Happy New Year 2022!

 Just want to wish you all a very Happy 2022! 

After all we've been through the last 2 years, 

let's make it a great one. Flourish and prosper my friends!

With all our love, - Michele and Bob

I wish this for us all. It will take work on our part, happiness and peace are not passive,

 it must be fought for and maintained. Happy new year my friends.

Good Morning Dec 31, 2021- Happy New Years Eve!

Good morning, and Happy New Years Eve! We had a pretty crescent  moon here and a few bits of color in the sky. The moon is at 7% waning. It was warmer this morning at 50F but with a brisk breeze, and the clouds were moving quickly across the sky, and more coming in from the west. Rain of course would be very welcome again. The little birds haven’t shown up yet. Don’t know what’s keeping them away. A cat? Or a hawk? Hard to tell. The feeders weren’t emptied yesterday either, though there was quite a mob of them for a short while. I think I’ll put some fruit out for them as well. I can hear hummingbird wings but don’t see them yet. Yesterday I had several male Costa's hummingbirds fighting it out in the olive tree. The wind is picking up again, so time to head inside and get coffee. I hope you all enjoy your New Years Eve plans whatever they are. Happy Friday! - Michele

Good Morning Dec 30, 2021-2 Days Left

Good morning. There are thick clouds today making the sunrise shades of grey and gold. I didn’t see any signs that it rained here last night, but we may still get some. The little birds were waiting in the treetops for their breakfast as usual, and I saw two kittys meet in the street like 2 neighbors stopping to say hello after coming off a night shift. Nothing blooming anywhere now, and the leaves are all gone off the pomegranate and chaste trees. Time for some pruning after the holiday. I see the little birds have come down to the feeders now, and a red winged blackbird has joined them. Also a warbler stopped by the patio birdbath. Oh good, the coffee is ready, time for some morning comfort, and to get this day started. 2 days left in the year. Happy Thursday. - Michele

Furry neighbors greeting each other this morning

Good Morning Dec 29, 2021- Brrrrrr Again!

Good morning. It was cold and clear at sunrise this morning. 32F (0C). I did sit out for a bit and watch the birds. The white crowned sparrows were back and singing sweetly. I also saw the first adult male yellow rumped warbler, and a lone female / juvenile red winged blackbird, as well as a single starling that visited one of our palm trees. Add to that a few juncos and the usual suspects of hummingbirds, house finches, house sparrows, lesser goldfinches, and a kitty cat or two. It was all going well until someone decided to fire up a chainsaw and trim a tree. I picked a few more lemons and noticed there are still a ton of olives on one of the trees.The birds all left and then I went back into the warmth of the house to wait out the noisy chainsaw wielding tree trimmer. Another cup of coffee, and an update to my day's battleplan and one day soon, I might even find some time to download some more recent bird photos. Meanwhile, 3 more days left to the year. 

Happy Wednesday! - Michele

 The dominant male Costa's hummingbird yesterday

Good Morning Dec 28, 2021- A little pink and lots of birds

Good morning. There were a few pinks in the sky this morning before sunrise. Plenty of clouds but not a lot of color, just a few smudges. Not many birds yet, just hummingbirds and the neighborhood kittys passing by and checking each other out. Pretty sure I still have that hawk coming by fairly regularly. I never did sit out to watch the birds yesterday. There was a strong cold wind and it’s the wind that I don’t care for when I’m trying to photograph them. It’s cold but still this morning, so maybe I’ll try again. 

But first coffee, and Happy Tuesday. -Michele

The dominant male Costas hummingbird in the patio this morning.

 Its a grey day but you can see a bit of his purple here.

Two female or juvenile Costas hummingbirds sharing the chaste tree this morning. 

They are hiding from the adult males, both Annas and Costas

More Bird Feeder Shenanigans. Mostly house finches and lesser goldfinches

Good Morning Dec 27, 2021-Another Golden Sunrise

Good morning. If there were any pinks this morning I missed them. Was reading again in bed and got up to look a bit late again, just in time for a few bands of gold and then the sunrise. A chilly 39f this morning, but next week we’re supposed to get lows in the 20s so I better make sure all my plants are sorted out. Bird feeders are filled and birdbaths filled. I might even sit out for awhile and watch, then it’s on to getting some work done inside. Lots to get done before New Years when I have other things scheduled. 

Have a great week and Happy Monday! - Michele

Oh! And here is a current photo of our two grandsons.

Rory who is now 9 is on the left, and Josh who will be 5 next month 

is on the right. Goofy boys. I miss them bigley.

Good Morning Dec 26, 2021- Happy Day After Christmas and a photo of me

Good morning! It is cool and clear this morning. The clouds were on the Eastern horizon and blocking any chance of morning color. A slight breeze is blowing and only the hummingbirds are active so far. I did see the hawk fly off so he was no doubt keeping the other little birds away. The sun is now up, and the wind is now kicking up again too. I have plenty to do, so I better get going. But first, coffee. Mmmmm. 

Happy Day after Christmas, and Happy Sunday. - Michele

A male Costa's hummingbird at the patio feeder this morning

Hello, this is a photo of me from this morning before I headed out for a short walk. I have not shared many selfies in the last 2 years as I've grown my hair out to its silver state (stopped coloring it) during this crazy time of lockdowns, as part of a health handling to go even more chemical free. Its a bit of a shock for me, now in my 60's to so often be the oldest one in the crowd. I was the baby of 5 and for so long was the youngest one in any group for many years. However, life moves on.  I may write more about some of my personal challenges over the last several years, but for now, I thought I'd share this current photo of me so you can all see the silver haired grandma that I am now.  In my new birdwatching hat that was a gift from my husband, as I headed outside this morning 

to see what birds were about. 

