Life in the Desert

Autumn in the Mojave Desert

Autumn in the Mojave Desert, originally uploaded by DesertNana aka majamom.

The cold Santa Ana Winds are a blowing wildly through are now almost barren Mojave desert.As this glorious season changes, I too am blowing toward the right coast
 
Until then,
I wish All of You the Richness of the cold season
that brings all of us closer together
In our Homes
and in Our Hearts
Much Love 

the whirling angels are visiting

the whirling angels are visiting, originally uploaded by DesertNana aka majamom.

It has been quite a Fiasco
Realizing the swarm of bees

that live(hide, lurk) somewhere on our ranch
would not yield to the countless "tricks" attempted to keep them from the hbird feeders
Finally, a NEW FEEDER was found
I ordered two
Humzingers
guaranteed to be BEE PROOF
well, they are indeed keeping those buzzing ,feeder destroying, pollinating
buggers, from sucking out the hummingbird nectar
However,
its been 2 weeks
and so far despite many brief visits from the whirling angels
none of them appear to be crazy about their new feeders
Oh yes,
it could be timing
the weather here in the Mojave desert
has been facilitating between extremes -100 degrees to 60 degrees
as Fall attempts to make her way fully into the  Mojave desert
I wait
impatiently
hoping
that when I return from the Right coast
the Whirling angels
will be whirling
and swirling
under the Pomegranate Canopy

The chipmunks have arrived

The chipmunks have arrived, originally uploaded by DesertNana aka majamom.

Like me, these adorable desert chipmunks took Mother Nature seriously last week when our temperatures dropped below the 80s.
There are 3 of these these fun little guys running reconnaissance from the bird feeding station and back down the yard and through the back fence.
I have got to figure out how to shoot video with my camera because the are just too fun!

Its Not Here Yet! Happy September-meep meep!

Happy Wednesday-meep meep!, originally uploaded by DesertNana aka majamom.

My little roadrunner friend
aka Renaldo roadrunner junior
appeared for the 4th straight day,since my return from the Right coast

R-Its not here yet-Fall is not here Yet.

M-I know Re, I got all excited for nothing

R-not for nothing

M-What do you mean? Its going to be 100 today

R- I know Maja,but Fall is coming soon!

A-solid twelve inches long!- and this fella is not yet full grown!

a solid twelve inches long- and this fella is not yet full grown!
The Joshua Tree Jack Rabbit family here on the ranch have been surprising me Despite statistics of thousand per square mile, I can attest to the Fact that there is no way the population on the north side of Joshua Tree -is even close to that-though it would be an amazing thing to see -flying jackrabbits here there and everywhere!

tiny-baby-desert-Quail

feathery- fluffy- walnuts with legs-the baby quail parade-again shot during twilight-through a window and a screen-with this herd of fluffiness- moving at a speed-that makes all 12 of them-appear to be one bigger feather-fest!they make the most adorable sounds-that i hope-to capture-on video-if there is enough light

Not to leave little Alvin the desert Chipmunk out of Sundays desert wildlife visits-and yes -there are 2 other little chipmunk siblings-I just have not yet been quick-and-or-quiet enough-to capture the trio's antics-Yet!
It goes beyond my understanding how a creature moving at great speed can freeze frame itself-in one blink-

the curious cactus wren

the cactus wren are back, originally uploaded by DesertNana aka majamom.

I am so excited to see the new cactus wren off spring on the ranch once again.
I adore all the birds;but the cactus wren has an energy, a friendliness, and even what appears to be playful ,silliness, that wins over -even the least enthusiastic avian observer.
I am quite certain if it were not for the our canine family, this little wren fledgling would have hopped and hurried its way straight into my kitchen. It explored the hanging steel dinner bell as a child would a set of monkey bars.
I have no choice but to shoot through our back double glass slider. If i attempt to go out onto the porch ,you no who comes tumbling out behind me,ruining any hopes of a shoot, and of course, scaring all the birds away.
There appears to be possible nesting activity going on, in the same lemon tree that i managed to fall out of last year. This year I will observe from afar. Unless of course, a much sturdier photo set up(like a fireman bucket ladder) becomes available; or, I finally give into the expense of a super telephoto lens or find just the right used one in super condition.

