Ginger Nuts

Gingerbread house designed by Monsier Warneke and his wife, Renee.

The girls decorated with the sweets.

The elusive gumball fir with other animals. 

Hope everyone had a Happy Christmas. 

Much love,

Myrtle x x x

Obamania

Mr. Obama

He did it.

I was roused from my slumber by civic duty. 

I voted for the first time ever. 

Excitement.

We are pleased, amazed, and hopeful.

I don't know how we will feel tomorrow.

But, today we are happy.

Well done Mr Obama. 

Well done America.

Myrtle x

Running Down the Street . . .

For anyone that didn't know,

Little Brother ran the Boston Marathon in 3:18.

He's a star.

Well done.

We love Little Brother.

M x

When in Rome . . .

I have no idea what Romans do, but I am keen to find out.

M x

The New Mayor of London

Boris.

Watch this man.

Watch this space.

Doesn't matter if you like him or loathe him.

It will be excellent entertainment.

Myrtle x.

Bop Till You Drop . . .

Little One was out on the razzle last night.

Be bopping at her school's Sock Hop.

She won a cake.

And had her hair dyed.

Black.

Joy.

She even had a boogie on stage with an Elvis impersonator.

She had a great time.

Congratulations to Cousin Cassie.

She has graduated from medical school and is off to her residency in California.

The clan have gathered in Buffalo to wish her all the best.

Sorry I couldn't be there.

Well done and good luck.

Cousin Alex is starting medical school in Buffalo this year.

We are all so proud of you all.

We are attending a street party at little brother's house.

I'm bringing the refried beans.

Have a good weekend.

Missing you.

Love,

Myrtle x x x

P.S. Thanks for the help to identify my mystery tree. Have come to the conclusion that it is a member of the Bauhinia genus, named after the Bauhin botanical brothers. There over 200 types, growing around Asia, but have been introduced to warmer states in this country, getting called Chinese or Hong Kong Orchid trees.
Cheers! x

Don't Stop Me Now . . .

I'm not having such a good time,
but, I plan to.

It looks as though
First born and Little One are off to Old Blighty for month.

One wants to eat a pasty with a friend on the beach in the rain,
the other wants to eat a pasty with a friend on Prince of Wales Pier, in the rain.

Bless.

I will cry everyday.

But, I thought, I might as well cry in a beautiful place.

Paris, Rome, Prague?

Rome.

Tickets are ridiculously expensive.

But.

Crying in the desert just won't do.

Tears evaporate before they reach your chin.

Love you all,

Myrtle x

Myrtle's Menangerie

Derek the Dragonfly

The children want a pet.

I want peace.

I don't particularly like cleaning up poo.

Pets poo.

So, at the moment, we make do with a menagerie of animals that
live elsewhere or that aren't actually living.

Derek is much loved and accompanied us here from England

We love Derek.

Anyone who doesn't fall in love with the graceful movement and
eyelashes of a giraffe just isn't human.

If you don't love them, keep it to yourself.


A Zebra coloured push me pull me.

Another resident of the Phoenix Zoo.

This little fox reminds me of the foxes of the Fox Family of Falmouth. This remarkable family of Quakers established the wonderful gardens at Trebah, Glendurgan, Penjerrick, Meuden, and Fox Rosehill Gardens, as well as establishing the Falmouth Polytechnic Society - which has films, live performances, and art shows. We lived on Fox's Lane.

We miss our English foxes.

Also Alfred the Guard Stork.

We left him behind to protect the frog pool.

Another bus stop blossom.

Have a good day.

A political aside, are you for Hilary or Barack?

It's getting a bit nasty.

Myrtle x

Seriously Absurd

We went to a choral concert last night.

At the Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale.

It was the Senior Showcase.

First born, a freshman, loves to sing.

And the singing was fantastic.

I especially loved, My Bonnie Lass She Smelleth,

The Theme from Sesame Street, and

Bridge Over Troubled Water.

The show was entitled Seriously Absurd, but it was anything but.

I made the mistake of going without tissues.

Big mistake.

Even Little One was engaged.

Well done to all that sang.

It was beautiful.

Good luck with your futures.

Myrtle x x x

Good Morning

Early this morning, saw a Coyote's breakfast, uneaten, bouncing
around the garden.

Run.

Pretty flowers at the school bus stop.

Yes, it's me. I still exist.

Off to Tempe today with Whippet Loving Girlfriend.

Have a good day.

Myrtle x

Baby Boojums

Don't get too close.

This tree is a killer.

Seriously.

It's just a baby, and it's dormant at the moment.

But don't be fooled.

In the midst of the word he was trying to say, In the midst of his laughter and glee, He had softly and suddenly vanished away-- For the Snark was a Boojum, you see.

Lewis Carroll knew something about Boojums.

Or did he?

Actually, the common name was given to this tree by Godfrey Sykes
of the Desert Botanical Laboratory in Tucson, Arizona.

He named it after a monster called a Boojum the the poem The Hunting of the Snark by Lewis Carrol.

