Mt. lion in the morning through one-way window. Desert Museum. We photographed early, before the animals got sick of people and tucked in for naps. I took coyote, wolves, and a couple of great raptor shots.

A display of beads at the giant international gem show---Tucson.


door to our room in Tubac. Great little porch. Rich so wanted to sit out there and drink his morning coffee. But it wasn't gonna happen, temps hovered around 35- 40 all the time we were there. his consolation, building fires in the chiminea(?) out in the garden and watching the stars. Big sky--no street lights.

Great American Train Adventure

Rich and I are just back from our version of the GATA, having spent 6 weeks "on the rails." Well, really, we only spent 10 or so days on the actual rails, the rest of the time was spent visiting friends and relatives in the SW & PNW. We had a grand time, both at our various destinations and in our tiny Deluxe Room on the train. (Deluxe refers to the tiny self-contained potty and shower chamber that sticks out into the small bedroom. There was also a mini-sink, where washing of faces and brushing of teeth proved to be both challenging and hilarious.) I became quite adept at showering while rocking and swaying inside a phonebooth sized compartment.

We traveled from Chicago to Tucson,(where we stayed with friends, then moved to Tubac for a week in a B&B, and on to Green Valley for a couple of days). Boarded the train at 4 in the morning (we owe Ione and Rob much, and many thanks, for driving us to the RR station in the middle of the night) for stays in Los Angeles, Oakland, Bodega Bay, and finally, Seattle. We enjoyed a variety of great hikes, readings, parties, beaches, cave explorations, botanical gardens, zoos, and even, one night, a hockey game.

Now to rest up. More to follow.

Catching up

It's been many months since I added anything here. Summer and fall flew by, and now, in December, I can hardly believe I haven't added anything since May. I intended to do better.

The photos are of a tree at the river. I am sure it is home to the spirit of a deer, reincarnate. How else to explain? My friend Vicki says that 8 & 10 pt. deer wanderup to nibble bushes under her windows at night and she watches them, only inches away.

Our experiences this summer related to wildlife (at the river)included a bear, some snakes and frogs, and a skunk who liked our shed. For some reason, no deer. I have a theory about that I will share another day.

Astromaniacal

there are some who say that there is a right
and a left in (the) heaven... – Aristotle

Times when the world
is most spherical, casting
its curved shadow

on the moon, water
and light follow
rules, there's a grid

you can count on, but
now, in this alley of slant-
time when an iron hand

draws a latitude/longitude
of shattered glass, a chaos
geography turning,

in the heat, to dogma,
we're caught in an old vise,
pressed narrow, almost flat.

New neighbors

The eagles are back, and we are able to get a clear view---till the surrounding trees leaf out...we love watching from a distance. Shot these about an hour before sundown. Momma and Poppa were switching places on the nest.