Rare Arizona jaguar

For Saturday Critters I had to share this awesome video footage!  We've all known about our wonderful jaguar for years but this is the first footage of him in the Santa Rita Mountains just south of Tucson.  I just want him to be left alone, and hope he makes it to old age...hope he also finds a mate.  Jaguars used to roam freely in our area ages and ages ago but no longer, and his visit is one of about three that have been documented in the last couple of decades.  Thought you might enjoy seeing him!  I absolutely ADORE the fact that he is here!!!!

Back on Friday!

Here are my "I'm back!" things for this Friday...joining in with Amy's Five on Friday.   But just learned that Tina at EG Camera girl has passed away.  She and her husband were in an accident, and Tanya found this out and passed the news on to the rest of us.  So so sad!  What a beautiful blogger she was!  Just so tragic!  I will go ahead and do my post as planned though Tanya is not having Willy Nilly today in memory of our dear blogger friend.

1.  First of all, gonna have to pull back a little...posting just twice or maybe three times a week, so I won't be hitting all my favorite memes every single week.  But I'll definitely try to hit them when I can!  Just have a LOT to do to get my household ready for the packing and moving in a few months!  Also they took my hubby in to the hospital last night for observation because of this severe cold.  He was dehydrated, had low blood pressure and wasn't oxygenated.  So I wasn't sure I was even going to get to post this today after being over there all day yesterday.  So if I don't visit your post please forgive me!

2.  We had company over last weekend!  Our nephew, who we had not seen in over 35 years, and his wife, who we had never met!  It was incredible seeing them!  Here are  few photos of our drive through Saguaro National Park....

A cactus wren nest!

3.  Uncle and nephew...a reunion!

4.  I was sick and now I am well, just have a lingering cough.  My hubby is now very sick!  While I was laying down so much, I read a lot.  I also tend to read in Dr. offices (and there have been quite few Dr.-related visits for both of us lately!) and I always read before I go to sleep at night because it tires my eyes and allows me to go to sleep.  SOOO....I am four books ahead of my target book reads for the year so far on Goodreads!  If you aren't familiar with Goodreads, check it out! If you love to read, and want to see our book reviews, check them out on Springtime in Magnolia book club!  This is a blog hosted by my Mom and me (Mom's blog if you aren't familiar with her is Living Life on Main Street, HERE)  Another thing you might want to check out if you are a reader is abebooks.  You can find used books from all over the world, some with free shipping, and many in New or Fine condition, for really cheap!  But the reason I have brought this up is to tell you about my most recent book read!  All The Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr is a wonderful and amazing book!  He won the Pulitzer for this book, and it is a true gem of fiction art; a story of two people during World War II, but one different from anything before.   I would recommend it highly to anyone! 

5.  On the same line of thought, we lost Harper Lee a week ago.  The loss of the writer of To Kill a Mockingbird is so sad...it is a loss of all of us.  Her book is one of the best books ever written.  It too won the Pulitzer prize.  Go Set a Watchman was written first and there is some doubt that it was accepted by her for it to be released last year, and I have not read it yet.  To Kill a Mockingbird was such a masterpiece, I hesitate to read the other one.  But, eventually I probably will.  Harper Lee (called Nelle by those who loved her)....one of the greats! 

I HAVE to Take a Break!

As badly as I hate it...I will not be posting for at least a week.  I will continue to catch up on other people's posts from the past few days, as I can.  First of all I am sick with a cold right now, and secondly our schedules have something every single day except one for the next two-plus weeks!  I will be lying down a lot in between appointments (and some scheduled company) and can't see myself at the computer till much of this is past.  I WILL RETURN, however! :-)  Hope it's a great week for you all!

My Eveyday Joy!

There is a special gift that I am given every day....I had no idea when we chose this house to move into, that  the front and back yards would be filled with such joyful visitors!  We have almost no flowering plants and I'm terrible about filling the bird seed station!  But the Texas sage out front is cover for hundreds of birds, and my hummingbird feeders....well, you'll see how that affects things in the videos below!   The very small bird at the nectar feeders is the verdin...you can see its small size compared to the finches.  I don't have to leave my house to revel in their antics or to listen to their chatter and song.  I would like to share two short videos  made of my back yard hummingbird feeders and the gathering they attract!  Sharing with Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday, and later this week with Anni's Bird d'Pot.

I need to start with a photo, though so there will be a thumbnail on my linkin....(this black chinned hummer actually gets a chance at the hummingbird feeders!  Who could imagine! :-) )

Saguaros and Skies 2

For Mersad's Through My Lens, an awesome photography meme, and super fun Skywatch Friday later in the week, here is my second series of saguaro cactus and lovely skies in Tucson, AZ.

Out of Africa 7-Kissed by a Giraffe!

This was one of the reasons we had to go back!  When our family went on our vacation a few years ago, my poor hubby was away in Virginia & Florida, and missed out.  I wanted him to get to go, because he loves tigers, and also giraffes.  And, well, there's just nothing like "getting kissed by a giraffe" when you feed him from your mouth! :-)  Joining in with Eileen's Saturday Critters.

Five Including a Bucket List! :-)

Every Friday I take leave from my regular photographs of many things and make a list of things on my mind, that I found enjoyable or fun, that bother me, that have shaped my week in some way (or my life for that matter).  It's a favorite spot of my week, because there are three memes to join in and enjoy with this "Five" theme.  So, scoot on over to Willy Nilly Friday Five, Five on Friday and Fun Friday Favorites and see what others have shared as well....

