Saturday Walk

If we were having coffee, I would tell you it felt really good to walk outside today. The cloud cover kept the heat down in the 90s. I could hear the roadrunners with their distinctive rachet-y call, but I did not see them. I did see something on the side of the road. It wasn’t moving and I thought it could be dead. I was not going to get close to find out. I knew we have them here, but this is the first I have seen.

It makes me want to be more alert when I take my walks from now on.

With the temperatures being uncomfortable, I have been mostly indoors this week. I begin my day with the NYT Morning Newsletter online. I read the snippets of news and proceed to do the Mini Crossword, Wordle, and my favorite the Spelling Bee. I usually read the LA Times and Washington Post as well. I keep busy the rest of the day with genealogy research and reading novels. I am into The Ruth Galloway Mystery series by Elly Griffiths and have almost finished a book by John Grisham, ‘The Street Lawyer’. Both authors know how to create interesting plots and characters. I have several more books waiting for me.

Weekend Coffee Share is hosted by Natalie at Natalie the Explorer.

Morning Walk

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If we were having coffee, I would tell you it is good that I managed a morning walk today when the temperature was still below 100 F. The only other people out were some gardeners and the pickle ball players. The slight breeze helped keep it cooler along with a smattering of cirrocumulus clouds. It felt good to move. I had gotten out of the daily walk habit when I was away from home last week.

I was thinking about the roadrunners as usual and had doubts of seeing them, but I spotted one up on top of a wall. And then there were two. I was unable to get a shot of them together. I did manage to get a photo of one climbing a tree again.

There is something that I did not notice when I was taking the photos. It looks like another bird in the crook of the tree. It is not moving. Could it be a dead bird that the roadrunner killed? If you click on the photos, you can enlarge them.

Roadrunner 2 in tree. (Click to enlarge) Is that another bird in the crook of the tree?

After this shot the roadrunner hopped up to higher branches and disappeared.

Weekend Coffee Share is hosted by Natalie the Explorer.

Featured image of Roadrunner via the National Park Service Death Valley.

Gone To the Dogs and Cats

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If we were having coffee, I would tell you the Pete’s French Roast coffee pods are pretty good and convenient. I have been off pet sitting again for my son and daughter-in-law. The weather is a little cooler here. We have enjoyed catching up with a few friends and family. I’ll be back next week.

Caesar will be glad when he gets his room back.

Weekend Coffee Share is hosted by Natalie at Natalie the Explorer.

Transformations

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Well, this is a fine kettle of fish or should I say bucket of tadpoles. I thought if I kissed the frog he would turn into a prince. Instead, what happened is I turned into a frog as well. What do I do now? My Frog Prince friend is no help at all. All he says is ‘ribbit.’ What will become of me? Am I going to spend the rest of my life dining on flies? Ugh! What can be done to reverse the spell? Wait a minute. If I kissed a frog and turned into a frog, if I kiss a human…

I have to admit that I was pretty grossed out when you kissed me. But now when I see what a lovely woman you are I have to say, ‘Will you marry me and be mine forever? Don’t make me wait. What is your answer?’

Ribbit!

Flash Fiction for the Purposeful Practitioner is hosted by Roger Shipp.

Early Morning Walk

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If we were having coffee, I would tell you I was out early this morning to get a walk in before it got too hot. The temperature was still in the 80s F, but there was a nice breeze. It was quiet with only a few people out walking, along with a small white-tailed rabbit, a couple of grackles, and 1 roadrunner.

I heard the roadrunner before I saw it, a winding sound like an old wind-up toy.

One of the sounds a roadrunner makes

I looked around but could not spot it. I decided to back track a bit and saw the roadrunner on the other side of the street. He started to cross but saw me and decided to go the way. No good photos today.

Weekend Coffee Share is hosted by Natalie at Natalie the Explorer.

Roadrunners Climb Trees

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If we were having coffee, I would tell you that the temperature is in the 90s F today. I am able to walk outside in this weather. I hadn’t seen any roadrunners lately and thought that they were avoiding the heat, until today. I spotted a large roadrunner and he spotted me. I got pretty close, and he made a whirring sound. I wasn’t sure if he was saying ‘don’t come any closer.’ He hoped up onto a tree and made his way up through the branches until I couldn’t see him anymore.

Click on the photos twice to enlarge and get a better view.

He’s in there somewhere keeping an eye on me.

Weekend Coffee Share is hosted by Natalie at Natalie the Explorer.

Heating Up

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If we were having coffee, I would tell you the temperatures are going to be in the triple digits until Friday. Hot weather for June even here in the Coachella Valley. We are maintaining our cool with the AC and my husband has the fans going all over the house. It puts a crimp in my walking goals. I have been walking at least 30 minutes a day. Have to see if I can get up real early to walk before the heat sets in.

We’ve had a couple more visits from the roadrunners. I spotted one hopping up the branches of the grapefruit tree. I don’t think they like grapefruit but are probably using the branches like a ladder up to the back wall.

I’ve been doing the Spelling Bee in the daily newsletter from the New York Times. You have to see how many words you can make out of 7 letters. The words have to be at least 4 letters in length. I knew the word zigzag, but did you know you that ‘zigged’ and ‘zagged’ are words all by themselves?

The roadrunner zigged and zagged to avoid detection by a couple of big ravens.

Maybe if I hunker down they won’t see me

Weekend Coffee Share is hosted by Natalie at Natalie the Explorer.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday is hosted by Linda G Hill. The prompt for today is ‘ a picture from wherever.’

Roadrunner Romance

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If we were having coffee, I would tell you I had almost given up on seeing roadrunners in our yard. But during breakfast this morning I spotted a roadrunner on the patio. I hurriedly grabbed my cell phone and went to the patio door. That’s when I discovered it was a pair of roadrunners. One of them was making some dance moves on the other. The recipient of the advances did not seem too interested. They moved from the top of the wall into my neighbor’s yard. I did manage to get a few quick photos before they left.

Always great to see the roadrunners.

Weekend Coffee Share is hosted by Natalie at Natalie the Explorer.

Roadrunner Hang Out

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If we were having coffee, I would tell you I haven’t seen roadrunners around our yard lately. I did see a couple down by the front gate of the complex one evening. It looked like a mother and a youngster. The mother flew up to the top of the fence and called the smaller one with a rapid clicking sound. I hoped to see more roadrunners, but I haven’t been outside walking as much. It has been a bit too hot for walks. So, I was happy to find a place that the roadrunners regularly visit. It is our local restaurant. Seems like they like the bacon that one of waitresses gives them. She told me she can feed one of them, that she has named Charley, right out of her hand. I wasn’t able to get a photo of Charley. He shied away when I tried. But another one came up close enough that I was able to get its picture. If you click on the photo below a couple of times you can enlarge it and see the roadrunner even better.