Karen Funk Blocher
@mavarin.bsky.social
Bookkeeper, editor, fantasy novelist (pending), Democrat, Tucsonan, Whovian, sometime birder, & amateur photographer. One husband, two dogs, no kids, no cats. Bots, p*rn accounts and strangers who DM me will be blocked.
My only photos today are of our new microwave oven. The old one rudely died a week before Thanksgiving.
December 7, 2025 at 9:22 AM
My only photos today are of our new microwave oven. The old one rudely died a week before Thanksgiving.
Four years ago today, we were driving to California, specifically Disneyland. Okay, technically, John was driving. I was taking pictures. These are from I-10 between Quartzsite and Cabezon.
December 6, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Four years ago today, we were driving to California, specifically Disneyland. Okay, technically, John was driving. I was taking pictures. These are from I-10 between Quartzsite and Cabezon.
Dusk at Fifth and Wilmot, Tucson.
December 5, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Dusk at Fifth and Wilmot, Tucson.
My last Christmas season visit to Disneyland was in early December 2021. We were just starting to emerge from COVID, still wearing masks. My pictures from that time show a relatively subdued holiday vibe. I expect to see something very different next week!
December 3, 2025 at 11:32 AM
My last Christmas season visit to Disneyland was in early December 2021. We were just starting to emerge from COVID, still wearing masks. My pictures from that time show a relatively subdued holiday vibe. I expect to see something very different next week!
More saguaro 🌵 photos from my Thanksgiving Day hike.
December 2, 2025 at 10:46 AM
More saguaro 🌵 photos from my Thanksgiving Day hike.
Today I got the vacation approved, booked a one-day(!) Park Hopper ticket and got a great Black Friday deal on a Harbor Blvd hotel in early December. I get to see Christmas stuff, test my ability to get around Disneyland after losing 78+ pounds, and get back well before actual Christmas.
December 1, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Today I got the vacation approved, booked a one-day(!) Park Hopper ticket and got a great Black Friday deal on a Harbor Blvd hotel in early December. I get to see Christmas stuff, test my ability to get around Disneyland after losing 78+ pounds, and get back well before actual Christmas.
I’m going to Disneyland! I’ve been watching Disneyland videos and wishing I could get there this Christmas season. Finally I mentioned it to John. He’s not pleased, but he’s not trying to stop me. 1/2
December 1, 2025 at 10:30 AM
I’m going to Disneyland! I’ve been watching Disneyland videos and wishing I could get there this Christmas season. Finally I mentioned it to John. He’s not pleased, but he’s not trying to stop me. 1/2
Not remembering the real distances from 2020-21 when I was hiking nearly every day, I estimated my planned Thanksgiving afternoon hike (Mica View to Cactus Forest Drive and back via Shantz Trail) at about 2 miles. It was 2.76 miles. No regrets! I could not have walked this far 6 months ago.
November 29, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Not remembering the real distances from 2020-21 when I was hiking nearly every day, I estimated my planned Thanksgiving afternoon hike (Mica View to Cactus Forest Drive and back via Shantz Trail) at about 2 miles. It was 2.76 miles. No regrets! I could not have walked this far 6 months ago.
It was my longest walk in several years. I wore a knee brace and did okay, but I worry that I may be further damaging my knee in my effort to lose enough weight to qualify for knee surgery. Pretty scenery, though!
November 28, 2025 at 10:05 AM
It was my longest walk in several years. I wore a knee brace and did okay, but I worry that I may be further damaging my knee in my effort to lose enough weight to qualify for knee surgery. Pretty scenery, though!
On Thanksgiving I didn’t get to the gym for the first time in months, because their shorten hours conflicted with the church service & potluck. I did my best to make up for it with a hike at Saguaro National park: 2.76 miles from Broadway Trailhead to Cactus Forest Drive, and back via Shantz Trail.
November 28, 2025 at 10:04 AM
On Thanksgiving I didn’t get to the gym for the first time in months, because their shorten hours conflicted with the church service & potluck. I did my best to make up for it with a hike at Saguaro National park: 2.76 miles from Broadway Trailhead to Cactus Forest Drive, and back via Shantz Trail.
I’ll have tiny amounts of the naughty stuff and bring modest amounts home to John. But besides the turkey for us, I’m cooking rutabagas and Syracuse salt potatoes for the pot luck. (I’ll have a few bites of each.) So it’s going to be a semi low carb, hybrid-sourced Thanksgiving. Should be fun!
November 27, 2025 at 8:45 AM
I’ll have tiny amounts of the naughty stuff and bring modest amounts home to John. But besides the turkey for us, I’m cooking rutabagas and Syracuse salt potatoes for the pot luck. (I’ll have a few bites of each.) So it’s going to be a semi low carb, hybrid-sourced Thanksgiving. Should be fun!
12 hours from now I’ll attempt to cook a turkey roast in an air fryer. Wish me luck!
