3.15.2010

the canal...

Ahhh.  The weekend.  Did you have a nice one?  I hope so.  I sure did.  Played some cards on Friday night.   I think I was the big loser but who cares, the snacks were great.  My sweet sister-in-law bought special gluten-free crackers and served them with a dollop of melted brie and slivered almonds.   Divine.

Saturday morning we went for a 2 mile walk down the canal.  What?  You didn't know about the canals  running through our fine city?  We may not have the ocean, but we've got water people - oh yes we do.  The photo above is the part of the canal where we usually start our walk.  The blue is the reflection of the sky.  You can the see actual color of the water at the end of the story.

These are some of the things we noticed along the way - a few just might surprise you. 

First, let's step out my back door and see how our cacti are blooming.  It's crazy pretty here right now.  We brag about our February and March colors because of what's coming.  It always comes.  Summer finds us.  It comes early and it stays too long.  The contrast between now and the oppresive, moisture sucking summer is vast.  This is our time.  This is why we all live here.


These are the canal greeters.  We were a bit early Saturday, usually there is quite a welcoming party upon arrival.  Some people feed the ducks.  The canal ducks always swim over to check and see if we might be one of these kind people.  We are not.  We have a dog who wants to do bad things to these ducks.  Bad things that would make mommy cry.


This is a Mesquite tree.  Some of our desert trees are very sculptural.  They survive in the harshest of conditions and provide the most beautiful silhouettes.  I have come to appreciate and love them.


The canal is bursting with color.




Andrew Henry took a moment to notice this telephone pole.  The beauty of the workmanship inspires him.  He was explaining how the wires go in and what happens and blah blah blah.  I listen, I really do, it's the remembering I'm so very bad at.  I think we discussed how many trees in this country were used to make all these telephone poles.


Now here are the two photos I think may shock you.  This little fellow belongs to a group of about 12.  I don't know where they came from or what they are but we see them all the time.  They are always in this area of the canal.  They make a sweet squawking sound.  This is the best shot I could get.  They rest had already taken flight.


I have seen bats (summer), hawks, cranes, geese and even an owl but these little tropical fellas are my favorite.  I like different.  I really really do.

Now, here is something I think you would have never guessed.  We have seashells in Arizona.  I know.  It freaks me out all the time.  They are all along the bank of this particular part of the canal - though  I took this photo away from the bank.  Canal on the right of me and this on the left of me - walking path is in between.  You can click on the image (any image on my blog) and view it a bit larger to get a better look.


Does this shock you as much as it does me?  I am always amazed people aren't stopping and staring at them - pointing and calling everyone over to express their awe at the fact WE HAVE SEASHELLS IN THE DESERT. 

The other exciting thing about this are all the little blades of grass sprouting up between the shells.  We've had much rain this year (for us) and it's exciting to see all the green popping up.  It's right under the surface all the time - just waiting.  Waiting for that little drink to come and bring the desert to life.  Inspiring.

This is the actual color of the water.  No crystal blue, no crashing waves, no soft sand - but it's our canal and I love it.

11 comments:

Andrew H. said...

I looked around and I think that little green bird is a red-masked parakeet. Someone can prove me wrong, but that is what it looks like to me. Funny looking little guy!

Andrew H. said...

Looks like the little birds are far from home. The red-masked parakeet isn't supposed to live in Phoenix....

http://www.fosbirds.org/AtlasData/maps/rmpa.jpg

Maria said...

Just gorgeous! If the duckies don't mind the color of the water - why should we :-D
I find shells in the oddest of places (this from the woman in Florida - no big deal, right). But I mean, in all my travels, I have seen shells. It stopped surprising me a long time ago - now it is pure delight when I see them. And, I wonder, like you, if others even take notice, and then ponder how they got there.......

sunshine said...

Who would have thought the desert would be teemimg with such plant and animal/bird life!? All are so beautiful! Seashells....proof the desert was once covered by water.
Your garden sculpture is very attractive and complemented by such a beautiful plant.

Beatnheart said...

Beautiful photography.. yes! we are in our element right now. Long Beach gets hot to but coolness is just minutes away. We are on a funny area of the beach and are usually hotter by about 15 degrees than the rest of the coast. So I do not like summer or the heat. I stay inside like its a blizzard outhere. So lets live it up now..

KR said...

The desert is sooo beautiful right now! The record rainfall has made it even more vibrant than usual. Love the pics, the plants along the canal are stunning! That little tropical bird is just precious.

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed the walk along the canal with you. I can see why you love it.

Jeanine said...

Thanks to you I may just try to change the world (or not). I'll start with my eating habits. Those little crackers were Delicious, with a capital "D". So, the next day I made them again and topped the little creation off with shaved red apples-yum! Sure beats my usual peanut butter bagel (which I just polished off). I am going to be a little more creative with the edibles around this house blah-blah-blah! I'll let ya know how long it lasts. Anyways, as usual your pictures were beautiful. I love the little bird-so adoring and the shells are something I am familiar with. Ta Ta www.etsy.com/shop/RockinJ9designs

jeanette from everton terrace said...

Be careful Jeanine, it's a slippery slope - soon you'll be a "foodie" like the rest of us!

MJM said...

The desert is so much more beautiful than people think! And I love the parakeet! I have never seen him up close!

Pamela Crawford said...

one of the best things about the desert is the smell after a good rain. i miss that...and the sunsets! gorgeous.
loved all your photos. you deserve the blog award!