summer solstice in the mojave desert

Thanks to so many reminders from new friends on Bindu Wiles project, I had a mini celebration with my camera around the ranch.
the lovely young Finch adores the scrub-grass bush with endless,long, branches that must feel made for him. Its fuzzy blooms ,the deserts version of a pussy willow,abound this year following our highest rainfall in a decade in the drought ridden Mojave. These thousand of fuzzy white balls add a much needed softness against
Our date bush is over flowing with the sweet fruit,not quite ready for picking. Rest assured by July our avian friends will begin to feast on the fruit. The wrought iron fence almost turquoise,as the setting sun illuminates it. The only outcome of our "hose painting plunder" from now 2 summers ago,that actually makes my eyes happy. No elaboration on that event today ,which is actually still  this event,as the interior colors ended in great visual dissatisfaction,that have yet to be repainted; thus, I am reminded everyday...but ---I move on... for now
The collage maker in Picassa made this image too small to get the full effect;but, the thickness of the lush,canopy our Pomegranate Tree provides, stays shaded all of the scorching  desert day,until this magic time,as the sun moves downward in the west, throwing spotlights through the tiny breaks in green, highlighting the newly drying blooms that fall like red snow stars when the Santa Ana winds blow and rustle our tree. The next phase is the ripening of the Pomegranate fruit .
Finally,yet another rose,budding on what I refer to as our Miracle Rose Bush. She was planted lovingly by the original owners of our ranch,over 20 years ago and blooms year round regardless of rainfall. We never know what color each bloom will be. The not knowing makes each appearance even more precious.

greater roadrunner

greater roadrunner, originally uploaded by DesertNana aka majamom.

Cactus Wren Babies 6 weeks ago

Cactus Wren Babies 6 weeks ago, originally uploaded by majamom.

well its been almost 6 weeks since my last post. THese little sweethearts have turned into...

baby cactus wren~happy Monday

baby cactus wren~happy Monday, originally uploaded by majamom.

and here is one of three adorable cactus wren peeps this afternoon.
They are already big enough to stick their heads out of the crest of the nest!

Bobcat Baby in Joshua Tree California

Baby bobcat, originally uploaded by majamom.

one of thousands of complete image files lost in my computer crash this past fall.
Desert bobcats abound on the South Side of Joshua Tree(Joshua Tree National Park Side), though few people ever see them. They make their homes in the safety of endless Rock and boulder clusters that you will observe when visiting The Joshua Tree National Park.

easter bunny mojave desert style

Baby J R, originally uploaded by majamom.

a young jack rabbit peeking into the stall of the neighboring ranches horse coral.
From out coolest Spring(40 mile p hr winds and 45 degrees) ever in my 20`plus yrs living on the Retro Ranch

I wish you all A Spring time of Love, Peace, and Renewal !

where oh where have the roadrunners gone??

through the window-a rare moment of stillness for this wonderful roadrunner, originally uploaded by majamom.

white tiger sanctuary

white tiger, originally uploaded by majamom.

thanks to Sigfreid and Roy these once extinct creatures are thriving in protected sanctuaries

Werthel made Cute Overload!!

uh oh... werthel finds the solver orb ***save the puppies day 5, originally uploaded by majamom.

Awwwww.... Im so proud of him!

Do you think I should make a card of him for sale in the Retro Ranch??


Thank you Cute Overload

hit the ground running!

hit the ground running!, originally uploaded by majamom.

Go Obama transition Team!

4 days to go

road runner, originally uploaded by majamom.

We Can Do It

Yes We Can

jump back-jack-rabbit!

jump back-jack-rabbit!-its Friday Dear Flickr Friends!, originally uploaded by majamom.

W e l c o m e* D e a r V i s i t o r s !

j u s t   f o r   co m p a r i s o n , H e r e   i s   a n    A d u l t   J a c k   R a b b i t

I    h a v e   n o t    s e e n   t h i s    M a M a   in    ma n y   m o o n s

I   J u s t   L o v e d   t h e   w a y    s h e   l o o k e d   r i g h t    a t    m e

E a r s   p er c h e d

" I   h e a r d   y o u   i n   t h e r e    c h o p p i n   y o u r   V e g g i e s

W h e r e   a r e   M i n e ?