Domingo DeGrazia Spanish Guitar Band perfoms for Tucsonans at Tohono Chul

DeGrazia Spanish Guitar Band

As part of Tohono Chul Park’s 2009 Fall Concert Series, the DeGrazia Guitar Band performed for Tucsonans on a beautiful fall evening last night. The concert area was covered by a canopy of  slightly illuminated trees, and it seemed as though the crickets were brought in to compliment the atmosphere. They too made wonderul music in between songs.

Domingo DeGrazia, and the DeGrazia Spanish Guitar Band were outstanding. They all have great passion for their music and the crowd loved it. We will be back to see them play again and you can too, as their local performance schedule is listed on their site. Domingo’s  Spanish, Latin and Flamenco guitar style is fantastic. He is also a very good story teller, and we enjoyed the story of how the band came to know Violinist, Beth Daunis. She makes beautiful empassioned music, dancing with the violin as she plays. The crowd really loved it. We know we did.

One of our favorite parts of the concert was Domingo talking about his father, and visiting the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun each year and his father’s gravesite where he composes a song. He played one of those songs he wrote as a tribute to his father, Ted DeGrazia. He would have loved to hear him last night, and we think he did.

Land on Tucson this winter

Tucson Moonrise

The weather in Tucson is getting real nice, so come down and Discover Southern Arizona.

There are truly so many places to “discover” in Arizona, and Tucson is a great place to stay as your base.  Directly south of Tucson is the Santa Cruz Valley. To the southeast is Cochise County. Each is rich in history, art, culture, beauty, and great wine.

If you want to go north, then Casa Grande is minutes away, and great golf is not much further in Scottsdale and Fountain Hills.

Venture just an a little more than an hour north of Scottsdale, and explore Prescott, Sedona, and Flagstaff.

Arizona is so beautiful and diverse. So, think about coming out West this winter to DiscoverArizona.org.

Gambel’s Quail Beach – Where quail go for fun

Male Gambel's Quail sunbathing

The Gambel’s Quails visit everyday, so we’ve seen them many times before, but normally on a hard desert ground searching for food, or hiding from predators.

Observing them in a mesquite tree wash with soft ground showed us what they love to do and spend hours doing. In fact, we had always wondered where they went during the day. They love to roll around in the soft dirt and bathe in the sun.

Male and female Gambel's Quail rolling in the dirt

It does look like fun! – DiscoverArizona.org

What is eating my prickly pear cactus?

Desert Packrat

White-throated Woodrats (Neotoma albigula), are also known as Packrats because of their habit of collecting all kinds of stray junk, plants, and sticks and bringing them back to their nests, which can be piled high. We had heard that they like “shiny things“, and even found a cell phone on one nest in the desert. It is best to keep your Arizona Plants cleaned up, to deny them a “nest” on your property.

They can be very destructive to homes, garages, and it is not uncommon to have them build nests inside car engines and then chew on electrical wiring. The one pictured here was right where we don’t mind having it, out in the desert and enjoying one of the many prickly pear cacti.

Happy Halloween Eve from Historic Willcox, Arizona

Halloween Sheriff in Willcox, AZ

We went down to the old western town of Willcox, Arizona today. We drove slowly through town because the Halloween Sheriff was watching. Willcox, Arizona is an historic old western town in Cochise County, Arizona.

While we were there, we stopped and ate at Big Tex Bar-B-Que’s Dining Car Restaurant. It is bigger than it looks. The service and food at this family restaurant were great, and we will be back. We have to admit that we did not have barbeque though. Why? Because I was across the street looking for treasures in a thrift shop, and someone from Louisiana ordered for me. What was ordered? The Special – catfish, fries, and cole slaw (Louisiana dish, of course). It was delicious though, but next time I will do my own ordering. You have to have BBQ at a BBQ place, in my opinion…at least the first visit.

One of the Willcox locals recommended that we stop by Buffalo Sisters Trading Post down the street. It was a cozy shop with antiques, art, furniture and other treasures. But the best part was meeting the wonderful Buffalo Sisters shop owner, Jetty White (also known as Red Elk). She had a shop full of interesting things, and friendly locals that we enjoyed talking to.

We heard some exciting things about Willcox’s Wine Country, and plan on returning during Rex Allen Days and Wings Over Willcox. We left, heading back to Tucson, riding into the Willcox sunset tonight.

For more information on Willcox – VisitCochiseCounty.com.

See a WILLCOX SLIDESHOW.

Interesting Raptor Behavior

At sundown tonight, one of the Cooper’s Hawks paid the birds we feed a visit. Landed in a mesquite tree in the back to look for prey. It landed on both talons. The Gambel’s Quail started to “trumpet” the warning signs that danger was near and the hawk slowly lifted a talon, and held it there for a long time…as it was going to be used to strike. Even tucked it in for a bit (put it in his pocket), and pulled it out again. It saw me, and took off in the direction of the quail, but they were well protected in the thick desert brush.

To enlarge:

Raptor 1 Photo
Raptor 2 Photo
Raptor 3 Photo
Raptor 4 Photo
Raptor 5 Photo

There is GREAT BIRDING in the SantaCruzValley.com.

Tucson weather finally cools down

Tucson sunset tonight

Normally, Tucson monsoon season summers are normally our favorite time of year. The summer monsoon storms roll in from Mexico and cool down the desert with spectacular storms packed with thunder and lightning.  The plants explode and the Catalina Mountains turn a rich green. Though not this past summer.  The monsoon storms seemed to dissapate rather than continue to build during the late afternoons, or early evenings, as they usually do. Felt like we were in Phoenix. So, it was a long hot summer in Tucson.

But finally, the weather has cooled and the weather is spectacular outside. Tempatures are in the 80’s in the day and 50’s at night. A week from today, the highs are expected to be in the 70’s and the lows down to 50. Get the mesquite firewood ready!

They say (whoever they is) that the winter is supposed to be cooler and wetter than normal. We will let you know if that happens. 

CLICK HERE to see some of our TUCSON WEATHER PHOTOS.

18th Annual Bobby Beynon Memorial Golf Tournament at ASU in Tempe

The 18th Annual Bobby Beynon Memorial Golf Tournament is being held at ASU’s Karsten Golf Course on Friday, November 6th, 2009, in Tempe, Arizona. The format is a  4-Person Scramble.

For entry fee information, visit BobbyBeynon.com.

All proceeds from the event are deposited in the ASU Foundation, a separate non-profit organization that exists to support ASU in the name of The Bobby Beynon Memorial Scholarship & Endowment Fund.

Tucson wildlife coyotes and bobcats, but an African Serval cat?

Tucson has many wild animals native to the Arizona-Sonora Desert. This photograph is of a coyote taken today, and a bobcat taken yestrday in the Catalina Foothills in Tucson, Arizona.

Tucson Wildlife

What was a recent surprise, in the Catalina Foothills, is that a African Serval cat was found and captured, as recently reported by Tucson’s KOLD TV station.

CLICK HERE to see some of our Tucson Wildlife Photos.

Dogs Make a Splash at Lighthouse/City Tucson YMCA

The Lighthouse/City YMCA in Tucson, Arizona encouraged people to bring their dogs for a Dog Day Swim on Saturday, October 17th. The lifeguards did a terrific job teaching dogs to swim, and the dogs really made a splash. The Dog Whisperer would have been proud.

We enjoyed taking photographs, as much as the dogs enjoyed the water. We hope you enjoy our SLIDESHOW.

Click here to see the TUCSON YMCA DOG SWIM.