COOLING OFF

High (for him) atop a wall in my back yard, a lizard rests in the shade, taking a bit of relief from the sun.

Here's a closer look.

As I watch him, he glares back.  The question becomes . . who's watching who?

I wonder, if lizards think . . what does he think of this huge human approaching him?

HOUSE PROUD

This lovely old cottage is near Prescott's Victorian homes area and directly across the street from the Public Library and that cat.  I wouldn't mind living here.

YUM YUM BRUNCH

Here is just one reason that I refer to my wife, Judy, as SWMBO or She Who Must Be Obeyed.  When proper attention is paid to that title, she turns out dishes like this.

That, my friends, is what I used to refer to back in my bachelor days as a Puffy Omelet.  But this went far beyond my attempts in a tiny kitchen.  This was a recipe from "allrecipes" magazine and was called a Baked Denver Omelet.

The egg mixture contained ham, cheddar cheese, sauteed onions and peppers.  Paired with a side of hash brown potatoes it was a brunch fit for a king.

I warmed up some of it today that was leftover and spiked it with Sriracha sauce.  My tongue is tingling but my tummy is smiling.

SUNDAY, SWEET SUNDAY

PRESCOTT WILDLIFE

Spotted in Prescott yesterday . . .

Not to fear.  He's been bronzed.

FRIDAY FUNNIES

Once again, same as last week, it's the day you've all been waiting for.  And in honor of TGIF, here are a random selection of signs seen outside pubs.

And my personal favorite . . .

I probably shouldn't make so many jokes about alcohol.  As we all know it can cause problems.

Just to mix things up a bit, an early visit by the kitties.

The overabundance of pet cats may not be the only reason for that.

In tribute to the historic vote in Scotland yesterday (voter turnout over 80 per cent!)  and anyone who hates bagpipes . . .

And finally, one any cat owner can appreciate . . .

That's all, folks.  Have a gorgeous weekend and thanks once again to all of the contributors.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

This photo of me was taken around 1958 or '59 at Jamestown College (now the University of Jamestown) in North Dakota.  So why, you might wonder, am I so full of glee and not at my desk poring over my lessons?

Because this was a time of crazy pranks, like seeing how many adults (!?) could cram themselves into a Volkswagen Beetle and still make it move.

My memory may be foggy all these years later but I believe our figure was 16.  Truly a clown carload.  (Check out those snazzy argyle socks.)

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

RAIN, YOU SAY?

Bring it on!

HERE WE GO AGAIN

Rainy skies and a bit of a rainbow just to the east of us.

A slightly closer look.

Another hurricane over Baja apparently is driving some rain ahead of it up into Arizona.  The next couple of days may be wet and wetter.

SUNDAY NIGHT THANKFULNESS

Things that I am thankful for this evening.

That the Arizona Cardinals beat the New York Giants today and are 2 and 0 on the year so far.

That Billy Horschel won today's golf tournament and also the Fed-Ex Championship as Player of the Year.  Oh, and about 13+ million dollars.  His wife is due to have their first child in about two weeks. He'll need all that money.

That the Arizona State Sun Devils beat Colorado last night and are now 3 and 0 on the year so far.

That my wife, who wrote to a friend today that I have been hogging the living room t.v. watching football and golf all weekend so she's been holed up in her bedroom, hasn't said one cross word about it to me and came out to make us a fabulous dinner tonight.

What more can one man ask for?

FAVORITE MUSIC

It's a special Saturday treat.  (or not)  

This is some of my favorite music.

and . . .

and also . . .

and then, there's . . .

Yes, I know about "The Thrill is Gone" and I love it but I like that one, too.

And if you're still with me, a change of pace . . .

and I haven't even really got to the jazz or some of the country yet.

Now laugh if you will but I grew up on this on television . . .

Let me tell you, I could have been (was) a great disk jockey on one of those free-form radio stations.

FRIDAY FUNNIES

You probably heard on the news about Phoenix highways flooding after a 3 to 5 inch rainfall this week.  It was awful.

Speaking of strange occurrences with critters . . .

Life can be confusing sometimes . . .

Ah life.  The people around us.  Kinda weird, actually.

But I shouldn't be critical.  After all, they're just like us.

In times of trouble, pet owners always have someone to lean on.

Dogs for unconditional love, cats for silent wisdom.

Thanks to my contributors.  You know who you are.  Have a great weekend, folks, and keep chuckling.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Me and my first mentor in broadcast news, the late Bob MacLeod.

Early 1960's, KFYR-TV, film editing room

Bismarck, North Dakota

THE LAKE IN THE PARK

Recent rains in Arizona have caused some flooding in low lying streets and in desert and mountain washes but the result, on a beautiful sunny day in Fain Park in Prescott Valley has been a very full lake.

Over by the dam that forms the lake, water was trickling over the top as opposed to the heavy rush of water from a few days ago.

And below the dam the water flowed down Lynx Creek, on its way toward the Agua Fria River.

In the early 1890's, there was a hydraulic mining operation in this canyon.  Water was pumped uphill through this pipe to wash gold from the sediment in the Bradshaw Mountain foothills down to be separated.

A closer look at the pipe today revealed animal tracks.  Racoon, perhaps.  Something was apparently using the pipe as a bridge through the canyon.

Lynx Creek is called the mother lode of Arizona gold mining and panners are at the creek every day trying for that one big find.  I now live within about two miles of the creek and go into the city across a bridge where cars are parked along both sides of the road every day; their occupants down below on the creek with their pans and their hopes and dreams.

As for me, I just love the sound of the falling water at the dam.

A GIANT OF JAZZ PASSES

Gerald Wilson, a jazz trumpeter, arranger and band leader, died Monday in Los Angeles at 96.  He began with Jimmy Lunceford's band in 1939 and went on to work with Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughn and Stan Kenton.  He also worked in pop, blues and country with Bobby Darin, Nancy Wilson, the Platters, B.B. King and Ray Charles. Here is his band performing a Miles Davis classic, Moment of Truth.