Ear Defenders Should Be Included with Admission

When I was a child, my widowed mother raised me on a couple of paltry pensions and her job as the village librarian. Money was scarce, but Mom wanted to open the world to me, so she scraped up the money to subscribe to a couple of series of Time-Life books. I loved getting those books! They were beautifully illustrated and so informative. The volume on Pompeii fascinated me, and when I learned that Pompeii: The Exhibition was going to be at the Arizona Science Center while Suzanne and Daisy were here, I was hoping they would say yes when I asked them if they wanted to go. They did, so off we went.

We hadn't been to the Arizona Science Center before so we were eager to explore. Unfortunately, the place was heaving with children who all seemed to feel the need to scream at the tops of their lungs. The noise was deafening. Ear-splitting. Headache-inducing. Fortunately, the Pompeii exhibit was worth the pain.

At the beginning of the exhibit. It's mind-boggling to think of how old these pieces are.

Bronze keys, 1st century C.E.-- Found in one of Pompeii's largest and most luxurious homes, these keys opened complex locks adapted by Roman engineers from Egyptian pin locks. Although only able to open and lock from one side, these innovative locks secured the home and kept residents safe.

Money box and coins

Daisy's photo

Daisy's photo

Daisy's photo

Can you believe a loaf of bread survived?!?

Suzanne watching one of the videos.

Glirarium, terracotta, 1st century C.E.-- Dormice, considered a great delicacy by Roman gourmets who consumed them as savory snacks, were caged, raised, and fattened up in a glirarium. Its interior spiral shelves, two food tanks, and multiple air holes, encouraged captive dormice to eat, sleep, and eat some more.

Did you know that one of my favorite movies is Spartacus? (The Kirk Douglas version.)

The explanation for how the archaeologists were able to make these casts of victims was fascinating-- and this one even has his teeth!

Cast of a guard dog. I remember seeing a photo of this in one of those Time-Life books when I was about ten, so it was a bit of a thrill to see the actual cast. Looking at all those casts of victims was very sobering.

Once we were through the exhibit and could no longer stand the noise, there was still time before the Dial-a-Ride bus was due to pick us up, so we went for a wander. The Arizona Science Center is in the middle of downtown Phoenix.

The Rosson House was a short walk away in Heritage Square.

Daisy and Suzanne in front of the Rosson House. It wasn't open, so they couldn't go in.

From the Rosson House Memorial Rose Garden.

From the Rosson House Memorial Rose Garden.

We really did enjoy our outing-- so many fascinating and/or beautiful things to see-- even if the first thing we did when we got home was open a bottle of aspirin!

A February Visit to the Phoenix Zoo

Last Thursday, I boarded the Dial-a-Ride bus and headed for the Phoenix Zoo. Non-medical outings are few and far between, so I was really looking forward to this visit. When a roadrunner ran across the road just before the turn-off to the zoo, I took it as a good omen-- and it was. This may have been a non-medical outing, but it certainly did my body and soul a world of good.

Let me share a few of the photos I took-- maybe even a video or two-- and for those of you who may be sick of winter, there are some flower photos, too. There's always something in bloom here in the Sonoran Desert. 😀

I always head for the Arizona Trail section of the zoo first. 

You don't often see an egret and a vulture on the same tree.

Burrowing owl. These little guys always look so serious. This one needs some sunglasses.

The male jaguar was a bit restless. The enclosure for the jaguars is wonderful-- places to hide, walkways overhead, a swimming pool, etc.

Kudu

A Common Gallinule on the left, and a Guinea fowl on the right. The Guinea fowl looks like it's flat, doesn't it?

The Amur leopard was restless, too. This was the first time I'd seen this guy, so it was a treat.

Brittlebush

I love watching children become acquainted with animals, but if I may be a curmudgeon for a moment, I do not like the new meerkat enclosure. You can't keep the hordes of children from smearing snot and spit all over the glass. This goes for any enclosure where you can only see the animal through glass, but I love meerkats, so this is especially galling. 

If you didn't think I was weird before, you will now. I think Griffon vultures are rather pretty with their lavender head and neck and white ruff.

The girls were snoozing in the sun.

Lioness

Busy bee

African painted dogs are another personal favorite.

Orange jubilee yellow bells, native to Arizona.

I found this quiet spot and did a little communing with nature and a little reading. One of the pelicans kept coming over to check me out.

Faces only a mother could love.

What a quacker jack hairdo!

Egrets love the Phoenix Zoo. On one particular visit, I saw about three dozen of them.

Head thrust forward. Leg raised. Wings back. Tai chi? Or has he watched too many Bruce Lee movies? And I love his little buddies.

Hibiscus

I hope you enjoyed this virtual visit to the Phoenix Zoo. I know I certainly did!

October 2025 at the Desert Botanical Garden

I took a trip to one of my favorite places, the Desert Botanical Garden, the week before Halloween. The weather was glorious, and for once the place wasn't heaving with people. In many of my favorite spots, I felt as though I had the place all to myself, which was quite nice. 

Here are some of the photos I took. I hope you enjoy your virtual visit.

Purple was the color of choice, with Texas sage, Mexican petunias, asters, lavender, and other beauties blooming like crazy. No place else on earth shows its appreciation for rain faster than the desert.

I love how light often gives the cactus a halo.

It's been years since I've seen these cardon cacti (which have been here at the Garden since 1938) so happy and swollen with water. Those storms we got at the end of September were badly needed.

The honeysuckle was blooming like mad.

Two women standing in front of one of the installations of the latest "draw" to the Garden: Desert Pulse. I wasn't that impressed, but I do think this would be much more impressive at night.

A male and female Gambel's quail.

I had almost three dozen quail surrounding me at the Patio Cafe. I always bring raw sunflower kernels to feed them, but this time I had a new treat: dried mealy worms, and they were quite the hit. I'll be bringing them more in the future.

This lizard was basking in the sun in a spot where it thought no one would see it. It didn't anticipate ole Eagle Eye here with my zoom lens!

Part of the Garden's Halloween display.

The Butterfly Pavilion has become so popular that it now has a nursery.

Monarch butterfly

This feeder was very popular.

The Butterfly Pavilion will be closing in a few days, but it will return in the spring.

It was nice to be outside in glorious weather and at one of my very favorite places, but I have to admit that I did miss Denis. Very much.