When you’ve got it

 

 

 

You’ve got it.

 

Strut that stuff.

 

 

Follow-up on the street rod

 

 

 

Brother Tom was right on the mark.  This thing began its life as a 1937 Chevy.  Thank you, Tom.  I was counting on you.

 

 

The ever erudite McKee opined that:

 

"A conglomeration of different parts from different vehicles welded together is pretty much the definition of a "hot rod".  Left rough it would be a "rat rod".  That is a good lookin' truck with a nice chop and channel.  "Street rod" applies more to fifty's and sixty's stuff assuming that they're not Kustom or Low rider.

 

I take his word.  He would know.

 

The attack of the armadillo

 

 

That terrifying moment.

 

When you realize there is no escape.  You’re on a collision course.

 

The armadillo literally walked right into my foot.

 

It barely startled him as he snuffled off a different direction.

 

Such a fearsome creature.

 

An Acorn Woodpecker

 

 

 

Pretending to be a hummingbird.

 

Cactus Flowers

 

 

 

 

The long holiday weekend is over

 

 

The crowds have gone home.  That means now there will be room for us to camp in state parks again.  But it’s almost June and it’s getting pretty hot.  We’ve been on the road for about a month now.  Our choices are, camp out in the heat, get another hotel room, or just go home.  We decided on home.

 

2025 Arizona Trip Home

 

 

 

650 miles.  11 hours.  One state.  One time zone.  Home Sweet Home.

 

Time Zones

 

 

We got lonesome for the eastern time zone, so we hit the eject button and got on the interstate.  We’re here in Van Horn.

 

2025 Arizona Trip Home

 

 

390 miles and two time zones away.  Back in Texas.

 

Night Birds

 

 

 

Last night we spent the evening in Madera Canyon listening for owls as the sun went down and it got dark.  It was spectacular.  First, the Mexican Whip-poor-will started up.  Then we heard an elf owl.  Then several elf owls.  Then a western screech owl.  Then a whiskered screech owl.  And finally, a northern pygmy owl.

 

It was a very good night bird night.

 

 

Today, we drove a hundred miles.

 

2025 Arizona Trip Home

 

And today

 

 

We’re here!

 

2025 Arizona Trip Home

 

We’ve begun our trip home.  We’re as far as Green Valley, AZ.  Right close to Madera Canyon, which is cool and nice, and the camping is full for the Memorial Day Weekend.  The temperature in Green Valley is triple digits.  We’re in a hotel.

 

 

Another crowd gathers

 

 

 

Now it’s Ayla’s day.

 

A graduation from kindergarten to first grade.  Now to pick her out of all the kids.

 

There she is.

 

The graduates provided the entertainment.  There was singing and dancing.

 

…and happy people.

 

 

 

Austin’s Moment

 

 

A huge crowd.

 

Austin in there somewhere.  There he is!

 

Looking for mom and dad.

 

And now he’s spotted us!

 

Speeches.  Applause.  Laughter.  The choir, orchestra, and band.  Names called out.

 

Almost there.

 

 

Austin Taylor.

 

It is his moment.

 

We are all very proud of him.

 

 

 

Street Rod

 

 

I don’t know what this is.

 

I’m not sure it is any one thing at all, but maybe a conglomeration of different parts from different vehicles welded together.

 

Coots!

 

 

 

And it’s baby coot season!

 

Surprise, Surprise

 

 

Our anglophile kids, Taylor and David, are back to the states for a two-week vacation.  (Coincidentally, Teigan and Elise are at their house in Wales for two weeks, watching their cats.)  But I digress.

 

David and Taylor just announced that they got married at their favorite waterfall in Rocky Mountain National Park!

(Photo compliments of a passer-by.)

 

 

Not ones for elaborate ceremonies, although the graduation occasions in England were certainly something, they decided to go low-key and just do it themselves, which is perfectly legal in Colorado as long as you get a marriage license ahead of time, which they did.

 

So, congratulations to the happy couple.  David and Taylor VanderMeer.  I don’t think so.  Too traditional.  David and Taylor Alexander?  Probably not.  Some creative combination of the two last names?  Entirely possible.  I like AlexanderMeer.  Time will tell.

 

Such a pretty boy

 

 

 

When you’re done for the day

 

 

 

 

We’ve all been there.

 

The Fam

 

 

Matt, Lindsay, Austin, Arie, Ayla, and a special guest appearance by Jesse.

 

 

 

 

Golden Shadow

 

 

 

It’s a palo verde tree.  Palo verde trees are really smart.  They drop their leaves during the hottest dryest weather to conserve water, but they have chlorophyll in their bark so they can still photosynthesize.  During times of adequate moisture they hold onto their green leaves.

 

They bloom yellow flowers, the fallen petals creating that golden shadow.

 

Hot

 

 

Hot like triple digit hot.

 

I’ve been taking my lunchtime walks at 10:00 at night in the dark to avoid the heat.

 

Today was more mild though.  I got to make that walk around Steve and Lori’s neighborhood in the daylight before it got too hot.

 

 

It’s a very nice neighborhood.