For friends of Portal everywhere, the bottom line is that everyone is okay, after the remnants of Hurricane Odile targeted the Chiricahua Mountains and the sister villages of Portal, Arizona, and Rodeo, New Mexico. At our home, we received 5.29″ of rain over a four-day … Continue readingPortal After Storm Odile
…as of March 16, spring has come to Portal! A Desert Marble, Euchloe hyantis lotta, one of the earliest butterflies here (Photo by Narca)
Last night Alan and I ventured into Cave Creek Canyon above Portal, as wind swayed the sycamore branches, and a thickening crescent moon shone over the scene. We joined friends Dave Jasper and Rick Plage to see the location of a likely owl nest that … Continue readingA Western Screech Owl
Once again, drifts of autumn leaves shift with the winds in South Fork, in the Chiricahua Mountains. Madrone berries are peaking, and pulling in feasting birds. Above, the sky is frisky with mares’ tails, foretelling an impending storm. All this richness! Autumn along the South … Continue readingAutumn Musings
Rick and Vicki Beno graciously invited the Portal-Rodeo community to their home to observe today’s transit of Venus, with the aid of Rick’s very fine telescopes. It was truly a marvel to see the phenomenon so well. From our perspective on Earth, Venus was transiting … Continue readingThe Transit of Venus
Aww, man!… and five coatis scamper across the road just ahead. White-nosed Coati (Photo by Narca; not to be confused with the photo I might have gotten!)
Arizona Sycamore against an impossibly blue Arizona sky (Photos by Narca) Fall comes late to southern Arizona. Up north, trees are bare by now and shrouded in ice. Here Indian Summer has drifted into fall, and shifted bit by bit into chilly winter, yet any venture out-of-doors … Continue readingImmersion
Yesterday the Chiricahua Gallery in Rodeo, New Mexico, opened its holiday show. We’ve come to the 25th year––the silver anniversary––of our art guild’s founding. We’ve been around for a quarter of the time that Arizona has been a state! The gallery is a not-for-profit cooperative … Continue readingCelebrating the Silver
Ordinarily, if Alan and I chase something it has feathers. This morning we rose early and headed up to the Interstate to watch the Union Pacific’s historic steam locomotive No. 844 chug from New Mexico into Arizona. At least “chug” was what I expected, but … Continue readingSteamin’ Along
A quick flash to Portal, Arizona, before we continue with Spain: This morning’s walk up the South Fork road with long-time friends, Chet and Irma, affirmed that new life is thriving there. Just below the South Fork bridge, a Wild Plum is fruiting. (Some people call … Continue readingNew Life