Today is for the Birds I

Lots of pretty birds here at Quartzsite, and some of them visit me and Katie every day.  Here are some of the photos I've gotten so far:

This is a Gila Woodpecker - male.  The males have the red colored feathers on the top of their heads.  He was able to get nectar from this feeder.

I could hear the pecking sound, but it was coming from the wrong place, he was pecking on my chair.

Below is a female - no red patch on her head:



I'm having trouble getting good hummingbird shots here.  They just swoop in, drink, and fly away, really fast.  Here's the best of what I've gotten lately. The first one is an Anna's male and the second one is a Black-chinned male.

This next bird is a small Verdin - male.  He's really interested in the feeder and keeps coming back and trying for more.  I don't think he's figured out that he's not looking at the right place.

I've gotten lots of photos of the Mourning Doves - they are very quiet, calm and submissive to the squirrels, but once in while they show signs of fighting back.  Even with each other.

Lots of cooperation at the water bowl...

 ...and usually at the seed feeder, too.  But not this time, the bird on the right is telling the other bird to Back Off.  Notice how his neck is puffed out.

Some wing flapping - I said Back Off!   And look at his neck now.

The dominant dove really gets his wings going, jumping over the other.

 Of course, when the squirrel is in the seed feeder, the doves know who's boss.

I have too many photos I want to publish - too many for one post, so I'll put the rest in my next post.

After taking my generator in for service in Albuquerque for a Level II Generator Service, I'm having more problems than ever.  Now I am having to add oil every 3 to 5 hours of use.  Used to be 8 hours.  It's smoking a little now, too, but just white, not black.  Funny thing is I'm going through oil like crazy, but there's no oil on the ground, no oil that I can see in the generator area, and the only smoke is white - once in a while.  I can't figure out where the oil is going.  My son says it's either leaking or burning.

I haven't written much about the latest generator issues, it's just too boring.  So, I have an appointment with Bob's Generator here in Quartzsite for tomorrow at 9 am.  Please send me good thoughts that Bob will be able to find the problem, fix it, and that it won't be too $$$.  I'm such a positive person, but somehow this generator has defeated me.  But I'm getting up - back in the ring tomorrow - and punching back.  I'll let you know what happens. 

The Schwann's truck just drove by slowly, honking.  I wouldn't mind purchasing some of their meals, ice cream, etc. if I could do it on a now-and-then basis.  I think you have to be on a regular purchasing schedule, though, and I don't want to do that.  I don't have enough room in my fridge/freezer for that.  I'm told their food is wonderful, though.

A big WELCOME to our newest Follower, MsBeth!  She has three blogs, but this one talks about her Van experiences - MsBeth has a new-to-her 1979 Dodge Van, Dallas Cowboy colors, thank you very much!  She's in Texas, if you didn't guess.  :)   Thanks for following along with me and Katie, MsBeth, and Welcome Aboard!  :)

It's been pretty hot here the last few days, but starting today it's cooling down a bit.  Today is really windy, though.  The first, probably of many, windy day we've had since we arrived.  With all the trees in our site, I can really hear the wind blowing, which I love.

From me and Katie, have a great Monday, everyone!  :)

It's a continuous movie...

...outside my window here at Quartzsite.  And the action changes all the time.  Today I'm only posting photos of the Harris Ground Squirrels here in our site.  These were taken on different days at different times.  So far there are two or three little guys.

Finding the water bowl.

Drinking - the squirrels come back time after time during the day.  They are thirsty little critters.

Larger squirrel waiting for the little guy to finish.

Chattering.

I kept hearing the weirdest screeching bird-like noise and couldn't figure out where the bird was.  I finally realized it was this squirrel.  He was standing there with his little fists out in front of him.

Getting ready - and...

Then he would lean forward a little and stick out his neck and make that screeching sound.  He did this over and over and over.  I wonder what it means?  I didn't see anything going on in the campsite that was out of the ordinary.  I guess he had his reasons.

SCREECHING!

He likes to hang out under my chair in the shade.

Finding seeds.

Two little squirrels snacking on the seeds.

What's that noise over there?

Sharing with a Gambel's Quail.

And NOT sharing with a Mourning Dove

I'm warning you!

And STAY AWAY until I'm done!

Little drink of water - can you see the tip of his little pink tongue?

And a little snack in the shade.  Yup, I've got it made in the shade for sure!

And those are our Squirrel Tales for today.  Or Tails?

From me and Katie, have a great Friday, everyone!  :)

Wordless Wednesday - Surfing Duck

From me and Katie, have a great Wordless Wednesday, everyone!  :)

3 ways to get mail at Quartzsite

I received an e-mail the other day from Denise asking me how I get mail while I'm here at Quartzsite, and I thought that might be information other people might be interested in having.   

There are three ways that I know about and here they are:

1.  Some people get a POST OFFICE BOX.  There is a Post Office where you can mail things, get stamps, pick up mail, rent a post office box, etc.  There is also a Post Office Annex that ONLY has P.O. Boxes.  It's located between the Police Department and The Library.  If you rent a P.O. Box, you have to do that from the main Post Office, but I don't think you have a choice where your box will be located.

Main Post Office Address:  80 W Main, Quartzsite, AZ 85346.    
Phone:  (928) 927-6323  
Hours of Operation:  Mon-Fri 9:00am-4:00pm    Sat-Sun closed  
PO Box Access Hours:  Mon-Sat 6:00am-6:00pm    Sun closed

Post Office location

2.  You can have things sent General Delivery to the Post Office.  General Delivery mail is only available for 30 days per person, two hours a day, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Monday through Friday.  Once the two hours are up, they close that window and you have to come back another day.  I'm told that sometimes, during the height of the season, lines go around the building.  Too much of a pain for me, but I'd guess most of the time it would be a pretty easy in and out.  Here's the address if you want to have something sent to you by General Delivery:

Your Name 
General Delivery
Quartsite, AZ 85346-9999

Postal Annex location

3.  Quiet Times, Stationery, Office Supply, Printing store.  This is the one I use because it's open Monday through Friday and sometimes on Saturday by appointment.   I just find it easier and the cost is nominal.  It's a little store right on Main Street on the left, before you get to the Roadrunner Market. There is a very small parking lot in front of the store, or you can park in a parking lot in back of the store, reached by going down East Cowell St., the street behind Main Street.  The owner's name is Martine.  I usually call her when I think I have a package and she will let me know if it's arrived yet.  She won't call you, you have to call her or come in.  She has a place behind the counter where she keeps the packages people have delivered there.  You have to sign for any packages you pick up, and show your ID.

UPS GROUND REGULAR TO

Your Name

% Quiet Times

90 E. Main St.  - Box 2813

Quartzsite, AZ  85346

Hours:  Monday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm
Call  (928) 927-8081 for dates/hours during the Big Tent Event 

Quiet Times location

Please call Martine at Quiet Times - (928) 927-8081 - for current prices to have your items shipped either to her store by UPS/FedEx or to her P.O. Box at the Post Office.

There may be other options here for receiving mail, but these are the three I know about.   

NOTE:  The little map pieces were taken from a 2010 Quartzsite map I bought two years ago, and I hope everything is still in the same place.  :)

Our Full Moon

Here are some photos I took the other night when we had a full moon - it was so pretty.  The moon lights up the desert as it crosses the sky.

 

 

And here is the end of the sunset that night - it starts with lots of pink, then gets darker and darker until right before it gets dark, it looks like this:

Here's a closeup of the reddest part where the sun went down:

It was such a beautiful evening.

From me and Katie, have a great Monday, everyone!  :)