I took these flower pics a few weeks ago, before breaking my ankle and surgery. I remember seeing the buds and blossoms before we were leaving for our trip to the White Mountains of Arizona. I told my husband, “I hate to leave. I’d like to see these buds bloom.” The cacti blossoms only last a day or two. If I only had a crystal ball and knew that I’d fall during that trip. Yes, I’d much rather be home looking at my blossoms.
Today is a perfect day to share the photos. I’m out of pain from my fall and surgery. The photos bring me joy and hopefully to you, too!
Now that the weekend is here, I have one more week until my post-op appointment and my soft cast comes off — hopefully. Then I’ll be in a the major giant boot, but will be able to walk around. In the meantime, I’ll continue in quiet solitude writing, reading, elevating and icing!
This chipmunk stood on his hind legs for a long, long time. I thought it was interesting as here I am sitting, laying down, trying to pass time with a broken ankle. By the time you read this, I could be done with my surgery today and headed home! The doctor said it’s a four to six-week recovery. We shall see! I’ll take all your positive thoughts and prayers for the next bit of time.
Unfortunately, I had to cancel our trip for next weekend to the Bay Area to see my kids, and attend a wedding of one of my close friend’s daughters. My daughter is a bridesmaid. I hated calling and telling of my unfortunate walk where I fell and broke my fibula. But it had to be done. On the bright side, I was able to get a refund for the entire price of our airline tickets and hotel. Thank goodness for a bit of good news. I booked the trip in January and was so looking forward to it.
I can’t believe I got this shot. It’s of Mrs. mid flight to meet up with her sweetheart.
Here’s Mrs. with another friend.
As I sit and sit and sit, I watched another bright red cardinal enter the backyard. Mrs. and Red were hanging out together. Red took off like a bullet chasing the other guy. Mrs. stayed close by where I got took photos of her.
Who is that other guy? And is there jealousy between the cardinals? Do they have territories and not welcome competition? It appears so. Red came back a few hours later.
I’m so thrilled I’m in for surgery two days after my diagnosis. The doctor was extremely worried about how unstable my ankle is. Also, that the bone could totally break and the tendons go. I’m trying my best to stay still and off my feet.
I have always enjoyed my quail and I’m looking forward to seeing babies. Certainly some of our quail are having babies? In the past, I’ve found nests in planters. As soon as I see quail families, I’ll post photos.
My favorite bird of all. Red is so striking.
Mrs. Is pretty cute, too! Isn’t it something how the males in nature have all the bright colors?
Red shares the spotlight with a quail. There’s always one quail who keeps watch for predators. He’ll be up higher and alone and start squawking if he senses danger.
Then there’s this guy. There are three chipmunks who hang out together. One looks like a parent with two babies.
What are your favorite characters in your backyard?
Here’s a PS I wasn’t expecting. I saw a foot and ankle surgeon about a painful left foot I’ve been dealing with for years. Finally, I decided to inquire about surgery. In the meantime, during our stay in the cabin on the lake last weekend, I fell and twisted my right ankle last Friday. I asked the surgeon (since she’s a foot and ankle specialist) if she could check it out for me while I was there for my left foot. Big surprise. I fractured my fibula and have been walking on it for five days! Yesterday was especially painful and swollen. No wonder. They are trying to get me into surgery ASAP. If you miss hearing from me for a few days, that’s why. I may have to wait for insurance approval and scheduling, but the sooner the better.
I’m going to share some bird and flower photos I took this week — after my story about a name — our last name to be precise.
We had trouble with a guy living in Southern California with the same last name. He also has an of initial of E — which is my first initial. To top that off, he shares an initial with my husband.
It was years ago when a collection agency called. I also got letters. Somehow they got us mixed up with this other guy with the same name and common initials who wasn’t paying his credit card bills. In the mail, I got a list of overdue bills from a collection agency — in the thousands of dollars — that they tried to collect from us!
This guy is 30 years younger than us. How could they mix us up? Well, I don’t think they cared. Our phone rang every day. The emails and letters kept coming with threatening messages. I kept calling back, sending letters, explaining it wasn’t us. It took about a year of headaches and stress to unwind this unfortunate mixed-up identity.
I googled the collection agency. Other people had experienced the same mix up and relentless calls and letters.
Forward seven or eight years to Monday this week, and I got an email from an attorney threatening to sue us for a $48,000 plus debt from a builder supply store. It was sent to me and one other email address — which belongs to the other guy!
Rather than go through a year of hassle, my husband forwarded the email to our attorney, who is telling them they are barking up the wrong tree.
Now for my favorite photos of the week:
A bird knocked this blossom off the top of a saguaro. I put it in a glass of water on my desk. I’m enjoying the beauty and taking photos of it.
Blooms at the tippy top of the saguaro. I found the blossom on the ground beneath it.
A House Finch captured eating Barrel Cactus blossoms in the morning light.
A Great Tailed Grackle makes his first appearance in our backyard.
Gila Woodpecker on a Beavertail Cactus yard ornament.
Red in the morning light climbing down a watering line from a planter. Wouldn’t it be easier to fly?
Mrs. in the BirdBuddy AI feeder with a real live bird buddy.
Have you ever had identity theft or mistaken identity? If so, what happened?
This Harris’s Hawk made an appearance yesterday, which is my second or third sighting since I began my beginning photography class.
Harris’s Hawks
You might notice the difference in photos? The first one, I took yesterday. The hawk was on the next door neighbor’s roof after I shooed him out of our yard. The photo with two hawks was taken in December before my class began.
I used to love it when the hawks came to visit. But now I’m a mother hen looking out for Red, the Mrs. and their nest. When the hawk decided a good place to hang out was next to the Reds’ nest, I got in his face with my camera. He didn’t like that and landed on the roof next door.
This Mr. Harris Hawk right next door to Red and Mrs.’ nest. It looks like he could be staring into their nest — which could bring a new meaning to “empty nest.”
I got these photos of Red and the Mrs. after the Harris’s Hawk flew away.
Before my photography class and getting to know my beautiful cardinals, I believed nature should take its course. Now I have one eye nervously glancing out the window whenever I see a large bird fly by. I’m right out there with my telephoto lens to snap pictures, which also scares away the predator birds.
My next adventure is to learn some of Adobe Photoshop. I’m beginning today, and am thankful for a professional photographer friend of more than 30 years who has offered to help!
What are your thoughts on my wanting to interfere in nature and being protective of Red and his wife?
