We were just above frost temps, but I am sure many areas close by were hit. We need these days to remind us to finish up the jobs we need to do outside. It will be upper sixties later today and 80 is predicted by the middle of the week. The leaves have been changing for a while now.
We had to move the table on our deck over. The birds are making a real mess on top of the many purple berries that are falling from the chokeberry bush. Apparently, they are Viking birds. One of my daughters made that observation after I complained about the messes the birds left behind. Thank the Lord for giving us a sense of humor!
Note to Cheryl, re- this comment: ” Saguaro National Park has been established since I was last in Tucson”
You probably are referring to Saguaro NP West, which borders the Sonora Desert Museum. Saguaro NP East has been around since before I was born. It is East of Tucson, but the housing developments have encroached on its borders. It has a 9 mile loop drive that goes into the foothills of the Rincon Mountains. If you’re ever back in Tucson, go visit the East park.
Ah, interesting, Peter. I didn’t know they were established at different times. My reading indicated that the “west” park had a better crop of saguaros, and it was close to the museum, and I had limited time, so I chose just to see that one and to get a hotel close to it, but did actually want to see both. I missed several things in Tucson I actually wanted to see, so am considering making a separate trip just to Tucson, earlier in spring to potentially see more species of birds.
Soccer games, glad you’re getting to do that (but sounds very hot up there!). My friend’s 2 girls went through soccer for several years and their mom became a near fanatic, wearing all the team shirts (everywhere), being a volunteer and even a coach for a season (until her kids told her she was kind of embarrassing them so she had to quit that gig).
But they got to travel to Hawaii when the team was in the finals and generally they just had a great time, I think they were probably one of the most fun periods in her parenting life, some of the best years. The arrival of grandchildren, of course, is now rivaling that (though I think she’s determined to recruit them to soccer as well).
Our heat wave, thankfully, has broken along the coast — a surprising cool breeze swept in yesterday afternoon so I opened all the large casement windows on the south side of the house and it was glorious. We’re still in the mid-80s (way better than the mid-90s) for the next couple days but then we’ll see some mid- to low-70 highs during the next week. Whew.
When I got up this morning I found Abby flat on her back in her open crate, legs in the air, she’s so cute when she does that.
Going to dinner with a friend again today but I’m craving an omelette for dinner. And I have so much grocery shopping to do, out of all the basics, from milk to OJ to eggs to coffee.
I would love to be able to take in some of the grands soccer games going on right now. They are far enough away to make that a challenge, especially when there are events that interfere. We have two brothers playing and both started in today’s game. Their older brother is playing in college even further away. There are some other grands playing other times, as well. I do like when I can watch the two boys online. The announcers are good about explaining what is happening.
I don’t really understand soccer very well and once had to cover the gathering at Croatia Hall in town for one of that country’s playoff games.
Everyone would burst into cheers or shouts and I had no idea what had just happened.
We had a British reporter on staff at the time who was very into soccer, I wound up asking him questions as I was writing the story later.
Dinner out tonight was breakfast — omelettes at Dennys — followed by a drive around the peninsula where the landslides are occurring. The road — 2 lanes, one in each direction — has always been bumpy and curvy and rather scary due to ongoing earlier landslides (all the underground pipelines have been placed above ground for years now); but it’s now in crazy bad shape. Bumpy all the way with the notorious “ski jump” hill extra precarious to go over now.
But it’s still a beautiful drive, the ocean on one side and the rustic hillside dotted with homes on the other side. All of it once underwater and one wonders if it’s all headed back there again.
Went through one of the neighborhoods impacted by utility company shutdowns and there was a large van parked offering charging services. One home had an outhouse set up in their driveway. A couple from my church live in that neighborhood but so far their house is out of the impacted slide zone — by just one block, though — where the power has been cut off by the utility companies due to the danger.
~ All together, residents find themselves in a bleak reality more befitting the cattle ranchers and shepherds who lived on the Peninsula at the end of the 19th century — rather than folks accustomed to cell phones, microwaves and central heating. But for now, and likely the forseeable future, that is the reality, with several residents saying they are essentially camping in their own homes. They rely on out-of-area friends or relatives to charge phones and to shower. People with know-how and the right equipment ride their tractors over to neighbors to help fill fissures. Some, who don’t have gravity-powered sewers, have to drive down the hill to portable toilets. ~
A tragedy for those folks in gorgeous Portuguese Bend. 50 years ago ( what?) when we would go for a “Peninsula Bike Ride” all the way around via the PV Drives and Western Ave, that section of the road was already dramatic, wild, bumpy, and striking with an awesome view.
But then, some days it feels like the whole earth is slipping and shifting under our surprised feet.
Perhaps Aslan is on the move?
