Big Weather!

One of the most interesting parts of living on a flat coral atoll is that the weather blows straight in off the ocean with nothing to mitigate it.  It is usually big, interesting, and gone as fast as it came.  Today we watched this storm blow across the lagoon.

That appears to be a wall of rain.

It is moving fast...

While the weather is bad outside, what should we do?  Cook!!  We want broc!!

Joshua Tree National Park

Today I finally realized a dream I have had since my first visit to a desert park some years ago in Arizona.  I got to see Joshua Tree National Park!  This was a special treat for me as someone who loves the desert and never thought she would have any reason to be here.  Never say never!!

Let's do this!

The Mojave Desert-scape, complete with mature Joshua Trees.

The weird rock formations were just as stunning as the trees.

Joshua Tree close up.

All travelers out enjoying the day.

It may not be a cactus, but I love me some Joshua Tree.

This pic got a favorite on Twitter from the park.  Yay!

Very definitely and credibly rock climbing!  (In Havaianas...)

The desert in life and death.

Joshua Tree poms in the sun.

The surreal landscape, like something out of a movie.

 Say Quesoburgesas!!

Put your hands up!

"Kylie can climb rocks too!!"

A hazy day at Keys View.

But everyone loves Joshua Trees!

Looking into the Joshua Tree forest.

Then we crossed a boundry, and the Mojave Desert turned into the Colorado Desert, and the Joshua Trees turned into fields of Cholla Cactus (!!).

I am just a little excited about these cactuses.

 And they even bear fruit!

It was a really fun day in the high desert with family.  Thanks to Eric for driving, Ron for the company, and Kylie for being cute in pictures and quietly watching Frozen the rest of the time.  Joshua Tree National Park was spectacular, I am so glad we had the chance to visit this national treasure!!

Tracks in the Snow

I'm finally back from Brazil and ready to enjoy home leave with my family.  We make the most out of the first snow!!

We decided to take a (2 mile) walk to the mailbox and back.  There were signs of many wild friends living all around us.  There were bald eagles in the trees and vultures in the field.  The tracks were the most interesting to me, though.  Here are deer tracks.

Kylie is super excited about her ride in the toddler-bogan.

The toddler-bogan may not be the most fun for everyone though.  Someone has to pull the toddler.  :)

Quail tracks!  (Kylie, what does a quail say?  Peep-peep!  Obviously.)

Um, yeah, that's a cougar print.  Or a saber-toothed tiger.  Probably a cougar, though.

Snow angel big girl prints!!

Who lives in there??  lol.

Littler paws, probably coyotes.

Yikes!!  That has claws!!

Turkeys are storming the compound!!

It was super fun to look at all the tracks and play in the snow.  Hopefully there is more to come!!