iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 9h

Yesterday... 20 minutes condensed to 30 seconds. Poor hubby had just shoveled out all the soil from the last time (in preparation for the storm). Time to do it again! What's-left-of-the-driveway video forthcoming.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Happy #Caturday. Despite not fitting in my lap, Squeezy still gives it a shot, nestling into the "4" shape my legs make when crossed one over the other.

My kitty tries to sit I my lap, with back to the keyboard, causing me to type left-handed.

My hand is behind Squeeze's stretched neck, right before he lies down and then falls ASLEEP with his head in my hand.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Don't blink. It's a #bobcat driveby! (That trough is ultra-clean, by the way... gave it a good srubbing...must have had H20 elsewhere on the property.)

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Y'all... Jessica McCann's lovely debut #novel is being reborn as a 15th anniversary edition under a new publisher on Nov. 10! This one will rip your heart out, but give you profound hope. It's on NetGalley as a requested #ARC, too! #historicalfiction

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Last night was a five-mammal appearance on the #trailcams! #javelina, #Bobcat, #coyote, gray #fox, mule #deer, , !

A javelina sticks its long snout into the water bowl for a drink under the tree.

A bobcat looks over its shoulder after drinking from a watering system meant for wildlife.

A coyote at the same watering system looks up in the air in between sips.

A fox visits our second watering system near the house - long, bushy tail held out, with a vibrant black tip.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Somebody didn't do a good job of sticking the landing. Though the ramp that the javelina removed made a decent resting spot. Sonoran Desert #Toad.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Planted some baby #saguaros (these are TWO years old!) provided by Tucson Bird Alliance. South-facing, under a host tree (for shade and root moisture), with some rocks to keep them warm during frost. We've lost 8 mature ones over the years. Time to get 6 more!

Two tiny saguaros - 1.5 and 2 inches tall - wait in their black planting cups for new life in the desert.

This tiny saguaro's home is under a palo verde tree. Mountains off in the distance. What a view!

Baby saguaro is surrounded by rocks to keep her warm during the cold months, and twigs around her to keep the nibbling desert pests away from her.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

In my 22 years living here, I have never seen a desert #tortoise pose like this. I thought it was injured, but it appears it was just high on grass. 😂 Zoomed away so quickly about 20 min. later (and up the steep rock wall), I couldn't get my cam out fast enough to photograph)!

Desert tortoise looks like it is swimming on dirt -- back legs "floating" behind and front lets at odd angles.

Close up of desert tortoise: green blade of grass sticking out the mouth and some really green lipstick from foraging.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

It's #Caturday. Squeezy's evening routine: snacks from dad, mouse-toy playtime in the shower (can you see it hanging from the towel hook?).

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

One can never get enough Galiuro Mountain #ringtails ... their home, #CopperCreek. Working hard to ensure this area does not become #mining's proposed "rock waste dump."

Three sets of glowing eyes reveal one larger mama ringtail getting read to hop over a rock, and two babies trailing behind.

A ringtail hops toward the camera, front legs up in an active "bound." Another sniffs a rock behind it.

In this 'butt shot,' a ringtail bounds from a rock, its tiny back feet kicked out, and its body in midflight. Its ringed tail resembles a swirling tornado.

IN the foreground, the upper quarter of a ringtail's head -- ear showing and tail looped to the right - while another looks to the right int he background.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Very happy that this Giant Crab #Spider (who was in the sliding glass door track) decided to scurry OUTSIDE, instead of inside. Not sure what Squeezy would have done to him - and I do know they will bite if threatened.

An enormous spider crawls up the outside of my office-porch window. Two top legs are swept up like a ballerina near its face, and the other two are sprawled out like a starfish.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Every day, between 4:30 and 5 pm, I watch this gorgeous black-tailed #jackrabbit go past my office window as it heads to the pond for a drink.

Jackrabbit, two days later - same time - moves toward the bowl - big ears and big back legs visible.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I am biased, yes, but after a ride today, I remain convinced that I live in one of the most amazing parts of the country. This is #TucsonWash (way north of Tucson, tributary of the San Pedro River). #SonoranDesert

A hill completely filled with plump saguaros - the most iconic cacti in the world, found ONLY in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona.

A mule deer doe with giant ears perches with front legs on a rock, back legs on the ground, surrounded by saguaros.

A red-tailed hawk sits upon a giant boulder with a mesquite tree behind it. Blue skies for miles.

Atop a short mountain outside Tucson Wash, one can see rolling green hills and, in the distance, the Galiuro Mountains - one of Arizona's rare Sky Islands.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Happy #Caturday from Squeezy, the silly little goose that he is. He LOVES being out in the courtyard area, despite it being SO dang hot! (He's protected by four walls, and can't get out into the desert, but can see overhead)

Squeezy is on the courtyard ottoman, stretched out on his back - tummy to the skies, back legs kicked out in a V. He head is turned and looking very cutely at me (side-eyes only). Tummy reveals reddish, tawny furn with black spots &swirls, and a starburst of white.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

There's a baby #fawn hidden under all those doe legs. Mule #deer on #cameratrap.

