Water in the Desert

 

In the "land of little rain," it is always exciting to see a body of water.

And there, something almost like a beach!

Still, I couldn't help increasing the saturation to make the ripples more pronounced. Wind making ripples on sun-kissed water!

In the desert!

Outside and Inside, a Good Start to the Day

 

Dawn was beautiful 380 degrees around, but this view to the northeast was the most spectacular when I went out with my camera. 

Soil can't be too cold yet, because snow that blanketed the ground last night only remained in scattered patches this morning. 

Peasy loved his outdoor romp but was also happy indoors with his lion baby doll.

Death in the Desert

Sarah and Friends, in the new epic, “Adventures Close to Home”

The star of our show!

Here she is, our old girl, the little star, back on her leash for the last lap of the return hike home — not because she would “run away” but because there was a coyote carcass between our house and our friends’ house, and we don’t need dogs getting into that. You don’t need to see it, either, so I’m not including those pictures. Sarah and I passed close by the dead coyote on our way to meet our friends, and she was good about it, but I didn't want to take chances on the way home. Anyway, I’m sure you’ll enjoy, much more, photos of our adventure with friends and of the territory we explored and sights we saw along the way.

In the high desert of our little ghost town, staying out of crowds is not a problem. It’s even possible to leave the house and see friends, walking a little apart from each other out in the fresh mountain air. Whenever she sees me put on the Camelbak and get out the hiking poles, Sarah is ready, knowing that adventure with friends is on the morning agenda. 

Therese, Buddy, Molly, Sarah

Sometimes we start off on the road and switch to the big wash, and sometimes we head cross-country right away. This morning we stayed along the road longer than usual, and here below is my Little Miss Independence, eager to lead the way! Can you spot her there in the distance?

Maybe Sarah got so far ahead so fast because she is not interested in the spring wildflowers I couldn't help stopping to photograph.

But Therese and I were as eager as the dogs to do some off-road exploration. Ha-ha, dogs, that’s in part because there are more beautiful plants if we climb uphill!

Following trails blazed by cows, watching our footing on loose rocks, the two human members of the expedition paused to appreciate rocks and remnants from mining days, as well as plants.

And here is Sarah again, now posing (briefly -- I had to snap fast!) on what remains of an old mine building. — And then Mollie, not to be outdone!

Well, it’s all good here — the company, conversation, exercise, fresh air, flowers and rocks, and doggie socializing — but there are those moments, too, when Therese and I have to stop and lift our eyes and gaze off into the distance, and then the beautiful views alone make the adventure worthwhile. We would much rather be here than in a crowded bar scene, anyway.

Storm Makes Drama

Bless the Little Ones!

Desert Farewell Gift

In 2015, on our last night in Dos Cabezas, we went for an evening drive east toward Chiricahua. We had to make our way slowly and carefully down the driveway, because the yard was absolutely full of cows and calves, more than had ever before visited us at once. It was as if the cattle had come to bid us farewell, performing the rite on behalf of the spirits of the ghost town, and we were properly grateful.

This year, on the last morning before our day of departure, I looked down in the wash behind the cabin and saw, finally, a group of mule deer. I've been wanting to see mule deer for a long time, and here they were, practically at our doorstep, grazing on scanty ground vegetation and reaching up for tender new leaves of netleaf hackberry, guarded over by the mountain to our north.

Nothing could have pleased me more than to make the acquaintance at last of these black-tailed wild neighbors with their enormous ears. Once again, the ghost town has come through with a perfect, unexpected moment.

Evening Images, Cochise County

The beautiful light of late afternoon and early evening pulled us out of the cabin and down the road toward the Chiricahuas. It was a beautiful, memorable ride.

More Desert Color: Bajada Lupine

Was delighted to find this blooming today, after searching for the plant ever since spotting it a couple weeks ago, leaves holding drops of morning dew like tiny reflecting balls. I knew it was out there, but I'd remembered the place wrong. This morning, there it was, blossoming!