Jackie's Journal (written by Winston, edited by Jackie, read by many. . . )
Pictures of the new house to come - click here for a few WIP pics....and pics from the Chiricahua Historical Society Picnic..........scroll down for latest additions.
March 9 2010 - News from Back Home in "Sunny Arizona"
Nancy reported snow in Paradise yesterday. Sunny and Snowing - a new exprience for her. Nothing
measurable - yet. Had rock-climbers call for reservations. They did not know that the Chricahuas
still had snow, that the trans-mountain road (Onion Saddle) was closed and that Rhyolite formations
do not make for good piton placement. We wish them the best. Portal rescue has not had to rescue
any rock climbers in the 10 years Jackie has been an EMT - there is reason for that.
Catalina State Park in Tucson is closed due to flooding:
Meanwhile, it is cool here at Sebastion Inlet. Glad we brought jackets and long pants. Jackie will post her
bird list shortly. Took a wrong turn at the "Jungle Trail" yesterday and birded Captain Forster's reserve
and then wound up just north of Vero beach. Had lunch at Chelsea's - recommended. Made it back North
to Sebastion Inlet State park. Still cool, watched Surfers that were not part of the competition and Jackie
logged a Palm Warbler - interesting little bird. Dinner at Captain Hiram's was ho-hum. Will give Squid Lips
a try sometime this week.
 Hangin '10 Florida Stye
Checkout the event at: http://www.sebastianinletpro.com/
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March 7 - 14 2010 - Vacation!!!
http://www.ferndalelodge.com - Jackie and Winston are off to warmer climes (they hope, since Florida has frozen citrus and tomatoe crops)
for R&R prior to the upcoming birding season. Nancy is at the GWH, caretaking this week. Tonight there is a 100% chance of rain and or
snow. Showers throughout the week, and we might break 50 degrees F on Friday. Nancy does have a little wood, Tundra, and Mischief
to keep her warm....so we suspect she will survive another round of El Niño storm fronts.
March 3 2010 - A Study in Finches - and Two Hummers!
Purple, Cassin's, and House Finch; Lesser and American Goldfinches, Pine Siskins, and a Broad-tailed
and Rufous hummingbird were all in the yard at one time today. Broad-tailed was a fly-through. High temp
might have been 60F or so. Still freezing in the morning. Yes, the Birder's Biffy is waterless and closed -
but warmer days will return and we will have accomodations for those with the need to go. That is, after
Winston repairs the leaks in the pipes that froze this winter. Yes, he has at least two leaks to repair.
Lucky there isn't more.
March 2 2010 - "He Flew in From the North"
As Jackie was helping Chuck, our favorite carpenter, mark and level hangers for the North side deck, she heard him.
Him being an adult male Broad-tailed hummingbird, zinging in from the North. Coming from the North seemed
odd, and so Jackie commented. Chuck set her straight saying - "he's just circling." Our first hummer for the
year, almost a month later than our first in 2009 (a Black-chinned that zoomed through on 09 Feb). We look forward
to spring as much as the east coasters still buried in yet another snow.
March 1 2010 - Quote fom GK's 27 Feb Show:
March is not spring. "It is the month God created to show people who do not drink what a hangover feels like."
Of course his frame of reference is Minnesota, not Paradise, Arizona, where the northern migration starts and
brings the colors of summer - Tanager yellow and red, Oriole orange and yellow, and Cowbird black, and
a kaleidoscope of Hummingbird colors including Magnificent green and purple, Blue-throated turquoise
and all the buffy-flanked, green-backed females Winston will strive to learn all over again.
Feb 28 2010 - Snow - and Paradise Numerology
Global warming wonks have rebranded their research as "climate change" versus "global warming" - causes and effects will be researched
and debated for many years to come. Our microclimate in the Sky Islands may contribute a few empirical data points:
7 total snowfalls in January and February.
7.77 total inches of precipitation for January and February.
13 Snows since November (one snowfall doesn't show on NOAA records because it melted before 8:00am).
Comparing these numbers with historical records shows Paradise is wetter this year:
PARADISE, ARIZONA (026242)
Period of Record Monthly Climate Summary
Period of Record : 1/ 1/1906 to 8/31/1937
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Jan
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Feb
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Mar
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Apr
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May
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Jun
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Jul
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Aug
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Sep
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Oct
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Nov
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Dec
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Annual
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Average Max. Temperature (F)
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52.0
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57.3
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63.5
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70.3
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78.9
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87.8
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86.3
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83.4
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80.2
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72.6
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59.6
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50.9
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70.2
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Average Min. Temperature (F)
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24.4
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28.0
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31.8
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37.2
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43.7
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53.1
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58.9
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56.8
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51.3
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40.2
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30.3
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24.9
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40.0
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Average Total Precipitation (in.)
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1.16
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1.30
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1.13
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0.57
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0.41
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0.60
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4.23
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3.57
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2.08
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1.11
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1.29
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1.57
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19.04
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Average Total SnowFall (in.)
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4.0
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2.0
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1.1
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0.1
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0.0
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0.0
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0.0
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0.0
|
0.0
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0.2
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1.5
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4.1
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13.0
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Average Snow Depth (in.)
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0
|
0
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0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
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When discussing weather and especially climate stochastics, one should always remember the words of Andrew Lo:
"...if one tortures a dataset long enough, it will confess to anything!"
Feb 22 2010 - Purple Finch
Confirmed by the Arizona Field Ornithologists. New yard bird for the GWH and a life bird for Jackie.
Field notes:
Rounded upper beak instead of straight for Cassin's
No Streaks in under tail covert vs streaks in Cassin's (naughty place to be peepin' at)
Dark cheek vs. streaked in Cassin's
Short primaries
Indistinct streaking in greenish back. More likely a Pacific or Californicus race.
Surprised she wasn't joined by a flock of seagulls or pelicans blown in from the coast by the wind this weekend.
 note dark cheek patch,
round bill,
no streaks in covert
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 Same notes, left flank
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 Anterior - or is it posterior?
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 Yellow Eyed Junco - right
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 Yellow Eyed Junco - left
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19 - 21 Feb 2010 - White Out in Paradise!!!Friday, Brother Richard roared into town in his crew cab, long bed 4X4, lift kitted, Diesel engined, Ford F250. Upon arrival he
unloaded enough groceries to feed a third world army for a month, and hunkered down with Debbie in the Walker house for a
"woodstove weekend". He grilled elkburgers and Jackie served them with diced green olive tapenade. Stout's Apple pie closed
the evening - as did an attempt by the ladies to watch "My name is Nobody" - which was to the guy's way of thinking
one of the best spaghetti westerns ever. Do men ever grow up ???? (no, they watch "Once Upon a Time in the West!)
Saturday, Winston and Jackie woke to find Tundra having a paper towel tied to her collar. From downstairs, Jackie asked Winston if it
was a love note! - When Winston replied in the negative, Jackie untied the paper towel and opened it to find a note that read:
"Breakfast is ready. Come Eat. Richard." A grand breakfast of cheese omelets, fried potatoes and elk breakfast sausage was waiting
and ready at the Walker house. After breakfast, Winston and Jackie made soup deliveries and took the trash down. On the way back up
the mountain, the skies grew darker and darker, and the wind which had been howling in 35-40 mile an hour gusts since Friday, settled
down to a mountain swirl. Atmospherics got the better of all and napping commenced @ 1:00 pm as did a near vertical shower of rain.
