Here comes Old Man Winter!

Temperatures have dropped.

Winds have increased.

Snow may even be on the way.

Brrrrrrr!

In case you couldn't figure it out, "my" Arizona Cardinals beat the New York Giants tonight.

I'm sorry to say the California Angels were not able to triumph over the New York Yankees but you have to go with what you've got.

CARDINALS! CARDINALS! CARDINALS!

***The photo is confusing. Click on it to see "our" logo.

"Close" friends

Muggles and Smoke cautiously share the foot of the bed. Muggles really doesn't like it because it was her "spot" before Smoke came along but she's given up trying to force him off. So now they spend much of each day sleeping "almost" together.

" Just don't get too close!"

Curious as a . . . .

A new visitor has joined our cat crowd. SWMBO liked this rather abstract photo of him peering in through a screen and a glass window the other day.

This morning I spotted him walking very carefully along the top of the rear fence. He's apparently new to such activity because it was taking him awhile.

Smoke, the old veteran, then showed him how easy it was as he strode purposefully and quickly along.

As I've noted before, this black cat is still nervous about me and scampers over to his yard when I come outside.

But today I caught him for a full portrait as he perched on the railing right outside my window. As long as I stay in the house, he's okay with me . . . though on guard to run if I turn the door handle.

Our other visitor, Goldie, meanwhile seemed totally bored with the whole situation.

Now these are classic cars!

I spotted a couple of very old cars parked on Whiskey Row in Prescott today. I had to stop and snap some photos. You might notice a couple of very hairy passengers.

Upon closer examination, I found a black and a white dog, guarding the car while their masters stopped for lunch.

The car above is identified as a 1911 Ford Torpedo. Not sure about the one below.

Except to note that its license plate identified it as a Horseless Carriage.

I spoke briefly with the owners of the autos. They are both from Phoenix and had been making a tour of the northern part of the state.
. As fun as they are to look at, I can't imagine driving them for long distances at a time.

Kinda yellow

The colors of the leaves continue to change here.

Just after I posted this I happened to read Sadira's blog on her trip up north to see the colors. Obviously she got there at the right time, a couple of weeks after I was there, and she got more color than I did.

Cars, cars, cars

A weekend "sell it yourself" car lot has opened in Prescott Valley. All you have to do is bring your car to the lot and either stay or leave a telephone number where you can be reached. I went to check it out and discovered some dandies, like this Mini Cooper.

There were some old-timers there, too, like this '61 Mercury Comet.

Even more ancient, this Oldsmobile, with wooden spokes on the wheels.

But the prize, in my eyes, wasn't parked yet but the owner told me it would be there next weekend. It was a completely restored 1936 Ford convertible.

Sweet!

Don't bug me!

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.