Headed home tonight after a week packed with lengthy conversations, goats, fabulous sights, Yellowstone, a fun talk at a sweet church, and now a surprising lunch with our daughter’s godfather from Baltimore who just happens to be arriving at the airport we’re flying home from.
My only regret is not getting to Mumsee’s house. 😦
Next time.
Our hosts are up. Time for a last deep discussion before church!
I read about the landslide situation on BBC. Sad. One of the reasons I never wanted to live in a place like that though I have a pretty good view from here. We do have a very low fire risk but not too likely we will be sliding into the abyss.
That road, M, is now closed to bicycles or motorcycles — basically any two-wheeled vehicle. Hard enough for cars with 4 wheels to travel it.
Good day at church, followed by a brief biz session to elect a new elder. It was so hot today that one of our young and very handsome members wore his kilt! Building is air-conditioned, but outside is just a furnace.
Did I even mention that my water heater is not working? Friend came over and lit the pilot which would not stay lit so handyman will be here in the morning. We even texted him the model number. I finally realized that this is one thing that I have never replaced since I bought it 20 years ago. Just needs a new thermocouple.
I’m thinking of going swimming since I can shower afterwards. So sleepy. I was going to bed last night but realized that Anna had something baking and she was downstairs. Figured I’d better stay awake for a while.
We now have an uncontrolled fire burning in the mountains to the north east of us. It doubled overnight and is 0% controlled, lots of evacuations. Area is steep so often can’t be fought on the ground.
I had such a fun afternoon. My dog-walking friend picked me up and then we picked up my Marta Mobility friend. We went over to the home of my 94 y/o friend and played Rumikub with her and her college age grandson. I took Carrot Pinapple Raisin muffins and the hostess had made sourdough chocolate chip scones and cookies. I even won the first game. So glad all my friends, old, new, and newer, get along great together!
Wandering Views 
Happy Saturday!
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We were just above frost temps, but I am sure many areas close by were hit. We need these days to remind us to finish up the jobs we need to do outside. It will be upper sixties later today and 80 is predicted by the middle of the week. The leaves have been changing for a while now.
We had to move the table on our deck over. The birds are making a real mess on top of the many purple berries that are falling from the chokeberry bush. Apparently, they are Viking birds. One of my daughters made that observation after I complained about the messes the birds left behind. Thank the Lord for giving us a sense of humor!
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We started in the low 70s today and may hit mid 80s. Cloud cover is burning off.
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Note to Cheryl, re- this comment: ” Saguaro National Park has been established since I was last in Tucson”
You probably are referring to Saguaro NP West, which borders the Sonora Desert Museum. Saguaro NP East has been around since before I was born. It is East of Tucson, but the housing developments have encroached on its borders. It has a 9 mile loop drive that goes into the foothills of the Rincon Mountains. If you’re ever back in Tucson, go visit the East park.
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went to get a new modem yesterday and it was 106 degrees outside. I am ready for some cooling and today there are two soccer games
jo
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Art and I played Upwords, and we tied, both at 252. He usually wins. Nice to know the teacher could at least once tie with the student.
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Good morning, all. Did you enjoy the Reagan movie, Jo?
mumsee
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Ah, interesting, Peter. I didn’t know they were established at different times. My reading indicated that the “west” park had a better crop of saguaros, and it was close to the museum, and I had limited time, so I chose just to see that one and to get a hotel close to it, but did actually want to see both. I missed several things in Tucson I actually wanted to see, so am considering making a separate trip just to Tucson, earlier in spring to potentially see more species of birds.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Soccer games, glad you’re getting to do that (but sounds very hot up there!). My friend’s 2 girls went through soccer for several years and their mom became a near fanatic, wearing all the team shirts (everywhere), being a volunteer and even a coach for a season (until her kids told her she was kind of embarrassing them so she had to quit that gig).
But they got to travel to Hawaii when the team was in the finals and generally they just had a great time, I think they were probably one of the most fun periods in her parenting life, some of the best years. The arrival of grandchildren, of course, is now rivaling that (though I think she’s determined to recruit them to soccer as well).
Our heat wave, thankfully, has broken along the coast — a surprising cool breeze swept in yesterday afternoon so I opened all the large casement windows on the south side of the house and it was glorious. We’re still in the mid-80s (way better than the mid-90s) for the next couple days but then we’ll see some mid- to low-70 highs during the next week. Whew.
When I got up this morning I found Abby flat on her back in her open crate, legs in the air, she’s so cute when she does that.
Going to dinner with a friend again today but I’m craving an omelette for dinner. And I have so much grocery shopping to do, out of all the basics, from milk to OJ to eggs to coffee.
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It is amazing how much one small cat can eat when she is feeding seven smaller cats.
mumsee
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I would love to be able to take in some of the grands soccer games going on right now. They are far enough away to make that a challenge, especially when there are events that interfere. We have two brothers playing and both started in today’s game. Their older brother is playing in college even further away. There are some other grands playing other times, as well. I do like when I can watch the two boys online. The announcers are good about explaining what is happening.
