A desert native tries to move in

26 Mar, 2018; Casa Grande, AZ SKP Rover's Roost RV Co-op

There are a lot of birds here at Rover's Roost 

Owls, hordes of song birds, and even more Doves. RV'ers aren't the only things roosting around here.  The doves walk around on my roof, perch on my bike, and strut about on the hood of my car.  I noticed one cuddled down by my windshield wipers - hmmmmm . . . . that looks a bit suspicious.

Dove nesting by the driver side windshield wiper

Sure enough, when I went out to look, the Dove had placed all sorts of short and long needles in the cavity between the hood and the windshield!  I scooped out all the nesting material and drove off on my chores.

But, this little dove was persistent!  Within 2 hours of coming back home, she was busily building a nest in the same spot!!!  Ok, time to get serious.  I took some peppermint oil (works as a deterrent for rodents - maybe it will work on doves too) and saturated some paper which I then loosely wrapped in tin foil.  I jammed the foil into the gap around the windshield wiper.  I figured that the tin foil and the smell would repel the dove.

And still, she persisted!

Well, it worked temporarily - but this dove was not to be foiled (ha ha - see what I did there).  

The next morning I found her nesting on the passenger side.  

Here's the happy couple checking out the new nest site

Arrrgghh . . . .  more peppermint oil, more tin foil!!!

By now, I've named her 'Elizabeth Warren'.  I fully expect that either she or her companion will set up a filibuster on the hood of my car.


 

Here they are plotting their next move

Despite the dove wars, the day ends peacefully

March for our Lives

24 Mar 2018; Phoenix AZ

Invigorating, hopeful day!

News sources placed the attendance at around 20,000!  Friends and I arrived early and got an almost front row place in front of the stage.  The energy in the crowd was amazing.  A major goal of the event was to register folks to vote - especially those young people who will turn 18 before the mid-term elections.  I will be interested to hear how many registrations they got.  

We listened to a lot of short speeches before the actual march.  The speakers established the initiating issue of school shootings within the greater social context of gun violence in the US - gang, domestic violence, police bias in violence, the links to poverty and racism, etc.  The statistics as always, are truly shocking.  One speaker, disabled by gun violence, brought home the fact that, as shocking as the statistics on deaths by guns is, it does not include the much larger numbers of people who are disabled by gun violence and the even larger number of people deeply affected by gun violence (families, friends, etc).

I liked the signs and there were an awful lot of very good ones.  Here are just a few of my favorites.  The link between gun violence and firearms as big business was not lost on these young people.

My favorite sign was one I saw on FB from another march.

The march was very well organized - there were pallets of cases of water at almost every corner.  I was asked by multiple people if I was registered to vote; directions to the event, event parking, porta-potties, etc - a far cry from some of the protest rallies I attended in the 70's!!

And, the day ended on a lovely note as usual.

Desert Botanical Gardens, Phoenix

22 Mar, 2018; Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix AZ

If you hate pictures, click away now!

The botanical gardens are immense and hit all my buttons!  Beautiful plants, art work, and (surprise!) a butterfly enclosure.

As you approach the Garden, there are 3 huge Chihuly glass sculptures.  They catch the sun and glitter.

The art continues throughout the gardens with a number of pieces by Jun Kaneko.  These are fired ceramic (and also huge!)

'Velocity' just inside the entrance

Along the wildflower loop

And many, many more!

A circle of these fanciful guys - a sign cautions visitors not to climb on them - but hugs are welcome.

Then, on to the butterflies!

These are only a few of the over 15,000 butterflies in the enclosure - many different species.

And the cacti - Oh my!!

All the common cacti - but in so many varieties! And then the uncommon ones, and the downright wierd ones!  The gardens are very well laid out - the cacti and trees form a landscape of amazing texture and depth.

Never found a name for this one - reminds me of SideShow Bob, on the Simpsons.

Lots of varieties of these low-growing mounded cacti

These are flowering - remind me a bit of meercats

Old Man Cactus

Not a cactus

Great example of crested saguaro

Love the variegated color!

The contrast of dark green and snowflake white of the spines really caught my attention

One of the weird ones - except for the flower on the top, you'd think it was a rock!

Toothpick cacti - they look like snakes to me!

And, of course, the big guys!!

The Heritage Garden features the original plantings - some over 100 years old.  

What beautiful shapes!

Casa Grande Museum and Heritage Center

20 Mar, 2018; Casa Grande, AZ

I like getting a sense of the geography and local history when I visit a place

Casa Grande has a very nice museum.  It is very well organized and highlights geography, native peoples, pioneer history as well as recent history.  Special exhibits highlight women's contributions, and a black schoolhouse that addresses segregation of the times.  

Museum entrance

Early natives had thousands of acres under cultivation, supported by hundreds of miles of canals, some 30' wide and over 6' deep.  They were a sophisticated culture and their communities supported tens of thousands of residents.

Pioneer history included many artifacts including lots of rusty stuff (I love rusty stuff).

Cotton gin

Old gas pump

Sign for something really important - beer!

Originally a Presbyterian Church, the Heritage Center hosts various events

Fortunately for the renovators, the church had a replacement supply of stained glass panels, so that this lovely window could be fully restored.  Also, when they pulled up the tile floors, they found beautiful hardwoods underneath!!

The light fixtures are not original - but fit in nicely.  

Constructed in 1927, from local stone, it was active as a church until 1970.  Renovation was completed in 1984.

Detail from the ceiling trim

Lots of activities at SKP Rover's Roost RV Coop!

19 Mar, 2018; Casa Grande, AZ

Being a co-op means a lot of community!

I've only been here about 10 days, but in addition to the meet-and-greet every afternoon, there's been a free breakfast (honoring volunteers and St Patrick's Day), birthday/anniversary cake and ice cream event, a dance, and a monthly pizza parlor gathering.  

Bob, from Ontario (but the Irish Isles at one point in his families history)

To celebrate the day, we all put green highlights in our hair (it rinses out).  I kind of like the effect!!

Mary, Julie, Me, and Forrest

Whether its the resident road-runners, the owl, or these doves - there are lots of visitors here.

One of my frequent visitors