{this moment}

{this moment} a friday ritual...a single photo...no words-capturing a moment from the week. A simple special extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause,savor and remember. Inspired by SouleMama.

Hiking!!

As mentioned previously, it is SPRING here in Tucson. My hubby and I started walking/hiking - long on the list of TO DO things.

I just have to share some of our pictures from our latest walk/hike in Catalina State Park, a mere 10-15 minutes from our home.

Enjoy the beauty of the southwest!

The washes are running from the snow melt in the mountains.

Saguaro cactus on the hill.

Grass!






As we were walking down the trail - there was a crash from somewhere just before us. "What was that?!" We kept walking and soon saw what it was. An arm had just fallen off of this giant saguaro cactus. Just like that. Bizarre!





View of Pusch Ridge.




Wildflowers.
:)

Harris Hawk

He's back again. He likes to sit in my tree, just outside my window.

According to Wikepedia, this hawk can be anywhere from 18 to 30 inches tall, and generally have a wingspan of 3.6 feet.

The biggest bird that usually sits in our trees is a woodpecker, maybe 7 inches tall.

This hawk is huge. And he is a predator. He eats mice, cats, small dogs....

A raptor.

Watch out!

Giant Saguaro

The only place in the world that Giant Saguaro cactus grow is in the Sonoran Desert. That's where I am. I'm an ocean-kind-of-girl, who ever thought I'd be living in the desert? The desert isn't what you think of - there are not just vast wastelands of sand. There's tons of vegetation, trees (although not very tall), cactus. There are lots of things to stab you. All different kinds of cactus. None of which you want to touch. I've heard lots of stories of people falling into cactus, being thrown off of horses into cactus...then there are the jumping cholla cactus. You don't want to get too close to them, or the cactus will jump off and attack you. Seriously!
Our first house here was very pretty, in a development. However, still in the desert. I was planting flowers by the front door, near this huge agave plant - a succulent. It stabbed me in the upper arm. I couldn't lift my arm for a week. It has poison on the ends of the little spikes! Who knew??
Anyway, the giant saguaro don't grow arms until they are at least 50 years old. And they are protected - the builders building their vast armies of houses all right next to each other have to replant the saguaro. Or build around them. Here's one in my front yard...