SURPRISE!

I have company from Texas, so sleeping arrangements have included leaving the animals where they usually are so it's familiar, and my friends have the bedroom and I have the sofa ( very comfy).

The first morning after sleeping on the sofa, Power 

Where did they go?

awakened me with his usual "Squeak!"  I blindly got up and opened the door, the dogs rushed out and at the foot of my steps were TWO SKUNKS! (SURPRISE)!

The two dogs did not chase them ( BIG SURPRISE) and the skunks peacefully left the fenced yard (BIGGER SURPRISE).  

I was in shock at the fact that we didn't get sprayed!

That was the BEST SURPRISE!!!!

With me in charge, no worries!

MILESTONE

Chica

I was very happily surprised that I had reached the milestone of 10000 page views for the blog!

I remember when Barbara( of Me and My Dog) reached 200000 about a year ago.  I thought I would never get to 2000 much less get to 200000 page views.  

So, today I am celebrating the 10000 page views and thank everyone who played a part in making this happen!

Fleur

Power

Memorial Day

I got to meet veterans today while working.  They were veterans of World War II.  They were beginning to show their ages, but held themselves as errect as was possible for each of them.

Freedom isn't free!

Thanks to the ones who bought our freedoms.

Nest reused

Raven's nest

In 2008 I saw this nest for the first time.  I did not know what animal was using it.  This year it was 3 times taller and was being used by ravens.
We often hear it said that we should reduce, reuse, and recycle.  I believe that these ravens understand the concept well.

Desert citizens

Deserts are wonderful habitats for the citizens of the land.  Today I found a lovely representative of the Reptile group.

Western Diamondback rattlesnake

Western Diamondback rattlesnake

I counted the rattles on his tail and I believe it had 5 rattles.

When I first saw him he was in the roadway, coiled up and watching me intently, rattling and warning.  I went to my RV to get my camera ( this dunce forgot to take it on the exercise trip)  and by the time I was back to his location, and was prepared to photo him, he had moved off the road and was in the rocks near the road.  Still he did pose beautifully for his portrait to be taken!

I was quite surprised that the dogs were very calm and did not pull my arm off trying to get to the snake.  When we see the rabbits, rodents, etc in the area, they are most excited and hard to control.  Not so with this snake!

Evening Exercise

Daily exercise is an essential part of our daily routine.  My hounds know my body language, and they can tell the difference between me getting up for a bathroom break or getting up to take them for exercise.

They jump up from their beds, and leap up and down with joy! I find their enthusiasm so inspiring.  It gives me a jolt of energy.  Trying to hook their leashes to their collars is an exercise in itself.  My 10 year old female, Fleur, knows to sit so I can hook up her leash.  She is trying to teach the boy, Power.  Power however is only interested in go-Go-GO!  He hasn't been willing to put his brain to work on sitting for a leash hookup.  However, I've got him trained to stand still in the doorway to get his leash hooked to his collar.

When we reach the car, I roll down the driver's window, and hold both dog's leashes in my left hand.  Then I begin driving slowly and the dogs trot alongside the car for a while.  We also go for walks and bike runs, but they want more speed than I can give them.  They really love the exercise and are smiling the whole time.

Sunday sleepy snoopy

Snoopy dog rock formation

Blogging business

I have to Confess:  There's a lot I don't know about blogging.  I learned some of what I know from" Me and My Dog...and my RV" author Barbara.  One thing I neglected to ask about was the subject of followers.  I would notice that she would give a welcoming comment to new followers, and I would think that that was a friendly thing to do, but how does one know when a new follower has joined the blog?

Last week or so I just happened to notice that I had a new follower, "The good luck duck".  I realized that the new follower was placed at the top left of the followers listings.  So I thought I would check into that and then today I saw another new follower,"stveplyr".  So I am thinking that the newest followers are routinely placed in the top left of the followers listings.

So, I want to welcome The Good Luck Duck and Stveplyr to  my followers list.
All of the previously following folks are so wonderful, and I thank them as well for being a part of this experience.

I'm a slow learner, but still a learner, just the same.

Another thing I really like about blogging, is reading others' experiences.  Others' lives are fascinating, and their photos are so good at showing their life through them.

So, when you tell about pets, RV's, travel, or other experiences, I am happily living it through you.  Please don't stop!

Fleur eating meaty bones

Power eating meaty bones

These pictures were happily the result of the information I learned from fellow pet guardians.  I think the pictures speak for themselves.  

More blooms

Fleur wanting to be a lap dog

Fleur  thinks she has me trained.

Chica enjoying sunbath

Prickly Pear Cactus 

Century Plant, Agave

Ocotilla

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Staghorn Cholla

More birds

Blue Grosbeak

Today I got home from work about 5 pm and before I settled down to rest, I let the dogs outside to relieve themselves, filled the bird water bowl, filled the bird feeder, fed the dogs, and then sat down in my La-Z-Boy recliner, and within 30 seconds this blue grosbeak landed on my feeder, then jumped down to the water bowl.  I did not have my camera very handy, and used my cell phone camera.  I was very excited to see this gorgeous bird!


I was trying very hard to not drop my phone, not scare the bird away, etc, when I suddenly realized that something was resting on my knee.  I looked over, and guess who was trying to figure out what I was doing!

Power

I think he was saying "What am I, chopped liver?"

More birds

The bird seed I bought has fruit, nuts, and grains.  When I put the feeder out, it wasn't long before I had house finches, but later I had cactus wrens,  black throated sparrows, Scott's orioles, and then...

Black headed Grosbeak

Such a beautiful surprise!

Birding

Spring migration is so exciting, because the next time one looks up a surprise might be in one's sight.

Scott's Oriole

This lovely oriole was drinking from my water bowl this afternoon!  He had also tried to punch a hole in my hummingbird feeder so that he could get some of the sugar water.

My feeder on the window of my living room, had guests today .

Black -throated Sparrow

These beautiful sparrows had a good time eating the feed from the feeder.

I'd been seeing them in the bushes in the park, but nowhere near a feeder.  

I was really surprised by their interest in a feeder.

Desert blooming 2

Desert Bird of Paradise

 When the buds all open, the show is spectacular, isn't it?

Desert Blooming

Desert Bird of Paradise

The shrub above doesn't look like much when in winter dormancy  or spring
leafing out.  But then it buds and blossoms and suddenly it is an amazing 6 inch bloom of gorgeousness!  The first time I saw one I was spellbound.