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I am hugging this rock because I love it.  I didn’t want to leave it and really studied how to get it out. Even though it is a basalt rock and has been in that location for millennium, I am sure it wanted to come home with me.   It is a lot heavier than it looks. I will have to resign to  a visit now and then. Each place we go I assign a memory to a rock and bring it home. Sometimes it’s just a tiny pebble I slip in my pocket (like the time my daughter swam in the freezing cold tide pool at pebble beach). Sometimes it’s a big one (Like the time  I told G “Never-mind, you can’t lift that one”…so it’s in our front yard now).  My rock memories are everywhere.   I need them like Tootles needs his marbles.

      G thinks it’s funny to hide random rocks, marbles, weird statues, or anything he finds in the yard somewhere on a shelf   for me to discover.  It’s become a such a thing that even some of our friends have joined in.  While standing in the kitchen after some house guests  had left, we found a jade skull among the random rock/marble/statue collection.   Another time it was an iron peace sign.  He is quite proud of this tradition he started.   Some of our best days have been hunting for unusual rocks or panning for gold.   Of course it is  fine when we are on the road but this  time we are flying.   We are taking an extra  checked bag  that is  filled with gifts and goodies to leave there.  Some see an empty bag, I see opportunity.   We can check up to 50 pounds. Not sure how Customs would look at the situation.   Hmmm ….. “But Mr. Customs officer sir, they are MEMORY ROCKS! They’re IMPORTANT!” One does not go around taking pennies/wishes out of wishing wells either right?  It’s logic, I think they would understand. The Tucson Gem and Mineral Society

Every May the forests of saguaro cactus bloom and hold their bouquets to the sky.It’s my favorite time of year.

The flowers turn into red fruits later. A brave bird has made a home in the cradle of arms.Some birds peck holes in the body of the Saguaro and stuff them with nests  for their birdie families. The holes leave scars and  when a saguaro dies the scar remains kind of like a leather boot.  Ambitious birds made the condos below. Which I turn into what I THINK is art.

The inside of the Saguaro is full of fiber, water and has ribs.   Below is a picture of  a dried Saguaro  that fell in the yard. Most of the fiber is scraped away leaving just ribs.

This is the inside of a Dried Saguaro

The Saguaro have “ribs”.

Hard to believe there are ribs inside these thorny giants.

Tohono O’Odham people have lived in the desert for centuries and make wine from the red fruit. NATURALLY I had to try it.(They had me at WINE).   

While  cooking the “recipe” I  noticed it smelled like potatoes. So I put in more sugar.  That might have been a mistake and I think I waited too long for it to ferment because it was WAY too strong. It did taste suspiciously like Vodka. Well if Vodka was 100 proof and tried to kill you. Poured it out just in case, didn’t want to set anyone on fire from the inside.                                                    (I’m kind of a hero like that. You’re Welcome ). So here is the Saguaro  fruit rinds displayed in the Tohono O’Odham tradition to bring the Monsoon rains to the desert. Like magic it rained the next day.  There just might be something to these old traditions.

This is Tucson!

I started desert and  accidentally meandered my way through fifty plus years.  I say accidentally because not much of it was planned. This is a place where I can share my love of this desert I call home, nature, travels, family and a few shenanigans along the way.  I’m glad you stopped by and welcome.