Cat Camouflage

Now you see him.

Now you don't.

Well, you almost can't see the bobcat. Both his coloring and his demeanor camouflage his presence in the desert. The neighborhood bobcat walked through our side yard yesterday morning and out into the desert where he stretched and preened and tried to catch a bird. His antics went on for over five minutes and gave us an opportunity to see how beautiful these animals are.

Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Splendid Ninth Hole

So, this post is to remind my brother-in-law Jim from Memphis that it is perfectly okay with me if he comes to Tucson to golf for a few days.

This is the view of the Tucson Mountains, Twin Peaks in particular, from the Ninth Hole at Heritage Highlands on Dove Mountain. There were high winds yesterday afternoon that created layers of a dusty haze in the distance.

So beautiful, so splendid.

Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Taildraggers to Cellphone Lots

Whoever came up with the idea of cellphone lots was a travel genius.

What's a cellphone lot? It's basically a dedicated parking lot that is close to a terminal at a major airport. Instead of waiting for someone by driving around and around the terminal, you drive to the cellphone lot and wait there.

These lots are called cellphone lots since the arriving passenger will usually use a cellphone to let the waiting driver know that their flight is on the ground and unloading.

At Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix the Cellphone Lot has its own digital board that lists incoming flight data. All of the parking spaces face this big "scoreboard." There's also a porta potty, another necessity.

All of this is very clever and makes picking up an arriving passenger a snap.

The first time I can remember picking anyone up at an airport was probably in the 1950's when we lived in Marshfield, Wisconsin. My Mom took us kids to Stevens Point to pick up my Dad. It seems to me that Dad had flown to Dayton, Ohio. North Central Airlines, which later became Republic and then Northwest, served that part of central Wisconsin back then. The plane was a taildragger, probably a DC-3, with a goose (or was it a duck?) painted on the tail.

From taildraggers to cellphone lots. My, how times have changed.

Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Desert Rock

I pass by this rock on a trail that I walk on Dove Mountain. I like this rock and, in this image, I like the shadows that define it.

The rock is cracked, yet solid. It has fissures, yet it has a place. It's off the trail, yet close enough to prop my foot to tie a shoe string or pause for a stretch. It's dull gray, yet surrounded by the desert's bright greens and soft teals.

It teaches me a thing or two about being broken, yet strong. About the side of the trail being where you can stay and stay, and stay some more. About shadows that bring out the beauty of line and shape and form in that which seemingly has little color.

It's a very cool rock.

Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Photoshop Bird

The image of this little bird should really be a reminder to me of how grateful I am to my oldest son. Several years ago Will urged me to start using Photoshop. He saw my photographic interests and knew that it would be a program that would challenge me.

Will is a professional Steadicam operator so he is constantly dealing with light and shadow, movement and line, morning light and evening sun. I finally shucked off the parent-like resistance to advice that clouded my thinking and bought Photoshop.

So, a couple of years later, I'm still learning.

Here's what I did to this image.

1 -- Cropped it in real close.
2 -- Gave the entire image a canvas texture.
3 -- Added angled strokes to the image.
4 -- Brushed more green into the two leaves on the ocotillo.
5 -- Used reds and pinks to highlight the colors in the bird.
6 -- Spotted a tiny white highlight to the eye.
7 -- Resisted the temptation to play with the shadow.
8 -- Added a thin black border and the copyright text.

Here's what I started with.

Learning Photoshop is like having a sewing machine with lots of bells and whistles. There is always some aspect of the machine or the craft to be learned.

=============

As a reminder, if you want to see a photo in this blog up closer, click on the image.

Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Back Nine Javelinas

The critter count kicked up a notch yesterday afternoon when a bunch (flock? fetch? herd?) of javelinas decided to take over the fairway on the Number 15 hole. These three were grazing along the side of the fairway while another older javelina settled in near the cart path.

My golf buddies spotted a bobcat on the 13th hole, too. I was retrieving my ball from a shallow depression when I heard a cry of "bobcat" come from above me. By the time I climbed the edge of the bowl I was in, the bobcat was gone.

