I am “pickleballed” out. So much effort went into preparation for and playing in the tournament, that I’m almost burned out with little desire to play and/or compete. Kay played on Monday, March 4. On Tuesday, March 5. I drove north to the Riparian Reserve at Gilbert Water Ranch in Gilbert, Arizona, Tuesday morning, and had a decent morning photographing birds. Species included Abert’s Towhee, American White Pelican, Anna’s Hummingbird, Black-necked Stilt, Curve-bill Thrasher, Great Egret, Green-winged Teal, House Finch, Northern Mockingbird, Northern Shoveler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Say’s Phoebe, Verdin, Veterans Oasis Park, and Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Even a Gray Hairstreak butterfly made an appearance.

Kay returned to the pickleball courts Wednesday while I processed photographs. In the late afternoon, we had a going away party for the Seitz’s who left Palm Creek a few days early to attend a wedding in Florida. It was a great party, and we’ll sure miss them until returning home in early April. Kay again played pickleball on Thursday. And we played hand and foot with the Barbara and Norm and Jolene and Gary. The guys lucked out with another blowout victory!

Kay and I drove to Picacho Peak State Park Friday morning in hopes of viewing a super bloom of California poppies. Regrettably, it was too cool for the poppies to open, and besides there was not a super bloom this year as opposed to last year’s exceptional bloom. After the wildflower failure, we drove to Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch. Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch is a three generation family owned and operated working ostrich ranch. Joining the ostrich were Miniature Sicilian Donkeys, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Fallow Deer, Peking Ducks, the Goat Penthouse, the Hole in the Wall Gang featuring Boer Goats, the all-time favorite Rainbow Lorikeets, and last but not least Sting Rays. This visit had been on Kay’s Arizona list for some time.

Washington state friends, Ralph and Debra, visited Saturday, and after a great lunch at Texas Roadhouse (one of our favorites), we drove to St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery.

St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Monastery is located in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona near Florence. It was established in the summer of 1995 in the name of Saint Anthony the Great. It is home for approximately 42 monks. Visitors must adhere to a strict dress code. Women must wear long-sleeved, loose-fitting shirts that fully cover the chest up to the neck; long skirts (or dresses) without deep slits; and scarves that cover the head and wrap under the chin and around the neck, so that the neck is also covered. Menare kindly asked to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts. For both men and women, socks (at least ankle high) with shoes or sandals are to be worn at all times. Sheer stockings are prohibited. The Monastery buildings and grounds were immaculate, and a large number of other visitors were present. It was quite amazing to see this “oasis” in the middle of the desert.

Sunday was an uneventful day. In fact it was so uneventful that all we did was read and watch TV.