This beauty is a Western Tanager. I’ve seen them a few times, but I haven’t been able to get a photo until this weekend. He stopped by to drink from our bird bath.
I love the way the light goes through the Cottontail’s ears. We have an abundance of bunnies this year all around the neighborhood.
This Roadrunner loves our planter that has water in it. So do bunnies and doves. I spotted the roadrunner in the tree outside the casita, but as I reached for my camera, he flew down and ran through the fence. Then I spotted him in a tree outside the fence in the wash. But I couldn’t get a good view of him. I was thrilled to spot him back in the yard. I got a second chance at photos!
No day is complete without a few Red sightings. He sang his heart out up in our tree!
I have a busier than normal week ahead. Physical therapy, an HOA board meeting to attend for my newsletter, friends in town, a wedding in Northern California in a Redwood Forest. After getting used to a quiet, healing pace, I’m trying not to get too stressed out!
Do you have a slow or busy week ahead? What activities do you have planned?
Wednesday morning on our walk before sunrise was stunning!
“As long as autumn lasts, I shall not have hands, canvas and colors enough to paint the beautiful things I see.” — Vincent Van Gogh
Now that our beach days are behind us, we’re back to desert life. We’re walking before sunrise to avoid the heat. But the past few days, the weather has cooled down. It’s been in the low 60s during our walks! Maybe we don’t have to leave quite so early.
On the other hand, it’s a gorgeous time to be outside. The first thing I saw was a wily coyote dashing across the street. Then I noticed the moon high in the sky with balloons rising in cool air.
This guy has been a frequent visitor to our backyard. We’ve got both Roadrunner and Wily Coyote.
Finally, the sun peeked over the horizon.
What is your favorite time to walk? What sights do you see?
Olive got into my suitcase while I was unpacking and began scratching and biting it. I got her message loud and clear.
After a week home, I’m starting to feel settled. It’s been a super busy week, filled with long to do lists. What is helping me avoid gripping anxiety is morning walks, a few swims at the YMCA and having Olive fall asleep on my lap.
I read an article about cancer the other day in the Wall Street Journal. I learned something new that I feel is valuable to share. Cancer runs in families.
The article was called “Cancer Runs in Families. Too Few Are Getting Tested.”
Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider knew what her father’s pancreatic cancer diagnosis meant for his future. She didn’t realize what it meant for her own cancer risk.
“I had no idea that this was possible for me,” said Ungerleider, 43, an internal medicine doctor and founder of End Well, a nonprofit focused on end-of-life care.
Doctors are recommending genetic tests to more cancer patients and their families. Testing costs have dropped, and the results are helping doctors choose newer targeted drugs and encourage relatives to confront their own cancer risk.
“We can test you for dozens of genes at the same time, and it’s going to influence your treatment,” said Dr. Jewel Samadder, co-leader of the Office of Precision Medicine at the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center in Phoenix.
I’ve had cancer on my mind, obviously after my future DIL was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer and has undergone successful surgery. What this article told me is all too clear. In my DIL’s family several of her sisters were diagnosed and treated for cancer in their 20s and 30s.
I think it would be wise if you have had family members with cancer, to get tested, too.
Here’s more from the article:
Some 10% of cancers are associated with genetic inheritance, including the BRCA mutations linked to breast and ovarian cancer risk in the 1990s.BRCA mutations have since been linked to other cancers, and dozens more gene variations have been shown to raise cancer risks.
Doctors have broadened guidelines for who should get tested, including all patients with ovarian, metastatic prostate and pancreatic cancer and some with colorectal and breast. Some are pushing for universal testing after some studies showed that around half of genetic cancer links are missed under standard testing guidance.
Here’s a beauty of a barrel cactus in bloom outside my window.
This roadrunner found a perch to watch the quails in our backyard.
What are your thoughts about cancer running in families? Would you get tested if your parents or siblings had cancer? Would you recommend friends to have testing done?
On my morning walk I saw a huge coyote run across the street into my friend’s yard. I marveled at his beauty and wasn’t afraid like I’ve been before with a coyote sighting. His speed told me he wanted to get far away from us.