Three does drink from the shallow pond. Doe at far left has a youngster drinking from the pond beneath her.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Since it's the official start of #football season, it seemed 100% appropriate to post this great-horned #owl on #cameratrap.

Upon landing at the shallow pond, an owl has its wings all the way up in the air. They appear to be more than twice the length of its body.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

#SkyIslands are critical habitat for #Arizona's wildlife. Some of the more 'common' mammals that rely on #CopperCreek's #water & refuge: #coyote, Coues #deer, rock #squirrel (look at those cheeks!), gray #fox.

Rays of sun filter in front of a coyote walking toward the camera.

A female Coues deer (whitetail in AZ) dips her head low toward the camera. Half her giant ears are cut off.

A rock squirrel stands two-legged ON A ROCK, cheeks bursting with food.

A gray fox is caught in daylight, walking away from the camera. While half the face is not in the frame, you get a good view of that long tail with the black stripe on it.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

I recognized the submission, but it wasn't until the end of video I realized 'what' was going on. 😍 #coyote on #cameratrap in the #SonoranDesert (Had to chop significantly to fit here. Volume up).

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Squeezy says, "I wanna be one of the BIG cats!" He loves this IKEA wildcats. It's #Caturday!

My Rescue kitty, Squeezy, who has a perfect double necklace of stripes under his neck, stands in the middle of two plush large-cat stuffed animals from IKEA: a leopard to the left and a lynx to the right. He hopped in there all on his own.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Another Cutie-mundi at #CopperCreek in the Galiuro Mountains, one of southern Arizona's #SkyIslands. Love white-nosed #coatimundi.

A white-nosed coatimundi is seen in southern Arizona's Galiuro Mountains, right of pic, CLOSE-UP, showing off its long, upturned snout that is ringed in white. Looks like a mix between a raccoon, a red panda, and a monkey (with a semi prehensile tail).

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

#SonoranDesert sights: 1) two American Snouts who are apparently making baby snouts on hubby's arm 2) Gorgeous clouds, but no rain (again) 3) Daylight moon, #saguaro & turkey #vulture 4) red-tailed #hawk on a behemoth sag.

American Snout butterflies have the coloration of monarchs, but they are small (moth-sized) and have, yes, long snouts. These two are hooked together making them appear to have snouts on both ends.

A patch of blue peeks out from white and gray clouds while a saguaro stands sentinel on a hill.

A mature saguaro's main trunk points toward the moon, while an ocotillo (looks like Medusa's hair) is at left and a turkey vulture flies in silhouette at right.

A red-tailed hawk sits in silhouette on the very top of an old, old saguaro with twisting bottom limbs.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Desert purple #martins are an entirely different subspecies than their eastern cousins. They rely ONLY on saguaro nests next to #desert riparian areas and have migrated from Brazil every year for millennia to nest in the Lower San Pedro. These pics (F, M) at #CopperCreek. #birds

Female purple martin heads into the nest of a saguaro to check on babies. They use only mature saguaros with old Gila woodpecker nests - unlike eastern purple martins that now use ONLY man-made structures for nesting.

This male purple martin peeks out from a saguaro hole where its nesting young are. His purple-blue coloration is faintly seen in the sun.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Look at those adorable pantaloons on the American #kestrel! Caught on #cameratrap!

An American kestrel approaches a water bowl, his feathered legs looking like old pantaloons. The sun is hitting the bird's tan chest.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Remember the mule #deer buck with the antler issues? This is how it looks now, the poor fella. Though he seems to be unimpeded. (Close-up view at end of video

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

It's #Caturday, and Squeezy really wants that moth in the courtyard! 🔊up if you like nails-on-chalkboard sounds. 😹

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

It's been a LONG time since we've seen a #bobcat on #cameratrap around the house. Thrilled to see this fella! 😻

Bobcat all scrunched into a compact mass while he drinks from the pond.

Bobcat approaching pond (from left of image), eyeshine glowing, head reaching down for a drink.

Bobcat performing the stand-and-drink. Those dang Bermuda grass weed/seed stems nearly block his beautiful face. He's got a pretty long tail!

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

#Roadrunner finds a #spider snack. Best viewed full-screen. (This actually may be a sun-scorpion -- I can't tell... Which is not, in fact, a scorpion, but an arachnid).

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Our nonprofit's presentation last night - "Our Valley, Our Water: When it's Gone, it's Gone" - was a sobering reality check about how much danger we face. 45 years of mining put us at a horrible deficit. Our river, #AravaipaCanyon cannot handle 2 new mining projects, 2 pipelines & an energy center.

Image of people watching a presentation at the local community center. For our small community, a turn-out of 85 people was fabulous!

Photo of the bright-green, life-sustaining mesquite bosque of the San Pedro River - threatened by an exploratory mining company at Copper Creek that is now also purchasing the nearby reclaimed/closed San Manuel Mine that will now give them unlimited pumping rights on 17 water wells on the river...

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Fantastic gray #fox shots in the Galiuro Mountains. #cameratrap (Yes, there are two!)

