Author: boolie

So Many Questions

An adult Harris’ hawk perches on a boulder on the Bootlegger Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona

As Bear and I approached the end of our hike, perched high on boulders beside the trail were several volunteers greeting visitors to the park. They patiently answered questions they must get asked over and over and over, like “What trails are good for beginners?”, “Are there really rattlesnakes here?”, and “Why didn’t the eagles fly Sam & Frodo to Mordor?”

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm+1.4X
🗓️: November 9, 2025

It’s Time to Leave the Capsule If You Dare

A young tarantula starts to climb out of her burrow in our backyard in Scottsdale, Arizona on October 5, 2025. Original: _Z726641.NEF

The adult tarantula that was living in our backyard hasn’t been seen since the spring so I was delighted when a tiny one dug an equally tiny burrow beside our patio. I thought she wasn’t staying long as the hole was covered after a few days but she may have been molting as within a week or so she came back out and was a regular fixture each night. With the cooler weather the burrow is covered again, hope to see her in the spring.

📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 105mm macro
🗓️: October 5, 2025

Empty Conduit

Shadows of our dog Bear and I fall past words spray-painted in the street that say Empty Conduit. Taken on September 7, 2025. Original: _ZFC1862.NEF

There’s a street nearby known as The Oracle of Scottsdale because of the insightful if cryptic messages it offers to pilgrims who brave the journey. I’ve not been able to work out what it was trying to tell me, perhaps it was a message for Bear.

📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 16-50mm DX
🗓️: September 7, 2025

War Ravaged

Our dog Ellie in the dog park at Irving Park as the trees bloom in the background in the Irvington neighborhood of Portland, Oregon on March 11, 2018. Original: _DSC3847.ARW

One of the last pictures I took of Ellie in the dog park at Irving Park before we had to leave my beloved if war-ravaged Portland. So thankful for our many years in that wonderful city and the Irvington neighborhood we called home.

📷: Sony A6500 | Sony-Zeiss 24mm f/1.8
🗓️: March 11, 2018

Singing in the Rain

Singing in the Rain.

Friday thunderstorms moved through and we got drenched, with more steady rains on Saturday, and even a short shower this morning. You can hear the desert singing in the rain as the cacti soak up and store what they can, the washes fill and flow, and harbor seals come out to play.

📷: Canon 7D II | Canon 500 f/4 + 1.4X
🗓️: October 7, 2017

Me? A Scientist?

Our dog Bear gleefully prepares to bite down on his alligator stuffed animal on September 6, 2025. Original: _A670161.ARW

I’ve been asked to join a citizen science group exploring the continued decline of the Sonoran alligator. I’m honored and happy to help but also confused, what can I possibly know about it?

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony-Zeiss 24mm f/1.8
🗓️: September 6, 2025

Our dog Bear joyfully prepares to bite down on his alligator stuffed animal on September 6, 2025. Original: _A670289.ARW

Our dog Bear bites down on his alligator stuffed animal on September 6, 2025. Original: _A670184.ARW

Charley Chuckles Goes Swimming

Our dog Bear swims in our pool on September 8, 2024. Original: _A675892.ARW

Swimming season will soon come to a close as I prefer the water temperature to be just shy of boiling flesh from bone, but at least we’ll be able to go hiking again. Bear enjoys his pool time though his favorite part is sitting on the ledge and chomping on his rubber ball. His dog paddling is so effortless yet effective that I thought I’d try it myself. Unfortunately I’ve gone faster by treading water. Bear is good about getting out of the pool to go to the bathroom. He takes his rubber ball with him, which when he’s finished I ker-chunk of the concrete and he goes flying into the pool after it.

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 16-55mm
🗓️: September 8, 2024

Our dog Bear walks with his rubber ball after getting out of the pool on September 8, 2024. Original: _A675859.ARW

Our dog Bear sits on a ledge of the pool on September 8, 2024. Original: _A675829.ARW