SimplyLife

The arrival of the horse lubber grasshopper signals the change of season from summer to fall in southern Arizona. The large, brightly colored grasshoppers appear in September with equally large appetites. Last year they managed to turn my iris into coleslaw. They munch on everything from flowers to foliage to seed pods. bugguide.net The oddly colored insect with its bright greens and yellows is one of the largest grasshoppers.They sport pink coloring under their wings. The markings on their face resemble a bridle hence their Latin name, Taeniopoda eques (eques - horse rider). The bright colors warn predators that they don't taste good and may be poisonous. That's always a plus if you're a bug. Their size is a bit daunting and they can reach a length of 2.5 inches.  It's common to see battalions of horse lubbers marching across country roads this time of year and being crunched under tires of passing vehicles. It's sort of like the lemmings jumping into t...

The nest of swallows tucked under eaves of my office building was in transition last week. The four birds were various stages of leaving the safety of the daub brown nest for the wild blue yonder. The bravest fledgling had flown to a nearby tree. One was still firmly seated in the nest, watching two siblings inch their way from under the roof. Another took a test flight and came back, contemplating the next move. The other ledge-sitter dithered, not quite ready to take the leap. But, by the next morning the nest was empty.  Each had overcome fears and uncertainties. The timing was a little different for each of them, one apparently fearless, while the others had a few issues leaving the familiar and secure. There was no future huddling in an overcrowded and undoubtedly smelly nest. The parents were ready for them to leave. It was time. The birds were meant to take wing. We were were meant for flight too. Stepping out in faith, leaving the familiar behind, trusting God to lead...

That signature buzzing a/k/a humming wings and the flash of iridescence darting in and out of my salvias, red yucca, and agastache (hummingbird mint) provides endless entertainment while sipping a cup of coffee in the morning. Living helicopters which are extremely aggressive, these little birds are amazing creatures. Because we live directly on a super highway of migration, thanks to the San Pedro River, we are treated to all sorts of unique bird visitors. On our hikes in the mountains or just watching our feeders we've identified the Rufous, Broad-bill, Broad-tail, Magnificent, Black-chinned, Costa's, and Anna's hummingbirds. Interestingly, we have no Ruby-throated hummers in Arizona. That particular bird is the only one who migrates from Mexico to east of the Mississippi. The rest prefer western climes.  The Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory (SABO) does excellent work in recording data that helps us understand more about these flying jewels. Over the course o...

SimplyLife has been on hiatus due to the press of revisions on the third Gracie Andersen mystery. We did manage a quick trip to Albuquerque during that period however. Heretofore our only visit there was speeding through it on our way to relocate in Arizona. We weren't desperate to journey to this iconic Southwestern city, but the opportunity to visit our youngest daughter and son-in-law, who were there courtesy of Uncle Sam for some training was the real draw.  An uneventful and dreadfully boring road trip(there is only so much desert one can handle in a day along the I-10) brought us to the city limits in seven hours. We jumped into tourist mode to jam in as much sightseeing as we could in two days. Since our daughter was in charge of finding restaurants, she insisted that we eat "local" and franchises were not allowed. This entailed some exploration of downtown ABQ which proved entertaining. The eateries had excellent fare and one even had the distinction of a Diners...

A couple of weeks ago, my Scotsman husband and I headed for Prescott, AZ to enjoy the annual Highland Games. It seemed entirely appropriate to celebrate our anniversary with bagpipe bands and watching men throw heavy objects. After all what do good plaid-wearers do for special occasions? Watson Lake Park was the perfect venue. Its unique rock formations were a gorgeous backdrop for the multitude of events. The good news right at the admission table was that we were both eligible for the senior discounts. What a boon for my husband who's a pro at pinching pennies. We checked in at the Clan Wallace booth to meet the kin and swap family histories. Then it was on to the herding dog demonstrations with border collies showing off their skills. Rather than sheep, which is standard fare, we were treated to a  flock of cranky domestic ducks. The dogs manipulated the fowl every which way and finally into their pens. The ducks seemed to prefer the pen to running willy nilly around the arena...

"But, Mom the puppies are really cute. I'll take care of it. Honest. We need a dog. I'll walk him and feed him. Pleeeeeese, can't we get a puppy?" The age old parent-child exchange about getting a puppy. The big decision to bring a baby canine into your family. How the passionate promises of feeding, walking, and cleaning up after the puppy pour so easily from your child's lips. You know, however, you'll be the one doing all of the above and more.  Of course, puppies are adorable, soft, cuddly, entertaining, annoying, labor intensive, and sleep disrupting. But, most likely you'll cave and get one anyway. Companion dogs are members of the family, and the puppy you add to the mix needs to be a good fit. Emotions run high over that furry, roly-poly critter whose antics can melt the heart of the stone. Take a deep breath and do your homework before making the commitment. Don't get a puppy at Christmastime. The excitement of the holiday will make it...

