Finger Rock Trail

My childhood friend, Margaret, arrived on Tuesday night for a visit. 
We were up early on Wednesday morning and drove to the Finger Rock Trailhead. 
It was a beautiful morning and we enjoyed beautiful views of saguaros!

 

 

Pomegranates

I planted a pomegranate tree about 10 years ago, in our back yard.  It was frozen to the ground 4 years ago.  I thought it was dead, but it started sending up shoots.  Papa trimmed the shoots into three small trees.  This spring they had lots of blooms, and now there are lots of pomegranates. 

Braided Belts

Claire asked Papa to make new belts for Emerson and Colby.  With Papa on the mend, he enjoyed 

a new leather project.  He made two leather braided belts for Emerson and Colby.

The Red Moon

Papa and I waited for the moon to come over the mountain last night.  An eclipse had already begun when it peeped over.  We watched off and on for the next couple of hours and were treated to amazing views of the moon.  And then... the red moon!  It was spectacular!

Owl in the Moonlight

I woke up around 5 this morning to an owl hooting.  I listened for a bit before I stirred.  I tiptoed about the house until I figured out where he was, on top of the parapet wall above our upstairs east guest room.  Than I turned and looked out the window, to see an incredibly beautiful moon about to set over the Rincon Mountains.  I got my camera and stepped outside.  The owl and I looked at each other for a few moments and then he flew away.  He was a very large owl! 

Horses Waiting for Papa

It has been ten days since Papa's kidney surgery.  He is feeling better each day, but still in recovery mode.  We returned to the ranch on Wednesday afternoon.  The horses were happy to see Papa!  They were standing together in front of the house again this morning as the sun was rising over the mountain, waiting for Papa.

Golden Rule

I watched the Pope's address to the US Congress this morning.  It was an amazing sight to see the Pope speaking at the US Capitol.  The singular take away for me was a reminder of the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  Imagine if everyone on earth did that!  Imagine if most people in our circles of friends and family did that!  As Americans, we are particularly fortunate to live predominately peaceful lives.  So many on earth do not live in places where that is possible.  For those of us so fortunate, shame on us if we choose not to live daily with friends and family by the Golden Rule. 

Tropical Depression Sixteen-E

We woke up yesterday to a surprise weather event.  Tropical Depression Sixteen-E apparently moved across Baja California and into southern Arizona overnight, producing very heavy clouds and light to heavy rain that lasted all day.  The clouds were so thick that we couldn't see the mountains or the city for most of the day.  Late in the afternoon there was a break in the fast moving clouds and I took these photos.  It was a beautiful wet day in the desert!

Bird of Paradise

Papa is recovering at our Tucson house.  He feels a bit better each day.  

The recovery time is estimated at 6-8 weeks, so there won't be 

much shoeing of horses, roadwork, or other strenuous ranch activity! 

Tucson has been blessed with more than normal summer rain and it shows in our yard, with the saguaros plumped up, and the trees covered with lush leaves.  The showstopper in our yard is the bird of paradise.  It is growing in front and back of our house, so we get a glimpse each way we look. 

Cactus Blooms

While staying in Scottsdale for Papa's surgery, I walked around the hotel each morning 

to get a bit of exercise.  This night blooming cactus was sharing its bounty.