That'll Do, Not Pig

We've had a couple of Peccary sightings in the last few weeks. I got a picture of one today but this guy and his friend were moving through the brush and most of the pics were rubbish. The local version are collared Peccaries, and live in small groups. I have a suspicion they are bedding down in the gully that runs across the front of our property, every time we've spotted them they're coming out of there. They have learned to totally ignore the barking dogs. Peccaries are not in the same family as domestic pigs, which are Old World animals. Locally they are called Javelina. We've been here since 2003 and these are first ones we've seen near the house. They're kind of cute, in a bristly sort of way.

Brett looked at the picture and told me to put an arm on it and call it a crouching Bigfoot.

Desert Daleks

We Don't Really Get Snow

Our elevation simply isn't high enough for snow. When it snows, it's usually slushy and doesn't stick. On the 30th we had just enough snow to turn the yard into mud. Yes, the dogs go out in it. They have a dog door and are allowed out whenever they want, and they love precipitation. Any kind will do. Heavy rains will drive them back into the house, after they've gotten soaked.

I think we've had more freezing nights so far this year than all last winter combined. Everything was frosted this morning, the dog water was frozen and I had to break a half inch of ice in the water tank.

Snow is nice to look at, but really, I'm glad it rarely gets any closer. I'm too well acclimated to the heat to like the cold.

Right as Rain. Unless It's Coming Down on Your Head

It's the rainy season. There are no trees or buildings to block the view, so you can watch the rain come towards you. Like the wind, you can hear it coming across the brush.

Sometimes, people ask us, "Why do you live is such a remote, wretched place?" This is why.

It was very beautiful until it decided to stick around and pour right on top of the house.

Bird is the Word

Each year for the last three years, a Roadrunner has taken up local residence. Mostly they just hang about, eating lizards and things, and tormenting the dogs. Our vehicles make a nice shady space for them.

This year it is a female. Last year's model was a male. Brett loves these guys because they look like little Velociraptors, especially when they run. She is missing a feather out of her tail.

Yesterday she sat up on the Tahoe, making little noises and driving the dogs insane. Then she glided off, landed, took a running leap and glided across the gully on the front of our property. Unfortunately I have a sucky slow camera with a tiny zoom, and I missed all that.