There's a fire in mountains to the west of our house. The smoke is billowing out of the canyons on the other side. It's gone from four acres on Sunday to over 300 acres this afternoon, and it's zero percent contained. With tinder dry conditions, very rugged terrain, 11 per cent humidity, and 20 mile an hour winds, it's a challenging environment to try and control the fire. Some areas west of us are under pre-evacuation advisories, but I'm praying that the extra fire crews and equipment coming in tonight will be able to get the fire under control.Three years ago we went through an evacuation because of a horrific wildfire. We were evacuated for five days and we were thankful the fire was stopped less than a mile from our house. Evacuation is not a lot of fun and is scary, but I learned about the importance of the "Go Bag." I'll share some tips to get organized in case you ever have to evacuate for any reason--hurricane, flood, tornado, fire, earthquake...

A lot of time can be spent or lost, depending on your perspective on social media. It's interesting to note that most people spend less than 30 seconds on the homepage of any website, but they spend an average of 20 minutes at a time on Face Book. Okay--I'm guilty of spending too much time on FB, but with family and friends spread literally around the world, it's a great tool for staying in touch. However, the abundance of social media has numbed many of us to what's really appropriate to share. The safety of virtual reality allows us to be rude, way too opinionated, downright foolish in what we write on our walls and the comments we leave on friends' posts. I've witnessed some ugly verbal brawls on Face Book which are disappointing and hurtful. Here are some tips to consider before pressing the "post" button on Face Book. 1. Learn about the security features of Face Book and make sure you check them from time to time. Face Book loves to change the ...

Writing the note of sympathy rates high on the scale of difficulty. We struggle for the right phrases and how much we should say. Even if the sympathy card purchased at the local Hallmark store has an excellent sentiment, you'll probably want to add a personal note. That's especially true if the deceased is a close friend or family member. I can tell you from experience that those heartfelt, short notes in a card mean the world.  Here are a few tips to help you find the right words. First, trust your instincts about what to say. A short note about a happy memory--condensed to two or three sentences may be appropriate."I remember the wonderful homemade banana bread your Mom gave me after my surgery. Her kindness helped in my recovery." Something as short as "our love and prayers are with you in this difficult time," is also fitting. If you're really stuck, check out the link to Hallmark's page for additional help. There are also some words t...

 The article below has been getting a lot of hits lately, and I thought it may be time to repost it. A couple of weeks ago, I took the picture below. I thought it pretty much sums up our life journey. We never know what's around the corner for us.  Circumstances change in seconds some days. Whether the circumstances of life are good or bad, we're fond of blaming them for how we behave and think. Here are a few of the well-used excuses:  "I'm a victim of circumstances.""The situation is impossible." "The circumstances are beyond my control." "Under the circumstances"...fill in the blank. Funny how principles, self-control, and  positive thinking can go out the window when we're "under the circumstances."  And lest you think the author is above blaming circumstances, she is not. I've used most of the excuses above, whether spoken or unspoken.  An imprisoned and wrongly accused Jewish C...

I've been an avid reader since 1st grade when my mother patiently helped me through the Dick and Jane books. Once letters made sense on the page, a whole new world opened up.Oh, the adventures I've had between the covers of books!   Misty of Chincoteague, Black Beauty, The Adventures Sherlock Holmes, To Kill a Mockingbird, Jane Eyre , and SO many more. About four years ago, the purchase of a Kindle e-reader began a whole new adventure in reading. Yes, my bookshelves were stuffed despite regular donations to the Friends of the Library. Inventive shelving had come to an end. It was either change my ways or be overtaken by piles of books. Reluctant to go to an e-reader, I finally broke down and ordered a basic Kindle. This past Christmas my husband upgraded me to a Kindle Paperwhite with a touch screen. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE books. The smell of paper, the feel of it, the turning of the page, gilt-edges on old volumes...all of it...is loved. However, the pragmatic side ...

We just returned from visiting our six-year-old twin grandsons last week. It's tough living more than 2,000 miles away. Reasonable airfare is also tough to find and our travel money has to be used wisely. Our priority for the last six years has been to build a strong relationship with our grandsons even if we can't be physically present on a regular basis. Technology has made it a whole lot easier, but that's not the only means to building close ties with those little boys. Since today's families tend to be scattered, here are some things I've learned along the way as a long distance grandparent. 1. Consistent Contact - You can do this in a number of ways and the variety is enjoyable.  Phone calls, Skype or Face Time, cards, email. Use them all. What a great gift to video call grandkids! We can do that for free, and what fun to see their school work, new shoes, or anything else that's happening. We've set aside Sunday afternoons for many years to conne...

