line of showers passed on one side of the church with enough moisture to wet the pavement, while everything on the other side of the church stayed bone dry.

We're going up to Apache Junction (near Phoenix) on Saturday to visit friends from Colorado who have spent the winter in Arizona. They are returning to Colorado next week.

You cock and eye at me, I'll cock an eye at you ...

You cock and eye at me, I'll cock an eye at you ...
Originally uploaded by kretyen

Jenni was called to jury duty for Pima County yesterday, and got selected to be on a trial. So off she went this morning, expecting that the trial would be over quickly. Bottom line: she has to return tomorrow. The jury has been given the case, but they couldn't agree on a verdict.

This is not a good time for her to be missing days at work (now 3 days). There is a lot going on, particularly planning for their June oral exams.
To top it off, she had a trustees meeting at church tonight, so couldn't even catch up on work emails from home.

Basically, I just feel like this little owl chick--kind of dopey.

Raiders of the Lost Bird Seed

Raiders of the Lost Bird Seed
Originally uploaded by kretyen

I bought a new bird feeder a couple of weeks ago. Last summer I quit feeding the birds because they would empty the feeder in a single day. It was taking a lot of time to fill and it was getting expensive.

I thought my problem was that the feeding holes in the feeder were too big, allowing the birds to indiscriminately throw seed out.

So I went up to a wild bird supply store in Tucson. When I told him my problem he immediately said, "white winged doves."

"What?" I said. It turns out that white winged doves sit on a feeder and just go crazy throwing seed around, wasting it on the ground. The answer was to get a "hood" for my feeder that slides down the tube and rests about inches above the perches. The small birds can sit and eat to their hearts' content, but the doves are too big to perch there.

It has worked like a charm. Some seed does still fall the to ground, and the doves come around and eat it up. Everybody is happy, including me.

ABR MOC General Content Committee

ABR MOC General Content Committee
Originally uploaded by kretyen

Last night we had dinner with a committee from Jenni's work at the Hacienda del Sol. This is an old Tucson resort and restaurant up in the foothills of the Santa Catalina mountains to the north of Tucson. We had a lovely meal (I had quail) and very enjoyable company and conversation.

I was glad that I took my camera along. There is a beautiful cactus garden as you enter the complex. The evening sun was getting low and that made for some good photos. I'll be posting these over the next few days.

(NOT REAL) Quail in a bird bath

(NOT REAL) Quail in a bird bath
Originally uploaded by kretyen

This morning I took a walk around the neighborhood with my camera slung around my neck. Over the next few days you'll be seeing several of my favorite shots from this escapade. I'm sure all of these items have particular meaning to the owners, but I'm not sure I would be putting them out in my front yard!

It's a gorgeous day today. I'm off to the bike store to get a new tube for Jenni's bike. Between the two of us we get flat tires about every two months. I put some super thick tubes in Jenni's bike last time. Seems nothing is impervious to all the sharp sticky things we have on our roads around here.

Xerox

Xerox
Originally uploaded by kretyen

Well, the technician came after lunch today (Friday). Of course I had to print the bulletins for Sunday. We had called Xerox for service yesterday when it went down. Our technician said he would come Thursday afternoon or Friday morning. When he didn't come yesterday I called again this morning. When you call Xerox you have the privilege of talking to someone in Pakistan or somewhere like it. I emphasized the necessity of getting it fixed post haste. When the technician called again, he said he would come around 1 p.m. I explained that I needed him sooner than that. We compromised. He came at 12:15. It took him about an hour to take the sides off and do a thorough cleaning.

You see, the machine quit running because it said there was a paper jam in area #1. Of course, there was no paper visible in area #1 so I couldn't remove it. Impasse.

The technician removed about a ton of paper dust from the insides. This is actually the first time this level of cleaning has been done in 3 years. You see, a sensor was covered in paper dust, making the machine think there was a paper jam. Very simple.

Yes, I got the bulletins printed and folded and even left on time at 4:00 p.m. All in all, a good day.

Thistle Budding

Thistle Budding
Originally uploaded by kretyen

This photo is from our hike last Saturday. There were hundreds of thistles all along the path. I sort of feel like this guy on the right--all bristly and spikey.

Today, Friday, I've got a ton of work to finish before the weekend--the Sunday bulletin, a program for an organ concert Sunday night, brochures for a women's retreat, a summer "education offering" brochure, and probably a few things I'm forgetting.

And now our Xerox is broken! Talk about frustration. I'm stymied. We called yesterday and were told a technician would be out in the afternoon or this morning. Now, my morning is almost gone and still no repair guy. This could get interesting. Stay tuned.

Cha-cha-cha-cholla

Cha-cha-cha-cholla
Originally uploaded by kretyen

This time of year sees all kinds of cactus blooming. I love cholla. They come in many colors. This one is particularly beautiful.