At 2:00 pm or thereabouts an Arizona blizzard hit Paradise. Wind was swirling and snow was falling so fast and thick that visibility
was reduced at times to less than 5 feet. Jackie woke from her nap to look out the upstairs windows and commented that it was
like being in a snow globe that someone had frantically shaken. After about 2 hours, 2 inches of new, wet, snow had blanketed the area.
Officially, the melt measured out .52 inches of precipitation. As the evening cleared, Winston and Jackie tossed a few snowballs at the
wood stove set and settled in for an evening of Netflix movies. A chick flick recco that did make Winston laugh at times is: "New in Town"
with Renee Zellweger and Harry Connick Jr. Fit the mood better that Winston's choice of some obscure travel movie about SCUBA diving
in Cozumel. Sunday brought a nice day, most of the snow had melted, clouds are gathering, looks like more snow. Brother Richard trekked down to Rodeo
to visit his mother and all will be back in the business world come Monday morning. Even though he is from Tucson, Brother Richard made sure to let us know
he was prepared for cold weather - he brought insulated boots, down filled vest and coat and even long johns. He was prepared for 0 degree F weather or colder.
Given the mid - 20 degree lows ealier in the week, he was well justified in being adequately prepared for any turn in the weather.
8 - 10 Feb 2010 - Portal Rescue Soup Kitchen
Jackie drove down the mountain to support the the 14th annual Soup Kitchen fund raiser for Portal rescue.
JoAnne and Doug Julian are the key coordinators of the kitchen and are to be commended for their
organization skills and leadership making this a success for the past eight years.
The 2010 event was also a qualified success bringing in:
TOTAL SALES & DONATIONS: $6,813
Soup/Donations=$ 3362
Raffle tickets=$ 3412
Cook Book/Mug Sales=$ 39
Total meals served: 307
Jackie contributed Beef Stew, (sold out 1st day) White bean and Cabbage Soup, and a Smoked Chicken and Toasted Corn Chowder.
The Smoked Chicken and Toasted Corn Chowder recipe is in demand and follows:
3 and 7 Feb - 2010 - More snow!!!
7 Feb - Woke up to Coatis in the feeders, wind in the trees and fast moving clouds that delivered sleet, snow, drizzle, and rain. A hot cocoa day.
3 Feb - Snow - at least three inches. Rain continues.......el nino in full effect. . . . Or is it the effects of HAARP? Conspiracy theorists certainly think it is.
When Jackie arrived back from Portal EMT training, there were Coatis in the yard and they ran up the Elm tree and did their best to hide in the
bare branches. Cave creek, Turkey creek, Cemetery Wash, Silver Creek, and more are all flowing. Water is always welcome, especially
in the transition zone. Arizona has had its share of extreme weather. Winston can tell you about living in the Prescott winter of 1967-68.
Locals in Paradise tell stories of finding deer skeletons under juniper trees where they had died under the snow. Click here for a summary.
02 Feb - 16 April 2010 - DeGrazia Exhibit in Old Bisbee
The Muheim Heritage House in Old Bisbee is hosting "DeGrazia: The Bisbee Years" through April 16, 2010.
Original art by the late internationally acclaimed artist Ted DeGrazia, who lived in Bisbee from 1936 to 1942 will be on display.
DeGrazia studied under Diego Rivera and Jose Orozco and later founded Tucson's Gallery in the Sun. The Muheim Heritage House
operates under the auspices of the Bisbee Council on the Arts and Humanities and is open Friday through Tuesday, 10 am to 4 pm.
For information call 432-7698. Winston's mother, Pam, mastered DeGrazia's oil techniques under the tutelage of Degrazia's son.
Ted DeGrazia was riding his horse in Prescott's 4th of July Parade one year and trotted over to chat with Winston's Granddad,
Gene Wakefield, who was also an accomplished artist and sign painter. Thinking maybe DeGrazia wanted to chat art, Winston's Granddad
leaned in closed and DeGrazia said: "Can you help me off this horse?" Winston's Grandad obliged and asked why DeGrazia might have
have singled him out of the crowd. DeGrazia replied: "Because you were the only one I could see wearing a cowboy hat - and I want
off this horse!"
31 Jan 2010 - Weather and Portal Rescue News
Weather - Winston slid into Paradise around 3 pm on Saturday. Jackie has not seen more than 1.5 hours sunshine since Thursday. Rain, fog, and clouds hanging
in at about 6500 feet last night. Jackie has already missed the brightest full moon of 2010. Rain and snowmelt totals for January are 4.24 inches.
According to the National Weather Service this is @ 4x "normal" precip of 0.99 inches. A wee bit more than the 0.63 inches we recorded January 2009.
Weather forecast calls for Rain Tues - Wed, with a chance for more snow on Thursday.
We just watched an Apache (Chiricahua) Fox Squirrel run up the Elm tree. These guys appear almost twice the size of Gray Squirrels
Portal Rescue - Website!
Portal Rescue now has its own website: http://www.portalrescue.com. Be sure to click on the "News" tab and then the January 2010 newsletter.
Website by Karen Fasimpaur. Newsletter compiled and edited by Jackie Lewis, Dick & Fran Zweifel, Winston Lewis, and contributing authors.
This is a really nice, clean website and an excellent newsletter - both reflect Portal Rescue Professionalism.
GK Broadcasts live from Tucson
Garrison Keillor brought his Prairie Home companion show to Tucson. Winston listened as it was broadcast live and again on Sunday.
Winston and Jackie's reference for Tucson is framed between Linda Rondstat, The Eagles, and the Beatles tune "Get Back" (JoJo left his home
in Tucson Arizona for some California grass. . . ) Not quite the music of the show, but hearing the audience sing along to "Cool Water",
and responding to "Phoenix got the capitol and the insane asylum, but Tucson got the University" made for another enjoyable event. Listen
to the 30 Jan broadcast on the American Public Media website. Having cousins that were ticketed by the Tucson water police for allowing
their pool to drain into the street brought the "Lives of the Cowboys" skit to life. Some times you just have to clean the pool, and in a land
of cactus, creosote bushes and caliche soil, there was nowhere else for the water to go.
28 Jan 2010 - Flashback to 25 July 2009
Maybe it is the fog, rain, and sleet in Las Cruces today that made Winston go back in time and review summer emails:
This was a great interview - captured Dave at his best - click here to go to the NPR site for a listen.
27 Jan 2010 Coati's in the Country!!!Jackie saw 6 in the yard including a Mama and a juvenile. They leave a musthy scent. Must have been what had Tundra all
"boogered up" (spooked in cowboy horse parlance) last night. Bruce and Cathy also observed them strolling through downtown
Paradise. Winston's Grandmother does not remember Coatimundis in Paradise in the 1940s and 50s. She thinks they have
followed the human trash trail up from the tropics. So far the only guests to get pics of Coatis in the yard are the Chorltons.
The fox was beautiful and the Coatis are fun to watch - it is sort of like having your own personal troupe of monkeys!
 Soft romantic portrait of a Gray Fox. Most likely a juvenile in very good winter form. Maybe a Red or Kit fox will also make it to the yard for a portrait
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 "Hose nose" - also the name of a Coati that lived in a New York apartment. Hose nose was a Dick and Fran Zweifel acquaintance.
