New Year’s Day Morning with More Snow On The Catalina Mountains — Image by kenne
This is the first time the front range got some snow with much more on Mt. Lemmon — not visible from this location.
At this posting, it is still snowing at the higher elevations.
— kenne
Catalina Foothills — Image by kenne
At first glance
mountains
are on fire,
but don’t call
the fire department
to put out
late afternoon
sunlight after
a passing shower.
— kenne
Clouds Over the Catalina Mountains — Image by kenne
— kenne
Hiking The Douglas Springs Trail In the Rincon Mountains with Views Toward The Catalina Mountains As Storms Move Through The Tucson Area. — Images by kenne
Panoramic View of the Rincon Mountains from above Windy Point Vista in the Catalina Mountains (6,600 feet) — Image by kenne
View of The Catalina Mountains On A Rainy Afternoon (10 minutes) In The Desert. Image by kenne
We have been in Tucson for two months, which is the monsoon time of the year in the deserts of southern Arizona. Some areas have literally received several inches of rain, but less than a trace where we are in the Catalina Foothills. So, forgive me for behaving like a child and going out to play in the rain. I’m not sharing a photo of how wet I am, but sometimes one needs to let the child in you out. “. . . just singing in the rain, just singing in the rain, what a wonderful feeling, just singing in the rain.” I wish it was a easy to share my feelings as it is to share a photo, but if you focus on the photo the feelings will fine you and the child inside you.
kenne
“Talking Tree” — Image by kenne
Talking Tree
“Hey you,” said a hollow raspy old voice.
Looking around, there was no one near me.
Concluding the voice came from people
on nearby boulders, I kept on walking.
“I know you heard me, don’t you see me?”
The voice was the same, this time more stern.
Still, there was no one behind me,
only the remains of an old tree.
Perhaps the voice came from behind the tree.
I began moving toward the tree, when,
suddenly one of the tree limbs began to move.
This can’t be, the tree was waving to me.
Was the sun starting to get to me?
“Don’t be afraid, come a little closer.
My voice was damaged from all the smoke.
Yes, the voice you hear is me,” said the tree.
This cannot be a talking tree, I thought.
Yet, there’s no one else around.
Still a non-believer, I nervously whispered,
“You cannot be a talking tree!”
“When I was green, I lived with other trees,
sharing views of ten mountain ranges,
dancing with the wind at Windy Point
where the desert turns into a lush forest.”
“Daily I would talk to stone images
carved over time by the wind,
creating impressionable stone statues
guarded by the Rock spire at Windy Point.”
“Over time lightening strikes have spark fires,
destroying forests, scarring the mountainsides,
leaving stumps and distorted trees
to cultivate a new life in the Catalina Mountains.”
“You should always listen,” said the tree.
“Listen to the trees and stone images, for they
hold the secrets to this mountain jewel overlooking
the Old Pueblo in the desert below.”
kenne
Views of Tucson from the Catalina Mountains — Images by kenne
Thursday, I was attending one of the Tucson Rotary Clubs. As often is the case, the sergeant-at-arms was asking questions and giving fines to people who could not answer the question. One question was, “Who is having a birthday tomorrow?” After several attempts, someone finally guessed, “Tucson.” Then the sergeant-at-arms asked,” How old is Tucson?” I knew the answer, but being a guest, he didn’t ask me. I was surprised at how many didn’t know the answer — 235 years old. Being new to the community and behaving much like a convert, I thought it was important to know that the Old Pueblo was founded August 20, 1765, so one should celebrate the day, or at least be aware of the birthday. So, yesterday I decided to drive into the Catalina Mountains to take some pictures of the city on its birthday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TUCSON!
kenne
Catalina Mountains — Image by kenne
