I travel, paint, photograph, philosophize and sometimes its just plain rambling. I also sell my watercolors and oil paintings, both originals and prints. The philosophy is free. Just a note; all text and images on this site are copyrighted and should not be used without my permission. Just ask, I love to chat. Thanks for visiting.
Good morning, and Happy Halloween . We had a little sunrise color this morning just above the mountains. The grackles have been roosting and squealing again. That’s some of them on top of the neighbor’s pine tree in the first photo. Speaking of Halloween vibes, I left the back door open while I went out front to shoot the sunrise and came back in to find Blackey the black cat exploring the front hallway. He sort of looked at me then took off quick back out the back door. He’s not our cat and it’s been awhile since I’ve seen him sneak in. I’m fond of cats especially black ones. The weather is quite mild this morning. Only 62f at sunrise, and will be only in the early 70s for trick or treaters this evening. I do hope we get them, I enjoy seeing all the kids. Happy Sunday! -Michele
The moon before sunrise
Here are a few other recent shots around the yardI stepped out the door a few evenings ago and found the green eyed kitty hiding in the chaste tree. Took several photos as it skulked around the yard. Pretty kitty. I took several more shots of him/her as it skulked around the yard.
Here are some photos of the latest
monarch butterfly visitor a couple of days ago.
I was fascinated by this yellow bee a few days ago. It looks like a type of bumble bee🐝 and it was the size of one. We rarely get bumblebees here , mostly carpenter bees which are slightly larger. It’s a pretty thing, I’ll have to research what it is. This was the only time I saw it or one like it.
I also had a Painted lady butterfly in the yard a few days ago.
Mr. Anna's Hummingbird yesterday morning.
A Red shafted northern flicker on our palm tree yesterday. Looks like a male.
A white-crowned sparrow going after the suet.
Last night's sunset sky had some color
Okay, a quick video of this morning's pre-sunrise color
Good morning. Clear skies again, and no wind, and a mild 55f at sunrise. The birds come and go, something is definitely scaring them off more, I did see a kestrel dive through the yard twice yesterday afternoon. I seem to have another pomegranate tree sprouting up next to the bottlebrush bush. Hmmm. Since my large tree has never produced fruit, I wonder how that has happened. Now to decide what to do with it. Leave it or keep it or try to move it. This yard was so barren when we moved here, amazing what happens when you add a few plants and start watering a little, things just start appearing. I don’t mind a little unplanned wildness, and I suppose the birds could be bringing in a few seeds as well. I’ve put a new feeder up with shelled sunflower chips, it looks like both the finches and lesser goldfinches like them. Oh, something just scattered all the doves and little birds again. I definitely have a predator somewhere near. Time to get busy, maybe even find time to download some bird and butterfly photos. We shall see. Happy Saturday. - Michele
Looks like a young pomegranate tree. A mystery sprout.
Good morning. Clear but warmer. In fact we’re supposed to get temps in the low 80s this weekend. I filled the feeders then sat and watched this little female hummingbird waiting for her to come down to the feeder I was near. She didn't, but chose a feeder on the other side of the yard. I noticed another plant pot had been knocked over and suspect that was the work of one of the kitties. Yesterday another big monarch butterfly had visited the chaste tree, but I was having trouble with the camera downloading photos, and hope to sort that out later today. This is the first year I’ve seen so many monarch and queen butterflies. We must be on their migratory path, and they do love those chaste tree blooms. They grow everywhere here. I do think I need to start pruning some of the plants, others will have to wait till the leaves drop.
I love the early morning. Waking up before everyone else, making the coffee, then taking my steaming mug out into the cool air and watching the sunrise and the moonset. Then the environment begins to wake. I hear neighbors leaving for work, and the birds one by one wake up. Cats scurrying past, then the sun slips above the mountains and begins to brighten everything and I can watch the change of colors as the light spectrum alters everything. This is the most luscious time of year here in the SW desert. Its no longer hot, and its not yet very cold, the air is dry and the skies are clear and when there are clouds the color is spectacular. We haven't been traveling very far lately, so I'm grateful for an environment that I mostly enjoy and can watch the world around me. I hope the same for you. Oh, October, if only you could stay so much longer! Happy Thursday! -Michele
Oh, and given the current world situation, here is a website
Good morning . Another clear and cloudless sunrise, and cool at 52f. The only birds out at the moment are the hummingbirds, a flock of starlings that flew overhead, and a lone flicker on the palm tree. I can also hear a grackle in the distance. I don’t see the kitties, but perhaps they are on the other side of the wall, waiting. Looks like a red yucca blossom has opened. Yesterday I saw a hummingbird working that blossom. It’s those little things that delight me. Time for another sip of coffee. Happy Wednesday - Michele
The view looking east from the front of our house on Sunday
Fond memories of a winter walk in the bird preserve Feb 2020
Good morning. It rained last night but this morning dawned clear and cold. Still only 58f at 9AM. The cats have been keeping the birds away from the feeders, I chased both Blacky and the green eyed kitty away this morning. Last night when I went out to fill the birdbaths, I startled the green eyed kitty who was hiding down behind the growth. She must have jumped 3 feet straight up and knocked over one of the aloe vera pots in the process. She quite startled me as well. I might have to mix things up a bit and move the feeders around to give the birds a better chance. Blacky likes to hide on the wall behind the pomegranate tree so when we prune that we will see what happens. The mulberry tree leaves are getting quite yellow, so nights are definitely getting colder. I was surprised to see bees working the honeysuckle in these temps and the texas red yucca blooming again. There were lots of hummingbird chases and battles to watch, they were there before sunup, and nothing keeps them away. Time for me to head back inside and get some work done. Happy Tuesday! -Michele