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Hummingbird identification Lesson - Jackie created a cross-stitch pillow for Melody Kehl. Winston commented thatthe bird looked like a Ruby-throated. Jackie responded: "Look closely. It has buffy flanks. It is a Broad-tailed hummingbird."
This admonition is an indication that Jackie has spring fever and is looking forward to the Northern Migration and working
with the Hummingbird Monitoring network as they resume studies in Paradise in April. As Winston admires the New Mexico
sunset from his back patio, Jackie is on a Birding trip with Melody and Judy between Tucson and Tumacocori. She did hit
major rain near Benson. Maybe it washed the mud off her rig. Between Tucson and Tumacocori. That is either the title of
an upcoming novel, an Indie movie, or maybe, just a fleeting thought about a peaceful easy feeling.......like the one The Eagles
24 Jan 2010 Weather - or "Why Winston Cuts Wood" Winston was planning to catch his readership up on the pre-New Year's events spent driving to Prescott, having second Christmas,
watching the new Sherlock Holmes Movie with his Father-in-Law, back to Paradise for an overnighter and then the drive up to
Globe for his Aunt Diane's memorial service, same day drive back to Paradise, next days the Chiricahua and Peloncillo Bird
Counts. Jackie performed her usual culinary magic for both count compilations - Lasagna one night, Green Chile Chicken
Enchiladas the next. The real story this weekend, however, was the weather. Winston left Las Cruces in rain to find Paradise
in cloud cover and mist with intermittent rain and sleet showers. Late Friday evening it began to snow, and Saturday, we were
snowbound. Winston and guest, Bruce, did drive down the mountain and over to Herb Martyr Dam where they
could see Wynne Falls frozen solid - a 300+ foot long ribbon of ice. No, they did not get stuck in the snow due to Bruce's
expert driving tips - "stay in the ruts and keep the wheel straight". Meanwhile Central and Northern Arizona were getting
pounded with Snow and Rain totals of which have not been experienced in years - or ever by Arizona neophytes.
Paradise numbers for 23 January 2010
are Why Winston cuts wood:
Max temperature 39 degrees F;
Min temperature 30 degrees F;
At observation (08:00) 31 degrees F;
Precipitation 1.18 inch;
Snowfall 2.7 inches;
Snow depth 3 inches.
.
 Night Snow without flash.
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 Night Snow with flash.
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 Iced Hummer.
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 Water droplets on Elm from melting snow glisten like diamonds.
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Storm rain totals from Central and Northern Arizona:
Ahwatukee - 2.36"
Anthem - 5.98"
Apache Junction - 2.83"
Avondale - 2.56"
Buckeye - 3.23"
Carefree - 3.95"
Cave Creek - 5.91"
Chandler - 2.76"
Deer Valley - 3.27"
Fountain Hills FS- 3.50"
Gilbert - 2.48"
Glendale - 2.64"
Goodyear - 3.11"
Luke AFB - 4.02"
Litchfield Park - 3.75"
Mesa - 2.95"
Peoria -3.11"
Paradise Valley - 2.40"
Phoenix (Downtown) - 2.44"
Queen Creek - 3.27"
Scottsdale AP - 3.11"
Surprise - 4.21"
Sky Harbor Airport - 4.21"
Tempe - 2.72"
Wickenburg - 6.02"
Snowfall totals since the storm began on Monday:
SUNRISE MOUNTAIN 70 INCHES
ARIZONA SNOWBOWL 67 TO 92 INCHES
NORTH FLAGSTAFF 55.6 INCHES
GRAND CANYON S RIM 51 TO 55 INCHES
FLAGSTAFF AIRPORT 53.8 INCHES
BELLEMONT 52.5 INCHES
MUNDS PARK 50.0 INCHES
KACHINA VILLAGE 48.0 INCHES
Rain totals across the rest of the state since Monday:
WET BOTTOM CREEK NEAR CHILDS 12.17 INCHES
GLOBE 11.99 INCHES
TONTO CREEK FISH HATCHERY 11.12 INCHES
HAPPY JACK 7.90 INCHES
PAYSON 7.50 INCHES
OAK CREEK CANYON 7.34 INCHES
PLEASANT VALLEY 7.10 INCHES
SEDONA 6.99 INCHES
FLAGSTAFF 5.27 INCHES
FORT VALLEY 4.95 INCHES
BELLEMONT 4.66 INCHES
BAGDAD 3.78 INCHES
HEBER 3.48 INCHES
PRESCOTT AIRPORT 3.33 INCHES
WINDOW ROCK 2.81 INCHES
GRAND CANYON AIRPORT 2.09 INCHES
WINSLOW 2.00 INCHES
We are also happy to report both houses are warm and dry. Remember to bring clothes to layer on and off when you
do come to visit.
17 Jan 2010 PBS Special: Hummingbirds: Magic In the Air
A most beautifully filmed and narrated video. Captures the magic of hummingbirds and provides an excellent overview.
Winston's Review:
Chapter 1 explains aerial movements – high speed photography is great. Loading is not.
Chapter 2 discusses hummingbirds and plants – some plants are thought to release nectar timed to hummingbird visits.
Chapter 3 compares hummingbirds to other predators – like Great White Sharks!
Chapter 4 as with people, it is the females that make the decisions – females know what they are looking for. Up to males to figure it out.
Chapter 5 features Harold Greeney and footage from the Chiricahuas of Black-chinned Hummingbirds nesting near Cooper’s Hawk Nests.
Documented in: Greeney, H. F. and S. M. Wethington. 2009. Proximity of Active Accipiter Nests Reduces Nest Predation of
Black-chinned Hummingbirds. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 121(4):809-812.
Chapter 6 has banding – similar to Hummingbird Monitoring Network protocols; migration trends; conservation efforts.
16 Jan - State budget cuts hit state parks:
14 Jan 2010 letter to the editor - unedited - another reason to have family check your write-ups before you post......
A picture of me and an article about me being a champion team roper.
The problem is they said the name of my horse was Barney. That pissed me right off.
I immediately wrote the author and told him there are two things you do not mess with.
My hat and my horse.
Barney is purple and lame and my horse DUSTY is a Buckskin Paint and far from lame.
I got so angry and involved that I burnt my Elk burgers. Now I am REALLY pissed."
Brother Richard.
Brother Winston's response: "I didn't know anyone in the family read my website or much less cared. -
My apologies, and I am updating my website right now!" (Brother Richard is still quite angry - and sez, anything but BARNEY!!!)
