"F" is for forest~ABC Wednesday~082411

Arizona's forests are much thicker than ours here in Southern California.  I'm only 35 minutes from the pine forest near Idyllwild, CA, but our forests don't have as much undergrowth.  I'd like to say we don't have fires, but we do.  This area of the forest near Forest Lakes, AZ, was hit by the Rodeo-Chediski fire of 2002.  Yes, it is growing back (slowly), as you can see.  It's always sad to see burned forests, especially man-made ones (like that fire).  But, the forest eventually does come back and life does return.  ABC Wednesday for August 24, 2011.  Wish me luck...it's the first day of school and it will be 117 degrees here in the desert today!  To see ABC Wednesday, please go to:  http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.com/

First morning on the rim

I awoke before dawn on the first morning at the cabin.  I was excited to get outside and see what I could see.  Of course, I looked up through the pines and this is what I saw.  There's something about the smell of pines in the early morning...ahhhhhhhhh!

Thunderstorm on the Rim

The afternoon we arrived on the rim, there was a thunderstorm developing.  This is out by the area of the Rodeo-Chedeski 2002 fire, looking out over the rim.  It's a very desolate area.  There aren't many roads out this way.  While it looks flat, it is actually about 7,000 feet here. 

"B" things~Sunday stills Challenge~082111

Birds and bones!  I found these at the ranger station up on the Mogollon Rim, in Arizona.  We spent 5 nights there and we stopped at the station on our way up the rim.  They have this interesting collection of bird skeletons, bones, and bird feathers.  Unfortunately, this station was vandalized this spring and many other artifacts were stolen.  The day we were there, they had a Bloodhound, which had been left running in one of the campgrounds for over a week.  He was dehydrated and lucky to be alive because there are BEARS in the forests on the rim.  Sunday Stills Challenge for August 21, 2011.***NOTE*** No, we didn't bring the bloodhound home.  The gals at the ranger station were taking him to the vet the next day and we were up there 5 days.  By the time we went home, it was too early in the morning to stop and get an update on the dog.  I'm sure he either found a foster home or they finally got hold of his owners.***

Mountain thunderstorm~SkyWatch Friday~081911

The afternoon thunderstorms here up on the Mogollon Rim are different from those in the desert.  First, the clouds develop.  Then, a wind comes up.  The temperature drops.  They seem to move in up here every afternoon (at least for the 5 days we've been here).  One morning, I looked out to see a cloudless sky and by afternoon, it was thundering away and raining!  Yes, that does happen in the desert, but we all notice a remarkable change in the humidity there.  I don't notice that up here on the rim.  Everything around the cabin here is nice and green from all the August monsoons.  We did watch the news last night and there were thunderstorms all over eastern Arizona and western New Mexico.  We are enjoying our time up here, but, alas, we head home tomorrow!  SkyWatch Friday for August 19, 2011. To visit SkyWatch Friday, please go to:  http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Cooper's hawks~Nature Notes~081811

While we are here, up on the Mogollon Rim, I've discovered some interesting animals.  The first ones I discovered was the family of Cooper's hawks which seem to live in the forest behind the cabins.  Early one morning, I heard, "screech, screech, screech" and went out to investigate.  There were 3 of them in a pine tree...a momma and two youngsters.  Apparently they were getting ready to go out on their morning hunt because right after that, all 3 headed out, across the highway.  Mom and one of the youngins' came back, but the other one didn't.  And she called and she called and she called.  She finally stopped about noon and then started up in the late afternoon, so I went out to investigate.  He/she was back and had a...rodent.  I'm not sure why Mom was chirping.  I notice that when they are around, all the other birds disappear!  I've now seen them every morning and afternoon and they don't seem to stray far from one of the trees out back. I can identify pulling out one's hair...these two keep this mother hawk busy ALL DAY!  She must be exhausted by night!  To read more Nature Notes, please go to:  http://ramblingwoods.com/ 
***UPDATE***It's now 5:52 a.m. and mom is out there, already calling to the young ones!

Fort Apache, Arizona~Outdoor Wednesday~081711

Today hubby and I drove out to Fort Apache, which is in the White Mountain Apache Reservation.  Did you know that during the time it was an active Army fort, it was never attacked?  There were and are no walls or fences around it.  It just sits atop a plateau, with good water running nearby, alone and silent.  Today the grounds are used as a school and we saw some of the students there for the first time.  We usually visit the fort in either the autumn or during spring break!  So, it was nice to have people around!  I wouldn't recommend visiting it during August, however!  It was hot and dry and we got tired and left without taking many photos.  We drove back to Pine Top/Lakeside for lunch and then returned to the cabin to await the coming daily thunderstorm.  It arrived at 8:00 p.m. To see other outdoor scenes, please go to:  http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/