1.  We went to see Revenant.  Oh my what a visual feast!  The cinematography was amazing and I definitely wanted to see it on a big screen for that reason.  But I did spend most of the movie with a horrified look on my face, I am sure....I was either, worried, horrified, or grossed-out by all Hugh Glass went through (and it's based on an actual person and his epic journey through horrible cold with no gun or provisions to get back to the man who left him for dead and who killed his son).  It was filmed in Canada and Venezuela and I actually felt myself getting frostbite during the movie!  Here's the link to the trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoebZZ8K5N0

2.  I have a Bucket List now....
             Here is what's on my list (in no particular order):
             1. Ride a dog sled/ and ride a horse-drawn sleigh in the snow
             2.  Whale watch
             3.  See Crater Lake [doggone it...I meant Glacier Lake!]
             4.  Go to Yellowstone
             5.  Go to Hawaii
             6.  Ride a steam train
             7.  Do a hot air balloon ride
             8.  See a wild wolf and/or bear
Now for a few comments on my list.....

When I was a young teen, Mom & I shared a book called Mrs. Mike, based on a true story about a young girl who went to Canada to live with an uncle and fell in love with a Mounty.  I have loved all the romance of that story (based on a real couple) my entire life.  They traveled by dog sled of course.  There is tragedy in the book, but it's overall story is so inspiring and wonderful!

Whale watch, needs no explanation.  See Crater [Glacier lake!] Lake (have you SEEN the photos of this place!!!?) BEAUTIFUL, and very near where we will be living after this summer.  Always wanted to return to Yellowstone.  Was there as a small child and don't remember anything!  Go to Hawaii....lived there as a small child and remember almost nothing!  Ride a steam train (do you see a theme here?)...rode one when I was three, and, you guessed it, don't remember anything! :-)  See a wild wolf and/or bear might happen at Yellowstone, and maybe even in Oregon.  BUT after seeing Revenant, am a little more iffy about the bear! :-)

3.  And, lastly, the balloon ride.  After seeing someone's post of a balloon ride in Turkey, I had to add this to my list!  This is amazing!!!!  We went to the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque once and loved seeing all the gorgeous balloons!  But to ride one....Check this out!  http://www.lonelyplanet.com/turkey/cappadocia-kapadokya/activities/scenic-flight/cappadocia-balloon-ride-champagne-breakfast

Of course, I won't be going to Turkey, but I am sure I can find a place!

4.  Has anyone else noticed that if you have saved someone's blog on your bloglist on the sidebar it will often say "This blog does not exist" when you click on it!  Because of that  have not visited some of the people I used to visit, and I am beginning to wonder why I should maintain this list if it isn't going to work.  Until someone comments on MY blog, or has a post that appears on the follow feed, I can't find them at times.  Has anyone else been annoyed by this problem?

5.  This post has been all words and some links...and no pictures!  Sorry!  So, here is a photo!  This a photo I "stole" from Mom's facebook back when it was her birthday, and I decided to use it for myself (Mom's blog is Living Life on Main Street).  This was taken in Virginia, probably a couple of years before we left so maybe around 2009 or 2010.  We were having a great time...out to lunch!  I miss my Mom!  She is an inspiration to live life to the fullest!  So, now I have a bucket list!  Hoping to get back to Virginia to visit her some time in the next year or so!

Cactus Wren Visitors

Here are some shots of the cactus wrens from my archives.  Cactus wrens are larger that other wrens, and will nest in cactus.  They are skittish when feeding on the ground, and hard to photograph because of their frequent sudden movements.  They also seem to be very curious, as are their cousins.  Joining in today  Wild Bird Wednesday, and on Saturday with Anni's Bird d'Pot. 

Tuesday Treasures-Tumacacori

Mission San Jose de Tumacacori (Too-ma-Cah-corri) church is breath-taking.  It is often overlooked by visitors to S Arizona and Mission San Xavier del Bac is always on the itinerary.  Oh, yes, San Xavier is definitely a MUST-see, and I will post about it on another day.  But today...share some of these views of beautiful Tumacacori (present church built in the early 1800s) for Tom's Tuesday Treasures, for Mersad's Through My Lens and joining in also with Monica's Trees & Bushes as well.

Learn more about this beautiful Mission HERE

A pear tree on the grounds.

A tree in the cemetery

 

Hyenas Are Fascinating Critters!

I never knew much about hyenas, and really thought I didn't like them.  But our two visit to Out of Africa wild animal park changed my mind!  I learned so much both times from the knowledgeable and helpful tour guides.  Listen to all the wonderful information on the two video clips below...

Did you know that hyenas have the strongest bite of any mammal at 2,000 pounds of pressure per square inch...stronger than the tigers I have been sharing!  They can also run extremely fast...keeping up a speed of 26 mph for 4 hours!  They are very intelligent, and share information among their clan members.  Their characteristic "laugh" occurs when they are feeding.

Sharing with Eileen's Saturday's Critters.  You will love visiting this meme full of critters of all kinds!

Five Things This Week

For Tanya's Willy Nilly Friday Five, Amy's Five on Friday and Cath's Fun Friday Favorites I start with an announcement:

1.  This summer, after five years here in Tucson, AZ where we moved to be close to our daughter, SIL and grandson, we are all  moving....to Oregon!  BIG change from the Sonoran Desert.  It will be here before we know it, and I have a LOT to do to get ready.  I am excited for this new chapter of our lives...this new adventure.  A little sad, though.  I will miss my friends, and the uniqueness of this area.  But I am ready for this move!  How we have missed trees and rivers and seasons!  I am weary of the severe heat of summer, but we will be exchanging that for a more severe winter. :-)  Life is fun, isn't it!?

2.  Qigong is going great!  I really am happy the V.A. is offering this to us!

3.  Here are some recent sunrise photos to share with Skywatch Friday...

4.  We've been watching the PBS series offered by Lifetime of War & Peace...it's been excellent!  Can't wait for one of our favorite series to start again soon...Vikings.

5.  A little moment of Tucson architecture....