One more hike before we go home

Sun is just coming over the ridge as we make one last hike to the Sonoita Creek State Natural Area just outside the park.  It's a riparian area along the Sonoita Creek where water flows above ground for a while before it disappears into the desert. This lush oasis in the desert is a great birding location, although it was pretty quiet this morning. The trail runs along an old railroad berm that ran through here in it's day and can see remains of old track and bridge abutments.

The trail crossed open land until you drop down into the arroyo

It's obvious there is substantial water here as some of these old Cottonwood trees are huge--and old as a lot of broken branches. And ecosystem changing as there are no small cottonwoods to take thier place as these die off.

Local ranchers graze thier cattle on these scrub lands and they look amazingly healthy. I can't imagine how they find enough grass to fatten them up.

We are home now.  These are two pictures I took from trail we walked from our house this morning. Don't have to go far to find out own desert scenery.  Looking west from our neighborhood.

Tumacocori and about

Another chilly morning do we drove the 15 miles into Nogalas for breakfast at IHop. No need for lunch today! Then we went exploring. First was to find the weathered remains of the 16th century Guavavi Mission, a forrunner of the mission at Tumacocori. Well, we tried, it's on private property and couldn't get close enough to see it. Years ago we hiked to the ruins but guess it's no longer accessible unless you join a tour.  Well, we went to Tumacocori National Historic Park instead and spent a few hours. The stabilized structure was built in early 1800's and has an interesting Arizona history story.

This Roadrunner was fearless!!

Black Phoebe with colorful background.

This part of Arizona is mostly overlooked when seeking scenic and historic landscapes. Too bad as it has a lot of both.

Even exotic animals--like this friendly cow!!

Exploring

San Rafael Grasslands east of Patagonia.

Ghost town of Lochiel on the Mexican border. Someone has recreated a one room schoolhouse here and bring local school children out from neighboring towns to experience what it was like. Actually, it's not a true ghost town. There are a few permanent residents. Use to be a border crossing but not today.

A lonely monument on a stretch of road commemorative of the first European to set foot in what is now Arizona in 1536. First European west of Rocky Mountains. Easy to forget how long a history the West actually has.  This easy some 130 years before Father Kino arrived.

Remains of old mine in another ghost town of Duquesne.

Interesting fence.

Saw lots and lots of migrating meadowlarks on the grasslands.

4 days at Patagonia State Park

A little get-away from our "busy lives" in Tucson. Well, maybe not, but a get-away indeed. Patagonia State Park is a favorite southern Arizona destination anytime. Great birding spot, also.

When we made our reservation a couple of weeks ago it was over 100 degree but as we arrived the weather changed dramatically. Didn't rain although it was forcaste, but temps fell as a cold snap descended. Well, in spite of it all we made it a fun time.

Woke up to 28 degrees but then the sky cleared and sun came out and turned into good day for some exploration.

Patagonia Lake

Sonoita Creek. One of the few perinial streams in southern Arizona runs through here.

White Faced Ibis

Creek trail

Kiln firing

I am liking this one a lot. Needs to be framed so if I'm extra nice to Will, maybe he will make one for me.  It's a blooming cereus cactus and pretty fragile but made it through the firings.  Yep, it's all clay.

Playing around with layering glazes for interesting effects. I think it's actually prettier than the picture shows.

Black and white

And my little bird that shows up a lot. It's carved into porcelain while still greenware.

Out getting some fresh air and excersise

We've been out for long early morning walks. Seems the whole city is out doing the same thing, it's gotten to be a nice habit. Greeting our neighbors, meeting the neighborhood dogs, catching an occasional glimpse of an early morning critter. We have several routes in the neighborhood to choose from but sometimes we get in the car and drive to a nearby trail. This one was in the foothills with a nice view of Tucson.

We finished the 2 1/2 mile loop just as sun finally made it up over the Catalina's.

In the evening we went to "Live Theater Workshop's" production of the play, Love Letters.

It was held outside in their parking lot, actually was a reading of letters exchanged between two women over the span of thier lives beginning as children, sharing thier very different life circumstances. We sat in our lawn chairs in front of our car, properly distanced from every one and it was great.

Biennial 2020

Will went with me yesterday afternoon to Tucson's Museum of Art. Arizona Biennial 2020 is going on right now. Suppose to be Arizona's oldest-running state-wide, juried exhibition featuring 85 Arizona artists. It's all contemporary art, some stand alone pieces, some installation pieces.

It's a "quilt" made entirely out of seeds, dried herbs, and spices all arranged perfectly on the floor. It's probably glued down but I had the feeling you could blow it away with a strong breath.

These figures are each made from discarded books, cut up and reassembled and then colorfully painted.

We enjoyed the couple of hours we spent. As with most modern art, you might be perplexed by a piece and even question it's value, but conceptually you just gotta give them credit. Like I told Will, don't over think it!!

Plus we got to see the new wing that the TMA completed this past summer where they now house thier collection of Latin American art.

And since we were downtown. . .we went to Congress Hotel and had an early dinner on thier newly expanded outdoor seating. Downtown Tucson just officially open up again a couple of weeks ago!