This image shows a small portion of Cabot Pueblo, Desert Hot Springs, CA. This Hopi-style pueblo was hand-built by Cabot Yerxa, of used materials from his original homestead, from abandoned cabins, and hand made adobe bricks he made himself. He began building it in 1941 when he was 60, and continued working on it until his death 23 years later. It is 4 stories high, about 5,000 square feet, has 35 rooms, 150 windows, and 65 doors. Cabot was one of the three original pioneer homesteaders who settled and began the town of Desert Hot Springs. He was the one who discovered the natural hot mineral springs from which it got its name. He was an adventurer, artist, architect, collector, idealist and visionary. He had developed a strong relationship with Native American tribes in the southwest, and built the pueblo and developed the museum in celebration of these cultures. 1883 - 1965. 1/31/20 Judith Sparhawk
In San Timoteo Canyon where I go birding sometimes, there is a small pond which attracts various ducks and other water birds. You never know what will be there. Two days before this shot was taken there was a pair of Hooded Mergansers. When I went back to photograph them, they were gone, but several of these female Ring-necked Ducks were swimming with the coots and Mallards. There are just two of them in this shot, but I especially liked the reflections of the cattails and the one quacking duck. 1/30/20 Judith Sparhawk
This large type of agave plant was photographed in a garden in Harmony California. I believe it is the one called a Century Plant, which got its name from the early belief that it lived to 100 years before blooming. The truth is, it usually blooms at between 10 and 30 years of age, with a single very tall stem, 15 to 25 feet high, flowering at the top. Commonly the plant dies after blooming. This one has wavy leaves, which is not completely typical of this plant, so this may be a different agave. At any rate, I liked it looked in the garden. 1/27/20 Judith Sparhawk
