R.I.P. Smoky

This is our big boy cat Smoke. We had to put him down today. He got sick, seemingly in 24 hours, and when a veterinarian examined him this morning, he found his red blood cells were down to nearly nothing. It was probably feline leukemia.

It's a pretty sad day around here but I wanted to leave a tribute to a great cat.

I used to joke that when he was younger he liked to read.

He adopted us one day but grew to be larger than either of his step-sisters. Even so he was the most placid of the three. Jazz (on the left) used to hiss and growl at him but Smoke never retaliated. Occasionally Muggles (center) used to have words with him. Smoke just gazed at him.

While he was the only one of the cats we allowed to go outdoors, he spent a lot of time in contemplative poses inside.

But when he did go out he seemed to be a natural poser for my camera.

Or a snoozer on my deck chair.

He was nimble, whether tip-toeing around the edge of a fountain for a sip or two of water . . .

. . . or doing his gravity-defying walk across the top of the fence.

He liked to snooze on the tiles, while keeping a lookout for any brave small birds, or lizards, or bugs.

He is gone now and he will be missed. Our Smoky.

Signs of spring

Even though they came in pots from stores, just the appearance of tulips and heather raise hopes of warmer temperatures and perhaps the end of gray, snowy days.

Magpie Tales #1

I walked into the dusty, dark antique store in Ankara, Turkey. Stopping to adjust my eyes to the lack of light, I gradually began to see outlines of objects scattered here and there in the dusky light.

My eyes scanned ancient swords, broken pottery, stuffed owls, long out of date clothing, and then - - - the pot. A pewter pot. It was about 12 inches tall, with an intricately curved handle on one side, engraved with strange cueniform along the top edge and a wreath on it’s front surface.

I carefully reached out and picked it up. It was heavier than it looked. I used my right hand to grasp the handle and my left caressed the other side as I balanced it in my hands.

And then.

A puff of smoke came from the inside of the vessel, rising and building in the air and slowly forming into the turbaned head of . . . a genie. He gazed down on me with a fierce expression. He opened his mouth to speak.

And then I woke up.

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This was a writing exercise prompted by Willow. It is explained at Magpie Tales. Click on it for the rules and to join in, if you like.

Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou?

It kind of looks like Italy and a balcony where the fair Juliet might call out for her love.

But it's not.

It's actually on a building housing lawyers' offices in downtown Prescott overlooking El Gato Azul. My eyes were caught by it this morning and I snapped one photo before my camera's batteries died.

Stolen - - for the community good

Suzy, a Facebook friend of mine, posted this on her page today.

After laughing about it and then telling several friends about it I took the easy way out. I swiped it. There is no honor among bloggers. (Or at least . . this one!)

Stormy sky

A look across Prescott Valley toward the Bradshaws.

Facing the sun

This is a solar array at the edge of the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University campus in Prescott.

I have no idea what it powers but it's fairly impresssive.

Equally impressive is the array of signs lining the road leading into the campus. The school is proud and rightfully so.

Finally!

A piece of land that has been "for sale" on the north side of Prescott Valley for years is finally being developed. I stopped one day when I saw the earth being scraped and levelled to ask what was coming. A workman told me it was to be a large chiropactric clinic and a couple of other spaces still to be leased. Rats! I (and many others) had been hoping for a long time that Basha's or some other grocery chain would put a store in on this side of town. Not yet, I guess. But if any development is coming, it bodes well for the future. Maybe some day we "back siders" will be noticed and catered to.

The New Orleans Saints Win!

WOW!

A recommendation

I've discovered a wonderful new blogger. His name is Jerry and he lives in Houston, Texas. He's new to the "art" of blogging but has displayed great talent. Check him out at Gently Said and feel free to tell him I sent you.

Yes, it IS Arizona!

It was raining yesterday with snow predicted above 6,000 feet. I live at 5,100 feet elevation. This is what I found early this morning outside my door.

