NICE SUNRISE 12-28-21

 I watched a very nice sunrise this morning from the window where I have my computer set up.  It looks like it will be a cloudy day, but at least it started pretty.

 Three different shots about 3 minutes apart.

 Patrick

CLOUDS OVER THE MOUNTAINS

 We went for  ride around Lake Havasu City this afternoon and got a couple pictures of the large white puffy clouds casting shadows over the mountains above the city.  It is a nice sunny day.

 This one was taken while we were out on the "island".  You can see the city below the mountains.

This one was taken from the driveway of the house we are staying in.

 Patrick

REDHEAD

 There have been several birds passing through that we don't see on a regular basis.  A week or so back a Redheaded Woodpecker came through and stayed a couple days.  We hadn't seen one of those in some time.  Got a couple pictures shown below.  He really liked the sunflower seeds.

 

 He was hanging on a feeder with sunflower seeds.

Sitting on top of feeder with a seed in his mouth.

Another view.

Patrick
 

TRAVEL TABLE

 On our trips to AZ each year and on the way home, we usually get sandwiches for lunch at one of the gas stops.  The console in the Yukon isn't big enough or flat enough to make a good table to put our sandwiches and drinks on safely.  So, I have designed a small table that will fit on top of the console and provide  plenty of room for our lunches.  With the help of good friend Dan, I got all the pieces needed made and assembled.  So we are all set for this years trips.  Below are pictures of the new table.

This is the table top.  It has a border that is sealed so that any spills won't run off the table.

This is the bottom of the table top.  I put on a felt liner so that it won't scratch the top of the console.

This shows the installed legs in a folded position.  They are mounted on hinges.

This shows the legs in the upright position.  The legs fit into the cup holders built into the console of the vehicle.

This is a view of the table in place from the drivers side of the vehicle.  The cup holders are moveable and can be placed anywhere on the table.  They have a non-skid bottom so they won't move around easily.

This is a view of the table in place from the passenger side of the vehicle.

This picture was suppose to be first in order, but the computer thought it would be better last.  The block is what the pieces of wood looked liked before Dan put them in his lathe and made them into the legs shown above the block.  He made them so they would fit snugly in the cup holders and thereby hold everything in place.  They fit great.

Patrick

 

 

FLOWERS

 Each year we have 4 hanging flower pots, one pot that sits on the ground and a planter pot that sits on the front steps. This years crop have done very well through all the heat and wind.  The only attention they get is daily watering.

This is the one that sits on the front steps.  It was 4 plants, two of each color, that were transplanted into the big pot.  It is not in full bloom now, but continues to bloom and look nice.

 This is the one in the pot that sits in front of the house.  It just had a few buds on it when we brought it home

This is the best of the bunch.  It has been like this since about a week after we hung it up.

This was a very small plant when we hung it and only had a few flowers.  It has grown to overflowing the pot and continues to get more flowers.

This flower has done real well even after going without water a couple times when my irrigation system failed to water it.  It does come back quickly when it gets water.

This plant is out on the corner and subject to all the sunshine and wind that we get each day.  It has taken some beating, but continues to bloom.

 Patrick

NEW 2021 GMC YUKON XL AT LAST

 In January 2020, I started trying to order a new GMC Yukon XL.  Starting at that time, I figured that I would have delivery by mid-summer.  I was wrong. The virus screwed everything up.  I started trying different dealers around the state to find one that could order the vehicle. I tried 7 different dealers.  Finally, one of them contacted me in April 2021 and said that they had just received an okay from GM to order the vehicle I wanted.  It was only because the salesman there remembered me from an earlier contact and contacted me to let me know his dealership had gotten approval for a 2021 GMC Yukon XL like I wanted.  I can't thank Bob Yozamp with Miller Buick GMC in St. Cloud enough for all his help and keeping me in mind.  The new vehicle was delivered to me on the 15th of June 2021.  A year and a half is the longest I have ever had to wait to get a new vehicle.  We have taken a short trip in it already and have a little over 200 miles on it.  I think it is going to be a good one.  Here are some pictures.

Front and drivers side

Drivers side

Rear

Passenger side

Patrick

NEW GUY

 There are several Mallard Drakes that come up and eat under the bird feeders on a regular basis.  They do a good job of cleaning up the stuff that the birds knock off the feeders.  This year, for the first time, there is a new guy in the bunch.  It is a male Wood duck.  We have never had any Wood ducks around here before.  He seems to be all by himself as we haven't seen any others or any Wood duck hens.  He is a nice looking fellow and seems to get along with the Mallards just fine.  Here are some pictures of the Mallards and the Wood duck.

 This is the Wood duck.

Ducks in a row on the way back to the river.  They normally walk or waddle, but will fly if startled

This is the bunch that was here this morning.  There are sometimes as many as 10 or 12 at one time.

Patrick

MISS BULLY

We have two Hummingbird feeders right outside our kitchen window.  We have been having a lot of Hummers visiting lately.  Now we have a female bully that has decided that they are all hers.  She sits on top of one of the feeders and chases away any other birds that come around and I don't think it is for social distancing.  She is going to have a lot of work to keep this up.

  This is the bully sitting on her throne.

This is a close up of the bully.

This is her having a bite to eat.

Patrick
 

APRIL SNOW

 It looked like for awhile that we weren't going to get our usual April snow this year.  We have had days in the 70's and 80's recently and several rainy days.  But, good old Mother Nature came through again with enough snow to make it all white out again.  Hope it doesn't last long and the sunny days of spring and summer get here soon.

 Our backyard April 14, 2021.

A good coating on the Gazebo roof.

All the bird feeders are well coated.

The front yard.

No grilling for a couple days.

 Patrick

MISCELLANEOUS

 Here it is the 1st of March and it has been a good winter.  Soon be time to go back to Minnesota and hopefully the start of spring.  Not much to report, we are still both healthy and no virus.  Looking forward to getting home so that we can get out shots.  We will be headed home around the 25th depending on any spring storms.  Not much else new.  Below are a couple photos taken recently.

 

 This is a Gambel's Quail that was sitting on a wire right outside my window.  They are common in the area and we see them often.

 

This is a shot of the full moon setting over the mountains.  When I first saw it, it was a big round ball sitting on top of the mountain.  By the time I got the cameras, it was like this.

This is a shot of Pat and Ilene at the Pizza place.  We met for pizza recently.

 Patrick

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 Just a quick note to wish everyone a very Happy New Year.  Looking forward to much better times in 2021.  Hope it is a healthy and enjoyable year.  Every one take care, be safe and get your shots when you can.

Patrick