The Accenture Match Championship PGA event is just up the mountain from this golf course. I wonder who gets "shoo-them-javelinas-away" duty in the morning before the professional golfers hit the links? Oh, well. Could be rattlesnakes. . .or alligators.

Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

The Parrot

The art class that I was in last weekend had a bird surprise on Sunday. We walked down the hill from the classroom building to the art gallery where this parrot was holding court.

The parrot, Elsie, is 23 years old and lives at the Desert Museum which is a botanical garden, zoo, art institute and lots more, all wrapped into one institution. I was too busy photographing Elsie to get all the details of her bird lineage.

Elsie was delightful and entertained us with her words and antics. Plus ( I will say this very quietly) she pooped! Her docent/keeper had a tissue on hand for the occasion and all was well. The parrot kind of reminded me of a baby, with the pooping and all. She look uncomfortable, shifted her feet back and forth, crouched, and. . .tissue time. Good bird!

Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler



 to the

Theodore in Memphis, A Drama -- Part 2

SCENE TWO: A pup, growing up
SETTING: An evening in Memphis and NOTDOG (Chloe) is waiting in the living room for her date to arrive.


DOG: Some days Ah wish mah name was Taylor.

NOTDOG: Why's that, Theodore?

DOG: Well, when y'all sing that song, you know the one about the coffee shop guy, that bare-eesta, well, Ah get all shook up.

NOTDOG: Theodore, the all shook up line is an Elvis line.  You know that. You are a native Memphian. Maybe you've been playing with your rubber Elvis Chicken too much lately.

DOG: But Ah was watching the YouTube video of you singing about Taylor and Ah was really and truly shook up at how beautiful and sad that song makes me feel.

NOTDOG: I get it. You don't want me to grow up and leave for college, is that it, Theodore?

DOG: Well-l-l, yes Ma'am, that's sort of what Ah've been thinking about. Ah just love it when you strum your guitar and practice your singing and talk real purty to me. Why, Aunt Eller. . .

(Theodore stops short. He's a big fan of Oklahoma and Laurie and Curley and he loves Aunt Eller the best, but since he lives in Memphis, he doesn't want his people to know how many times he's seen Oklahoma on YouTube when they're sleeping. He's also a Kristin Chenoweth fan and watches her on YouTube in the middle of the night, but, this too, shall remain his very own canine secret.)

NOTDOG: So, what if I was to change the words a bit and sing real purty to you?

(She bends down and scoops the bulldog up in her arms. They are a picture of loveliness. Theodore with his lovely white fur and NOTDOG in her white pearls and vintage ivory lace dress. She smiles at him.)

NOTDOG: What would you think about that, Theodore? Would you like that?

(Theodore closes his eyes longer than usual. When he opens them, a tear traces a path down his wrinkly face.)

DOG: (Almost a whisper.) Ah'd love that!

NOTDOG sings:

Theodore, the French Bull Dog,
Bring me java, 'cause he brings me joy!
Oh Theodore, my sweet dog,
I love him, I love him, I love him!

TO BE CONTINUED. . . maybe.


Photo by MJ Burkhead
Script by WJ Eichler

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Theodore in Memphis, A Drama -- Part I
Here's Chloe singing "Taylor the Latte Boy" at her school.

Saguaro Sunset

One saguaro against the glow of the lost sun makes my walk up the hill into a picture perfect evening. A quirk of the camera adds a rose pink glimmer to this night sky.

Here in the Tortolita foothills near Tucson the evenings are much cooler than daytime. As the sun sets, a cool breeze begins its nightly shuffle across the desert. Doves call softly to each other in the low shrubs. A train whistle sounds from the valley below. City lights sparkle in the distance.

Another desert night begins.

Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Desert Mallow

Although I'm not entirely sure, I think I have identified this as the Desert Globemallow from Meg Quinn's book, "Wildflowers of the Desert Southwest." Out at Saguaro National Park, on a bulletin board of currently blooming flowers, the plant was called Apricot Mallow. This photo was taken on the Dove Mountain Rd trail.