 Brother Richard and "Elk Burger's" Rack
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Picture of Dusty - coming soon - a Buckskin Paint
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1 - 11 Jan 2010 - The Things We Do
2 Jan - Organize, cook, and compile for the Chiricahua Christmas Bird Count:
Possible Green-tailed Towhee and 96 species seen on 1/2/2010 plus 4 for count week:
Species & total seen
Great Blue Heron - 1
Green-winging Teal - 2
Mallard - 25
Northern Shoveler - 1
Prairie Falcon - cw
Northern Harrier - 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1
Cooper's Hawk - 4
Red-tailed Hawk - 18
Golden Eagle - 3 adult
American Kestrel - 2
Montezuma Quail - 2
Scaled Quail - 24
Gambel's Quail - 436
Sandhill Crane - 56
Killdeer - 1
Band-tailed Pigeon - 3
Eurasian Collared Dove - 14
White-winged Dove - 3
Mourning Dove - 71
Greater Roadrunner - 8
Western Screech-owl - 1
Great Horned Owl - 6
White-throated Swift - 1
Violet-crowned Hummingbird - CW
Blue-throated Hummingbird - 17
Magnificent Hummingbird - 1
Anna's Hummingbird - 2
Acorn Woodpecker - 114
Gila Woodpecker - cw
Red-naped Sapsucker - 7
Ladder-backed Woodpecker - 32
Hairy Woodpecker - 3
Arizona Woodpecker - 23
Northern (red-shafted) Flicker - 40
Black Phoebe - 2
Say's Phoebe - 16
Steller's Jay - 1
Western Scrub Jay - 48
Mexican Jay - 322
Chihuahuan Raven - 15
Common Raven - 40
Mexican Chickadee - 6
Bridled Titmouse - 70
Juniper Titmouse - 20
Verdin - 15
Bushtit - 29
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
White-breasted Nuthatch - 32
Brown Creeper - 1
Cactus Wren - 73
Rock Wren - 12
Canyon Wren 9
Bewick's Wren - 31
House Wren - 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 43
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher - 11
Western Bluebird - 135
Mountain Bluebird - 3
Townsend's Solitaire - 76
Hermit Thrush - 45
American Robin - 211
Northern Mockingbird - 9
Sage Thrasher - 4
Curve-billed Thrasher - 39
Crissal Thrasher - 36
Cedar Waxwing - 3
Phainopepla - 12
Loggerhead Shrike - 20
Hutton's Vireo - 5
Yellow-Rumped - 11
Myrtle - 1
Audubon's - 10
Townsend's Warbler - cw
Painted Redstart - 2
Olive Warbler - 2
Northern Cardinal - 76
Pyrrhuloxia - 42
Spotted Towhee - 34
Canyon Towhee - 137
Abert's Towhee - 1
Rufous-crowned Sparrow - 3
Chipping Sparrow - 2
Vesper Sparrow - 1
Lark Sparrow - cw
Black-throated Sparrow - 171
Sage Sparrow - 1
Savannah Sparrow - 1
Fox Sparrow - 10
Song Sparrow - 1
White-crowned Sparrow - 619
Dark-eyed Junco - 220
Slate-colored - 4
Oregon - 73
Gray-headed - 7
Pink-sided - 18
Red-backed - 10
species - 108
Yellow-eyed Junco - 88
Red-winged Blackbird - 17
Eastern Meadowlark - 17
Western Meadowlark - 40
Brewer's Blackbird - 9
Cassin's Finch - 2
House Finch - 219
Pine Siskin - 71
Lesser Goldfinch - 78
American Goldfinch - 5
House Sparrow - 143
31 Dec 2009 - Blue moon and all the creatures were stirring
The moon was bright on the non-melting snow. Winston and Jackie headed out to attend the Paradise Town New Year's Eve
party (whole town turned out at Jody & Gerrys) - and then off to the Research Station for a private party held in the "great room".
On the way back, the full Blue moon was so bright one did not need headlights to go up the mountain. This also roused
The Ring-tailed cats, Chipmunks, Raccoons, Foxes, and other mammals from their semi hibernation. Winston Felinicus
was active at our house throughout the night and a cousin or other mammalia was active in the Walker house. Our guest
and Poet, David Chorlton recorded the event through in this poem:
The House George Walker Built
We're in a ghost town as December draws
to a close. Its cold
outside where the wind is combing
snow from Silver Peak. The house
in which we sleep is old
and has walls within walls where at night
animals climb through the spaces between,
glad for the warmth from a fire burning
down to an old year's ash.
David Chorlton
31/12/2009
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26 Dec 2009 - Stuck in the Snow
No more snow, but Jackie did want to make a reconnaissance run 'round the mountain and up to the Onion Saddle to assess conditions and forewarn
the Christmas bird counters next weekend. Yes, Jackie volunteered to lead and feed the Chiricahua count and feed the Peloncillo counters
next weekend. Up to the Onion Saddle we went. Almost. Winston wanted to turn around, but Jackie thought they could make it. They got stuck in the
snow about a mile down mountain from the Onion Saddle. Winston managed to slide the truck into a drift that was waist deep. Two lion hunters
in a Toyota Tacoma winched them out and got them on their way back down the mountain. In recounting the tale with a local, Winston was told
that back in the day, sledders would travel up to Rustler Park in a Volkswagen Beetle. The Beetle engine was right over the rear wheels and
gave good traction, and if stuck, the sledders could simply pick the Beetle up and turn it around and head down the mountain. Of course,
if worst came to worst, they could always turn the Beetle upside down and tobaggon down the mountain "people's wagon" style. Not a preferred
method to get down the mountain, but it could certainly lead to finding new short cuts. Even though the low was 14 last night, the high was in
40s and snow is melting fast and the roads are mucky. We do not recommend travel around the mountain unless you have 4 wheel drive and
a winch. Roads are open to Paradise, but are a little muddy. Winston left 4 inch deep ruts in the parking area as he slid the truck into place.
As for an update on the hard sauce - Winston did just fine whipping melted butter, powdered sugar, dark rum (egg yolk optional) into a
frothy, smooth, accent to the Cross and Blackwell plum pudding and Jackie's dried flower infused short bread.
25 Dec 2009 - Christmas in the Snow
7 more inches this week - and as usual it is melting fast. The Guests are snug in the George Walker house and Winston and Jackie are prepping
for Christmas dinner. This will be a small affair with our carpenter and Winston's mother. Menu will be grilled Cornish game hens, oyster dressing,
broccoli, sweet potato au gratin, finished with Plum Pudding. Winston will be making the hard sauce using a recipe perfected
over many Christmas weekends by his step-father. His mother might be coaching. We will have to wait and see...
24 Dec 2009 - Christmas Eve Guest
Winston Pestus Felinicus - or one of his cousins came to visit last night. Cute little guy, also the state mammal of Arizona. Big Sur was the evening
theme. Jackie had purchased a copy of My Nepenthe, a book about the family that started and to this day owns and operates the
Nepenthe restaurant just south of Carmel. Jackie and Winston reminisced about the coast and started planning a July get-away to the Post-Ranch Inn
and the Big Sur area. Who knows, they may even book a massage at the Esalen institute! If you ever go to the Nepenthe restaurant, do try the
Ambrosia Burger. You will not be disappointed.
Jackie's Nepenthe inspired Christmas eve menu:
Grilled Swordfish - (Yes, Winston grilled in the snow under the moonlight - and the swordfish was perfect) with sour cream - caper sauce
Crunchy Coleslaw
Sweet and White Potato au gratin (Jackie's recipe, Nepenthe inspired).
We do miss California cuisine and its fresh fruits and vegetables. Jackie's Grandfather always ate seasonally, and Christmas was
time for Dungeness crab. Maybe that will be on the menu for next year.
12 Dec 2009 - Celtic Wedding Yet one more wedding. Philip, Winston's youngest brother, tied the knot for the second time. As only Phil
can do. Wedding was at the Tumacacori Mission. Replete with a Scottish Bagpiper regaling a truly
southwest gathering with Scottish folk tunes, piping in the bride, playing Amazing Grace, and piping the
wedding party out. Phil himself was decked out in an ancient Oliphant plaid Kilt and accoutrements.
