Another Year

JWise Photo of the Day

Another year and another bloom from the same cactus on our balcony that delivered as beautiful a bloom as last year

On April 14th last year I posted a similar photo. The same cactus as featured today gave us three blooms last year. This cactus had fallen over in a wind storm recently but it keeps ongoing. Another of our cacti fell off our rear balcony last month and is now three new cacti. A large chunk of cactus we found in a parking lot last year is doing ok, we weren’t sure how well until Caroline transplanted it last week and found the entire bottom of the pot filled with roots. You may never appreciate how beautiful cacti are until you have lived in the desert and taken the time to familiarize yourself with how unique these plants are.

More Than a Bus

JWise Photo of the Day

Valley Metro Bus - public transportation for Phoenix, Arizona

The bus is the medium, get the message. No matter that I choose not to watch television, read the local papers, listen to commercial radio. I am still bombarded with the slogans and marketing campaigns of trash companies I would rather not have floating around my conscience. One of the pleasures of small-town America is the absence of this intrusive and constant barrage of advertising. At least in Los Angeles, the ads are occasionally provocative and at times entertaining. Here in Phoenix, Arizona, I have seen billboards inviting mothers who do not know for sure who the father of their child is to ‘Call us to determine paternity using DNA’, or to call the Sheriff’s office to be certain that as your violent offender is released from jail that you are safe. Then we have all the ads for the various law firms promising to keep you out of jail for drunk driving, beating your wife, beating your pet while drunk, hittings someone with your car while drunk and fleeing the scene, handling your divorce, or suing the crap out of the business where you ‘accidentally got hurt. Finally, the reminder that this week’s lottery is up to $175 million – god, I hate that I fall for that one.

Thanksgiving

JWise Photo of the Day

A Tofurky and vegetables ready to be put in the oven

That’s right, today was Thanksgiving at the Wises. And as we are late celebrating this traditional American holiday, why not go all the way and make it as unconventional as possible. We broke out that old Tofurky we bought way back when, letting it thaw the recommended 24 hours before popping it in the oven for 2 long hours. I was salivating up a monsoon by the time it was ready. You’ve gotta be asking yourself, hey, just what does a Tofurky taste like? Well, now I know and I suppose I’ll tell you a bit more, but you will have to visit my other site www.happybumblebee.com to learn the details.

Green Tea

JWise Food, Photo of the Day

Green Tea leaves steeping in hot water

It is magic watching rolled-up green tea leaves unfurl and expand as the hot water works to make tea. Looking at them start as a thin layer of little spheres covering the bottom of the glass to floating effortlessly, you are bound to stare half hypnotized until they fill the bottom third of the glass. Maybe this zen moment is half the benefit of drinking green tea.

Three Million Dollar View

JWise Photo of the Day

Between Paradise Valley and Phoenix in Arizona lies this little strip of Maricopa County land with real estate prices starting in the multi millions

A friend is building a house on the lot I am taking this photo from, his truck is on the left and I’m standing at the front door. It’s a nice place, suppose it should be for north of $3 million dollars it will sell for. This community is sandwiched between Phoenix and Paradise Valley, Arizona on county land – phew, at least they’ll save on property taxes! Following the street to the left will take you to an overlook facing southward, offering a panorama of downtown Phoenix. The two-story brownish place on the left of center in the background is where Caroline and I live 🙂

Day 145

JWise Photo of the Day

On the 145th day after 144 previously dry days, Phoenix, Arizona finally see's rain - oh what a relief.

After 144 consecutive dry days, the drought has finally given way. Early in the morning, the rain awoke me, or the power outage caused by it did, in any case, I was up early to hear the rain coming down in buckets. By the time I snapped this picture the rain had let up a bit. Though not as heavy, it has not stopped raining since the wee hours. It’s snowing up north and raining down south; oh, how nice it is to have a weekend of winter.