Paper Rocket and Launcher

 
This is the paper rocket I put together, along with the launcher made from PVC pipe, bicycle inner tube, duct tape, and a 2 liter plastic bottle. I hope the children have fun with it. The PVC tube laying on the floor has a larger diameter, so that's the pipe I used for assembling the rocket. The spring clamp allows variable launch angles. 

Autumn Maple Leaves

While photographing these autumn Maple leaves...
I discovered this Bushtit bird nest...
...in the tree where all the leaves were gone. 

Beeboo Flying High

Beeboo flying high at Lou's birthday party. 

Straw Bale House in Sunizona

The owner gave me a tour of this straw bale house. It was beautiful both inside and out. You can just barely see the design in the border between the brown and the white adobe. 

This is a single twig from a tumbleweed plant. Notice the flowers near the bottom. The stickers were very sharp. The real name for this plant is Russian Thistle, and it is not native to America. 

Is this a horned toad? I think he was full grown, but only a bit larger than a tree frog. 

black lizard, with gold and green spots. These guys were all over the place, but moved quickly, and were hard to photograph. 

Bilbo Baggins' Misty Mountains (Chiricahua in foreground, New Mexico in background)