Baby Cooper's Hawks

A friend shared this with me.  She lives about 15 minutes away but is more rural.

"A research team from the U of A visited on Friday to check on the status of our nesting Cooper's Hawks. A trip up the pine tree revealed 4 hatchlings, just 10 days old. Too young to band, they were temporarily removed from the nest via enclosed "elevator", measured, weighed and returned. Parents swooped unhappily about near by. Very cool!"

The "Elevator" showing two of the four chicks.

Parent, keeping a....Hawk's eye on things.

                                          

Colorful Houses

Went driving around the University of Arizona neighborhoods the other day with a friend who is doing some major landscape renovations and wanted to get ideas.  Here is one house that caught our eyes.

Lots of interesting things done to older houses in some of these early neighborhoods.  It was lots of fun and we took tons of pictures.  More metal sculptures too, of course.

Wildlife on the Ranch (part II)

Here area few more of the metal sculptures.  (see prior blog for part I).

Hope everyone survived the Rattlessssssnake encounter.  Actually, I have spent a lot of time in wilderness and ranch areas in Southern Arizona and have only encountered a rattlesnake on two occasions...both of which when I was in a vehicle and Mr. Snake was crossing the road as fast as he could go.

We do have our working dogs (those who will be out in the fields) snakeproofed so they will avoid any snake.  That's a subject for another blog.

Cowboy, Cowgirl and Horse with a sign saying, "Welcome to the Ranch".

Family of Javelinas

                                                             
                                                                     Quail in a tree.

                     
                                                           Peacock with Yucca Stalk         

                                                   
"What's with the Peacock?" did you say?  Well, that's another tale for another blog.                                                                                 

Wildlife on the Ranch

I head to my friend's small ranch almost every Wednesday morning for Sheep Herding practice with my Sheltie, Rooster.  I thought you might like to see some of the "Wildlife" to be found there.  It's easy to get pictures of them as they tend to stay in one place.    There's a jackrabbit (huge, a turkey buzzard, mule (must be wild), armadillo, ground squirrel.......and....gasp.....

And, of course.....

Rattlessssssssssnake!

To be continued.......

Wedding in Your Future?

Are you involved in planning a wedding sometime in the future?

Be brave!  Take a chance!  Move away from the ordinary!

Consider adding  some of these stones to the festivities.

They are wonderful for bridal showers, bridesmaids gift, family mementos and so on.

The event definitely will move into the 'remember forever' catagory with ideas like these.

Something Special for a Special Friend

I'd like to show-off one of my projects.

A year ago a friend of mine did a huge favor for me.  I wanted to give her a special 'Thank You' and this was the result.  I made her a beaded hatband.  I was very pleased with the results.

My friend judges and competes in Herding Competitions with her Pembroke Welsh Corgi's.  She has and herds ducks, sheep, cattle and geese. 

Along this side are a grey Pilgrim Goose, black headed Dorper Sheep, a red and white steer and, of course, a Red and White PWCorgi.

On this side is another Corgi, a black and white steer, a Black Bellied Barb Sheep and a white Pilgrim Goose. 

The front of the hatband features the name of her famous herding Corgi, Dual Champion (DC) Beau.  He's truly, one of a kind.  My friend is pretty special, too.

Bits and Pieces

I don't have a central theme for today so here are a few random thoughts.

-The University of Arizona Wildcats made it into the Elete Eight during the National Championship March Madness (basketball).  In that my husband played basketball for the UofA back in the dark ages (I think they used candles to light the gym), we are fans and were proud of the behavior of the kids and the new coach.

-My old man Sheltie dog is going to be 15 on April 4.  He's starting to fail and my younger male is starting to get pushy.  I realize this is normal dog behavior but it is not allowed.  My husband warns him that Stetson (old man) has powerful friends!

-A friend had a birthday party for her old man Corgi dog.  Unfortunately he is very unreliable around other dogs so he opened his presents, had his frozen treat and then went into the house.  The party was held down the street with the other dogs.  Kind of sad but a trip to the vet to be sewn up wouldn't have been a good option.

                                                     More, Please.....