Fire!

"There's a fine golden haze on the meadow..."

But wait! This isn't Oklahoma and that haze off toward Mingus Mountain isn't golden. It's wood smoke.

There's a 400 acre fire burning up on top of the mountain, in the Prescott National Forest. Forest Service officials have been letting the fire burn as it is in a region marked for treatment, i.e. controlled burning.

Meantime, as a former colleague of mine used to write in any story about forest fires . . . "smoke will settle in low-lying areas as temperatures cool after sundown."

Clouds

( As always, they're better if you click on the photos to blow them up.)

Goldie

Family & Friends

We've just had a busy (and fluid) weekend as two of our grandchildren showed up on Saturday. They are Christina and Lesly.

The BRD apparently was casting a spell here.

Sunday brunch at Casa Bonita and Lesly had her hair down.

While Christy got surprised by the camera.

Outside, J'Norm . . . the BRD's beau . . . was on his way to a classic car show with her and showing off a little car glamour of his own: his Shelby Cobra.

Regular readers of this blog may recall that J'Norm (he can't decide whether his name is Jack or Norm so the BRD created this combo) also has a GTO while the BRD has an '83 Porsche and an '83 Mercedes.

At any rate a fine weekend was enjoyed by all.

At long last . . .

. . . a new look to my blog.

I don't know whether it will bring any new thoughts. Doubtful.

I just decided I didn't like my photo. Too gray.

And, while it was a beautiful photo of Smoke, I've decided to give him a rest.

My photo, incidentally, was taken near the water in Ensenada, Mexico a few years ago. The banner photo came from our very own sky one night this summer.

For some odd reason, Blogger a few weeks ago began refusing my commands to make the text bigger. I don't know why. I don't know how to get back to the way it was. If anyone can help me with that, just let me know.

I guess that's all for now.

BALLS!!!

Goldie is a boy!

I just spotted him out lying on the patio and went out and coaxed him over for a good petting session, during which I sneaked a peek in the crucial area.

He also really enjoyed the petting session today and stretched and rolled on the patio.

No more confusion.

He's a he!!!

Goldie

This cat . . . Golden Boy or Golden Girl, I still don't know which . . . has taken to one of our chairs virtually every morning for his/her cat nap. This morning when I arose I looked out and there he/she was. So I carefully went out and walked down the ramp, right past the cat's chair and sat down in an adjoining one, just a couple of feet away. Goldie . . . as I have taken to calling him/her . . . watched me but showed no fear and didn't move from his/her spot. After a bit I reached out one hand slowly and let him/her take a sniff, then touched him/her briefly on the forehead. Goldie then lay his/her head down and closed his/her eyes. After a little more sitting quietly, I got up. Goldie watched me as I approached, again put my hand down for a sniff, then lightly scratched the top of his/her head and finally petted him/her on the back several times and touched his/her cheeks (where their sense organs are located). Goldie again showed no fear or alarm, closing his/her eyes and stretching his/her neck. I guess now we are pals.

The next step is a careful examination to determine the gender. This he/she, him/her, his/hers bit is becoming tiresome!