The bridesmaids were in Celtic dress and cloak. A few pictures here will help you imagine the
evening. 'Twas no Dunnotar but if Phil was looking to capture the feeling of the "Old Country" he couldn't
have done better. The bride was beautiful in a white pearl encrusted gown that contrasted beautifully
with the dark and somber setting. Ariana has a quite resilience that reflects the eternity of the Southwest.
Jackie was enchanted by a toddler at the reception who found a dollar on the floor during the dollar dance.
The little girl picked up the dollar and looked and it, held it up, looked at it again, and the "ah ha" moment occurred. She literally beamed
with delight as she realized that this dollar belonged on the bride's dress, and she stood holding the dollar in two outstretched hands hoping
the dancing bride and groom would turn to her so she could place the dollar in its rightful location. The bride and groom never saw her,
but her mother did and scooped her from the floor. The moment was over, unknowingly shared. More moments were shared and
memories made. Here is wishing Phil and Ariana the very best.
 Bride and Groom. Phil in Oliphant plaid Kilt. Ariana in contemporary Spanish gown.
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 Brother Richard. He was one of many that night in cowboy garb. Lest you wonder, Richard is a champion team roper and his horse, Barney* is a recognized champion Buckskin Paint (Pinto) roping horse. Cowboy hats vs. kilt and piper made for a very memorable evening.
*Note: Barney is incorrect. Richard's horse is named Dusty.
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 The piper. He requested payment upfront. Phil forgot. The wedding party raided gift cards, wallets, and purses, and yes, the community paid the piper.
Made Winston think of trying to pay for "tea" in a London pub with a Scottish pound note - but that is another story.
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Winston Pestus Felinicus maybe or maybe not. Jackie does have a ring tailed cat living where the Packrats roamed ... between the old
and new houses.
30 Nov 2009 - Winter Storm and REAL snow!
.72 inches of rain + 6 inches of snow that melted down to .86 inches of precipitation then we had 2 more inches of snow that melted
down to .4 inches of precipitation for a total of 1.98 inches of precipitation from the storm. Needless to say this was a wet, heavy snow
that weighed the branches in the Siberian Elm down so much that some snapped off like rifle shots and instantly cleared the yard of birds.
Jackie was also without power most of the day. No worries. She had a good fire going, called her Mom, and organized her new wardrobes.
Meanwhile it was also raining and snowing in Las Cruces. The pass to Whitesands was closed as was the trans-mountain road.
Freeze warnings are in effect for the whole area. While Jackie was toasting her toes and talking with her Mom, Winston was braving
the elements, driving back from work to re-hitch the trailer, take it the U-Haul place at the edge of town, unhitch it in the pouring rain
and then back home to dry-out, and when his fingers thaw, update Jackie's journal.
 I think this one is post-card worthy. Let Jackie know if you agree.
Unlike some places, this will all be gone by Wednesday night. Maybe.
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 Up close. Wet, heavy, snow. Winter of 1968 comes to mind.
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 Jackie had to scrape all the snow off of the 4Runner to make a snowman!
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A flashback to 28 October 2009
Our first snow of the year in the Chiricahuas. Unreportable as snow because it melted so fast. Jackie braved the cold to take these pics which were submitted to and published in the Wilcox Range News, Tucson Citizen, and Prescott Courier News Papers. Winston liked the snowman (gutter screws for eyes, finishing nails for arms, and a twist of wire for a smile), that he has made it his current screen saver. The Wilcox Range News article ran the snowman pic with the comment that "It must be awful cold in the Chiricahuas if a snowman is cuddling up to a pumpkin for warmth!" Little guy only lasted a day.
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29 Nov 2009 - why there were no more updates.....
Because Jackie found six 8 foot tall Ikea wardrobes for sale on Craigslist . . . in Tucson. Not what she wanted, but good enough to help her get started on
organizing her new home. So, Jackie did the math, ordered a U-Haul trailer, and off we went on Saturday to Oro Valley to pickup a U-Haul trailer, and
stop at the bank, load the U-Haul and drive back to Paradise. On Sunday we unloaded the trailer and hauled the wardrobes upstairs. Some intact
and others in pieces. Neighbors came by after bagging a deer (late hunt, little white-tailed deer) and helped with two of the wardrobes. Jackie
paid them with fudge and Sangria de Montana Late Harvest Syrah from Colibri vineyard. Sunday night Winston headed to Las Cruces in the driving
rain, sleet, wind and holiday traffic. Highway rain was good. It washed the San Simon road mud off of the U-Haul trailer.
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27 Nov 2009 Mexican Chickadee!!!!
Back in the yard for what we hope is more than a cameo appearance is the Mexican Chickadee!!! A fun little bird, this one has spent all
afternoon entertaining cameramen and women as they try to take pics of the Chickadee as it flits from branch to peanut butter and back
again. Thanksgiving was a quiet affair with Winston coming in from Las Cruces and His mom up from Rodeo. Jackie performed food
magic with smoked ham, Dijon greenbeans, gingered carrots and pecans. Carrots and pecans were dessert. Paired it all with a
very dry Cote's du Rhone meritage. Winston's border patrol brother called to say "seasons greetings" between shifts. We then watched
a Jeff Dunham Christmas CD. Not sure who we enjoy more, Achmed the Dead Terrorist or Senor Jalapeno (on a stick).
 Mexican Chickadee performing pine cone acrobatics.
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October 17, 2009 - Historical Society Picnic in Paradise
What an absolutely beautiful day and satisfying event. Indian summer graced the grounds and folk brought their
favorite dishes - all home made - and as one city dweller noted: "everything is home made - there is nothing
from Walmart on these tables!". Good weather, food, company, enterainment and stories contributed to the
feelings of well being and nostalgia. Pam Hulme told how Bill Sanders proposed to her Grandmother Willie Mae
on those very picnic grounds 50 years ago. Other old timers told of Bill and his dynamite escapades. Winston
and his mom lead the crew on a walking tour, stopping to share what they knew and learn from
the locals. Topics ranged from the red light district and Budweiser on Tap in 1911, to boom and bust times to
the hippie era, and goings-on today. Delaine Blondeau and Kim Murphy provided excellent recollections of their
times living in the area. Click here for pics of the day.
September 19th, 2009
Victor Armbruster wedding. Jackie catered. Menu, head count and pics to come. Jackie catered for a crowd of 200.
Bake and decorated the cakes, boiled the beans, cut the cabbage and for coleslaw, baked cornbread, prepped smoked
hams and Bill Cloudt provided the brisket. Great outdoor venue at the Cavecreek ranch officiated by a Baptist preacher
that brought the "Song of Solomon" and its teachings into a western venue. Nicely done.
August 27th, 2009 2nd Batch of babies
Jackie hand feeding a Black-throated sparrow.
A fledgling in need of a warm hands and good food.
A few good feedings and off to the woods it flew.
Even though it was a very dry year, it seemed
there was a second hatch. Lots of juveniles. This
one needed just a little TLC.
August 2009 - Lost in the Chiricahuas - a Poet's Perspective
From a real-life experience. Yes, we know the heroine. That makes this poem by David Chorlton all the more special to us. We hope many readers
find the reading as much fun as the experience may not have been.
