Catching Up

 We're camped at Patagonia Lake State Park in southern Arizona now. We've done a few bird walks on the birding trail, a full moon hike up the road at Sonoita Creek Natural Area, and a birding pontoon boat tour around Patagonia Lake. Afternoon outdoor sitting and sunset watching are two other main activities.
  It's cloudy today! I thought this would be a good time to add a catch-up page to the blog.

     Out in the middle of nowhere, not too far west of Marfa, Texas, along state highway 90, there is a small Prada store. The large glass storefront windows and door beckon you to stop. Fancy women's shoes and handbags line the shelves inside.
                                             Really?? No.

 The whole thing is an art project. Built in 2005 by the Art Production Fund, a nonprofit, created by artists Elmgreen & Dragset.
Beside the boutique-that-never-changes someone has added a LOVE sign to the telephone pole, and behind the shop, to the fence, visitors have clipped different kinds of padlocks, some with inscriptions of love, some with notes containing names and addresses.
  It's all very surreal, as was the intent, I guess. We stopped there the day we drove from Davis Mountain State Park north of Big Bend, Texas, west to New Mexico, through El Paso.
  

After spending that night at Pancho Villa State Park in Columbus, N. Mexico, we drove into Arizona and stopped at Whitewater Draw near  McNeal to see the wintering sand hill cranes. We've stopped there before - every time we're in the area, as a matter of fact. It's always surprising and inspiring to experience thousands of tall feathered friends at once!