Mom's Been Okay

This little one's mom has been feeling okay.

Her Mommy Hasn't been Happy

Not far from my place in this land of smiles.

Recreation Lake

Just a bit down the road from my place in Petchaboon

Me

  A cold day on a hot desert.

Worked

 

Does it look worked to you?

How Many ........

  ways can one stack stone?

Quality of Photo

 I am disappointed in the quality of the pictures I transfer to Blogger. When I transfer them to Picasa the quality is still quite good.

Someone Asked Me

Just got home from today's walk and started looking at the pictures I took. I saw this guy and was thinking that Cahuilla and some other western Indians thought that an animal with a bit of blue color was special. 

Thar led me to remember that someone had asked me if I had seen a Chuckawalla on these walks.
I think I have seen one and was lucky enough to snap its picture. Chuckawalla are special  to me. I think that when I was a child that I was told that they were tasty. I'll find that photo and post it.

Manzanita

  Found this manzanita in a hidden corner of the Park today. It was like finding an old friend.

Desert Gourd

I suspect that these were cultivated by Indians for rattles.

Monsoon

When monsoon reaches the desert.

Next monsoon I'll crop the photo.

A Cup of Coffee

Waiting for the sun to come up, even a youngster can be thinking of a cup of coffee.

Stink Bug

 Pictured is the back end of a stink bug. When provoked the produce and unpleasant sent. This one smelled like a daisy.

JTNP Walk

The bright green on the rock is what I can call a young rockeater. The light grey-green growth adjacent to the bright green is mature rock eater. The cactus at the lower left is what I call hedge hog. It can produce a large vermillion flower.

Just checking photos of bighorn sheep scat on line and suspect that I have seen an considerable bit of it on these walks. Have also seen one very good hoof impression. 

Believe that I have also seen one largish cat print with nice round chubby pads and no claw marks.

Eighth Camera Walk

 This overcast day with a bit of breeze helps an August day be more comfortable for walking. It doesn't help this little point and shoot camera take better pictures.

Just got back from the walk and am letting the fan dry my perspiration.

Pictured is a golden yucca spike from last season in JTNP.


I was wondering how much energy there is in a yucca plant. How much hydrogen is there in a yucca plant? How much hydrogen do we put into a hydrogen bomb?

Seventh Camera Walk

These are leaves of a jojoba plant. I do nor know whether it is  a male plant or a female plant. If jojoba beans were present I'd know it for a female plant. The jojoba bean gained some fame in the the early 1980s. About that time, those willing to become jojoba bean growers were paid some of your tax dollars to do so.
From the jojoba bean can be extracted a rather nice oil. That oil seemed particularly attractive to some, about the time of the first 'oil crisis.'
Jojoba plantations were created here on the desert, but as more careful calculations were made it was seen that the harvesting of the bean was going to prove too expensive for 'the market.' I think that I can still find a couple of abandoned plantations near here. Not all plantations have been abandoned and some jojoba oil is being produced for the cosmetic market, experimentation, etc.
Some beans were taken to other parts of the world where harvesting and extraction costs would be less and some preparations were made to be ready for an improved demand.

I've just returned from my walk in the desert sun. I feel ready for a cup of coffee, a shower, and a brief nap.

Suzuki

 Here is a shot of my Suzuki waiting to carry me home after my most recent walk.