Life in the Desert

Mojave Autumn

Mojave Autumn, originally uploaded by DesertNana aka majamom.

Beautiful details
of dried spring flowers remains
as a seed shell,
as Glorious- Cooler temperatures
arrive in the Mojave Desert

Can I be Gentle with Myself ? Questions in Downward Dog

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.

cholla cactus bloom

cholla cactus bloom, originally uploaded by DesertNana aka majamom.

the razor sharp jumping cholla are not friends to the human species who live among them.Another name for Cholla is Jumping Cactus, because of the disconcerting habit of coming unjointed easily. If you touch even one spine it is enough to detach a joint, then when you move more joints become lodged in your skin. To make matters worse, the spines are barbed and therefore difficult to remove. We desert rats carry a comb with us. Remove the spines by sticking the comb under the cactus and flipping it away. The trick is to not flip it back into your skin. The next step is to take a pair of pliers and remove the remaining barbs. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?
Due to our joyously raain filled spring, our cholla cactus is bursting forthe with multiple blooms of the most delicious colors

carry me AWAY out of this heat!

carry me out of this heat!, originally uploaded by majamom.

With temperatures of 100 plus every day here in the Mojave Desert,
I long for coolness, clouds and yes, Rain!
Fortunately , our yearly travels to the Santa Barbara area are nearing
and I will finally be free to exhale
and feel that ever so wonderful tactile experience of my feet in the soft sand
With the freezing waters of the tide washing over me

still shining a week later

desert beauty, originally uploaded by majamom.

just before the bloom

just before the bloom, originally uploaded by majamom.

when the night has been too lonely
and the road has been to long
and you think that Love is only
For the lucky and the strong
Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snow
Lies a seed that with the suns Love
In the spring
Becomes
A Rose

the final act

the final act, originally uploaded by majamom.

my spirit starts to droop as the wild flowers wilt

spring is busting out all over!

spring is busting out all over!, originally uploaded by majamom.

The magical world of endless wildflowers abound here in the Joshua Tree Desert
Come soon before natures explosion begins to fade

illumination

illunination, originally uploaded by majamom.

like giving birth
it is something you have to experience for yourself
you could read about it
but
there is nothing that compares
after months of monotone colors all around
a long drought filled summer
wild life friends migrated away
suddenly
wildflowers arrive
after a day of bathing in their colors, shapes, forms sizes, textures-
rolling in the sand-camera in hands
-the sun begins to set
-anti climatic
my spirit longs for more
and then this-
illumination
~hugs
desertnana

Season of Love

Season of Love, originally uploaded by majamom.

Say I Love You

Say I Love You, originally uploaded by majamom.

Getting ready for Valentines Day at the Retro Ranch.
These photo cards can be framed or displayed on the frig ( one of my fav art galleries)  or kept in a very special place by the recipient.
Now listen fellas I can guarantee your lady will love one of these more then the last minute grab from the W store. I even have precious little tiny envelopes that i will tuck into the card for you to write  a secret message on.
Just click the big button over on the right>>that' s it>>The Retro Ranch and you can take your time and chose just the right one for the one you love. I will put it in the post the next day!

The Final Fall Rose

The Final Fall Rose, originally uploaded by majamom.

The last blooming rose in Mom's Amazing Oklahoma Garden~
Small surprises as this
eased my visitor disappointment
finding 70 degree weather
instead of the cold blustery Fall climate
I was so looking forward to experiencing during Thanksgiving week.

Hope moves all Things

Hope moves all Things, originally uploaded by majamom.

, originally uploaded by majamom.

change

, originally uploaded by majamom.

Seasons Change

Seasons Change, originally uploaded by majamom.

How I love this time of year in the Mojave desert!

Oh-I know I  wrote about the welcome cooling of our Mojave temperature recently; but;- hey! with all the bad news flying around in our country, I feel it even more fitting to celebrate the most minute of Joys!-if only for a few minutes.

What do you pause to celebrate in the nature that surrounds you?

comes the rain

comes the rain, originally uploaded by majamom.

and the rain came pouring down.....

I know, for most people its just a reason to put up an umbrella and hope your new shoes don't get ruined
But,
here in the drought ridden Mojave desert,
Rain
is an event
one in which all living things lift upwards
and drink in the moisture from Mother nature
We dance the desert happy dance
in celebration
and gratitude

against All Odds

against All Odds, originally uploaded by majamom.

Welcome vistor-

I am so happy to have you here.

This endless summer, filled with one technical problem after another

left me frustrated and feeling defeated

My goal of opening an ETSY shop was almost abandoned

There is much power in the quote

" Never, Ever, give up."

September 26 is official opening day

I'm off for another photo shoot of vintage goods

Namaste,

majamom

shining amid 100 degree temperatures

shining amid 100 degree temperatures, originally uploaded by majamom.

HOW DO YOU DO THIS MOTHER NATURE?

our desert is on the other side of spring
color gone
all is dry
cracking
wilting
the reverse of Dorothys landing in the Wizard of Oz
and yet
if one takes a long walk
looking oh so closely
little miracles cry out
Here I am