It looks a good day to stay inside in front of the television set watching the Super Bowl!

Going to the dogs!

You might wonder what these two alert dogs are waiting for.

They're waiting for their turn to enter Prescott's Dog Park!

Let's hope they obey the warning.

The dog park is located in north Prescott and obviously is a very popular spot, for dogs and their owners.

I overheard that this miniature dachsund was meeting other dogs for the very first time. His eyes tell the story.

The park is large and gives dogs plenty of room to roam. But it also provides some necessary items.

During the time I spent there, there was some occasional barking but all of the animals seemed to get along well with each other. I saw no fights but a lot of curiousity and gentle playing.

The dog park: a good idea.

Side Road intersection construction

In my youth, a side road usually meant an unpaved trail somewhat adjacent to a main thoroughfare.

No longer apparently.

The Mike Fann construction company has been busy for some weeks and will be for many more just creating a Side Road intersection up in north Prescott off of Highway 89-A. Take a look.

Please keep in mind these photos were snapped through car windows while driving by at 60 miles per hour so "they ain't perfect."

Another cat????!!!!!

Well, yes. Y'see, the BRD adopted Jet . . . a black boy kitten awhile back as a companion for her shy girl cat Sheba after her white cat Emma disappeared one day. But Jet turned out to be an A-type that wanted to do nothing but play and chase Sheba. Sheba's life got even worse. So, this week the BRD adopted a third kitten - - Lily. She is a beautiful creature that in turn chases Jet around. He is now somewhat confused. He was the aggressor. Now he's the prey! Still, they seem to be getting along fine and Sheba is allowed to relax. So here are Lily and Jet.

And once more, the adorable Lily. Who couldn't love a face like that?

In a manner of speaking . . .

I got these in an e-mail from a friend and since my mind is fairly blank today decided to pass them along. Thanks Meggie!

1. The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference.He acquired his size from too much pi.

2. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian .

3. She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.

4. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class because it was a weapon of math disruption.

5. The butcher backed into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work.

6. No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.

7. A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.

8. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blown apart.

9. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.

10. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

11. A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.

12. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

13. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other, 'You stay here; I'll go on a head.'

14. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.

15. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.'

16. A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a nurse said, 'No change yet.'

17. A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.

19. The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.

20. The man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.

21. A backward poet writes inverse.

22. In democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.

23. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.

24. Don't join dangerous cults: Practice safe sects!

Man, that's a big dog!

SWMBO is always concerned about dogs riding in the backs of trucks without being leashed. She's concerned they'll jump or fall out. But they never seem to do that. This guy looked a lot bigger when he stood up with his front paws on the side rail. The next day I saw a truck going down the street with three German Shepherd's in the rear. Couldn't reach the camera for a shot, though.

Cautious pals

In a fairly rare occurrence, Jazz and Smoke are sharing my chair.

It's that time of the year again!

X marks the spot

Snow Fun

Someone living near my pal, Reed, turns out to be quite a snow sculptor. I noticed these examples of his/her work when I was visiting this morning.

Super Bowl Matchup

Well, as expected the two dominant teams in the National Football League will meet up in the Super Bowl this year. The Indianapolis Colts will play the New Orleans Saints as both teams advanced through their respective league championship games today. So . . . who will win?

Who knows?

But it will be a great game, I expect.

Clouds and Snow

SWMBO and I saw the movie "It's Complicated" this afternoon. Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin are very funny in the featured roles. But John Krasinski nearly steals the movie with great acting as Harley. We were a bit surprised by the laughter from seniors in the audience to some scenes of marijuana smoking by Streep and Martin. It was a very enjoyable film.

Then we drove in to Prescott for a great meal at the Olive Garden. Enroute to and from the restaurant, SWMBO took some photos through the windshield. Those contrails in a couple of the photos are actually streaks made by my windshield wipers.

Snowy panorama toward Granite Mountain.

And the view toward Woodchute and Mingus Mountain.