A Birthday Walk

Sometimes I detest this desert but those times are getting fewer. The place grows on you somehow - or me, at least. 

Yesterday we took the usually uneventful evening dog walk and ran into three desert big horn rams courting a ewe. We walked within 50 yards of one of the rams but none of them startled and ran. They were alert and watching, but just as curious as we were. 

Then I nearly stepped on a baby Diamondback. It was no more than twelve inches long with crisp diamond shaped markings on its fresh skin. It had a bulging mid-section so I suspect it warmed up quickly during the sunny part of the day, ate a lizard or something and got caught in the sudden drop in temperature when afternoon shade fell as it was digesting that meal. It was stiff and sluggish with cold when I found it in the wash. With luck it might have survived the nighttime temps in the 40's. I have learned to appreciate rattlers as long as they don't threaten the dogs. 

Next we were joined by three coyotes yipping and yowling on the ridge above us. A large pack moved into the area last week, possibly coming down from the Mesa, and their vocalizations ring through the canyon. One has a very distinctive call, a series of high pitched staccato notes, uh-uh-uh-uh-uh. The dogs sure get excited and want to respond when the coyotes point their noses to the sky and let loose. I do too. Even Bob let loose a howl or two with us. I suspect there is some canine in my genetic make-up. 

Heading back to the Rhino a couple of feisty burros blocked our way. The wild burros are sleek with rippling muscles and not an ounce of fat, unlike the carrot stuffed Oatman burros. They're more concerned about the dogs than us and usually trot off after giving a huff or two. I call it a huff but it might be more accurate to call it a super snort. If you blocked one nostril with your thumb and blew a short, hard blast of air through the other, then magnified the sound a hundred times, you'd have an idea what it sounds like. It seems to be a challenge or warning sound and carries a good quarter mile or more. We'll often hear a huff long before we see the burro. 

So that was our evening, a walk of about an hour full of wildlife encounters and Bob says everything happened because it was his birthday -- and because I had no camera. Maybe so, but I had better start bringing that camera anyway!

Today we are cooking up a turkey dinner.

Alaska Stuff

I guess it is safe to formally announce the pending sale of our cabin in Alaska. The inspection is approved and the as-built survey completed with no violations, so with only the title search to be done there is really nothing to stop the sale. The offer came as a surprise and even though it's going to be a hassle to move out in December it was too good to pass up.

From my past in Alaska...

USGS released a booklet about their 25 year bird banding project in Old Chevak. Biologists worked in coordination with the people of Chevak to track bird populations in the region. Groups of local kids joined the biologists in the field to conduct round-ups of brandts, emperor geese, white-fronted geese, swans, etc.  I spent one summer in Old Chevak bunking in the old church building featured in this booklet, working on different projects but also some bird banding, although not with the Chevak groups. Anyway, the first half of the booklet is a beautiful album of group shots, yearbook style, while the second half tells the stories of the various birds. It's very well done with wonderful photography and a pleasure to relive my time there. Download of the booklet is free:  Banding Together

Lastly, I couldn't pass up posting this hilarious picture that is roaming the Internets. It's only fair.

Man Hunt

How does he drive with those antlers?!

Walk Pictures

We walked to the chocolate jade mine this afternoon. Perfect weather for it.

This beautiful black burro was very unhappy to have us there and huffed at us until we were out of sight. Tux is terrified of burros, especially when they huff, and ran out of sight. She didn't respond to calls and whistles so we decided to turn back to search for her.

We split up, Bob going back to the truck to hook up with me at a rendezvous point. The collies went with me down the adjoining wash. These pretty flowers were growing out of the rock and sand in the shade of an old Palo Verde tree.

Bob found Tux back at the truck where we kind of figured she'd end up. She considers the truck or Rhino her safe spot and always finds a way back. We ran into this flop ear guy on our way home.

Making Mud Pies

With the studio finished I was able to try my hand at throwing again. Watching a few Bill van Gilder and Simon Leach videos on YouTube refreshed my memory on centering and throwing basics but, boy, my skills are really rusty and my hand strength isn't all it used to be. Here are pictures of my working studio and the results of yesterday's efforts. Will attempt to trim them later today or tomorrow. The clay is drying very slowly.

Throwing area with "walls" to catch clay splatters.

Shelving units joined to make a tabletop work area.

Metal working area.

A Surprise

Good news to announce soon. Don't want to jinx it by celebrating too soon. But it's good. Really.

Moving on

Yellow barrel cactus is blooming again. Seems to be blooming year round.

I forgot about my little maiden in the garden.

Texas Ranger full of flowers. Regular watering this summer and a good dose of plant food sure helped it along. 

New closet doors installed and painted.

Entry door painted, too. 

Tin ceiling in studio/office/guest room (that's a mouthful). So much fun.

Now to move all my stuff back in and get a comfy chair to sit in. This will be a nice quiet place to read. I'm working on the Lonesome Dove series and Little Big Man, some great story telling.

A New Closet in the Studio

It's been keeping us busy for the last couple weeks; more work than we expected but well worth it. It was a little tricky because the roof slopes slightly and the tin ceiling needed to be protected. Once the walls were up we debated whether to match the wall texture or match the wallpaper under the chair rail. I had one roll of the Anaglypta paper left over from the original papering job done years ago and it happened to be just enough to finish the new walls... a pain to apply but sure looks good. The paper is made in England, has a raised pattern with an old-timey look (that unfortunately doesn't show in the pictures) and is designed to be painted. It works well with the tin ceiling. Bonus to the project: new color scheme! Blue Agave with Antique White. All the doors need to be painted and then Bob can hang them. The room looks so pretty and fresh it will be a shame to do messy pottery work in it. I'll have to stick with white clay. Anyway, with the closet we can officially call it a studio/office/guest room and I am really happy to have the storage area.

Next project: Another closet/pantry in the house???

I should add that we had a second house showing. A couple from Oatman. Loved it. I doubt they'll be able to come up with the money though. We've decided to get a demolition permit and fill in the pool if we haven't sold before next summer. The pool area would be a good RV parking spot with power and water available -- probably be a better selling feature than the pool.