The deep orange caught my eye. Because so many desert plants are yellow or white, this one pops out with its lovely gray green scallop edged leaves.

"Wildflowers of the Desert Southwest" also calls this plant sore eye poppy, because if you contact the leaves and then accidentally wipe your eye, there can be an irritation. I've done that many times when I've weeded marigolds or picked them for bouquets. Marigolds have a unique smell to them, too, when you cut through the stems or bruise the leaves.

The wildflowers are already blooming in southern Arizona. Not a lot, but certainly starting to put on a good show.

Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Tucson Mountains

The afternoon clouds cast sweeping shadows on the western slopes of the Tucson Mountains last Friday. Tall saguaros punctuate the landscape like fence posts in this view as seen near the Visitor Center at Saguaro National Park West.

I've been driving through the northern foothills of the Tucson Mountains for the last two days on my way to an art class at Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. Between the desert landscape with the dense saguaro forest and the class (I haven't been in an art class since seventh grade), I'm feeling a bit out of my comfort zone.

Once again, my midwestern sensibilities are showing. As uncomfortable and out of sorts as I feel from time to time, being away from home and taking a class have been good for my brain and for my soul.

Besides, I'm in awe of the mountains. Their strength and massiveness are stalwart and steady. The cloud shadows change the contours of the canyons and crevices hour by hour and day by day. The morning light feels bright and uplifting; evening light is soft and transcendent.

Mountains and art class -- I'm seeing new things here in Arizona.

Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Froggie Goes 'A Golfing

Froggie rides in back

That little green froggie, that one in the back of the golf car, he's new to this part of Arizona. He arrived via the US Postal Service just as you see him. That white splotch on his nose? That's his mailing label.

Froggie appeared in my mailbox one morning this week. He travelled all the way from Michigan to Arizona, thanks to the good wishes of my grandsons, Max and Finny; their Mom, Liesl; and lots of postal people.

So now Froggie will get to see this part of Arizona. He golfed 18 holes on Wednesday. On Thursday he stayed home, tired from all the golfing.

Froggies goes to art class, tucked into my daybag, with my water bottles

This weekend he is attending an art class in composition at Arizona Sonora Desert Museum near Saguaro National Park. Maybe Froggie will get to meet a desert tortoise!

Frog meets turtle. That would be cool.

Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Meeting Jayden

I got to meet some great parents at Marana High School last night. Here's Angela with her son Jayden. Jayden is a smiling and happy little guy who enjoyed trading smiles with me at last night's open house for the Teen Parent Program.

One of our Marana neighbors, Sandy, a retired teacher, is a volunteer with the Teen Parent Program. Sandy organizes a menu and teaches a cooking class once a month for the students who are learning parenting skills right along with the standard high school curriculum. Sandy's a supporter of this program and of the young parents who often benefit from the furniture and baby clothes and other goodies that she wrangles from her friends and neighbors.

Last night's open house was a casual, get-to-know each other affair. There were moms and dads, grandmothers and grandfathers, nursing students, school and program staff, volunteers and friends of the program -- all sharing a meal and conversation at Marana High School.

Angela and Jayden remind me of my mother's work with preschoolers in Head Start for over twenty years back in Wisconsin. My mother would be so proud of Angela and the many young parents like her who, with the help and support of those around them, courageously continue their schooling.

Jayden's a lucky little guy. Strong moms and dads, lucky kids.

Copyright 2012

Wanda Hayes Eichler



After the Wedding

Eight years ago, after Will and Wendy's Valentine's Day wedding, some of the Hayes side of the family gathered at Liesl and John's house. Grandma Val and Grandpa Stan are enjoying a chat with Liesl in the photo above.

Wanda, MB and Heidi crowd onto a bench in the kitchen nook during the poker game. Looks like Aunt MB was knitting while playing. Notice the candy used for poker chips.

