Mojave Light Musing

Today's post is simple photo from today's 9+ mile hike through the boulders and canyon washes of Joshua Tree National Park.  There were tons of these red barrel cacti scattered about the granite and quartz faces of the rocks. Not in sand. Not in rich soil. Growing out of a rock. Solid rock. Is that survival or thriving.....? Such intricate beauty rises out of what our human eye sees as nothing. This little one could fit in the palm of my hand with room to spare. My walks in the wilder lands of this desert I call home show me many examples of living things inching out an existence among seemingly lifeless terrain. Oh, not so.... This hardy landscape is teeming with thriving flora and fauna, skilled at adapting to our ever changing drought conditions. You can learn a lot about the health of our environment and how the natural world cooperates so that 'everyone' gets what 'they' need. All you need to do is get down on your hands and knees, quiet your busy mind, and

Today's post is about friendship and joy - from a dog's point of view... (iPhone image. Copyright Diana Shay Diehl. Mission Creek Preserve Trail) My favorite hiking pals and I decided to take our dogs for a romp along a creek in the Mission Creek Preserve today. It was a bit blustery but overall perfect for a winter's afternoon hike to the mouth of the lower desert canyon. This preserve allows dogs on leashes until you get past a certain point and then they are allowed off leash. The off leash part, of course to the dogs, was what they couldn't wait for. I tried my best to capture the pure, unadulterated joy on their faces (all I got were blurs...) - especially my Toby as this was his first creek run with new doggie pals. These dogs had never met before yet quickly figured out no one was a threat and that a quick snarl or yip would make clear the boundaries so everyone could get on with the business of investigating and splashing through the creek. There was no such