Author: boolie

Thanksgiving

A tile covered in frost says 'Give Thanks', part of the dragon sculpture at Irvington School in Portland, Oregon. Taken on December 26, 2017. Original: _DSC0295.ARW

Our last Christmas in Portland was a white one, a growing fear my job search was going to take us away from Oregon heavy on my mind as I wandered our frozen neighborhood. The dragon sculpture at Irvington School was covered in frost, some of its tiles have positive messages and I focused in on this one. If we were going to have to leave the place I never wanted to leave, I was grateful for our time there no matter where we ended up. Two months later I accepted the job offer that brought us to the desert and six years later I’m still deeply grateful for where we were and where we are.

📷: Sony A6500 | Sony 16-70mm f/4
🗓️: December 26, 2017

Morning Prayers

A Harris's hawk silhouetted on saguaro blossoms at sunrise, surrounded by bees. Taken on the Latigo Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on June 10, 2023. Original: _RAC6918.ARW

A Harris’s hawk silhouetted on saguaro blossoms at sunrise, surrounded by bees. A feeding frenzy often follows when the giants bloom though I didn’t get that sense so much this year. To be fair I wasn’t able to get up early very often on the weekends this spring, on this occasion I struggled to sleep and decided to make the best of it. It was a planned short hike, soon it was back home to join my wife and Bear for a hike in a county park.

📷: Sony A6600 | Sony 100-400mm | Sony 1.4X
🗓️: June 10, 2023

The Sonoran Alligator

Patterns in a fallen saguaro remind me of an alligator, taken on the Cone Mountain Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on November 9, 2023. Originals: _Z720577.NEF to _Z720612.NEF

I’ve seen several new species this year while walking Bear, from a gray fox to a chuckwalla to this, the Sonoran alligator. Like it’s cousin in the marshes and swamps of the American South, our desert variety has eyes and nostrils at the top of its head, allowing it to lay still submerged beneath the desert floor. It was quite relaxed around Bear as the wildlife strangely often are, it smiled for the camera and showed off its fearsome maw but it was more curious than alarmed. Even so when I heard its stomach rumble I made my apologies and we continued down the path.

📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 105mm macro
🗓️: November 9, 2023

The Sonoran Squid

A dying cholla that looks (to me) like a squid sits in front of a landscape destroyed by fire on the Saguaro Nest Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on September 29, 2023. Original: _Z729570.NEF

Normally I enjoy seeing new species but this one made me sad as the only reason I saw my first Sonoran squid was because a fire destroyed its habitat. It still has a little green, as does the barrel cactus and saguaro behind it, but they are the walking dead.

📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 105mm macro
🗓️: September 29, 2023

The Joy of Discovery

Our dog Bear with his eyes wide and mouth open as he tries a new dental treat for the first time. Taken on August 28, 2022. Original: _Z725474.NEF

Bear last summer as he was trying out a new dental treat. Needless to say it was a big hit.

📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 24-70mm f/4
🗓️: August 28, 2022

Where a Desert Once Stood

A look east towards Four Peaks after an earlier forest fire burned the area, including a dying saguaro. Taken on the Saguaro Nest Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on September 29, 2023. Original: _Z729557.NEF.

This summer as I left work far in the distance I saw greenish smoke that usually means the desert is burning. The closer I got to home the closer the fire seemed to home and indeed as I cleared Troon Mountain I could see smoke billowing from the part of the preserve where Bear and I often walk. We prepared to evacuate but didn’t have to as the wind carried the fire away from us. I avoided the trails for a long while since burned areas are pretty sensitive but after seeing they were open, made a visit in the fall to see if I wanted to bring Bear back yet.

At first nothing was amiss but then I hit the burned part and there’s a wide swath of the desert that is completely charred. There are sandy areas with no plant life and exposed holes of the many small animals that once lived here. Some plants like this saguaro still had patches of green but they are the walking dead. We have enough other trails and enough time during my leave of absence that I’ll keep Bear away for now.

📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 105mm macro
🗓️: September 29, 2023

Saguaro Sandwich

Our dog Bear stands in front of a saguaro while the shadow of another saguaro falls across him on the Latigo Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on October 31, 2023. Original: _ZFC8034.NEF

Bear sandwiched between two saguaros on the Latigo Trail. The other day while making the long gradual climb back to the car on a western leg of this trail, he was so tired he let me take the lead, a first I think! Yesterday on a loop I stopped after a mile and doubled back to the car since he was flagging, so today I’ll give him a rest day and we’ll go for an easy walk in the neighborhood.

📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 24-70mm f/4
🗓️: October 31, 2023

Eight Peaks

My shadow stretches into the desert in front of a hill that resembles the Four Peaks behind it on the Rock Knob Hill in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on October 23, 2023. Origina: _Z724824.NEF

I call this location Eight Peaks as in the distance on the right you can see the mountains known as Four Peaks with their closely spaced four peaks. On this rocky hill before us, the Four Peaks repeat in miniature form. Taken on the Rock Knob Trail with my shadow stretching out into the cholla, Bear’s shadow hidden by the desert’s own.