November 17, 2007

More blooms. This is a bougainvillea on the back porch. Michael just loved this when he visited last month (it was blooming then, too). The pink "petals" are actually modified leaves, called "bracts." The flower itself is a tiny little thing in the center of all that pink. I was sitting on the porch this afternoon and thought I would try to snap a picture with the bracts back lit by the sun in the west.

October 6, 2007

The weather has been quite nice - cool in the morning and evening - and we have been spending a lot of time visiting with Mom and Dad on the back porch.

Before Mom and Dad arrived, I bought a new hummingbird feeder, as my old one was leaking nectar all over the place (the ants were getting rough!). This one has met with overwhelming approval from the local avian set.

Below, a calliope hummingbird perches for a drink.


Slurp! Ahhhh...

The calliope likes to hang out on this branch and survey the territory (and feeder!), below.

August 26, 2007

Today, Steve and I did a ten-mile hike (round trip) to view the second largest alligator juniper tree in the nation. It's approximately 5'10" in diameter, with a circumference of over 18 feet. It's about 63 feet tall with a crown spread of around 62 feet. I don't know if that really sounds big, but if you look at the photo below, the small pinkish blob at the bottom right of the tree is me eating lunch.

Hey, it's a Tree Hugger!

Steve standing in front of a much smaller juniper tree laden with berries (which are actually part of the cone).

July 22, 2007

Today was "Mushroom Hunting in the Gila." Sadly, we're a bit too early; however, I did get this shot of some small, albeit inedible, mushrooms, and we did have a nice walk. It is a beautiful place, and it was overcast, thundering, and sprinkling a tad. All-in-all a nice afternoon.

I'm bad at identifying wildflowers - truly bad. You'd think I'd know better. Regardless, thought this was a cool one. Can you see the ant?

Partners in crime. Left to right is Brian, Michael, and Brian's son, Peter. Peter is a delightful young man, 15-ish, I think, and a joy to spend time with. He is taking a digital photography class and was busily taking pictures and talking about his camera and the software he is using. Truly a neat person.

June 30, 2007

Tonight, Steve, Michael, and I had dinner at "Diane's" - I had her signature Lemon Caper Chicken - and then strolled down Bullard Street. I love downtown in Silver City. I could be perfectly happy if I never had to go anywhere else. There are cute residences, charming old buildings, little art galleries and shops with beads. Lots of flowers and attractive garden spaces. It is a nice place.

Michael and Steve holding up a lamp post.

Looking down Bullard Street.

Artwork on the side of a building on Bullard Street. I love the colors!

June 17, 2007

Matching boo-boos. We don't know where they came from, but Steve noticed that we each had one in the same place! ha!

June 16, 2007

Today's photo features my laundry spread all over my hotel room because for some reason the second load didn't dry properly and I didn't want to have to wait another 30 - 45 minutes (and pay another $1), while the stuff dried. (I don't like to leave my laundry unattended for long - my favorite pair of Hello Kitty pajamas - the ones with the sparkles - disappeared on one of my trips here, as did a pair of slippers.)

June 10, 2007

Went hiking in the Gila, today. All kinds of green things are starting to sprout. The light was so pretty on this patch of ferns. I brought home some lichen, too, and I'm keeping it on a paper plate in the window - sprinkle a little water on it and it perks right up!

May 27, 2007

Another underexposed shot. Dang! Well, today I cleaned out my closet and these shoes are headed to the Good Will. Big Fun, Uh, Huh! Most folks just dream about this kind of excitement.

May 26, 2007

Aaaeeeiiiii! The remnants of vacation spread all over the garage.

May 6, 2007

Sunday I rode in "Lead One" for the Women's Pro 1, 2, 3 pelaton in the Tour of the Gila bike race. This is a five stage road race and quite competitive. It was a completely new experience for me, and I only wished I hadn't been coming down with something (which I now have), so that I could have enjoyed it more! Hmph!

In the photo below we are looking at the butts of the Men's 4, 5 pelaton which passed us (apparently, this is unprecedented), when we started climbing into/out of "the box."

May 5, 2007

Saturday, Steve and I took a drive up Highway 180 towards the Nature Conservancy's Gila Riparian Preserve. (The Gila River in New Mexico is one of the last free-flowing rivers in the Southwest.) It was a beautiful day and we had a nice walk along the river and in the Preserve.

The photo above is of the Gila River as it flows through the Preserve. Below is a shot of a Cottonwood root. Cottonwoods are phreatophyts (they have a tap root which reaches to the water table), and they grow in profusion along the Gila River.

April 21, 2007

I woke up this morning to overcast skies and the remnant of rain that fell during the night. Thought it was a perfect day to stay in bed. So, there's my laptop and Maybe is curled up there on her blue blankie and we're all toasty and cozy and settled in. I've updated my Tales Of Home Improvement here on my personal blog (I know, I know, amazingly I actually wrote something). Steve is on his way home from New Mexico, and tomorrow morning will be coffee in bed! Yippee!

April 15, 2007

A view of our produce patch. Steve and I spent a good deal of time this afternoon pulling weeds (predominantly Bermuda grass), out of the garden. It's looking pretty good. This season we're attempting artichokes, peppers, potatoes, green beans, squash, lettuce, arugula, basil, eggplant, spinach, and some other mystery plants (we always get a few of those). For dinner, tonight, Steve sauteed Brussels sprouts, green beans, and peter pan squash (all from the garden), with bacon. It was delicious!

April 6, 2007

I was driving with Michael up Little Walnut and there were all these deer right in the front yard of this house! Wow! I was amazed! Turns out they are ALL OVER on Little Walnut, and Michael had, in fact, ran into one with his old Volvo. He says you don't need cops or speed bumps on Little Walnut - everyone drives slow 'cause they don't want to nail a deer!

April 1, 2007

Today, I drove with Michael up to Signal Peak in the Gila. It's an absolutely beautiful place. The air was clear and comfortable, and the light was fantastic. As we approached the end of the road near the top of the peak, we came upon some snow. The little Celica made it through the first patch, but then it got deeper, so we were forced to turn back (or become a snow plow!).

March 17, 2007

More work/play in the yard. Steve whacked back the crispy critters that used to be beautiful hibiscus plants with gorgeous red flowers. What's left are the blackberry vines.

February 11, 2007

Michael (left) and Steve pick up lemons that have fallen since the hard freeze a couple weeks back. The plants really took a beating. After three weeks away I can really see what did and what did not fare so well. Lots of pruning to be done (starting with the lemon tree).

January 28, 2007

This is a corn angel which is painted on the side of the Harry Benjamin Gallery in Silver City, NM. Harry's gallery is totally unique (Harry is totally unique!), and I enjoy wandering around in there. (He also has a really sweet kitty that likes to hang on the front stoop.)

January 27, 2007

In Silver City, NM, this is one of my favorite places to hang out. It's a coffee shop called "Rejuvination." In the summer I get lovely iced matte latte with soy and a shot of chai. In the winter (like today), I had a hot Rooibas tea and a yummy toffee bar.

Rejuvination is one of those coffee shops with couches, wi-fi, games, newspapers, and dog-eared books. Local artists display their work, and teens hook-up and mingle. It is great to sit at the table in the window and watch the world go by. (Hey, there goes some of it, now!)