This year’s Thanksgiving dinner will be different anyway, because I’m not going to sacrifice my 76 pound weight loss (and counting) to stuffing & gravy & pie. St. Michael’s is having a pot luck, so… 2/3
This year’s Thanksgiving dinner will be different anyway, because I’m not going to sacrifice my 76 pound weight loss (and counting) to stuffing & gravy & pie. St. Michael’s is having a pot luck, so… 2/3
November 27, 2025 at 8:42 AM
12 hours from now I’ll attempt to cook a turkey roast in an air fryer. Wish me luck!
This year’s Thanksgiving dinner will be different anyway, because I’m not going to sacrifice my 76 pound weight loss (and counting) to stuffing & gravy & pie. St. Michael’s is having a pot luck, so… 2/3
This year’s Thanksgiving dinner will be different anyway, because I’m not going to sacrifice my 76 pound weight loss (and counting) to stuffing & gravy & pie. St. Michael’s is having a pot luck, so… 2/3
John and I have a holiday compact: I cook Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas dinner, not both. The other holiday we eat out, or buy take out, or maybe get a heat and serve deal. But last year we got a Beef Wellington meal from Whole Foods and I ruined our oven spilling creamed spinach. So… 1/3 🧵
November 27, 2025 at 8:39 AM
John and I have a holiday compact: I cook Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas dinner, not both. The other holiday we eat out, or buy take out, or maybe get a heat and serve deal. But last year we got a Beef Wellington meal from Whole Foods and I ruined our oven spilling creamed spinach. So… 1/3 🧵
More from Sunday on Mica View Trail. #saguaros #TucsonSunsets
November 26, 2025 at 8:58 AM
More from Sunday on Mica View Trail. #saguaros #TucsonSunsets
Another Target sunset.
November 25, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Another Target sunset.
Sunday sunset on Mica View Trail. #TucsonSunsets #saguaros
November 24, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Sunday sunset on Mica View Trail. #TucsonSunsets #saguaros
It rained pretty much all day here in Tucson on Saturday. Is that why my knees hurt so much, or is it the result of all my exercise, as careful as I am? John teased me about my “rumatiz.” The solid overcast onditions weren’t good for photos but I tried to capture the rain splashing in the birdbath.
November 23, 2025 at 9:24 AM
It rained pretty much all day here in Tucson on Saturday. Is that why my knees hurt so much, or is it the result of all my exercise, as careful as I am? John teased me about my “rumatiz.” The solid overcast onditions weren’t good for photos but I tried to capture the rain splashing in the birdbath.
More from Thursday’s brief sunset at the Broadway Trailhead. #TucsonSunsets
November 22, 2025 at 8:46 AM
More from Thursday’s brief sunset at the Broadway Trailhead. #TucsonSunsets
Thursday sunset at Mica View Trail. I’m noticing that I’m getting much less out of breath now on this familiar route with its slight incline.
November 21, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Thursday sunset at Mica View Trail. I’m noticing that I’m getting much less out of breath now on this familiar route with its slight incline.
On Sunday my destination on the Shantz Trail was this distinctive saguaro. 🌵 I call it the SID: Saguaro in Distress. Aside from its unusual shape, it has signs of damage or disease (I think). I had not hiked the Shantz Trail for over a year, so I was glad to see the SID is still hanging in there!
November 20, 2025 at 10:05 AM
On Sunday my destination on the Shantz Trail was this distinctive saguaro. 🌵 I call it the SID: Saguaro in Distress. Aside from its unusual shape, it has signs of damage or disease (I think). I had not hiked the Shantz Trail for over a year, so I was glad to see the SID is still hanging in there!
Clouds on a drive across Tucson, late afternoon on Tuesday.
November 19, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Clouds on a drive across Tucson, late afternoon on Tuesday.
What I’m doing: Ozempic; a high protein low carb regimen with careful attention to specific nutrients; and exercise, currently shooting for about 2 hours a day. I’m working around knee pain as best I can. Progress!
November 19, 2025 at 8:45 AM
What I’m doing: Ozempic; a high protein low carb regimen with careful attention to specific nutrients; and exercise, currently shooting for about 2 hours a day. I’m working around knee pain as best I can. Progress!
April 10, 2025 to November 18, 2025. 75.2 pounds lost to date. One of my interim goals was 75 pounds down by Thanksgiving. I beat that date by over a week. I need to lose just under 50 pounds more to qualify for knee replacement surgery, and will try to lose more after that. 1/2
November 19, 2025 at 8:42 AM
April 10, 2025 to November 18, 2025. 75.2 pounds lost to date. One of my interim goals was 75 pounds down by Thanksgiving. I beat that date by over a week. I need to lose just under 50 pounds more to qualify for knee replacement surgery, and will try to lose more after that. 1/2
Shantz Trail on Sunday. My second time this year on this fairly easy trail. I had a particular goal this time, and will show you that in my next photo post.
November 18, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Shantz Trail on Sunday. My second time this year on this fairly easy trail. I had a particular goal this time, and will show you that in my next photo post.