sometimes they just pose for me...

We're both enjoying a beautiful November day today.

a visit to Tubac...

Participating in Texture Tuesday. Phoebe texture used in a variety of ways that I can't begin to remember. Thank you, Kim!


Tubac isn't far and we visit once or twice a year. It is a mixture of Mexico, art and cliche. There is always something new and always something fun.


We got a head start on some holiday shopping. I can feel the worry in my friends and family as they look at these photos. Who will get that big chicken?



We even found a little bit of fall.

all souls procession...

The All Souls Procession is held every November, in conjunction with Dia de los Muertos. It honors the lives of those who have passed on. It is a celebration of life and a mourning of loss. People carried photographs of their loved ones. Participants dressed as giraffes, mourned the death of Watoto, a giraffe who died at the zoo this year. A woman mourned the death of her marriage. People remembered the victims of breast cancer and AIDS. A little boy walked with photos of his dog. The celebration is joyous and respectful.


































For all of its faults, Tucson is truly a remarkable town. Although it is a city of 1,000,000+, it still feels like a town. This is one of the reasons. Where else can you see a bagpipe group and the university marching band, all with skeleton faces?





This connects us all. We all have loss. We all mourn our loved ones who are gone. This is a celebration of their lives, our love for them and how we will always remember, hopefully with a smile on our faces.




More photos below. Blogger was giving me fits today.

more from all souls...

blowing in the wind...

We have so much sun here that a cloudy day is cause for celebration. I want to get out with my camera and capture that rich, saturated color that only cloudy days can bring. When I saw a monarch butterfly hanging about the garden, I knew I would capture some colorful photos.

I wasn't thinking about the wind. The 30mph winds.

First I got many just like this.



Then I got some like this. There is part of me that likes this one.





















I don't know how she hung on.


It was worth being patient.

sunshine...

When I was a little girl and was feeling under the weather, my father would always tell me to go get some sun. I have been following that advice for many years and it always seems to help. Usually, I have a book, today I had a camera. I was unable to count but there were at least six hummingbirds buzzing around me this morning.

He was enjoying the sunshine too.

This one made me laugh. He was shaking like a wet dog. Maybe trying to keep warm?

Do you see him sticking his tongue out?

All puffed out trying to keep warm.

Peek-a-boo.

I am not sure that I have seen the spotting on the underside before.





It is hard to pick up the amazing color some of these hummingbirds have. Look at the neck on this shot.

This is the very next shot, same bird. He just turned his head a little bit.


I am so glad I had some company this morning.