Rainy Days at Thanksgiving

I heard on the radio this morning that this Thanksgiving Day is the first time in 20 years that it has rained on a Thanksgiving Day in Phoenix. How wonderful! Those of us who live in the Sonoran Desert relish the days when the weather is different. Today is no exception!

This was taken on Wednesday, Nov. 26 after the rain showers had moved to the east and the sun came out. I knew there would be a rainbow, but a double rainbow was unexpected! I hope you can see the faint second rainbow to the left of the visible one.It has rained most of the night and finally stopped early this morning. Now that the sun has come out once again, the rain drops on the palo verde tree look like diamonds! What a beautiful morning! I am so thankful I got to see this!

Found bird nest

Had the new Nikon camera out this morning to take a picture of this bird nest in the palo verde tree in the front yard. There were several of these nests in this same tree, but the tree trimmers cut out most of them before I could get them down. This one remains. And it is close enough for me to cut it down and save it. I wish I knew what bird built this nest. It has to be a desert bird. Sorry to say that this nest took a beating from the windy conditions last night. I want to take a closer look at this nest.

The desert dwelling birds are very savvy when it comes to building their nests. I have seen them nestled in the crook of the arm of a saguaro cactus or in a hollowed out hole made by the bird (a cactus wren). Others I have seen are built in the midst of a cactus with long spines (1-2 inches long) -- bet that is to protect the nest and eggs from predators. Every one well adapted to the harsh life in the Sonoran Desert.