Monday, July 16, 2012

Moving Back to Tucson

1. Saguaros-kab Saguaros in Corona de Tucson April 2008

I have been in Colchester for the past week busy with Mom, my family and my friends. I was able to go out birding with Dawn Fine as well as on my own. While I was down there I knew the possibility existed that we might be moving back to Tucson and sure enough, while I was there Gus called to tell me that he had been offered a job back where he worked before.

2. Gambel's Quail male-kab 

What did you say?

3. Santa rita Mountains-kab Santa Rita Mountains

Yes, that’s right, we are moving back to Tucson. When we moved here two years ago we had always hoped we would be moving back in a year. In fact, that was almost the plan. But, when that didn’t work out Gus kept looking for jobs everywhere, even Australia! Finally the opportunity presented itself and he took it! Many of you wonder if we will be moving back to Sycamore Canyon and our old house. The answer is “No.” That house belongs to someone else now. So, in many ways, moving back to Tucson will be a fresh start for us. However, I am so glad we have lived here in Massachusetts for the past two years. No only did I get to go birding in so many new and wonderful places but, I was also here when my Mom and my family really needed me as Mom went through breast cancer surgery and chemo therapy. Of course, it will be hard to leave her and the rest of my family, but I do have a son and a grandson who still live there and my only daughter lives near Denver. Gus has decided that he wants to retire there in the Tucson area, so perhaps this will finally be the last move for us. The trouble is, we always like a new adventure!

Here are just a few of the things or places I look forward to seeing again:

4. sabino canyon-kab Sabino Canyon

5. palo verde-kab Palo Verde Blossoms and trees

6. ocatillo-kab Ocotillo Blossoms

7. Mt. Fagan-kab Mt. Fagan in Corona de Tucson

8. cactus wren-kab Cactus Wren

9. vermilion flycatcher female-kab Vermillion Flycatcher (female)

10. canyon towhee-kab Canyon Towhee

11. phainopepla-kab Phainopepla

12. rainbow-kab Rainbows

13. sunset-kab Desert Sunsets!

I will be posting photos from my visit with Dawn Fine soon. She already has her photos up at Dawn’s Bloggy Blog if you want to check them out!

22 comments:

  1. Cool, we will have to go birding when you get all settled in!

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    1. Jeremy, that would be fun and I look forward to meeting you in person!

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  2. Beautiful scenes Kathie and that Cactus Wren is so colourful.

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    1. Roy, I am so glad you enjoyed the scenes. I hope it brightens up your wet summer. I hear you are being deluged over there!

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  3. Welcome back (soon) to the surface of the sun Kathie!

    Now we'll have 3 BiF contributors in the state, what a power play! Looking forward to some Tucson birding!

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  4. Oh, I'm so glad you'll be moving back to the desert! I have missed your desert shots! I'm glad everything worked out for you and your husband. We'll be retiring in a few years and we don't know where we'll be. We may just stay here...our daughter and son both live about 11 miles away.

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    1. Cheryl Ann, it won't be long before I am there. Deciding where to retire is a tough decision but being near family can have a powerful influence on that choice!

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  5. Yippee! Coming back to AZ. We will get together so you can take me birding. Any time frame?

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    1. Gaelyn, I thought you would be happy about this! Yes, we should be there before the end of September, maybe even sooner! And...I would LOVE to go birding with you!

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  6. Now I will have a warm place to retreat when the snow is too much for me!

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    1. Kathryn, you know it! And you are welcome any time!

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  7. Glad you are heading where your heart is Kathie, wish you the best with the move. Lovely photo series - wow.

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    1. Dan, look at us, both moving to new places. I hope that you have moved to where your heart is. Mine is a bit torn right now.

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  8. Sounds like Tucson is where you should be. After viewing all of these stunning photographs, I would like to make a trip to Tucson. Gorgeous! I hope your move goes smoothly.

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    1. Julie, thank you! It will be fun and exciting and I am sure I will be glad once I get there but it is a bit hard to leave my family behind.

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  9. Hi Kathie

    I know this is what you wanted and I am happy for you. I know the snow and cold got you down. So best wishes on your new/old adventure.

    Guy

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    1. Guy, thank you for the good wishes. I guess the snow did get me down at times but I also loved my cozy fire and being near family. I will miss all these things, plus my New England birds. It may be silly, but I love the sound of the blue jays calling in the morning as they move through the trees. I will miss chickadees, titmice and nuthatches, for though we have some varieties of those species in AZ you have to go up into the mountains to see them. I have enjoyed the 2 years that I have lived here for the most part and it is a bit hard for me to go.

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  10. Congrats! If only you'd move back to Idaho!!! I think Tucson is more your style than the northeast. All the best to you and Gus and the extended family.

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    1. Robert, I think the west is more my style and I absolutly love Idaho as you well know. I love Utah as well but AZ is where Gus wants to retire and it is also where he could transfer to with his job. I have a son and grandson living there and I am eager to see them both again. I like the sonoran desert, it's just hard to leave my mother and siblings behind. it is so nice that so many bloggers have already invited me to go birding with them. That is encouraging to me and gives me something to look forward to. Thank you for your best wishes.

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  11. Love all these pictures especially the quail and that is the best picture of a cactus wren that I have ever seen. I visited Tucson a few years ago and loved it.

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Welcome to my nest! I hope you will enjoy spending time here with me and the birds. Thank you for your comments. I will try to get back to you as soon as I get back from counting more birds.