Warm Morn with Wind

Curve-billed Thrasher singing its head off

Windy this morning during our hike, but not excessively chilly, though Dr. K might dispute that; Willow and I thought it felt just fine out there.  We saw the Basset People and their hounds hiking along a ridge east of us while we followed our regular route; Willow was especially interested in watching them.  We took a long drive after the outing while listening to sports talk radio.

Willow eager to go

Favorite yucca

Willow looking in the direction of Basset hounds

Saguaro wannabe barrel cactus

Above the right branch arroyo

 

Wils and Me Redux

Shadowed heart

Dr. K had an appointment this morning so it was Willow and me on the daily trek.  A tad windy out there, but 54F with lots of sun; didn't feel cold at all.  We saw no other nature enthusiasts while we followed the regular route.  Both of us enjoyed the exploration.

Long view of Tortugas and the Organs

Three wise men showing their age

Bare mesquite branches

Wonder dog

Northeast toward the mountains

Gaggle of Soaptrees

Baby teeth

 

Nest Builder

Tortugas and the Organs

It was a warmer morning for Dr. K, Willow and me as we followed the regular route on our daily trek; the somewhat persistent breeze kept Dr. K a bit chilly.  We saw no other outdoor enthusiasts in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert while we did our exploration.  The most notable critter we spotted (in addition to a jackrabbit) was a male Cactus Wren who was building a nest in our favorite yucca.

Sky over the Organ Mountains

Willow in the middle branch

View from the middle branch arroyo

A male Cactus Wren out early building a nest

Faxon Yucca (our fave) where the Cactus Wren is building

Same Cactus Wren

Picacho in early light

Dr. K and Willow in the right branch arroyo

 

Stomping Grounds

1st 4:  Spectacle Pod (Dimorphocarpa wislizeni)

Back to the lower desert for Dr. K, Willow and me this morning.  We followed our regular route seeing only (we think) Two-White-Dogs-Lady in the far distance northwest of us.  48F felt a tad cool, but both Dr. K and I were overdressed.  We're supposed to reach 84F this afternoon--far too warm for late February.  I went shopping at Albertsons after the trek, and Dr. K went to Toucan Market after I got back.

Willow

Scorpionweed (Phacelia integrifolia)

Spectacle Pod (Dimorphocarpa wislizeni)

Willow, having balanced a stick on her nose

Wils on break

Scorpionweed (Phacelia integrifolia)

 

Mule Deer Browsing

1st 7:  mule deer does browsing on our property

When I took Willow out on her morning constitutional we climbed to the top of our road without realizing we were right in the middle of a small herd of mule deer.  They scattered when they saw us, but not in a panicky fashion.  I decided to go out a few minutes after we got back to the cabin to see if I could see and photograph any.  They were still on our property browsing, and I was able to get a few good images of them.  Dr. K, Willow and I did a nice forest hike afterward seeing only one cottontail along the way.  After the trek we packed for our trip down the mountain to the lower desert where we are now.

Sky during our forest hike

Cottontail that attracted Willow's interest

Willow relaxing in the back 40

 

Hike Three

Tree

Good hike in the forest for Dr. K, Willow and me; it was warmer and, overall, quite pleasant.  Stuck to our regular route.  Lots of construction going on in the valley below our mountain home.  After the hike Dr. K and I drove down to Alamogordo to do some shopping at our favorite store:  Lowe's Signature Market.  Why doesn't Las Cruces have one?

Willow on our road

At rest in the forest

Mountain Woman

Wils and me

Me

Willow sees something

This & next:  part of Haynes Canyon

Artsy tree