Lost in the Chiricahuas
Our first few steps ran easy
on the stones and fallen leaves
beneath the creek where sycamore
were changing and oaks leaned
over water. We followed
the suggestion of a trail, the two of us
and our dog for whom
the earth was a library of scents,
along the shallow inclines
with their views of the current
framed in juniper bark
until the woodland grew around us
and we turned
to forage back with only guesswork
for a compass. Through a tangle
of grasses we clambered, trying to uncover
the way back to the beam
of light that first
pointed us on our way, but it had gone
underground while we
strained to read directions by sun
and the distant mountain with a streak
of yellow aspens
brushed against the pines. We became
confused as to how
a creek could flow away
in half an hour
and leave us scrambling to find it
on slopes of soil
too loose for our shoes. Canine
intuition only led to bear scat
and lost
became loster
while the scenery smiled
at our every wrong turn.
The Chiricahua earth glowed
beneath our aimless feet
and the clear October sky was bluer
where the foliage began to turn
but we couldn't tell
the way out from the lifelines
on our hands. Just as we thought
of thirst swooping
to take us in its talons
the unpaved road appeared between the evergreens
so I set out walking on my own
to find where we had parked.
On these roads
you walk in hope of finding a friendly driver
passing, flag her down, say
It's okay, I'm not armed,
and she replies,
I am. Get in.
Copyrighted by David Chorlton
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04 July 2009
Winston and Jackie headed down the mountain to spend the 4th in Rodeo. Brother George brought his New York
City wife - who got a taste of small town USA and western lifestyle. Brother Richard fixed the living room ceiling fan,
Brother Gene brought fireworks and children. Gene's boys all but set the desert on fire. They discovered that if they lit a
ladyfinger firecracker, dropped it in a plastic coke bottle, and screwed the lit down tight the exploding firecracker would launch
the bottle cap up and into the air upwards of 30 feet. Getting a little close to the house, they managed land a number of bottle
caps on the roof. When Winston told Jonathan that he needed to work on his trajectory analysis, Jonathan replied:
" I am a redneck, not a rocket scientist!!!" That quote will be made into a bumper sticker and become Jonathan's
Christmas present. 4th was fun, and the Parade was great. A few pics:
 Chiricahua Leapord Frog Float
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 Cowboy on Palamino - paint horse
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09 June 2009
The Luau was a hit. It raised @$1400 for Portal Rescue, and like many events in the area, was truly a community event.
Weather was perfect and the garden was almost as good as being back in the islands. Winston selected 4 hours of
islands music that ranged from Paniolo folk songs to Don Ho to Hawaiian Grammy winner Tia Carrere.
Larissa the fire dancer knew she made impression when she heard a fire-fighter exclaim: "No Way!!!" She even invited
audience members to be fire eaters. Testosterone and knowledge of basic physics took over and Ray and Lee did indeed
"eat fire". "Mahalo nui loa na ho'olaule'a me la kaua"
 Larissa the fire dancer and the fire eaters Ray and Lee.
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 Doug and Joanne Julian and Linda Jakse
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08 June 2009 - "Hele mei Hoohiwahiwa" (Come Celebrate). . . . . It is...
LUAU time!!! In addition to being Gallery President, Portal Rescue Board Member, Walker House Proprietor, Carpenter's apprentice (pics to come, I promise!), and
occasional wife to her husband, Jackie decided to sponsor a Portal Rescue fund
raiser this month! Maybe she will lead us all singing that great Hawaiian hit:
"Numbah One day of Christmas" - an Islands version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas":
Last verse: Numbah (number) 12 day of Christmas, my Tutu (grandmother)
give to me:
12 television
11 can spam
10 missionary
9 ukulele
8 pounds of poi
7 shrimp a'swimmin'
6 hula lesson
5 big fat pig
4 flower lei
3 dried squid
2 coconut &
1 mynah bird in one papaya tree
Mauka showers and Leeward breezes are on order for the 18th.
"Mahalo nui loa na ho'olaule'a me la kaua"
(Thank you for celebrating with us)
25 - 26 April 2009 - A very typical weekend in the country - or not - you decide:
Winston woke early, gassed up, shopped (Shoyu and Eggs - what kind of shopping list is that???) and drove to Paradise
just in time to load up the trash and head down to Rodeo for Jan Gee's memorial service. The memorial service was
really, really, well done. The speaker was well prepared and organized. Jan meant much to many people, and many
good words and fond memories were shared. May Jan rest in peace while the memories live on.
Somewhere enroute, Winston picked up a nail in the passenger side rear tire. So, while Jackie went into the
Gallery to check on Art Scholarship applications, Winston pulled off the rapidly deflating tire and put on the spare, only
to find that it was aired up to a whole 28 lbs, (rest of the tires are at 40 lbs). He also discovered that there is no
air in Rodeo on Saturday. Given that the spare was holding air, we limped up the hill to Paradise where Winston plugged
the tire, aired it and the spare up, put the plugged tire on the truck, and stowed the spare and the jack. Having to crawl
under the truck in the dust and gusty winds, Winston looked like he had been riding herd and got rode over hard by the
time the tire fixin' was all done and it was time to head to White Tail Canyon to check in on Rick Taylor's place and feed
the hungry hummers, if need be.
"If you don't like the news, go out and make some of your own." is the parting comment of the Dr. Demento show.
Here in the Chiricahuas, this might be modified to: "If you haven't experienced a Marty Stouffer moment, make one of your own."
This is what Jackie did on Saturday evening. We were heading out to White Tail Canyon about 4:00 pm and after dodging
a Whip snake and Gopher snake, Winston slowed down at the silhouetted outline of a baby cottontail sitting stone still in
the middle of the road - sitting stone still and almost nose to nose with an equally motionless gopher snake about 3 feet in length.
Winston stopped about 40 feet from the snake and bunny and Jackie got out of the truck to inspect the goings-on. She walked
around behind the bunny and neither the snake nor bunny moved. Quietly, slowly, Jackie inched herself behind the bunny and
reached down and goosed its behind. The baby cottontail, certain it had been snake-bit exploded forward, running right
over the top and down the back of what had been a motionless gopher snake. Upon being run over by dinner, the snake recoiled
backward, saw Jackie and then whipped around and raced into the same thicket the bunny ran into. Bunny was definitely off the
"hunt-and-kill-it-yourself" menu for the evening.
On the way back from Rick Taylor's, Winston ran over a Ring-necked Snake. Jackie made Winston go back and assess the damage.
The injured snake had gone into a defensive posture: accordioning itself into a series of tight symmetrical "S" shapes and
flipping its tail into a corkscrew so that the bright orange underside was displayed like a tightly coiled fluorescent pig tail.
Thinking the snake was dead and maybe a rarity, Jackie popped it into an Albertson's grocery bag (the cloth reusable kind) and
told Winston to head to Dr. Dick Zweifel's to report the find. Winston straddled (we hope) another gopher snake with the truck.
When we stopped to check on its welfare, we walked past a fourth Gopher snake. As Winston was driving slowly and carefully,
Jackie decided to look in the snake bag. To her surprise and delight, the Ring-necked snake had come to life and was about to exit
the bag. Jackie encouraged it back to the bottom of the bag, noticing a musty odor that is now lingering in Winston's truck.