One fox stands on a rock, while one HIDES behind a rock (eye shine is the only thing seen on the second).

During another evening, a fox walks by the cam, one paw on top of a rock, with tail streaming behind.

Closer-up shot of fox, illustrating the sleek nose and dark stripes around the muzzle.

To left of screen this time, a full-camera look (this is before that pesky weed to the right took over all the images!)

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

SO precious. This is a brand-new Coues #deer fawn. We have about 20 pics of mama cleaning her after birth.

In this shot, the fawn has turned to face the left of ht photo, and we see all but her little rump.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

It's another #Caturday -- which means it's Squeezy time!

My kitty with his black striped and spotted legs dangles them down from the top corner of the kitchen cabinets. Those shelves were designed for him to climb on :-).

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

@skwinnicki.bsky.social I WROTE the flyer/was standing next to photog who took the image. Your preaching = removal of post entirely. The tireless, unpaid work of our volunteers attempting to save a river from FOUR extractive projects will go unnoticed.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Apologies if this is insanely inappropriate... but this made me laugh SO HARD. Itty-bitty black #bear balls caught on #cameratrap.

A small bear stands on two legs, legs spread, for an indecent pose in front of the trail cam.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

My ❤️ is happy that the Sonoran Desert #tortoises in our yard have greenery to eat this year (one of the reasons I am NOT weeding). Look at this character, eating on the run.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Such a treat! #Herpetologists: I believe this is a black-tailed #rattlesnake? Needed to keep my distance, which means I didn't get a full view of the tail. Lovely green tint - GORGEOUS - in Arizona mountains approx. 4500 ft elevation.

A rattlesnake, previously standing up in the air when we started him, has settled down into a pretzel shape on the edge of the road. This fella is green-tinted with gorgeous geometric diamonds that lead into stripes. Dark brown eyes!

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

You guys... these are BABY #ringtails with mama at #CopperCreek. Second pic is a solo baby. Considering adult ringtails (miner cats) are TINY, understand that the babies' bodies are only about 5" long! 🤯🤯🤯 #ArizonaStateMammal

A mama ringtail sits on top of a rock, her striped tail flowing off the back of it, while one baby sits beneath her looking up at her, and another walks in front of her on a smaller rock, its tail extended.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Earlier this week, the wash on our property flowed (after a lovely 1.04" overnight). Second pic is the wash cutting away our driveway. Not complaining! We need the precip and love when the wash flows!

A desert wash is scoured of vegetation - and widened - during monsoonal water flow. IN the background are the Galiuro Mountains and lovely clouds in the sky.

Faint view of our driveway on the 'other' side of the flow. The flowing water actually packs down the driveway area, even though some re-coutouring with the tractor is often needed.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Happy #Caturday. Peek-a-boo from Squeezy. (We were sticking our heads out the slider window, while he hung out on the screened porch).

My kitty - tawny/russet/black boy - sits on a porch chair, heat tilted way to the right, looking at us from the slider window. Porch is screened! He's safe!

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Happy to provide #WATER for our friends during these heat advisories. Mule #deer, black-tailed #jackrabbit, Gambel's #quail & white-winged #doves; great-horned #owls. Caught on #cameratrap.

A mule deer doe approaches the pond and water bowl cautiously during the afternoon.

A black tailed jackrabbit sits up after a drink, sporting his black-tipped ears.

On the left side of the pond are white-winged doves (they have white-edges wings) - and on the right side of the pond are a dozen Gambel's quail.

In this black/white images, an owl's winds are straight up in the air, and its face down in the water. Could have been a landing or he was hunting something out of the water.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

There's no such thing as too much lil' red coverage, is there? #javelina (Today, I also had mule deer, desert tortoises, spiny lizards, roadrunners, and rock squirrel babies in the yard).

Two newborn javelina -- they look like tiny pigs, but are considered old-world 'peccaries' -- root around behind their mom, who is scratching her butt on a piece of wood.

Mom Javelina runs to the left side of the photo with the tiny babies at her back heels. Their little red bodies are all outstretched, trying to keep up.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

We have two new lil reds. Still firmly in camp #TeamJavelina.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Happy to see the San Pedro River flowing from southern monsoonal activity. We also got 1.04" from 2-4:30 am last night/this morning.

A chocolate-brown flow cuts through green mesquite and salt cedar. In the distant Galiuro Mountains is Holy Joe Peak and in the foothills, thousands of saguaros.

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Mule #deer buck gets a fright from a Sonoran Desert #Toad. 😂

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Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

My prediction was right... Mama muley #deer brought a new #fawn by. Caught the lil' one flicking her ears at the bees. Click to enlarge each. It was another 110-degree day, so they were grateful for the bucket.

Really new, young fawn bats its ears in a downward position agains the bees, making an adorable "beagle-eared" look.

I this second shot, the little fawn flicks ears up (they are standing next to a 5-gallon bucket). Baby had a good, long drink.

Size comparison to illustrate just how small the fawn is. Mom is the background, baby next to her. Baby doesn't even reach to the top of mom's leg.

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