My skin is the cover of my body. It keeps me bound to my surroundings. It is the leather over my spine. It is the silk over the corneas of my eyes. Where I am hairless, at the lips and groin, there is pinkness and vulnerability. Despite a protective covering of horny skin, there is no such problem with my fingers, whose ridges and grooves are so gratifying to both the lover and the criminologist. I think perhaps the entire history of me is here—viper of memory, stab of regret, red light of oblivion. Hell would be living without them.
A Morning Walk Along The Tanque Verde Wash — Images by kenne
Our community of Tanuri Ridge backs up to the Tanque Verde Wash. The wash continues to eat away at our property line. Soon, this part of the trail will be washed away, along with the “branch art” monuments along the Tanque Verde banks.
Recent mountain rains in the Catalinas are beginning to bring ash from the Big Horn Fire to the wash.
● relax ● don’t compete ● always respect nature ● be patient and you will get there ● be conscious, rocks can harm you and others ● go new ways, boost your creativity ● let go when its time to ● push your limits ● never give up ● enjoy the art
Late Wednesday, June 10th. Most of the smoke is from upper Pima Canyon, Finger Rock and Mt. Kimball.
Around 6:00 am Thursday, June 11th. The smoke has settled in over
the Catalina Mountains and beginning to move down into the Tucson basin.
The smell from the fire is very noticeable as I leave for my morning walk in the neighborhood.
I’m now at the back of Tanuri Ridge as more of the smoke appears
to be leaving the mountains spreading over the Catalina Foothills.
I’m beginning to think I should have warned a facemask.
Now at the entrance of Tanuri Ridge and you can bearly make out
the mountains.
I used a Photoshop Dehaze filter on some of these images so in reality,
there was much more smoke and haze.
Tanuri Drive
As I continued my walk, the parts of the fire appeared to be backtracking to the west.
There’s very little wind this morning, so a lot of the news smoke
coming from downdrafts through where rain would typically
flow off the mountains.
A big plum of smoke coming from the Finger Rock area.
It is now around 8:00 am.
It is now around 10:30 am. The fire is now about a mile west of
Pima Canyon trailhead. (Because of my distance from the
mountains, I’m making an educated guess.)
The following copy is from Haidi Chewel, with the National Forest Service.
Bighorn Fire – June 11th, 2020 Morning Update
Pima County Sheriff’s Department issues “SET” notice
Acres: 4,769 Percent Containment: 10%
Start Date: June 5th, 2020 Cause: Lightning
Origin Location: Santa Catalina Mountains
Jurisdiction: Coronado National Forest, including portions of the Pusch Ridge Wilderness
Personnel: 391
Resources: 6 hotshot crews, 3 Type 2 hand crews, 7 Type 3 engines, 1 Type 4 engine, 7 Type 6 engines, 4 Type 1 helicopters, 1 Type 2 helicopter, 2 Type 3 helicopter, 10 water tenders
The Bighorn Fire remained active overnight, with flames being pushed downhill by downslope winds. Temperatures up to 106 degrees today and continued low humidity will increase fire activity. The fire will again be highly visible on the front range of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Crews will work to hold the fire perimeter and continue building fire lines, tying into control features such as roads and rock outcroppings. Additional aerial resources will support the crews on the ground with water and retardant drops.
Over the next several days’ communities can expect to see crews and apparatus working in an around subdivisions in the Catalina Foothills. Members of the public are advised to drive with caution and leave roadways clear for emergency vehicles and equipment to pass.
During this of the coronavirus as neighbors, we see one another more often,
all be it at a distance as we shelter at home, providing more time for things to drift
through my open mind. This posting first appeared in April 2014.
— kenne
“Waves of Joy” — Image by kenne
Palo Verde trees, common to the Sonoran Desert, brighten the Tucson area in the springtime with millions of five-petaled yellow blossoms.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD — TRYING TO REASON
We traverse these streets, sometimes early in the morning, sometimes late in the day, sometimes walking, sometimes running — always for a reason.
We wave at passersby, sometimes we greet them, sometimes it’s just a smile sometimes we stop and talk, sometimes walking together, always for a reason.
We have neighborly expectations, sometimes it’s watering plants, sometimes it’s calling the ill, sometimes it’s being complimentary, sometimes it’s being watchful, always for a reason.
We can be a convivial people, sometimes we go out together, occasionally we party together, sometimes we join clubs together, sometimes we share community work, always for a reason.
We can be adversaries, sometimes our expectations are not real, sometimes we overreact, sometimes we take reactions personally, sometimes power is polarized, frustration generalized, always for a reason.
We can be Pleasantville, sometimes we are without color, sometimes we are in pools of sorrow, sometimes we are in waves of joy,
sometimes drifting through my open mind,
always for a reason.
A Visitor On The Patio (Immature Cooper’s Hawk) — Images by kenne
This immature Cooper’s Hawk perched on one of our patio chairs not far from the bird feeder frequented by doves for about one minute this morning. A mature hawk would have been up in the olive tree near the feeder. Even then, that doesn’t work as well as swooping from over the rooftop. They will learn. These images were taken through the patio door, which given the time of day the doors become a mirror.
Beauty and size make the two-tailed swallowtail butterfly (Papilio multicaudata) an impressive specimen with a nearly five-inch wingspan and a body that approaches two inches in length. So impressive that is was designated the Arizona state butterfly in 2001.
Near the top of the yellow wings are 4 markings of almost parallel black lines. The posterior portion of the wings holds blue dots surrounded by black markings that curve to form a “w” shape when the wings are open. Below these dots are more rectangular shaped orange bars emblazoned into the dark outline of the wing.
Tanuri Ridge Rainbow (07/21/20) — Image by kenne
Balanced Stones — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Giant Swallowtail (Tanuri Ridge)– Image by kenne
Late Wednesday, June 10th. Most of the smoke is from upper Pima Canyon, Finger Rock and Mt. Kimball. 
Around 6:00 am Thursday, June 11th. The smoke has settled in over
The smell from the fire is very noticeable as I leave for my
I’m now at the back of Tanuri Ridge as more of the smoke appears
Now at the entrance of Tanuri Ridge and you can bearly make out
I used a Photoshop Dehaze filter on some of these images so in reality,
Tanuri Drive
As I continued my walk, the parts of the fire appeared to be
There’s very little wind this morning, so a lot of the news smoke
A big plum of smoke coming from the Finger Rock area.
It is now around 8:00 am. 
It is now around 10:30 am. The fire is now about a mile west of
Katelyn at Sunset (March 2017) — Photo-Artistry by kenne
“Waves of Joy” — Image by kenne
“Pools of Sorrow” — Image by kenne
A Visitor On The Patio (Immature Cooper’s Hawk) — Images by kenne
Two-Tailed Swallowtail Butterfly — Image by kenne