Jackie squinched the bag closed and held it tight until we got to the Zweifels. Dick was delighted to see the snake and reached
into the bag and pulled it out commenting that it was quite a nice specimen. Putty gray symmetrical body, black head ring
ranging from white to coral to very orange-red. Ring-necked snakes are venomous - their venom paralyzes salamanders, and probably
other small amphibians and reptiles. They also exude musth (as we found out). They can be found from seemingly anywhere in the
area - from grasslands to creeks and altitudes from 4-6000 feet. Dick had trapped several specimens at the research station, and
found one Ring-necked snake that had swallowed a Garter snake nearly the same length and size as the Ring-necked snake. Dick
put the snake in a glass jar with air holes and a small dish of water for it to drink and keep it moist. Dick also commented that when
gopher snakes emerge this time of year they are very thirsty and if you catch one and hold its head close to a water source, it will drink
and drink - just like the hummingbirds when we feed them before releasing them during banding. Dick promised to keep an eye on the
snake and to give us the Doctor's report on the extent of injury in the morning. We then headed home for dinner and a movie.
Dick kept the snake for about two weeks. It mended, and we took it up Turkey creek to let it go. It stopped at the creek
and drank and drank, and then swam down the creek and took refuge under a rock. Some pics:
 Drinking. You could watch the body swallow and swell with each slurp.
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 Playing peek-a-boo. Tail would flip over and pig-tail with bright red underscales exposed if it were truly in defensive posture.
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 Defensive posture.
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 In Jackie's hand. Yellow underbelly.
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Dinner was a very satisfying gumbo with smoked sausage and the movie was Joss Whedon's "Serenity - Firefly". This was Winston's
third watching, and is still enchanted with this cross-genre Space-Western set 500 years into the future. A study in contrasts,
the Serenity Crew wears 1860's U.S. Civil War inspired uniforms while the Alliance uniforms are a near clone of those used in Starwars.
Unlike light sabers of the Jedhi nights, the crew of Serenity uses good old fashioned six shooters, lever action 30-30's, Sniper
rifles and shotguns. The heroine is also study in contrasts - a small, seemingly fragile girl with a deadly secret. Oriental motifs
abound and Mandarin (mostly cursing and swearing) and English are spoken as easily as English and Spanish is spoken and
heard here in Las Cruces. Lots of action, good special effects, great sound-track and an air of plausibility make this a fun
movie. It also makes one wonder what group of boneheads at the network made the decision to cancel the television series.
Jackie's comment: "Do you mind if I look at the catalogues while we watch this?" Obviously not a sci-fi fan.
For Sunday's entertainment we readied the Walker House for guests, entertained bird-watchers, and a Sunday driver
that drove in from Skip's around the horse-trailer, over the air and water hoses, around the construction debris and Jackie's
4Runner without stopping to offer explanation or apology, threw Winston into a first class rant about a stupid, inconsiderate
people. Indeed, he ran off the Walker house porch, broom in hand, yelling at the perpetrator who gunned his red truck
with red camper shell and little dog inside, to put more distance between himself and this mountain madman. Jackie's
comment - "Winston, you just proved you should be riding that broom". Winston is sometimes wound WAY too tight.
The entertained birdwatchers asked Winston what he did for a living and Winston replied: "Yell at people who do stupid
things." The astute observation was: "Oh, so you must be a supervisor!"
21 April 2009
Where, oh, where does the time go????
Jackie and I have many, many adventures to share with our readers - and
yes, Winston is remiss in keeping one and all informed. Birding season
has arrived in Paradise in full force. The events of this weekend reinforce
the saying: “It is always busy in the country.” How busy were we this weekend?
This busy:
16 April - Winston drive to Paradise from Las Cruces.
17 April - Jackie drive to Tucson for a shopping day.
17 April - Winston stay in Paradise and entertained at least 45 people who
arrived in the yard nearly at the same time - one group from
Rusty's RV that were having the best time ever driving through
the mountains and just enjoying life. The other 20 or so were
with Elder Hostel tours and were in the yard for a little history and
a lot of birding.
18 April - Kitchen prep for Jackie while Winston entertained the bird watchers.
19 April - Hummingbird banding with the Hummingbird Monitoring Network.
24 birds in hand, BCHU, MAHU, BTLH, RUHU. Started at dawn and
banded for 5 hours - normal protocol.
19 April - Jackie loaded up the 4Runner and headed over the mountain to the
Austen's ranch near the Coronado Monument to cook dinner for 30
people. Yes, dinner, breakfast, and lunch for 30 people. The event
was a migratory bird symposium sponsored by the U.S. Fish and
Game and at least The Hummingbird Monitoring Network. A
transnational event, people in attendance came from Mexico, Arizona,
Colorado, California, and other places far from the Chiricahuas. Of
course, they were all biologists of one sort or another with specialties
in everything from statistical compilation to wildlife management.
Their goal was to develop action plans that would help wildlife
management in general, and migratory birds in specific. Being a
scientist requires a lot of brain power, and an active brain can
can consume a lot of calories - think about it - have you ever seen
an overweight physicist? To help fuel those thought patterns, Jackie
developed, prepared and served the following menu with a special
thanks to Lee Rogers who came in to sous chef while Winston stayed
in Paradise to call birds and help our carpenter. The Menu:
Appetizers:
Pizza Ladieres
Rustic Cheeze Gallete
Baked Brie with Pecans and Maple Syrup (Apps + wine = very happy crowd)
Dinner:
Roast Chicken with Maple Cider Vinegar Glaze (decadent!!!)
Pork Pimenton with Shallot Cream Sauce
Quinoa Pilaf (most popular dish - almost none left over)
Goat Cheese with Kale Pasta
Asparagus with Lemon Garlic Butter (also “gone”)
Desert:
Chocoflan and Vanillaflan Cakes
Breakfast:
Breakfast Soufflé
Muffins, fresh fruit, Granola, Yogurt, O.J., French Roast Coffe
Lunch:
Roast Chicken with Maple Cider Vinegar Glaze
Mashed Potato Salad
Pasta Salad
Vegetable Tray & Humus Dip
Blondies & Flancakes
Reviews:
”The food was really good.”
”Muy Bien”
“Thank You”
My favorite: “I am amazed you cooked for this many people.”
20 April - Winston drove back to Las Cruces and Jackie crashed for 12 hours straight.
Jackie's next culinary event is a Luau in the spring. She is going to
keep it simple this time: Kahlua pork, Poi, Macaroni Salad, 2 Scoop White Rice
and if the fish looks fresh, maybe some Lomi-Lomi salmon and Poke salad (sea weed is the clincher)..
Check back by for the date and time, and if in the area, stop by, make a
donation to Portal Rescue (Jackie is an EMT and Board member), join
the Luau and watch Larissa do a Tahitian fire dance. This will be a most
fun event!!!
 After two weeks of digging footings, etc., the on site mixer arrived. Just add water and 6 hours later footings were poured.
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 Lonnie. Key to getting the first stages framed.
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 While the outside was going on and up, the inside was coming together as well. Stairs and cubbies designed by Jackie.
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 Stairs were and are Mischief approved!
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A family tale - Deer Ropin':
My Granddad Lewis roped a 4 point mule deer from his cowpony. For you easterners, this means4 antler tines on one side - don't know why you have to count both sides in the East. 4 point Muley probably
weighs 180 lbs on the hoof. My Granddad lassoed the deer around the neck, made a quick turn,
(his rope was tied hard and fast - none of that finger-losin' fancy dally ropin') and when the rope went
taught, it threw the deer to the ground so hard it was stunned. The cowpony went into action and pulled
the rope tight, not releasing any slack, and dragging the deer ever so slightly. My Grandad ran
down the rope like a rodeo cowboy, got to the stunned deer, and realized he needed something to "finish it off."
