This Morning a Broad-banded Swallowtail Visited Our Potted Lemon Plant on the Patio — Images by kenne
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Broad-banded Swallowtail Visit Lemon Plant 2 comments
Southern Dogface # 7 Leave a comment
Southern Dogface # 7 — Image by kenne
The southern dogface is a common butterfly this time of year here in Tucson,
and they are especially attracted to the Mexican Bird of Paradise blossoms.
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind;
In the primal sympathy
Which having been must ever be;
In the soothing thoughts that spring
Out of human suffering;
In the faith that looks through death,
In years that bring the philosophic mind.
— from 536. Ode Intimations of Immortality by William Wordsworth
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Monsoon Clouds Leave a comment
Monsoon Clouds Over the Santa Catalina Mountains — Image by kenne
A rainy day is a perfect time to walk in the mountains.
— kenne
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Curve-billed Thrasher at Patio Bird Feeder Leave a comment
Curve-billed Thrasher at Patio Bird Feeder — Image by kenne
As I sit on our patio
watching birds land
in near-by mesquites
before flying to the
olive tree on the patio,
then gathering the nerve
to bolt to the bird feeders.
They are not pleased
that I sit on the patio
with a camera in hand.
Soon, the desire to eat
takes priority over fear.
— kenne
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Flashback — Seeing Ramsey Lewis at the London House Leave a comment
The great Ramsey Lewis passed away September 12th at age 87. This is a posting from November 1, 2009. May he rest in peace. — kenne
Sunday afternoon and here I am listening to music back in time – in my mind. The time is the sixties, a time of early romance, which has always had a music connection – especially blues and jazz. Nurtured by late night radio, the music was often a balance with loneliness providing a connection with the feeling that stirred my very being. Some of my favorite jazz musicians were the likes of Oscar Peterson, Ramsey Lewis, Dave Brubeck, Erroll Garner and Ahmad Jamal. 
So, as I set here on our deck watching the dance of flying insects, a vision seen only because of the late afternoon sun spotlighting the being, otherwise unnoticed to the eye, and listening to an NPR interview with Ramsey Lewis – Ramsey Lewis: Opening Jazz to All – the genenis of my flashback.
Loving the late night radio music, it was only natural to share…
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Ramsey Lewis, RIP Leave a comment
Ramsey Lewis — Getty Images
Mary Ann and I went to see the great Ramsey Lewis at Chicago’s London House in the early 70s. The Trio was the house band for a number of years. On his passing at 87, The Guardian wrote:
“The piano great tuned in to the hits of his day and played hard bop to a rock backbeat,
crossing into the mainstream and becoming one of the most sampled musicians of all time”
“I can, if necessary, play quite complicated jazz improvisations,” he once said. “But you’ve got to make sure you carry the audience with you. Most people don’t have an MA in music scholarship, they haven’t sat a jazz improvisation 101, they don’t want to hear you playing bebop inspired by Béla Bartók. You’ve got to follow the audience, and play off their energy.”
Amen! A class act when “class” meant a lot more.
— kenne
Here’s a link to a 2009 blog posting on Ramsey Lewis: https://kenneturner.com/2009/11/01/flashback-seeing-ramsey-lewis-at-the-london-house/
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Clouds Over The Catalinas Leave a comment
Clouds Over The Catalinas — Image by kenne
The monsoon brought below-average rain this year
that is unless you are up in the Santa Catalina Mountains.
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Sombrero Peak In Saguaro National Park Leave a comment
Hiking Sombrero Peak, located in Saguaro National Park–West, is a 3.3-mile out-and-back hike
with 1500 cumulative feet of elevation gain. — Panorama by kenne
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Fallen Century Plant Leave a comment
A Fallen Century Plant Observed On This Morning’s Walk In Tanuri Ridge — Image by kenne
The century plant, Agave americana, is monocarpic, meaning it will bloom once in its lifetime.
However, it doesn’t bloom in a hundred years but may not appear for 10, 20, or more years, depending on the climate.
Most species in the genus Agave flower just once, although there are a few that are repeat bloomers.
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Curve-billed Thrasher On The Wall Leave a comment
Curve-billed Thrasher On The Patio Wall — Image by kenne
A curve-billed Thrasher
Looks at the camera’s eye
Bringing eye to eye.
— kenne
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Roadrunner In Olive Tree Leave a comment
Roadrunner in Olive Tree
Almost Blown Off the Limb by Strong Gust of Wind — Images by kenne
Roadrunner on limb
Checking out the olive tree —
Ornate tree lizards.
Looking all around
A windy day in the tree
Safer on the ground
— kenne
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The answer is . . . Leave a comment
This post is from September 2011; however, the Photo-Artistry is from 2001. — kenne
“Seeking Knowledge” — Image by kenne
The answer is . . .
Often when I ask the question,
“Why?”
The answer is,
“Because,
why must you doubt?”
The answer is . . .
Because, history teaches us,
teaching us right and wrong,
lessons by which to live —
The stories of life;
stories of value,
only if not taken literally.
The written word
is but a template,
for customizing life
in a world of change —
For providing the guide posts,
not the direction.
There’s nothing else there,
but what’s potential
in a field of doubt,
lead about by a guide,
like a stranger
in another reality.
We are expected to praise
the sentiments of the guide,
as if not worthy
to form an opinion,
leaving conclusions
to the turn of a phrase.
Let there be
no more assumptions,
for the responsibility
rests with the nature
of the subject…
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Too Close To The Edge Leave a comment
Tucson Basin, August 31, 2022 — Panorama Image by kenne
Blue sky above
a winding highway
on a sunkissed morning.
Tourists in rental cars
stop at Windy Point vista
climbing boulders
for a better view —
children too close
to the edge.
— kenne
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In The Desert, Only Golfers Walk On Grass 1 comment
Desert Golf Course — Image by kenne
Lizard don’t golf
Does anyone here remember
heat dancing off the sand
living land
the shifting dunes of september
now entombed in golf course green
so obscene
travelers came to see desert sights
searching for exotic places
empty spaces
stayed for warm days, star filled nights
building homes in paradise
closed eyes
banished the desert from its place
visitors need a permit to pass
keep off grass
Made a playground from the empty space
golfs a game anyone may play
they say
claiming a course is better than the desert waste
but the lizards who paid
never played
— Luann Pfost
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Hiking To The Top Leave a comment
This morning I learned of the death of Dorothy Wilhelmsen at 94. She led some of my early hikes on Mt. Lemmon while still in her early 80s. A model hiker! — kenne
Photo-Artistry by kenne
would love to feel
old abilities
coming on strong
weaken more by age
still trying
to spread
my wings
mountains on the left
mountains on the right
reaching deep inside
opening those
old doors
releasing those
old strengths
I can climb
I know I can
I can climb
to the top
in search
of those old feelings
now only in my dreams
trying to deal with
too much stuff
still can’t get enough
keep on climbing
sucking more air
a whole lot of air
I can climb
I know I can
mountains on the left
mountains on the right
still, miles to go
one switchback at a time
posing
for the fleet of foot
and young at heart
as I catch my breath
I can climb
I know I can
under indigo skies
mountains to climb
following old images
painted with the
brush of experience
sometimes I…
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Becoming is Superior to Being 