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I don’t really understand soccer very well and once had to cover the gathering at Croatia Hall in town for one of that country’s playoff games.
Everyone would burst into cheers or shouts and I had no idea what had just happened.
We had a British reporter on staff at the time who was very into soccer, I wound up asking him questions as I was writing the story later.
Dinner out tonight was breakfast — omelettes at Dennys — followed by a drive around the peninsula where the landslides are occurring. The road — 2 lanes, one in each direction — has always been bumpy and curvy and rather scary due to ongoing earlier landslides (all the underground pipelines have been placed above ground for years now); but it’s now in crazy bad shape. Bumpy all the way with the notorious “ski jump” hill extra precarious to go over now.
But it’s still a beautiful drive, the ocean on one side and the rustic hillside dotted with homes on the other side. All of it once underwater and one wonders if it’s all headed back there again.
Went through one of the neighborhoods impacted by utility company shutdowns and there was a large van parked offering charging services. One home had an outhouse set up in their driveway. A couple from my church live in that neighborhood but so far their house is out of the impacted slide zone — by just one block, though — where the power has been cut off by the utility companies due to the danger.
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From our story today:
~ All together, residents find themselves in a bleak reality more befitting the cattle ranchers and shepherds who lived on the Peninsula at the end of the 19th century — rather than folks accustomed to cell phones, microwaves and central heating. But for now, and likely the forseeable future, that is the reality, with several residents saying they are essentially camping in their own homes. They rely on out-of-area friends or relatives to charge phones and to shower. People with know-how and the right equipment ride their tractors over to neighbors to help fill fissures. Some, who don’t have gravity-powered sewers, have to drive down the hill to portable toilets. ~
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A tragedy for those folks in gorgeous Portuguese Bend. 50 years ago ( what?) when we would go for a “Peninsula Bike Ride” all the way around via the PV Drives and Western Ave, that section of the road was already dramatic, wild, bumpy, and striking with an awesome view.
But then, some days it feels like the whole earth is slipping and shifting under our surprised feet.
Perhaps Aslan is on the move?
Headed home tonight after a week packed with lengthy conversations, goats, fabulous sights, Yellowstone, a fun talk at a sweet church, and now a surprising lunch with our daughter’s godfather from Baltimore who just happens to be arriving at the airport we’re flying home from.
My only regret is not getting to Mumsee’s house. 😦
Next time.
Our hosts are up. Time for a last deep discussion before church!
M
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Good morning, all. A beautiful day here with thunderstorms expected later. Currently fifty seven outside.
mumsee
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But now, Michelle, you know where we live: not on the way to anywhere. To come here, you have to intend to do so.
mumsee
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I read about the landslide situation on BBC. Sad. One of the reasons I never wanted to live in a place like that though I have a pretty good view from here. We do have a very low fire risk but not too likely we will be sliding into the abyss.
mumsee
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That road, M, is now closed to bicycles or motorcycles — basically any two-wheeled vehicle. Hard enough for cars with 4 wheels to travel it.
Good day at church, followed by a brief biz session to elect a new elder. It was so hot today that one of our young and very handsome members wore his kilt! Building is air-conditioned, but outside is just a furnace.
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Did I even mention that my water heater is not working? Friend came over and lit the pilot which would not stay lit so handyman will be here in the morning. We even texted him the model number. I finally realized that this is one thing that I have never replaced since I bought it 20 years ago. Just needs a new thermocouple.
I’m thinking of going swimming since I can shower afterwards. So sleepy. I was going to bed last night but realized that Anna had something baking and she was downstairs. Figured I’d better stay awake for a while.
Jo
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A new thermo-what/al?
We now have an uncontrolled fire burning in the mountains to the north east of us. It doubled overnight and is 0% controlled, lots of evacuations. Area is steep so often can’t be fought on the ground.
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(That comment did not mean to imply anything about the cooking going on at Jo’s house but looks like Jo had already ‘gone there’ mentally … )
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I had such a fun afternoon. My dog-walking friend picked me up and then we picked up my Marta Mobility friend. We went over to the home of my 94 y/o friend and played Rumikub with her and her college age grandson. I took Carrot Pinapple Raisin muffins and the hostess had made sourdough chocolate chip scones and cookies. I even won the first game. So glad all my friends, old, new, and newer, get along great together!
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Watching Judy Collins on our local PBS station. Wow! She still sounds fabulous!
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That dog’s got talent!
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/x682FsdHAcqTmHaZ/?mibextid=xfxF2i
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Oh, doggy dental bills in that dog’s future!
Janice, are you going to get a hurricane? Saw something about the Gulf Coast being in the path.
Still hot, cooling but only slightly as it moves toward evening.
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