He grabbed an antler and thought he might reach into his jeans pocket, whip out his pocket knife, and slit the
deer's throat. Problem was that he was wearing shotgun chaps and had to peel them down mid thigh to get
out his pocket knife. About the time that he got his chaps down and his hand in his pocket, the deer came to
and "exploded". My Granddad was hanging onto an antler with one hand, his other in hand in his pocket, and
the deer was pulling him up and down like a rag doll all the while being drug backward by the cow pony when
my Uncle Ray, on horse back, pulled his .30-.30 out of its scabbard and aimed it at the deer. At that point, my
dad, also on horseback, grabbed the rifle and yelled "don't shoot" you might hit Dad!" Well, when it was all
said and done, the deer became dinner, and as the family was retelling the story around the table, one of the
cousins asked my Uncle Ray, "What would you have done if you shot your Dad?" My Uncle Ray, never at a loss
for words, replied: "I woulda gutted him out an' brought him home. Some folk like Jackass Meat."
True story, still told by the Lewis clan to this day.
Dick Lewis @ 1964
February 12, 2009 6:31 PM
Global Warming and Obama Article
You will enjoy the start to this weeks Rich Kaarlgard's Forbes Magazine Column:
"Obama's Catastrophic Start"
"I spent the weekend in Prescott, Ariz., where my search for global warming went unrequited. Monday morning brought a blizzard of snow so heavy
and wet it stuck to the car's hood for half an hour while going 70 mph down Highway 69."
The article goes on, but here are some pics of Gerry, Jackie's stepdad digging out from under the same snowstorm. Global warming or not, he is stylish!
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27 Jan - What Jackie sawLest our fair readers think that we are foodies (heavens! - not Winston and Jackie!!!), we thought
it best to share our return events and Jackie's Cabo bird list. Jackie would have had been able
to snap a pic of the adult male Xantu's near the Pueblo Bonito Flamingo area - but Winston wanted
to head to the airport to make sure they got out on time. Silly Winston, this was the off-season, the
airport was near empty, the flight 1/2 full, and taxi's RACED to the airport. There would have been no
harm done or time lost waiting another 30 minutes - but Winston had to get to the airport. Once we
did arrive in Phoenix, it was to the usual winter festivities that draw the snow-bird crowd to the desert.
The 44th street Marriott was weekend home to a volleyball and soccer tournament, the Barret-Jackson
auto auction was in full swing, the P.F. Chang's Rock and Roll 1/2 marathon route was right beside
the hotel - 500,000 moving bodies running down the street, except for one poor soul (obviously
out of shape and "done for") that hobbled into the hotel lobby and asked the concierge to call a cab.
He just couldn't finish. But Jackie's folks did get home (Prescott) in time to watch the Cardinals win their play-off game and head to the
Superbowl - Go Cardinals!!!
Cabo San Lucas January 10 - 17, 2009
Bird List in order seen - twitching was not allowed.
Pyrrhuloxia
Turkey Vulture
House Sparrow
Brown Pelican
Magnificent Frigate Bird
House Finch
Xantu's Hummingbird
Rock Pigeon
Hooded Oriole
Neotropic Cormorant
Anna's Hummingbird
Gila Woodpecker
Herring Gull
Osprey
Costa's Hummingbird
Greater Egret
Heermann's Gull
Brandt's Cormorant
Scott's Oriole
Loggerhead Shrike
White-winged Dove
Bushtit
Verdin (heard only)
Northern Cardinal
Crested Caracara
Sage Thrasher
Curve-billed Thrasher
Brewer's Blackbird
Common Raven
Northern Mockingbird
Sanderling
Common Ground Dove
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Kestrel
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's)
Tropical Kingbird
22 Jan - The return from CaboWhat a week it was! Mornings spent watching the whales spout, the Manta Rays leap, and the
Cabo Navy heading out for the day's Marlin fishing. Of course we found time to tour Cabo, bird watch,
whale watch, trek the beaches, climb the 149 stairs between the main pool and our pool, swim
to the swim-up bar and order a dirty monkey and fish sandwich. The poolside service was first
rate and the fish sandwich and guacamole with chips were exquisite. We also dined at the
Milan - and the wood fired Pizza was the hit of the evening. At the La Nao, Jackie ordered
Mexican coffee for dessert. Our waiter, Sandro, heated what appeared to be the tips of two
silver gravy boats over an open flame. Then he added tequila to one and kahlua to the other
and set them a flambe! But that was only the beginning. He then mixed the tequila into the kahlua
in a series of flaming arcs, finishing with a three tiered fiery pour from tequila boat to kahlua boat
to the coffe cup! A round of applause from dining room, a finish with whipped cream and
marischino cherry. and service with smile and admiration from all. It is taking Winston little time to get back in the groove
at work. Hard to beat whale watching from the balcony and learning new card games from some very, very, serious Canasta
players. The flights were on time, the resort was wonderful, and we highly recommend staying at the Pueblo Bonito,
Sunset Beach. Quite a nice time was enjoyed by all. A few vacation pics:
 Xantu's Hummingbird
near the Flamingoes
on the Pueblo Bonito grounds
|
 Brown Pelican
on the western rocks
warming in the morning sun
|
 Mommy and Baby Whale -
Somewhere between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez
|
 Male Hooded Oriole
on the Pueblo Bonito grounds
|
06 January 2009 - First snow of the new year!Winston and Jackie shared family events - Jackie's family was noisy as only a house full of teens and
pre-teens can be. Winston's family relived growing up with step Father Frank Hulme and centered the
reminiscing with an homage, a toast, and a bit of friendly desert advice:
"Frank raised us to be men - not boys - men." - Richard
"Here is to like mindedness and family." - Philip
"Ya don't eat cactus or rattlesnakes unless you are dyin'" - Richard
Gene was absent, George was occupied, and Winston learned he did not need to share the facts
of life with niece, Kelly, who was more than willing to share her knowledge with him. Note: Never
underestimate the knowledge store of a bi-lingual, bi-cultural teenager. They know 2X as much
as the average WASP child. While Winston was trekking to White Sands for work on 06 January, Jackie awoke to a fresh blanket of snow in
the Chiricahuas. As New Year celebrations go, this was a quiet entry into 2009. Winston wrote and Jackie edited the annual newsletter while Mischief
made it known that she, too, should partake in the seasonal festivities by curling up in the incoming Christmas card box. What a spoiled
kitty cat. Jackie is taking reservations for 2009, and even with the dismal economy, is filling up March, April, May, August, and September
quickly - make reservations Now! As for the Christmas Bird count, @141 species were counted in a 7.5 mile (believe it or not) radius
around Portal. Click here for initial compilation summary, and click here for radius that was covered. Of course, a flock of @30 Bushtits
came into the GWH yard AFTER the official close of the CBC (I think Jackie called them "little stinkers" in exasperation). Winston and
Jackie are off to CABO for a week of fun in the sun. See you guys (this is an Arizona term - opposed to the Texan "y'all") at the end of
January when Winston gets to sojourn to Phx for work while Jackie gets to play in the snow in Paradise with her tuned up '94 4Runner.