Countdown to the last of 2010

Hope everyone had a great Christmas (with no flight issues, traffic maheim and a safe and happy season).

An extremely quiet Christmas in our part of the world as Marc came down with a terrible episode of strep throat &amp, several days of 101-102 fever; but has recovered, after about 14 days.   Tried an afternoon, lunch with relatives -Steve & Sandy - we got take out as Marc layed in the back of the van and then on the couch.

Christmas "tree" decorations

The fluffy, Teddybear cuddly-looking Cholla.  There are 15 species of this Cholla, ranging from orange to yellow-green in color.  They can hybridize but the Teddybear is the most discernable. 

Here's a little story;  

We went to Usery Park (just 10 mins from here, NE) to visit friends we met along our travels and who are newcombers to full-timing it in their fifthwheel.   Well, they came in the night before in extreme darkness & had a bit of an episode with a jumping Cholla (kinda backed into it).   Chollas can grow up to 12 ft tall and produce branches of chain-like fruit or thorned arms, which detach easily if touched and these are the jumping parts that detach & grow into new little bushes.  The ground is usually covered with thorns around an adult bush & desert animals will also transport these clumps where the clump will eventually detach & grow.

Their RV site is littered with thorns, decaying branches, plus the bunch that fell off when backed into I am sure spread their good cheers.  They had a few mishaps (shin, butt - yes, be careful where you bend over, feet) with these nasty thorns before settling down for the night.   They have 3 wheaten terriers who have found out about sharp objects in the pads.

So we are chatting outside - Tazz is right beside me, on leash & steps on one single thorn (they have about 5 prongs with barbs).   She was quicker than I to try & get to it.....gets a barb stuck under her top lip.   With three of us holding her, she in panick mode, Marc managed to get hold of the thorn & yank it out.   These barbs have been known to go right through the sole of the running shoe & into the foot.   People have fallen into them & we heard of a mt biker who fell off the edge of the path (it goes around & up through the mt pass) & down a steep embankment, landing of course, on cactus en route.  Yeeeeiiikes!

Below - a video link from Usery Park:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-6tv5HuWh0                                                         

Mourning Dove (aka Western Turtle Dove, American Mourning Dove, Rain Dove) is one of the most abundant birds of N. America and also one of the most hunted game birds (70,000 alone in the U.S. killed each year).   The bird can produce up to six broods per year, therefore it is able to sustain the population.  They have a distinctive woo-oo-oo-oo call and when they take flight & land their wings make a whistling sound. 

View out the front window at 5:40 pm