I'm not convinced of the homocidal accusations aimed that this seemingly harmless tree. He has lived with us for a couple of months, and we are all still here.

But, I do put him out at night.

Coyotes, javelinas, and mountain lions avoid Boojums.

His posh, Latin name is Fouquieria columnaris and he is a member of the
Ocotillo family. (Very nice indeed).

These trees are amazing.

They are Sarcocaulescent. I love that word. It means that their stems are succulent (holding lots of water).

They grow up to 55 feet (about 18m) and live for a very long time.

They look like an enormous candle, with a few flowers at the top.

Fab!

But oh, beamish nephew, beware of the day
If your Snark be a Boojum! For then
You will softly and suddenly vanish away,
And never be met with again!

But if ever I meet with a Boojum, that day,
In a moment (of this I am sure),
I shall softly and suddenly vanish away--
And the notion I cannot endure!

I hope that my baby boojums is just dormant and will come back
to life after the summer.

Make sure you check you shoes for scorpions,
before you put them on.

Much love,

Myrtle x

Rubber Ducky, You're the One . . .

Yes, they are ridiculous.

We love them anyway.

The one on the left has built in disco lights.

Rubber duck with attitude.

One of the exciting things about Arizona, is the opportunity to grow citrus fruit.

I am busy.

One can never have too many lemons in the house.

Another shot of the strange pink orchid/runner bean tree.

Does anyone know what this is?

Trying to grow a few roses, but the buds dry on the bush before they open.

These aren't too bad, only a little crispy.

It's as if I left them in the oven a little too long.

Missing English roses.

A bit.

Love to all,

Myrtle x

Wildlife

I know I have to adjust my way of thinking.

Living in England for 20 years has made me soft.

There is something pleasant about living in a country where the wildlife have manners.

Cats wonder out into the garden freely.

There are no fire breathing hawks, owls, coyotes, javelinas, snakes, tarantulas, scorpions, let alone mountain lions.

Just the odd, maladjusted and drunken teenager with dyed hair.

And they rarely bite.

If they do, you phone their mum.

My little brother met a large javelina whilst on a mountain run recently.

It didn't say or do much, but made little brother,
who is not little by the way,
stop for a while.

Still, it is exciting to see new things and have new experiences.

Myrtle x

Come Visit and Swim . . .

I'm serious.

Come and visit.

Come and visit us and swim in our rat infested pool.

Ignore that last comment.

It really is lovely here.

Especially if you like small, furry mammals.

Ignore that one as well.

Please.

Here are some of the nicer things that we see everyday. . . .


We have several trees in our garden with this flower.

Any guesses?

Cannot find it in my books.
And I work in a book store.
Suggestions welcome.


As the blooms fade, long bean pods appear.
It's interesting to watch.
I don't get out much.

Help.

The winner gets a round of applause, adoration, a seat and . . .

an imported beer.

With a bull on it.


This flower is from a small, standard hibiscus tree.

From Home Despot.
Ooops, I meant Home Depot.

No prizes for this one.

Love you all,

Myrtle x

Rough on Rats

Rats.

One can never be too rough on rats.

If you love them, please look away now.

I don't care for them.

I tend not to be particularly generous towards them.

And yes, I have seen and enjoyed the film Ratatouille.

And?

Cartoon rats are lovely.

They talk and have feelings.

You can turn off the telly when you have had enough.

I understand that some folk keep them as pets.

It's the wild variety that make the hairs stand up on my arms, legs, back of my neck, on top of my head, as well as other places.

Anyway,
Little One found a dead rat in the pool yesterday.

A big rat.

A big, dead rat.

Yuck.

So, I phone my wise and knowledgeable little brother.

When is it safe to swim in a pool in which a rat had died
(and sunk to the bottom?)


He was very reassuring, but didn't have a definitive answer.

Yuck.

I have many more rat stories to tell.

But, enough for now.

Myrtle x

Arizona

Life leads one in different directions.

My life has a sadistic sense of humour.

It has landed me in the desert.

My life knows that I love flowers, plants, and lettuce.

I am sure that I hear spiteful laughter as I sprinkle seed around.

It hasn't rained here for months.

Still, my laundry dries in 3 minutes outside.

I had a t shirt shatter into pieces yesterday.

'Dry heat' they said.

???

I hope that that sort of thing doesn't happen to humans.

Tell me it doesn't.


Water

I love water.

Myrtle x

I'm Back

I'm back.

Sort of.

We now live in Arizona.

Scottsdale, Arizona.

It's a long story.

I won't bore you.

It's beautiful and dramatic. The mountains are spectacular.
The saguaros defy words.
Spring here is wonderful, the colour is indescribable.

It is hotter than the hammers of h%$l.

But it's a dry heat.

???

That means if you don't drink four gallons of water before you leave the house, your dry bones will be found outside your car.

Don't leave the house without drinking four gallons of water.

Ever.

It's life or death.

It's dry heat.

It's Arizona.

I do have the cutest nephew, a pool, and watch hummingbirds in my yard.

We are happy to be here.

(There are other good things too).

Like flamingos at the zoo.

Have missed you all.

Myrtle x