14th Nov - 4 Coyotes on the Hill

A band of Coyotes played on the hill.

their song of high notes gave us a thrill.

playing and yipping and jumping about.

we watched and enjoyed when they gave a shout.

we were quiet and waited and then took our shot

with our camera we aimed and the picture we got.

I got a film too of that little band;

can hardly wait, it will be grand.

14th nov- I followed the trail of a Quail

This morning I followed the trail of a Quail,

the sun was just warm, the air was not stale.

The trail went up and across the hill,

As far as I know it is going on still.

A beehive it passed with bees buzzing round,

The hive in the pile of big rocks on the ground.

Through the grass winding, sometimes it was small,

On rocky ground often, was not there at all,

sometimes it was wide with a gift of some scat

left by some rabbits, a deer or bobcat.

The trails wound their way round the hill up

and down.

There were quail on the move making many a sound.

An black ant was climbing up out of his nest,

they are bigger here... so are bigger pests.

At the low marshy spot there were tracks in the mud

A raccoon had passed by, maybe ...with his bud.

A bird chirped hello from a cactus branch low,

then onward I went with farther to go.

Aunt Mary says next time to follow the trail

of the rare Arizona curly cactus snail.

The trail would be shorter by far she is sure,

So the sights would be fewer on that little tour.

Now I’m home and recalling with thoughts not too frail,

how this morning I followed the trail of a quail

Nov 14th 2010

Saturday 13 Nov - Home James.

Woke early as venus was being so noisy.

It was huge in the morning sky. At first I thought it was a plane coming in but it did not move and so I went online to check out the sky map and sure enough it was Venus.

Typed on the diaries for a while then Jo came down and told me about the big star in the sky. we figured out that we were both up and looking out our respective windows at the same time thinking the same thing as she also thought that it was a plane. Too funny.

we hung out around the house this morning the regular routine, breakfast, walk, lunch, puzzle and then went to Church at 230 in Apache Junction. I guess my name is now James as when Uncle Ron got in the car he said "Home James" Jo said maybe Jimmy would be nicer as it was more informal. Picked up some more things at Bashaws for the party on Sunday on the way back.

a quick dinner of bean burritos and then some more typing for me. I got up to 11 nov 1918. The hostilities ceased in the first World War at 11 am on the 11 Nov 1918. Hence Remembrance day.

went up to watch the Harry Potter movies of the night, the Prizoner of Azkaban and the goblet of Fire. good day.

Friday 12 nov

What did we do today?

Jo and I went for a walk up the hill which is behind the hill behind the house.

It was a great hike.

Lots of climbing that seemed to be straight up and loose rocks with only rabbit trails to follow.

Some scat on the way up.

Did not know what kind for some of it. Rabbit and deer for sure and maybe bobcat.

Plenty of other stuff to to see once you get up there though.

The whole valley in all directions.

Took some video.

We saw a herd of deer on the way down.

Very exciting!

One big buck, sorry

no pictures, had a large rack of antlers.

There were several does.

We went back to the house.

we were passed by a hawk at eye level at one point. very cool

We told Aunt Mary and Uncle Ron about our adventures.

They were excited too.

We saw a pair of hawks circling right over the house.

Went to Bashaws and picked up many groceries for the party on Sunday.

Quiet day for the most part really.

Thursday 11 November - Jo is in town.

I slept in till 7 and when I went downstairs I found a ladder out that Jo had thought to change the chirping alarm with.

It woke her up and she thought it was a bird in the house.

We had a lovely chat and then breakfast off scrambed eggs and with Mary and Ron.

A nice walk where my new target is butterflies which seem to fly far too fast and they never land for more that a second.

when we got back Jo then played the rented Guitar for us out on the patio.

Wednesday 10 November - Rotary, driving and Jo

Woke up early and worked on the WW1 Diaries.

There was a chirping noise in the hall and when I went to investigate it turned out to be a low battery signal in the , what I thought was a smoke

detector. I thought I could change it but it seems that the detector that I tried to change was part of the fire alarm system and it went off when I took it down. T

he Alarm was very loud and woke up Aunt Mary and Uncle Ron. He came out the the bedroom and answered the phone . It was the fire department calling to check on the situation. Boy they are fast.We decided that we would let it chirp and not change the batteries.. We had a much quieter breakfast and then we went for a walk. It is much cooler now and we had to wear jackets as the breeze was very cool.

Then off to Rotary where I learned that later this month the guest speaker is going to be Sherrif Jo! I am very excited. We all love him at the coffee shop and I might get to meet him in Person!After that we went into Apache Junction and Mesa to find a guitar to rent for Jo. That all went well and I got lots of drive time on the freeway and busier streets in Mesa.

When we got home Jo called us just before dinner and said that she was coming up and would be here in about two hours. She got a ride with a course mate who lives in Mesa and as promised showed up about 830 that evening. Lots of hugs all around and chatting till about 930 when we all headed off to bed.

Tuesday November 9- I slept in

I heard an owl last night around 1230. I had been woken up by my hacking and coughing cold. After I got some thera flu in me ( they don't sell neo citran down here) I heard the owl. who.. who.. who... clear as a bell and there was an answering call from further down the golf course. Tonight I am going to play the owl call from my computer that I think it is and see if he will answer. I fell asleep again but I woke up about every hour what a drag!

But I did sleep in till about 930 which for me is amazing.

had a bran muffin for breakfast and then Uncle Ron , Aunt Mary and I went for a walk. I showed them where the bobcat came out of the brush and I measured the barrel cactus that it walked by.

It was up to my knees.

Saw a lizard in a drain pipe and thought maybe he was trapped in there so put a stick in so he could climb out. I will look him up in the reptile book and see if I can figure out what kind he is.

Lots of butterflies around, monarchs and golden yellow ones that I can't seem to get a picture of.

We are going to have a quiet day today. Uncle Ron is busy making lunch. He likes to take care of us. Actuaslly since My cold bloomed yesterday he is being very careful about me not touching anything of thiers so as to not spread my cold . I would feel awful if they got this cold from me.