If you're like me, most correspondence is done through email. Whether it's a note to my family, friends, or business correspondence, it's usually an email. I think our writing etiquette and skills have gone by the wayside because of the instant nature of email. We tend to be extremely casual, not particular about spelling, and we can easily say things in an email we'd never dare say in person. Your employer probably has specific rules about corporate email, but many carry over to personal email. Here are a few tips on getting it right in the electronic letter. 1. Take the time to spell out words and use proper grammar. This is not a text message. If it's worth writing, it's worth doing right. My personal opinion is that we've become lazy writers. We abbreviate everything. There are other problems too. Many don't know the difference between they're, their , and there or your and you're . Those distinctions are important. Carelessness now co...

There's a purple petunia growing outside my front door. It's been blooming since early February. I didn't plant it. The green leaves appeared without my notice until the blooms were turning their faces to the morning sun. The little plant makes me smile every time I look at it. Planted by God's hand, it's putting out new growth and more flowers. It's watered regularly now, which will lengthen the blooming. It survived cold temperatures without a blemish of frost. The plant even persevered through the repainting of our house with men tramping through flower beds and digging ladders into the ground. The petunia is just for me. A blessing from the Heavenly Father who knows how much I love flowers. Why else would it appear? He does that all the time for each of us, but we need to be looking for the little things He provides that let us know He cares for us. The petunia the small plant on left. Irises now dwarf it. The little plant was easy to miss and mistak...

At some point along the way, we'll probably write a letter to a manufacturer about shoddy merchandise or maybe a stray foreign object we find in a can of beans. It could also be unsatisfactory customer service or repairs. Whatever it is, the offending service or goods needs to be reported to the  organization. Bad stuff doesn't endear customers to any company. Customer service departments want to know about problems so they can be fixed. Emails are perfectly acceptable and actually help maintain a record of correspondence. Small plastic part we found in a bag of pancake mix. How do we write an effective letter of complaint? The tips below will get you on the right track. First , direct it to the appropriate person or department. Usually that's the customer service department and most information is easily found at the company website. Don't address it to the CEO of a large company because you're going straight to the top.  Companies have a system in place fo...

When was the last time you received a thank you note? When was the last time you sent one? In our overdrive lifestyles, the time-honored handwritten note of thanks seems to be disappearing. Is it unnecessary? How about a text or an email? Aghh! There are still valid reasons to actually sit down and write out a note. Here are some for your consideration: It's the polite/considerate thing to do when someone has taken the time to give you a gift. Your Aunt Mabel won't be talking to her friends about the lack of gratitude young people have today. Instead, she'll be bragging on her niece who writes such lovely notes. Who doesn't want some good mail? Your note will brighten the giver's day. You'll feel better too. You've done a good thing. Thank you notes are gender and age neutral. Men should write them as well as women. Children should be introduced to writing them in grade school. I'm a lover of good pens and quality note cards. Pick up a nice ge...

Next week begins the Lenten season. The Church has long remembered the 40 days before the Son of God's supreme sacrifice for us by observing some form of self-denial during this period. Many give up meat or desserts. Some give up TV shows, social media, maybe Farmville, or attend special church services. None of this is bad or wrong. But in the end we have every intention of picking up where we left off. We won't give up sweets forever and how would that really change our lives spiritually? I've participated in giving up something for Lent on occasion. My church tradition doesn't really make a great deal of Lent. There is a certain satisfaction in knowing I have the self-discipline to get through 40 days without touching a cookie or a piece of candy. The act doesn't change me. That first bite of dessert after its absence is heavenly. In fact, I can hardly wait. The question I have to ask myself is how has that made me more like Christ? Plainly it hasn't. So ...

Cochise County is called the "Land of Legends" and the Western history you'll find in its mountains, canyons and towns bear that moniker out. The county is named for the famous Chihuahua Apache chief, Cochise.  A legendary chief who was never defeated in battle, he at last made a treaty with the U.S. government in 1872. An excellent article on Cochise is found here . His last home before his death was Cochise Stronghold in the Dragoon Mountains. He and his Apache army raided the area with impunity, killing ranchers, settlers, and Butterfield Stagecoach drivers.  Some of his faithful followers took his body back to the Stronghold and buried him in an unknown location. A single white man knew the grave site, but never revealed it. The Stronghold is about 35 miles as the crow flies from Casa Wallace, but alas, no roads that make it a short trip. Instead, we take the I-10 east and exit at Dragoon Road to make the trip of 1.5 hours to the remote mountain area. After passing ...