Oddities in Greer , Az

Just an assosrtment of interesting photos taken in Greer with the exception of the bird house taken at
Darby's. Great breakfasts in Pine Top.

Pine Top, Arizona

Beautiful drive up scary Salt Creek Canyon. Walked around Wood Lake. Just enough to get a little exercise, a bit of nature and my dog fix.

Birding in the Huachuca Mountain Canyons

Southeastern Arizona is an area visited by birders from all over the world. The Huachuca mountains have numerous canyons that reach up and beyond mile high Ramsey Canyon. Miller canyon along the Mexican Border and Ash Canyon although devastated by last years fire and subsequent flooding are now open.  Entering through Fort Huachuca it is a short distance to Garden Canyon, requiring some vigorous hiking and Huachuca canyon which requires some rough driving and high clearance.

These ladies were very determined birders that were willing to endure the the difficulty to search for the elusive red faced warbler and the spotted owl. In total 91 species of birds were identified. The Elegant Trogan was heard but not seen.

Hummingbirds seen in Cochise County, Az

Southeastern Arizona is one of the best places in the US to see hummingbirds. There are up to 15 species that have been seen in this area and August and September are ideal times to see not only the local hummers but the ones that are migrating. During our 3 days we observed 7 varieties.  Many of these can also come to home feeders in Green Valley and Madera Canyon. Thanks to Google Images for these photos.

Black Chinned

Anna's

Broad Billed

Broad Tailed

Blue Throated

Magnificient

Violet Crowned

Casa de San Pedro B&B

 We spent 3 nights at this great B&B in the heart of birding country near Hereford in S. E. Arizona.

Over the next few blogs I will talk about birding in the canyons of the Huachuca Mountains and along the San Pedro Riparian Reserve as well as around this lovely setting.

The day always started with a walk around the building and grounds set up with many bird feeders

This was followed by a fabulous and very unique breakfast cooked and served by owners Karl and Patrick.  In the photo of breakfast is "Dutch Babies", a very large popover with warm fruit compote.


Then we were off for some very serious and strenuous searching for birds, some common and some rare but most very special to Arizona.

This is a world class bed and breakfast, 90 miles southeast of Tucson.

"Hysteria" - the movie

No one can make comedies like the Brits. In Hysteria, Director Tanya Wexler takes the true story of the invention of the vibrator to the screen

in a romantic comedy. I hate to even think how Hollywood would have made this move.

It is 1880 and Dr's were treating women for hysteria, which could include anything from a toothache to fatigue. This treatment included "pelvic massage". One of the  complications to the doctor was -hand injuries. OR secondary carpal tunnel.   This film has an excellent cast with Maggie Gyllenhall as a 19th century feminist and Hugh Darcy as the physician Mortimer Granville. Rupert Everett is the inventor friend who happens upon the ideas for a machine to assist Granville and shorten the time to to produce "paroxysms".

Supporting this cast is a host of female actors who
play the very grateful patients.

At the showing that I attended there was much laughter
from the many women attending.
I have no idea what men will say.
I suspect that they will squirm in their seats.

BUT I loved it.

Dog Days of Summer

Ahhhhhh! If we could only be so carefree in the water and the heat.

Woody Allen is back again.

After the success of "Midnight in Paris" I did not expect another hit from Woody quite so soon.

Of course the term "hit" is only mine and others who saw and enjoyed the film. With the exception of the New Yorker the critics have given it a less than warm reception. Why? I can't imagine.

I liked this movie - a lot.

It was back to the clever humor of the Woody Allen we remember. And he plays the neurotic   bumbling nerd we haven't seen for several films.

                                                                                   There are several plots or stories. Much like a      Robert Altman film, various lives cross and intersect -sometimes.

Roberto Benigni plays a middle class man who unwillingly becomes a celebrity. Not because he does anything but just -because. Much like reality stars and Nicole Riche or Paris Hilton.  Allen shows us the silly side of the public's fascination with the famous.

Allen plays an unfulfilled retired opera director.
His wife is played by Judy Davis and the chemistry between the two worked for me. They are in Rome to meet their daughter's fiance and his parents. The fiance's father has a beautiful operatic voice but ONLY in the shower. This provides a lot of laughs in the film.  Jesse Eisenberg and Alec Baldwin play architect and student with Baldwin as the conscience of the younger man as he tries to sort out lust from love.

Penelope Cruz does well with comedy as a prostitute having to act as the wife but educating the young naive newlywed in sex.

Many critics have said that Allen couldn't decide which story he wanted to tell so he "threw them all" onto the screen.

All this in the warm and golden cinematography
of Rome and all of its beauty.

Thanks Woody. I loved it.
4*'s