Grandpa Stan has always been a computer nut, so he and John had to be checking out some new website or gadget in this photo.

Cousins Nick (oh my, what a sweet little boy!) and John pause during the poker game to contemplate strategy. Looks like it was boys against the girls, since the boys are on the other side of the nook table.

Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Thick Snow

Big thick snowflakes fell in the Tucson area around noon yesterday. It was wet snow, snow that you could cut with a butter knife or scoop into heavy snowballs.

So strange to my Midwestern sensibility, this desert snow in February. It gave me a rare day to retreat to the indoors and knit.

Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Circle of Love

Valentine's Day -- what a special day for a wedding! Happy Eighth Anniversary, Wendy and Will!

As the mother of the groom on that Saturday in 2004 and a novice at digital photography, I took a few candid photos at your wedding. I do love this image of you, surrounded by your wedding party.

The royal blue, the white, the black, the circle, the embrace -- a lovely wedding moment.

Photo altered using layers, dissolve, gray scale, spatter techniques from Photoshop.

Copyright 2012

Wanda Hayes Eichler

Valentine Tent

I am way too Midwestern.

When I saw these red and white tents popping up on the parking lots of the Fry's Marketplace grocery stores around Tucson, I assumed fireworks. Back home in the Midwest vendors would be selling fireworks out of these locations.

Not so in Arizona. This is a Valentine tent. Flowers, cards, candy, chocolate covered strawberries -- you name it, the Valentine Tent might have it and you don't have to plunge into the big store to find something for your sweetie.

The seasonal aisle, make that Valentine aisle, inside the store is half empty shelves. That's because lots of the merchandise is in the tent or in the refrigerated truck right next to the tent.

The Valentine tent -- a very cool marketing idea!

Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Blender Bliss

One of my favorite uses for an immersion blender is this fruit smoothie that I make occasionally for breakfast. Full of fruit and blended with yogurt, it is a favorite of mine. Here's how I make it.

I put a few cut up strawberries, several chunks of pineapple and some blueberries into the blender jar. Then I add about a quarter cup of orange juice and a half cup (or a little more) of vanilla yogurt. I blend that mixture, top it with Great Grains cereal ( I like Crunchy Pecans version) and sip through a straw. When the smoothie is almost gone, out comes a spoon and I finish off the cereal which is now pleasantly fruity.

Ah. Whoever came up with the immersion blender deserves a medal! And, even though I know that eating fruit out of season is a luxury, how wonderful it is to have the imported fresh fruit so readily available these days.

Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Tucson Tamale Company -- Yes!

The tamales at the Tucson Tamale Company have been featured on The Splendid Table, NPR's good food show. I'm a big fan of Splendid Table, so, for my birthday yesterday Ed and I hunted up this shop and tried out the tamales.

 

The tamale fillings -- tasty combinations of meat, corn, cheese, beans, chilis and more -- are wrapped in corn husks, shown in the foreground of this photo of the kitchen. The tamales are steamed (to eat right away) or frozen (they ship anywhere in the U.S.) after being wrapped in husks. Everything is gluten free and lard free. I hadn't thought about the gluten free thing, but of course, a corn based food would be gluten free.

To eat them, you peel away the husk and enjoy the filling. Tucson Tamale Company has vegetarian and vegan fillings, in addition to the traditional meat offerings.  In some ways, tamales remind me of the Upper Peninsula favorite, the Cornish pastie.

Here's Ed in his orange polo shirt, photographed on the orange painted patio, a pleasant spot at the back of the tamale shop. The tin bucket in the lower right of the photo is the "husk" bucket where one places the discarded husks.

We enjoyed our lunch on the back patio at Tucson Tamale Company and will certainly look forward to fixing the frozen tamales that we purchased to have with salads and rice.

Copyright 2012

Wanda Hayes Eichler

When I'm Sixty Four

Hey, Willow Blog readers, thought I would look back at you today. Thanks so much for looking in on me and my world via the blog. So, here's me, looking at you, on my birthday.

I'm thinking, gee, how lucky and blessed can one person get to be?

