FLORA & FAUNA

Time to update life around the yards outside our home.

SWMBO had been referring to this as a holly bush, mainly because of the leaves.

But, having never seen a holly bush with blue berries before I did some searching on The Google.  I found one just like it and it is a Mahonia Aquifolium, otherwise known as an Oregon Grape.

The grapes are edible, though very tart.  I think we'll leave them as ornamentals.

By the way, the word "aquifolium" in the name means "holly-leaved", so I guess SWMBO wasn't that far off.

Now about our finches.  You may remember a couple built a nest atop a column under our front porch.  We've been keeping an eye on them and I'm happy to report there are four new babies.

Our view of the nest from our front window.

Somewhat closer.  Those are all chicks in that nest.

You can't really make them out but they are there.

And hungry.  Always hungry.

The eggs were hatched one day apart and we believe they hatched at about the same rate.  The baby with his mouth wide open, waiting for mother to return, is the oldest, we believe.

And no, we haven't named them.

Here's a short video of mom feeding her brood.  Just as she flies off, you can see several heads pop up, looking for more.  Unfortunately I wasn't expecting that so I turned the camera off just as they popped up.

Meanwhile in the back yard, our bird bath is loved by the finches. And a couple of Mountain Jays have also discovered it.

We also have bunnies.  Desert Cottontails is what they're called. One or two at a time come in to graze the weeds in the back yard.  Judy has put some carrot chunks out a couple of times and they love the treats.

Then she said "I think I need to put out a water dish for them."

I said "Oh, c'mon, they won't use it.  The Google says they get their water from the plants they eat."

So, who won that argument?

I don't call her SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed) for nuthin', folks.

FRIDAY FUNNIES

Oh, yes, the lovely kitties.

Just forget that today is Friday the 13th and have a wonderful weekend.  And keep a smile on your face.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

The early 1960's.  Pressed into action on a day off to shoot film of a building fire.

(Yes, it was "film" in those days and it had to be processed before we could see what we had.  And, yes, I really was that slim once upon a time.)

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

IN AND AROUND

On our recent visit to "the Valley" we visited one of my favorite places - the Phoenix Art Museum.  I told you about the Hollywood Costumes exhibit last Saturday.

Here are some other photos I took in and around the museum.

LUNCH AT THE GARAGE

We had our appetites' whetted by seeing a segment on the Valley's PBS station's program, "Check Please", about a bar/restaurant called "The Garage".  It actually is a former garage and the sign out front is from the car-fixing days.  Inside, it is decorated somewhat eclectically.

A bicycle hangs from the ceiling at one point.

Where we sat, a huge propellor is mounted on the red brick wall.

But what we came for was the food and we weren't disappointed. We started with an appetizer of a tiger shrimp cocktail.  Two for each of us but they disappeared so fast I failed to get a photo.

Then Judy had the chili dog with waffle fries.

I selected the patty melt with onion rings.

Oh, yes, a couple of pints of amber ale sweetened the experience.

"The Garage" - nice place, great service from a constantly smiling Tony, good food, good drink.  We couldn't finish our sandwiches so we boxed up the leftovers and popped them in a cooler for our trip home and enjoyed them for a light dinner.

Should you find yourself in Phoenix and looking for a place for either lunch or dinner, you might want to try it.  It's just west of 16th Street and Bethany Home Road.  Salut!

NEED A BIT OF A PROD?

If so, you might try a Red Hot Poker!  I have a photo.

The gals down at the Prescott Valley Nursery assure me that's the correct name for this plant.  Although it also is known as a torch lily or a tritoma.  Technically it is a Kniphofia.  It was named after Johann Hieronymus Kniphof, an 18th Century German physician and botanist. Don't think he ever made it to Arizona but his plant did.

The blossom only lasts for a few days but the lower part is an evergreen and stays year-round.

And that's your botany lesson for today.

HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD!

While down in "the Valley" this week, SWMBO (Judy) and I stopped at the Phoenix Art Museum to see a special exhibit.

"Hollywood Costume" features more than 100 costumes from a century of film making.

The exhibition was originally curated by the Victoria and Albert Museum of London.  The Phoenix Art Museum showing, which runs to July 6th, is the second showing in the United States and the final showing.  Once it closes the costumes will go back to private owners and studio archives.  So it's a great chance to see costumes from some famous movies.

One can envision Elizabeth Taylor in this costume from Cleopatra.

Or Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady".

Right next to this much flashier costume worn by Streep as Donna in "Mamma Mia".

Glenn Close wore these costumes as Cruella De Vil in "101 Dalmatians".  You will notice the video screens where the characters' heads would be.  They play videos of the actual actors.

Warren Beatty's costume worn for the lead role in "Dick Tracy".

Some other gun-toters from "True Grit".

And Marilyn Monroe's iconic dress that blew up over a New York subway grate in "The Seven Year Itch".

There is much more and, if possible, you'd be well-advised to pay it a visit before it goes away.

FRIDAY FUNNIES

My friend, Steve, enjoying one of my jokes.

And finally, the cat.

Have a spectacular weekend, folks!

THROWBACK THURSDAY

A 44-year-old Selfie.  Yikes!

No, not me.  I was only about 30.  But the photo is 44 years old.

"HOUSE" MUSIC

Those of you who may have watched the television series "House" are then familiar with its star, British actor Hugh Laurie.  But Laurie is a Renaissance man, who also includes music in his catalog of versatility.  He has now recorded two C.D.'s of mainly blues music in the New Orleans style.  And he's been touring for a year or more with a group known as the Copper Bottom Band.  Last night they were in Mesa, Arizona, at the Mesa Arts Center and SWMBO and I were lucky enough to be in attendance at their concert.

First the stage is set.

Then the band appears and begins a bit of drum and bass work and then Laurie appears at the back of the stage and, when he is recognized by a roaring crowd, stops dead still and stares out with a blank expression and then comes forward and the show is on.

It continues for better than 2 and a half hours and three encore performances and a "God Bless You, Mesa" from Laurie before the exhausted performers call it a night.  The crowd is still left roaring for more.

Laurie is not only a wonderfully entertaining musician and singer but a marvelous actor as he mugs and stunts through the night.  And he has taught his crew well.

Photography was forbidden, though not obeyed by this amazingly appreciative audience but my (illegal) attempt to get any of the show failed to achieve my exacting standards.  But I wanted to give you a hint of what we saw last night so here, from an earlier show elsewhere, is one of the stellar (though, not necessarily bluesy) performances.  Laurie, with one of his amazingly talented backup singers, Gaby Moreno, doing El Choclo, or The Kiss of Fire.

A fantastic show, though for us older folks, a bit long.  

Still, if he comes to a town near you . . . GO SEE HIM!

WASHING DISHES . . FROM THE INSIDE!

O.K.  Here's something you always wanted to know.  Someone was curious about what really happens inside a dishwasher.  So this curious person put a GoPro camera inside and ran the machine. 

Behold!

And now you know why this is called Oddball Observations!

CACTUS FLOWER

Back in 1969 there was this quirky little movie with a cute, big-eyed blonde at the center of it.

Her name was Goldie Hawn.  This was her first movie and she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for it.

Earlier the "dumb blonde" had made her fame on the t.v. show Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, frequently in a bikini and a lot of body paint.

Now you're wondering why I brought Kate Hudson's mother to your attention today.  

For precisely this reason.

I thought of her when I was photographing these "cactus flowers" the other day.

(Pretty sneaky way to get a picture of a blonde in a bikini into my blog, eh?)