Olive the cat and I watched quail in our backyard. They were squawking and fighting as they scouted for birdseed. I’m amazed at how quickly the babies grew up. All the quail are the same size now. I wonder if the quail stay together as families from newborn chicks through adulthood?
I’ve been fascinated watching Harris hawks glide and circle above my backyard. I’ve tried to video them, but it’s difficult because the sun is in my eyes and I can’t see if I’m capturing them. Perhaps I shouldn’t put birdseed out because it attracts the quail — who then are prey for the hawks. I should have learned my lessons when the hawk crashed into a window and broke it!
I went to the hardware and grocery store and everything I needed was in stock. In the spring there were empty shelves. I remember looking for Tater Tots for weeks, but they weren’t available. We were having friends over for burgers and I wanted to serve Tater Tots.
During the pandemic, I would grocery shop for my dad who was in his late 80s (he’s 90 now). We didn’t feel it was safe for him at his age to go out. I felt like I was putting my life in danger grocery shopping. They were always out of my dad’s favorite Jimmy Dean’s sausage, egg and cheese biscuits.
Who would have thought Tater Tots and Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwiches would be in demand during a pandemic?
Quail in the backyard.
Watching a Harris hawk circling in the sky.
Besides toilet paper, what do you remember having trouble finding during the pandemic?
The people who built our house and lived here for 15 years prior to us buying it, took good care of the backyard. They filled it with landscaping, potted plants and creatures.
It was cool enough to be outside last night to barbecue. While the tri tip was grilling, I took photos of the critters the prior owners left.
Here are some of them:
Not sure if these are owls or birds?Squirrel!Cuties.This gator guards the pool.Baby alligatorI like this frog.Roadrunner.My favorite roadrunner.Javelina.
I had a friend over to hike last spring. She commented “You sure have a lot going on in your backyard.”
She’s right. All the statue critters are not exactly my taste, but they are growing on me. I’m not going to get rid of them, but I doubt I’ll add to the collection. The cactus and succulents are growing on me, too.
Here’s a boot with a cactus growing inside.Coyotes with a steer’s head and metal aloe.
What are your thoughts about statuary in the yard? Are you a fan or not?
Yesterday I decided to mix it up a bit and instead of walking on my usual route around the park, I went downtown. Our house is a few blocks from the main street of Palm Springs called Palm Canyon Drive. Lately, I haven’t liked what I’ve seen downtown. Many shops and restaurants have closed and the homeless seem to be everywhere, sleeping on benches and in alley ways. Every few weeks I check it out to see how it looks.
It seemed to be a brighter and happier place yesterday. More shops were open, very few vacancies and I didn’t see more than two homeless people. I was especially delighted with the roadrunner, who I almost missed! I was walking right by the Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center when I spotted him. I liked how he posed by the star on the sidewalk. Our city placed stars of prominent citizens and celebrities throughout Palm Canyon Drive.
Here are a few other highlights from my stroll downtown:
My husband’s old office building designed by Donald Wexler.
A Christmas tree at Francis Stevens Park among the palms.
Sparkling sky. Is it a smidgeon of a rainbow?
What delightful things have you encountered during your sheltering in place days?
This morning was clear, gorgeous and colorful. I stopped several times to take photos of the glorious day. I was feeling slightly beat up because I overdid it yesterday and I worried myself silly over the missing kitty. I tried to squeeze in as many laps as I could in the 45-minute swim time slot enforced by the city. To do that I put on fins and today my legs are sore! Since returning to swimming two weeks ago, I’ve found it really wears me out. Plus, I walked too much if that is possible. More than 22,000 steps according to fitbit.
So today, I did a rambling slow-paced walk and took note of the beauty around me. I’m sharing it with you, including a friendly roadrunner I filmed a few blocks from home:
A view of Mt. San Jacinto from the Wellness Park
Watching the sun rise through the palm trees
When the walk was over, I felt able to take on another day. Also, I didn’t freak out when kitty took off outside. I realized she’s found a safe place to hide out and will return to my side, once the strangers take off after painting and fixing things around the house.
A wall of bougainvillea brightened my day.
What beautiful sights do you see when you slow down enough to enjoy them?