This is a photo of me 4 years ago before I stopped coloring my hair 

and before some of my current health issues. Aging is inevitable, and I've 

discovered I am not without vanity, but I still have so much to be thankful for.

 I also have a  husband in his 70's (We've been together for 45 years) and 

neither of us have any truly major health issues at this time

and this is me on this day 7 years ago

Dec 25, 2021- Merry Christmas Morning to All!

Good morning, and Merry Christmas morning from our house to yours. We had just a few bands of pre sunrise color to greet the day. The sun is now up and the coffee is ready, and the oven is pre-heating, so I’ll just take a few more minutes of quiet before getting the turkey roast ready and getting this Christmas Day started.  40degrees F with a high of 60F, pretty mild and perfect for this Christmas Day. 

Merry Christmas everyone, and happy Saturday! - Michele

Memory Posts:

Christmas morning 2014

Breakfast near the tree with the fire roaring. -2014

Then Turkey and the trimmings-2014

Christmas 2018

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Dec 25, 2021- Merry Christmas to All

 Bob and I just want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas filled with good people, good food, and good cheer, 

 and a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year. 

- Bob and Michele 

these photos are from a few years ago. I haven't taken any recent ones, 

but we both have silver hair now.

Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna Mhath Ur!

That's Scottish Gaelic for "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year", 

and it's pronounced "noll-eg cree-yel ugus blee-anna vah oor".

From the Ross Clan in Las Vegas

Good Morning Dec 24th, 2021- Merry Christmas Eve!

Good morning, and a very Merry Christmas Eve to you all. It’s warmer this morning and it’s been raining. I sat out in it awhile because it’s so lovely and the temperature at 55 quite tolerable. The lighting in the sky was quite enchanting though I couldn’t quite capture it. The kind of light that lights the raindrops up like golden glitter at times. It reminds me of the rain in Hawaii when I was a girl. My mother laughingly called it pineapple juice. Anyway, it was quite enchanting. I hear and see the little birds now, mobbing the feeders, and the sun is poking through the clouds shooting rays of light and warmth in all directions. The trees are now lit up with a background of slate gray. I do love a dynamic sky with a bit of drama in the morning. And now it’s time for coffee. 1 day till Christmas. 

Happy Friday. -Michele 

Good Morning Dec 23, 2021- A Gray Morning on this Festivas Day

Good morning . It’s Festivas day. The clouds were too thick this morning for any sunrise color, and it’s supposed to rain a little today too. That’s always welcome here in the desert. The coffee and Christmas cheer were warm and welcoming though, and I didn’t even turn the heat on yet. I don’t see any little birds out yet except for a few in the top of the mulberry tree. They are all puffed up for the cold. Ok, I just saw the male Costas hummingbird at the patio feeder again, and another one chased him off. I’m ready now for our simple Christmas celebrations except for food that needs to be prepared that morning. 

Happy Thursday, and Happy Festivas. -Michele

Memory Posts:

A stop while driving through Eastern Utah on the way to Denver 10 years ago.

2 ghosts from a Christmas past. Bob and I, gosh, 32 years ago 

at my parents' home. Didn't he have a wonderful smile? 

It was probably me making him blush. He says I still do that.

From on this day 7 years ago. It was a gray day then too. 

Good Morning Dec 22, 2021- Another Pretty Sunrise &Snowy Memories

Good morning. More pre sunrise color again today, and this progression lasted nearly 25 minutes compared to yesterday’s 6 minute display. I hope I’m not boring you with all these sunrises. Our best ones are in fall and winter and I certainly enjoy them a lot. Colder again this morning. 31f when I first woke up and 37f when I went outside. I noticed a lot of early flights taking off too. Must be a lot of Christmas travelers. This town usually goes a little quiet over Christmas, then gets very busy for New Years, but with the current scene it’s hard to tell what our tourism will be like. But I digress. The little birds are starting to arrive, and that little Costas hummingbird is definitely now the dominant male over the patio feeders. The Anna’s hummingbird has been sticking mostly to the feeders at the other end of the yard. Guess they have sorted out their territories for now. I still have a few more presents to wrap then it’s on to more cooking. I need to make some egg muffins for Christmas morning, and pull out the turkey to thaw in the fridge. Oops something just scared the little birds off again, probably a cat, and now the neighbor’s dogs are barking up a storm. Oh, I just heard a goose! Sounds like a Canada goose has landed in a yard. I can’t see it from here but I can certainly hear it. No wonder the dogs are barking. Time for me to get moving too. 3 days to Christmas. 

Happy Wednesday! - Michele

Unfortunately the Collage maker I usually use crashed after I updated my phone last night. So The quality of images isn't the best using screen shots from Facebook.  Sigh

Before the color got brighter

Memory Post: 

fond memories of a white Christmas in Colorado 10 years ago. 

That’s the year we drove through the Rocky Mountains at night 

in a blizzard. Not fun but it sure was beautiful the next morning.

Dave, me, Bryan and Emily outside Bryan and Emily's apartment

 (Bob of course took the picture)

Good Morning Dec 21, 2021- Welcome Winter and Happy Solstice

Good morning. Well we did get a bit of color through our mostly gray skies this morning. This color lasted less than 6 minutes so you really did have to be watching for it. Warmer today at 43f just before sunrise. The sky is covered in clouds, and it does indeed look wintry on this first day of winter. The clouds are supposed to last for a couple of days. I need to go out to fill the bird feeders, but the warmth of the house and the coffee are keeping me inside. I have much to do so I’d better get shaking. 4 days till Christmas . 

Happy Solstice and Happy Tuesday! - Michele