the Desert Bloom is on!!

Picacho Peak was a fairyland today!  The poppies are in full bloom and amazing! This doesn't happen every year. Conditions obviously were perfect this year because they really put on a show!  

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

Anybody remember this movie?  It first came out in 2000. Was an immediate hit, American audiences had never seen anything like this Kung Fu romp, full of Asian actors, and besides that it was subtitled! It won an Academy award. It was an original "blockbuster" full of dazzling martial arts and moody love scenes. Lots of strong female characters.  Great fun. We were in China when it first came out, in fact we first saw it with Doug in New Zealand on a trip the three of us enjoyed together.e it

It has just been rereleased to theaters in 2023 and we went to see it this afternoon. Fun to see it 20 years later. For a while we thought we were going to have a private showing but then a crowd showed up!

My own personal Kiln Doctor

My kiln broke down this week--just when I needed it getting ready for "Empty Bowls" in a couple of weeks. First a thermalcouple went bad and wouldn't fire to temp. That's a common problem and easy enough to fix. I can even change that out. But then an error code came up on digital readout and kiln shut down again. So Will took on the challenge rather than call in a kiln mechanic. He knew nothing about kilns or how they work. Between the manual, YouTube, and some calls to Tech Service at Scuttle Kiln company, he figured it out. And I am back in business. He is now officially an expert! Pretty handy guy to have around, besides being a pretty nice guy!

Crested Caracara

THAT is a Crested Caracara. A rare sight in Southern Arizona that use to be MORE rare! It's moving it's territory into Arizona from Mexico. In the last 10 years it has become more of a presence especially around Sells and the St Croix Valley, even nesting here now. It's a falcon, eats most anything it can catch, even carrion. It's also the Tecate Beer mascot. Such a cool raptor. Texans call them Texas Eagles where they appear in south Texas.

Amazing Arizona weather!!

Not sure what that was--heavy smow--sleet--ice!?!? Didn't last long but was furious while it lasted. We have experienced all kinds of weather this spring, never know how to dress?! At least we are getting moisture.

Second day in Tombstone

Had breakfast in this morning then got ready for some back-roading in the Jeep. Read about a place in the Dragoon Mountains east of Tombstone called Council Rock. Directions led us out of town down a gravel road that hooked up with a forest service roads, and then another road. . .kinda vague instructions, but with a bit of persistence we found it. An ancient spot exhibiting evidence being used by  ancient native people's and all the way up to 19th century Apache tribes. 

Ancient petroglyphs, metatas (holes in rocks where grains were ground)' manmade foot holds in the rocks. Pretty interesting stuff.

Back to Tombstone in time for lunch at "Big Nose Kate's", and an underground silver mine tour to show how they did it back in 1882. Was a brutal existence for sure. 

  Comic gun fight, walking the streets, historic trolly tour that concentrated on actual history of Tombstone and not the legends/movies which I thought really interesting. Great day

Out of town R & R

We are both recovering really well from our traumatic procedures this week. We are trying to take it easy and follow drs orders. In that light we decided to pack our toothbrushes and get out of town for a relaxing endeavor for a couple of days.

Spent today at Whitewater Draw to view the 40thousand plus wintering Sandhill Cranes that hang out here. Started with breakfast in Benson and then another hour drive to a place where water is managed by state of Arizona in the Sulphur Valley east of Tombstone. We like to try to arrive about 10am because that's when the birds begin to come back to this staging area after a morning of foraging in the farm fields north of here in the valley. Within a couple of hours the skies are teeming with Cranes and their distinctive croaking sound echos thru the fields. Along with a couple of hundred Snow Geese.

A number of ducks are attracted to this area like this American Widgeon with it's interesting blue bill.

And Pintails show up too.

It's become an annual pilgrimage for us to come see this amazing phenomenon! Never get tired of it.

  So then back to Tombstone to check into small AirBB just off the main tourist street.

Walked to dinner at the "Longbranch", back for a little Netflix and early bedtime!

We both had medical issues this week.

My view from inside the waiting room. Will had a Cardiac Angioplasty today. All went well, so well that he was able to go home after 5 hours in recovery. He began to suspect something wasn't right a few weeks ago when he noticed "pressure" episodes in his chest. Got connected with Cardiologist and underwent several diagnostic tests. His heart looked strong until they did a Nuclear Stress Test on Tuesday. No more than got home and Dr called and said she wanted to see him the next morning. So things started rolling pretty fast and he was scheduled for this procedure yesterday morning. They inserted a catheter into the main artery at his wrist that found it's way to his heart where it found a 95% blockage in the main artery feeding the front of his heart. They immediately inserted a stent and he is now good to go.  Immensely thankful they found this when they did as left untreated it no doubt would have resulted in a heart attach. He's doing just fine now, hanging low for a few days but it's all good.  Have to say we were surprised because he has always been health concience and stayed physically fit--biking, works out at gym, hikes, etc--but so we're learning, heart desease can affect anyone.

   Then this morning I was scheduled for Cataract surgery on my right eye.  Had the left one done a couple of weeks ago so now time for the other one. No trouble so far--again All Good!!  So we are comforting each other and watching each other as we both have restrictions. Can't lift anything heavier than 15 lbs and not to bend over and get head below waist. Going to be a mellow few days at our house. Lots to be thankful for!!

granddaughters!

Aeri. . .

And Lia. . .

Southern Arizona Clay Artist Show and Sale

25 SACA clay artists held a show  at Tohono Chul Gardens today (and tomorrow.). The Garden offered free admission during the show which helped draw people in, and it worked as it was well attended. Good weather, pretty garden setting, wonderful variety of pottery and clay arts and talented artists. 

Was a fun successful day for sure!

Gem Show is on!

Every year Tucson hosts one of the biggest--if not the biggest Gem And Mineral Show in the US. It's a big deal for Tucson. Venders and shoppers come from all over the world to buy and sell all kinds of rocks, gems, fossils, jewelry, tools, carvings, beads, crystals, shells, plus a miriad of related --and unrelated items that make for fun discoveries. Acres of venues all over town. We have a few favorite locations we like to frequent every year. It's great fun just to "look!" It's got another week at least so hopefully we'll spend a couple more afternoons checking it out!

Inside in huge tents, outside  in the open air. So much to see.

And stuff like this . . .from India!