Children, so dear to me, and such great people. How could I have raised adults like that!?

Grandkids whom I miss daily. How can they wheedle their way into one's heart so completely?

My family who love me. Sisters and sisters-in-law, the ladies of the clan. Brother (just Tim) and brothers-in-law, the great guys.

The nieces, the nephews. Their kids. What a gang we all are together on both sides of the family.

And the uncles and aunts! They are my Facebook buddies and email correspondents.

A husband who is my treasured friend and companion and whom I love dearly.

My Dad who will soon turn 91 and looks forward to these posts every day (and reads them on a tablet, nonetheless! Take that technology buffs.)

My Mom-in-law who is always so glad to see me, even for a short visit.

All the friends, new, old and inbetween, who encourage and cheer and sometimes, admonish me.

Oh, I could go on and on in my sentimental, birthday listing mood. Good food, an incredible country to live in, soft yarn, colorful fabrics, our gardens, my roses, my Chevy Volt (I know I shouldn't love a car, but I sure like this one), my golf game, the lake, the farm, the desert, sunrises, sunsets, books, my Kindles (yep, plural Kindles), writing to do, this blog.

Yep, life is good at sixty four.

Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Hearts and Triangles

A grandmother's heart can be warmed by many things. Hannah, who is two and a half, polished off this piece of artwork at her school. Now that I'm hundreds of miles away, Hannah's Hearts and Triangles, guided and glued by her little fingers, speaks mountains of love to a sentimental, Valentine struck grandma.

It is a funny feeling to not be able to hop in a car and see my grandchildren within a few hours. Now I know how my mother and father have felt all these years of having family spread out across the continent.

Ah, families. Such a wonder. Such a blessing.



Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Kitt Morning

Kitt Peak National Observatory's buildings caught the morning light yesterday, so that we could see them from miles away. My rough estimation is that the distance from where I took this photo to Kitt Peak is 42 miles.

I used my point-and-shoot Sony Cybershot camera with a 10x optical zoom. The telephoto was extended all the way and set for optical zoom only, since digital zoom can produce pixel distortion. I held the camera steady and stood on the highest point I could find, the cement block base of a nearby fence.

I took multiple shots and then chose the one that was clearest. Not bad for a pocket camera!

Evening view of Kitt Peak -- Distant Kitt


Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Food Truck Roundup

I got to taste the fish tacos from Baja Taco at the Food Truck Roundup in Marana last night. Neighbors Elry and Sandy Schulte invited us along for a food foray along the lineup of over 30 food trucks at Arizona Pavilions. Under the light of an almost full moon, with the glow of a desert sunset, hundreds of food lovers wandered and chewed their way from truck to truck.

I had a yummy Strawberry Thyme popsicle from the Cyclopsicle Guy. Sandy tried his Pineapple Jalapeno flavor. Both were good.

This little girl, dressed in a baker costume, enjoyed a long balloon from the twisty balloon man. I took her picture and then she gave me a "high five."





Some people sat at tables set out between the two long rows of food trucks. Families and couples and teens all enjoyed the cool evening and good food. It was my first experience with food trucks and I can tell you now, both Ed and I would go back. Fun and food. A good combination.

A list of what we sampled:

Chocolate cupcake with Mexican cinnamon topping
Chocolate chip cupcake with chopped malted topping
Curly french fries
Mini donuts
Fish taco
Nacho burger
Caramel corn
Rice bowl with teriyaki chicken
Strawberry Thyme popsicle
Pineapple Jalapeno popsicle


Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Distant Kitt

As the crow flies, Kitt Peak National Observatory lies southwest of Tucson, about half way to the border. Last night we could see the observatory structures on top of Kitt from the backyard of our house. Driving distance from where we live to the top of Kitt is about 78 miles and would take at least two hours, due to the winding road up the mountain.

The arrow, my rough Photoshop arrow, points toward the buildings on Kitt, a 6880 foot mountain. Several Midwest schools, including the University of Michigan and Ohio State University, are among the institutions that operate the 26 telescopes located on top of Kitt Peak.

Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Groundhogs All

You put your hands in front of you like you are going to dig a hole. You do something funny with your mouth and your teeth. Presto, Eduardo. Groundhogs all.

Max and Grandpa and Finny, who moved too fast for the camera and had to be photoshopped, demonstrated the fine points of being groundhogs as a part of the festivities for Mom Liesl's birthday party appropriately held on February 2, Groundhog Day. Such fun.

Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Farewell to Karl

Karl Leppien (center) visits Ed and Wanda at Cedar Bluff -- 2008

Today we bid farewell to our friend, Karl Leppien, who died at the age of 85 last week. Family and friends will gather in the Phoenix area for a memorial service to honor his life and remember him.

Ever since we began travel to the southwest for winter vacations or business meetings, we would stop in for a visit with the Leppiens and their family. Transplanted to Arizona as their children moved to the southwest, Karl and his wife Helen kept their Midwestern Michigan roots alive through their interest in "back home."

Karl was an optimist. A man of family and faith, he built an accounting firm with multiple offices in Michigan. I came to know him through my husband's work. We enjoyed dinners and golf and travel together; it was always fun to be with Karl and Helen. The conversation would be uplifting and humorous and, at times, spirited.

He will be missed. Good people always are.

Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Pink Cat

Absolutely one of my favorite placemat designs, the pink cat always makes me smile. The cat is from Maxmats, the fourth quilting book published by Graywood Designs. My quilting buddy Jill Harmon gave me the pink batik for the cat. The gray background fabric came from Pam Semp's shop in Harbor Beach, Corner Store, which closed a year ago. Danielle Damen was the editor extraordinaire for this collection of my quilting designs.

Ah, Cat, you bring memories along with your pinkness!

Another feline post

Another Maxmats post

Copyright 2012

Wanda Hayes Eichler

Early Environmentalist

Liesl Eichler -- 1981

I call this photo "Liesl Eichler -- Early Environmentalist." Today is the Environmentalist's birthday. Born in the evening of Feb. 2 in the year of the Bicentennial, Lee came into the world during a snowy winter in Huron County. I dealt with flu and a fall on ice during the last month of my pregnancy with her. Both Ed and I were so glad to bring her home to her big brother, Will, and be done with the risks of childbearing.

When we moved to Graywood Farm, there were three bridges across the Pigeon River on Geiger Road, just beyond Pigeon River Mennonite Church. One bridge was wood, one steel, one cement. All had fallen into disrepair and the road was closed. As I remember, funding for a new bridge came through during the 1980 presidential campaign year. The old bridges were demolished, the right of way was widened, the river was straightened and a new bridge was built.

You can see from the log Liesl is sitting on that there were some mighty trees that fell in preparation for the bridge. Now Liesl's work involves green energy. She is co-founder and principal in 5 Lakes Energy, a Michigan based consulting firm. I'd like to think that this childhood experience of seeing trees felled for road construction maybe began some thoughts about the environment and better ways of using our natural resources. (Oh, so preachy!)

Back to my main point. Happy birthday, Liesl!

Last year's birthday post

Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler

Arizona Val

Arizona Val blocks on the design wall

My Mom, Val Hayes, had a favorite quilt that that she especially liked and used a lot in her quiltmaking. One of its traditional names is Contrary Wife. Based on the nine-patch and with a strong diagonal center, Contrary Wife, in my quilts, has come to be called "The Val Block."

I'm spending the next month or so in Arizona. My Michigan cough needs some R&R and some of that Southwest sun. I hope to pull out my little Elna Lotus sewing machine, vintage and reliable, and piece some big, bright blocks for a new quilt.

It will have The Val Block in it and, yep, you guess it, the quilt is called Arizona Val.

More quilts with The Val Block:
Val's Pink Quilt -- Martha has this one
Shawn's Quilt -- pieced top, not quilted yet
My Quilt -- for Hannah


Copyright 2012
Wanda Hayes Eichler