Around the neighborhood

As I was out buying a newspaper this morning, I came across a covey of Gambrel Quail. As I have learned, one of the males always seeks out a high spot to keep track of any danger and if he spots one (cat) to sound the alarm to the rest of the group. This guy was no exception and I snapped a picture through my car window. Sorry about those power lines.

We have new neighbors in the other half of our duplex. We knew they had a German shepherd dog but it appears they also have a little black cat. He's taken to visiting but he's still nervous about me.

Smoke, of course, (shot through a screen door) still wants everyone to know how regal he is.

A little color

Following my disappointing trip north last week looking for color as leaves change on the trees, I found I didn't have to go that far. Here are some photos I shot yesterday in Prescott . . a mere 8 miles away from my home.

It's a weary, bleary Christmas

I never in a million years would have predicted this: a brand new Christmas album.

By Bob Dylan!

SWMBO and I listened to excerpts from it and I said he sounds like a cross between Arlo Guthrie and Dr. John. SWMBO said she was thinking of Leon Redbone.

About the kindest thing one can say is . . . well, that's Dylan . . . always unpredictable!

Book 'em, Dan-o!

Today was the day. Prescott Valley's sparkling new library had its grand opening.

The exterior apparently will maintain it's rusty look but it is complemented by shiny steel.

Inside, here is the children's area. Brightly lighted thanks to the huge windows and warm with the look of wood on one wall and the ceiling.

The center of the building is open to a roof above the second floor and with the combination of wood and steel, it reminded me of the downtown library in Seattle, though on a smaller scale. From the second floor balcony, there are great views down to the main floor.

I imagine those cubes will hold even more books once the library is complete.

There's a beautiful lounge in front of windows looking toward the town office building.

The smaller building to one side will house offices and classrooms for Yavapai College and Northern Arizona University. There's an enclosed walkway from one building to the other on the second floor.

The library building also houses a large new room for town council meetings.

In the front lobby there is a small cafe, which was doing a land office business today with free Italian cookies.

Here's a view of the back of the building.

And one last look up.

I'm still not hooked on the outside look of the place but it grew a little more on me today as I toured the building. But I love the interior and I suspect many of the thousands of people that attended the grand opening today will as well.

The contractor has said he still has a couple of weeks of work left to finish the buildings. But the library is open for business once again.

Passages

While in northern Arizona earlier this week, I took note of a few pieces of evidence of life lived earlier.



For all things there is a season . . .

Oak Creek Canyon

One of the most beautiful drives in the state, maybe the world, is through Oak Creek Canyon just outside of Sedona, Arizona.

Earlier this week I found myself a little early for the changing of the colors. But there was some indication of things to come.

Sad news for aspens

On our trip to northern Arizona, we were looking for the changing of the colors, particularly in the aspen trees. But SWMBO said it looked like the older trees were dying, or at least sick. The leaves seemed gray and many of the trees were leafless.

I mentioned this to a friend when we returned home and he said he had heard something was killing the aspens. Investigating, I found an article that said the death rate of aspens in some forests near Flagstaff has neared 95% and fewer appear to be regrowing. The high death rate has mystified scientists, the article continued, though the list of suspected causes includes drought, disease, insect infestation, wildfire suppression and the grazing habits of elk. Couple that with the bark beetle infestation that is threatening the Ponderosa pines and you have a grim picture of the future.