BITS AND PIECES

On November 2 we birdyset Jazz for four nights.

Jazz is a male Eclectus Parrot. This is the only Parrot species that has a marked sexual dimorphism in the colours of the plumage. The male is green, like Jazz; and the female is bright red with purple. They are beautiful birds.

Jazz was a good bird and said things like: "Company", and "I'm an Eagle"! But we learned to appreciate Boomer a great deal more because when Jazz squawked (which he did often) you could hear him two blocks away. He was much, much noisier than Boomer so we decided we have a prize in Boomer!

OUR FIRST TRIP INTO MEXICO:

On Tuesday, Scott was going to go down to Mexico for a haircut so we decided to tag along. We hadn't gone to Mexico (which is only 45 minutes way) since we moved here. I had seen some drinking glasses that I wanted in Tubac. Shirlie said -- get them in Mexico they will be a lot cheaper. And they were, I found them for almost $2.00 a glass less down there and it was kind of fun bartering. We also got some booze at the duty free shop for a lot less than buying here in the states. Then stopped at Wisdom's (a Mexican Restaurant) in Tubac on the way home. It was a good day and now we can say we have been across the border.

DOORS AND WINDOWS TOUR:

On Wednesday, we went with the Camera Club to the Barrio in Tucson for the annual Doors and Windows tour. Below are a few of the pictures we took.

I took a total of 169 pictures and Bob took 120. I will probably delete 160 of those pictures, but I guess that is what photography is all about. Thank God for digital cameras!

A VERY FUN BIRTHDAY!

Yesterday for my birthday, we went with friends to the Sonora Desert Wildlife Museum in Tucson.

Bob had been wanting to see the new flight show that they had started at the museum. The birds were free flying right over our heads which was great for taking pictures.

They had two Chihuahuan Ravens in the show.

A Barn Owl

A Grey Hawk

And a Ferruginous Hawk

When we left the museum, we went to one of my favorite restaurants, Old Pueblo Grill. We had Margaritas and great food. Thank you Bob, Cliff, Shirlee, Yvonne and Scott for making this birthday very special!

THE NEW CHRISTY MINSTRALS AND MORE

On Friday Sue and Dick Burwell came to Tucson from Scottsdale, and we met them and had lunch at the Preserve at SaddleBrooke.After lunch we went to see the New Christy Minstrels. Here again, most of you reading this Blog will have no clue as to who the New Christy Minstrels are or what they do. Well they were a Folk music group in the 1960's. Sue and Dick know one of the singers well and that is why we went. We enjoyed the show and loved visiting with Dick and Sue.

The picture below is one I tried to take with my camera during the performance. Not good light so it isn't the best.

Then tonight -- Halloween -- we went to an HOA Halloween party. Lots of visiting and treating. Dressing up in costume was optional.

Bob went as a Boise State Bronco fan! GO BRONCOS!!!

We had a good time and didn't have to worry about being tricked because we weren't home to hand out treats!

A BUSY, BUSY WEEKEND!

Kent and Lesley came from Casa Grande on Friday ; we went to lunch and we perused the craft fair going on at the Continental Shopping Mall.

On Saturday we got up early and went to Sonoita to the Historic Empire Ranch roundup and open house. The Empire Ranch dates back to 1870 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.They had all sorts of events, music, tours, storytellers, etc.

The old ranch house and outbuildings.

They were giving rides from the parking lot to the ranch house in horse (in this case mule) and wagons.

There were lots of folks dressed in period costume.

Bob decided to wear his usual uniform!

Bob took my picture with Don Collier. He was an actor in a TV show in the 60's /70's called High Chaparral filmed in Old Tucson. Most who read this Blog will be too young to remember him.

Kent and Lesley taking in some exhibits

We went to Patagonia after this to have lunch; did some shopping in Tubac; and then went home and vegged on the patio. Had a great day!

On Sunday Kent and Lesley headed home, and Shirley, Cliff, Bob and I went to the Tucson Bluegrass Festival at the Desert Diamond Casino about 12 miles north of Green Valley. A friend I worked with at the legislature was there with her husband who makes and sells fiddles .

I got to visit with Karen and see the great fiddles Frank makes. Below is a fiddle he made out of one of the old growth trees they removed when the new additions were put on the Idaho State Capito building. He will donate it to the Capitol and it will be on permament display. What a great thing for him to do, and what a talented man!

We had a great day listening to the music and visiting with Karen and Frank.

IT'S ALL HAPPENING AT THE ZOO

Last Wednesday, the Camera Club took a trip to the Tucson Zoo! Bob nor I had been there before so we decided to go along. We saw a number of animals; below are my favorites.

HUMMINGBIRD BANDING

On Monday I volunteered at the Camera Club as a Monitor, so Bob headed up to Madera Canyon where he had heard they were banding Hummingbirds. He lucked out and he even got to hold one of the Hummingbirds after it was banded (sorry, no picture of him holding it).

The Hummingbirds are caught in these nets.

Then they are weighted, measured, and banded. Bob says the band they put around their tiny little legs look like tiny pieces of aluminum foil.

This lady held the Hummingbird after it was banded until it decided to fly away.

They are amazing little creatures that weigh about 4 + grams. Their heart rate can reach as high as 1260 beats per minute, and they flap their wings 12 to 90 times per second. They are the only bird that can fly backwards.

The banding is over for this year, but you can bet Bob (and probably me) will be right there next year when they begin banding in April.