“I paid too much for it, but it’s worth it.” — Samuel Goldwyn
“Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.” — Rainer Maria Rilke
“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.” — Maya Angelou
“I don’t believe in class differences, but luckily my butler disagrees with me.” — Mark Boxer
Anyone living in Sonoran Desert will gladly acknowledge the extremes in temperatures with a knowing smile. The winter temps can get as low as freezing and of course the summers, oh the summers, can soar to near 112 degrees plus at times.
One advantage, if you will, is that with the appropriate timing, one can hike and enjoy nature all year long.
Although it is winter in the desert, we still have “fall color.” I am not suggesting that the colors of fall in our desert can compete with New England or other areas of the world where there are an abundance of shades and hues, but we do have some color. Mostly that color is gold and yellow.
We took a hike last week in mid-afternoon when temps were in the mid-50s. This saguaro was haloed in a bright yellow light with the light green and yellow leaves of the plants in front accentuating the columnar display.
Birds such as this Black Phoebe were enjoying the sun and the nearby stream on this autumnal-like winter’s day.
As we were leaving the hiking trail and thinking about heading home, I looked back to witness this beautiful vista.
I thought a closeup would prove even prettier and although it is colorful, I like the wider view above.
With the contrast of light and dark on the first picture of the saguaro, I thought perhaps with a bit of cropping, it would make a good subject for a black and white picture. Do you like the black and white or the color version?
“Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all.” — Alexander the Great
“It’s a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.” — W. Somerset Maugham
“Be who you needed when you were younger.” — Unknown
“What’s the use of a good quotation if you can’t change it?” — Doctor Who
Picture courtesy of the usopenpickleballchampionship.com
Pickleball history will be made this year as the first US Open Pickleball Championship, modeled after the US Open Tennis Championship, will be held in Naples, Florida starting on April, 26 2016!
The sport of Pickleball will be taking a big step as it anticipates many of the best pickleball players in the world will participate in the US Open which will reportedly include a stadium venue and cash purse of more than $20,000 will be awarded. Also reported by the news-press*, are the following anticipated happenings:
While these numbers may not seem significant compared to other high-stake championships, we must remember that this is just the start. With the popularity of pickleball soaring across the United States and in other countries, it is bound to get bigger and better over the next decade.
To read the entire news-press.com article,Naples to host 2016 US Open Pickleball Championships, click on the link.
Visit the official US Open Pickleball Championship website – click here
For more tournament details click here.
Schedule of tournament events click here.
Picture courtesy of the usopenpickleballchampionship.com
“If you risk nothing, then you risk everything.” — Geena Davis
“Expedients are for the hour, but principles are for the ages.” — Henry Ward Beecher
“Variety means nothing to a hungry man.” — Unknown
“Wit is well-bred insolence.” — Aristotle
Most of us have had pets when they were young, i.e. puppies and kittens, and even older pets who moved around when they slept. And, many of us, I am sure, wondered:
“What are they thinking or dreaming?”
This cute polar bear cub exhibits those same behaviors. What dreams is this baby having?
From the YouTube Video Website:
“At 5 weeks old, the polar bear cub is doing very well; she weighs a little over 4 pounds and measures 16 inches long! Both eyes have started to open as of yesterday, but they are not fully open yet. The care staff says the sound that she makes in the video is of contentment. Her motor skills are improving each day and she has started trying to stand up on all fours, especially when she’s ready for her next meal! She is on six feedings a day, every four hours. The team has been evaluating her daily needs and provides care 24/7.”
“An angry man opens his mouth and shuts his eyes.” — Cato
“When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.” — Alexander Den Heijer
“A memorandum is written not to inform the reader, but to protect the writer.” — Dean Acheson
“Conscience gets a lot of credit that belongs to cold feet.” — Unknown
“Well, we have a whole new year ahead of us. And wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all be a little more gentle with each other, and a little more loving, have a little more empathy, and maybe – next year at this time – we’d like each other a little more.” – Judy Garland
“You can dance anywhere, even if only in your heart.” — Unknown
“You can’t deny laughter; when it comes, it plops down in your favorite chair and stays as long as it wants.” — Stephen King
“An idea isn’t responsible for the people who believe in it.” — Don Marquis
“They say losing builds character. I have all the character I need.” — Ray Malavasi, Football Coach
