THE RAIN THAT NEVER QUITE GOT HERE

Yesterday . . . it looked like rain . . .

But, as so often happens in Arizona, the rain never quite touched the ground.  Today it's sunny and windy.

HI-YO SILVER (CLOUDS)

Purple mountains, aqua-blue sky, billowing clouds . . . it's the Wild West, pardner.

THE TALE OF THE CAT

Last night about 10:30 or later I heard some loud thumping noises coming from just outside the house.  (It was probably a neighbor dumping some garbage into his bin.)  But being the brave warrior of my hearth, I opened a sliding door and was peering out into the inky darkness.  I saw nothing.  Except a (not so) small dark shape zip past me and out into the yard.  It was this inky evildoer.

Blackwell is an inside cat.  He KNOWS that.  But he can't resist an open door and will go through it if it stays open too long or if the door opening person isn't on alert.

So last night, when our neighbors were either sound asleep or preparing to sleep, there was Blackwell outside and me too, calling his name.  Fortunately he was apparently frightened as he kept crying whenever I would call.  I went inside to secure a flashlight, then opened the garage door.  I was afraid the noise of that door opening would scare the cat into running but he was still out there, somewhere.  Tracking the sound of his voice I quickly spotted him and called him home.  He obediently (strange for him) went into the garage, up to the door into the house and as I opened it he proceeded inside.

It had all occurred in about five minutes and I was frankly quite amazed by his quick return.  

So, after being scolded by SWMBO for "letting him out" we all settled down and resumed our normal breathing once again.

Meanwhile, Blackwell's older sister Muggles apparently slept through the entire adventure in her favorite spot.

FUN-DAY SUNDAY BRUNCH

SWMBO invited the BRD to have a Sunday brunch with us.  We went to a favorite place, the Iron Springs Cafe.  A spicy Bloody Mary was just waiting for me.

SWMBO snapped a picture of the BRD and I.  Those Bloody Marys may account for the somewhat silly looks on our faces.

Good drinks, good food, good conversation, good times had by all.

NATURAL BEAUTY

It's a beautiful day where I live and I took a little drive around with my camera.  Here's what I found.

FRIDAY FUNNIES

I don't know why but some of these don't seem as funny as I thought they were.

To begin with, to those of you who are keeping track of the NCAA basketball tournament, I lost out on Warren Buffet's one billion dollar award when Dayton beat Ohio State in the first game played.

But that's all right because I hear SWMBO has a special treat for me.

Actually she's not my ex-wife but that one may have a place for me too.  It may go back to a conversation we had one day . . .

My New Year's resolution about exercise may help me out here.

Finally, to one of my friends (Quilted Dogs) who thinks because I posted pictures of dogs on two consecutive days this week that I may be becoming a "dog person", I must say I'm quite happy with cats.

Here's hoping you all have a furry, fun-filled weekend, folks!

THE MORNING AFTER

My friend, Phil, sent me this picture today and called it "another night on Whiskey Row."  (see Tuesday)

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

A COWBOY TOWN

Prescott Valley, Arizona, where I live, has only been an incorporated town since 1978.  36 is a pretty young age for a town in the Southwest.  For example, there is the much more well known town of Prescott, just up the road.

It will be celebrating its sesquicentennial this year, or 150th birthday. Actually that's stretching it a bit since it wasn't incorporated as a town until 1883, which is a mere 131 years ago.  But who's quibbling.

Back in the day, Prescott was a rough and ready town and it's most famous street was Montezuma, named for a Mexican Indian chief who never came within thousands of miles of it.  It was filled then with dozens of drinking establishments, which gave the street its nickname.

The Earps and Doc Holliday and many others drank and gambled here then.  The gambling has moved to a couple of Native American casinos on the east edge of town now but there are still plenty of places on "the Row" to wet one's whistle.

But if you're not of a mind to sip a potable, there are plenty of other places along the street to relieve you of your money, all with the Old West theme.

I'm not sure about the name on this next store.

A couple of businesses have a stern guardian outside their front doors.

And if all of this sightseeing has given you a sweet tooth attack . . .

You can find the occasional buskers, probably more often on weekends.

Finally just to bring you back to the present day there was this poster for an upcoming event.

EVERYBODY'S IRISH TODAY

Dinner at my house yesterday (one day early).

Corned beef

Cabbage

Irish Stout

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

JAZZ FOR COWS

You've probably all heard about dairy farmers playing music in the barn during milking sessions with their cows.  Supposedly it relaxes the animals and makes the milking process easier.  But look at what happens when a group of jazz musicians begin playing near a pasture in Autrans, France.

NATIVE AMERICAN ARTISTRY ON SALE

The annual Navajo Rug and Indian Art Auction was held yesterday at the Smoki Museum in Prescott.  I stopped by briefly and took some pictures.

This is one of the rugs up for auction bidders.

Many others awaited their turn to go under the gavel.

Other items at the auction were Hopi Katsina (kachina) dolls, baskets, pottery and even a Native American cradle board for carrying an infant on her mother's back.

This beautiful "story pot" sold for $475 after some spirited bidding.

The auctioneer said many of the prices were far below true value so the successful bidders went away with smiles on their faces.

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW

This flowering plum tree brings a dash of color to the view from my den window.