Good morning.The sky was clear to the east so no sunrise color. The birds were absent too, there has been a young hawk about. I saw it swoop through the yard a few times and then tuck up in either the mulberry tree or our big pine tree. Oh well, it has a right to earn a living too. It always surprises me so have not gotten a good shot. Blacky the cat came for a stroll through the yard and got a drink from the pool too. Shortly after that the green eyed kitty strolled through as well. The lemons are getting more yellow. It’s a small tree and once they are picked I’ll give it a prune to make it grow taller. It’s been 20 years since I had a lemon tree and I’ll excited to watch this one grow. The temps are so mild, it was 66f just before sunrise , but clouds are now moving in and perhaps even a touch of rain this afternoon. That would be great. Happy Monday! -Michele
Good morning! I missed the pre-sunrise color this morning, and just caught a bit of the sunrise. I needed a little extra sleep. There are thick clouds to the west so maybe we’ll get rain soon. I haven’t seen any goldfinches yet this morning. Last night that new green eyed kitty was on the wall in the chaste trees keeping an eye on the feeders, so maybe they are cautious this morning. Hummingbirds, sparrows and finches are all out and I can hear the doves and mockingbirds. I just noticed a hummingbird intimidating a finch off its branch. They are such feisty little characters. The pink sages are blooming again. Their nickname is barometer plant because some believe they can predict rain by blooming when rain is expected. That would be great if it’s true today! Happy Sunday to all. -Michele
The green eyed kitty
A few recent feathered visitors
Yellow Rumped Warbler in the patio
I also saw an American Robin for a brief moment yesterday
Good morning. Shall I bore you with another pretty sunrise? We had enough clouds to create more drama and color today. It is surprisingly warm at 68f, but there’s a light breeze making it very pleasant . The birds are waking up now that the sun is up. Time to fill the feeders again. Happy Saturday! - Michele
And finally, Another hibiscus 🌺 bloom, a bit of sky drama and a single oleander blossom. That sky looks wintry but the temps are mild.
Good morning! Not much cloud for the sunrise today, but I still enjoy watching and hearing the world wake up. First the mockingbirds’ song and the hum of hummingbirds wings. Then the calls of lesser goldfinches. Next the chatter of house sparrows and the chirps of house finches. Overhead the occasional clack from a grackle or a shrill call from a distant treetop. The pigeons start stretching their wings once the sun is up. Definitely not my favorite bird but they are ever present here. I just heard the soft wispy calls of a warbler and the sweet song of a white crowned sparrow. Soon I’ll hear the clicks and calls of the red-wing blackbirds. A few of them were here all day yesterday and nearly cleared out the feeders. Meanwhile the coffee is hot, and warming and the sky is mostly clear and a cool 54f degrees here on my patio. Time to fill the birdbaths.
Happy Friday! - Michele
The setting moon this morning and so many stripes in the sky.
An last, but never least, A very happy 44th birthday
to our firstborn son David today.
44 years ago today a delightful, free-spirited red headed little boy came into our lives and made me a mom for the first time. There is nothing quite the same as a first born child, and David was and is indeed special. Thank you David for bringing so much joy into our lives and thank you for growing up to be such a wonderful man and fantastic friend.
Good morning. There were a few clouds this morning so I decided to get up early and see if there was a little sunrise color and to look at the setting moon. More photos later and on my IG account. I saw a big raven fly over and some kitties stalking the bird feeders. I was trying to figure out if that’s what was keeping the little birds away, then I saw a Cooper’s hawk fly out of the neighbor’s palm tree. Missed that shot too. Cool at 54f, sweater weather. Love the fall weather. Happy Thursday! - Michele
Good morning. My back yard Buddha seems to be sporting his southeast Asian jungle look as the jasmine tendrils start to grow around him. Chilly this morning and I had to put on a jacket to sit outside. The bougainvilleas are failing but the olives and lemons are ripening. The red winged blackbirds are back to raid the feeders. They’ve gotten bolder, or used to me, and don’t fly off when I come out to sit down and watch. I saw a huge red tailed hawk fly low through the trees and didn’t get a shot. Always nice to see one. I also saw flickers on the neighbor’s palm again, and of course all the usual song bird and hummingbird visitors. I’ve not seen many mockingbirds lately, but have heard them singing often before dawn. Lots to do, time to get busy. Happy Wednesday!
A Yellow Rumped Warbler through the window at the patio fountain Oct 19
Good morning! Up before sunrise, and a chilly 47f. The hummingbirds and goldfinches were up and feeding. Looks like the Mexican bird of paradise plants’ leaves are beginning to yellow and drop for the winter, and the lantana leaves are turning slightly purple. I’ll cut them both back in mid winter. The bougainvillea blossoms are fading as well and the bottle brush leaves are red and yellow at the tips. Bob was concerned about the crepe myrtle which looks like it’s leaves have turned brittle already. I think it too has just gone to sleep early. It did that last year as well. It’s been a week since I fell down, and a few of you have been asking how it’s going. I’m much better thanks for asking. The knee and ankle is much improved, and the hands are as well, though I still cannot grip anything well or pick up anything heavy. Up is up though and I see daily improvement. It always cheers me when a couple of hummingbirds choose to play tag around my head like they did this morning. Great start to the day. Have a great Tuesday! - Michele
