We have been waiting for weeks and weeks! Yes, we’ve had smatterings of rain here and there, but not the all out downpour that we’re used to getting on a regular basis during Monsoon. Last night, we finally had our first downpour on the property. Not sure when it started, but by the time I arrived home around 5:30 it was in full swing and it may have been going for a bit of time. Lasted about an hour I’d guess. Stopped raining for a couple of hours and then started again around 9pm. Always nice to lie in bed and listen to the rain. Continue reading
finally.
18 Thursday Jul 2019
How are you all doing in your corner of the world? Summer is here in full swing. Today we may even have entered into the monsoon season at last. There are showers all around us, but never really quite reaching us here. Lots of virga… the heat keeping the moisture in the air. The extremes have taken a toll on all of us here – seeking relief from the heat has been our pastime of late. We’ve already talked about a few things we have doing to help the chickens beat the heat, there are other issues – though – that we have to think about due to weather. 
When I postponed writing until today, I didn’t even think about it being Father’s Day; however, it is only fitting to wish all the fathers out there (especially mine!) a very happy day to you! Nothing about the rest of this post has anything to do with Fathers’ Day… shall we get to it? 
So, hey – we’ve got things going on. We’ve got a freezer full of veggie-sicles for the chickens. We’ve got watering going on because the trees are hot and dry. We’ve got a clean house because the keeper was here today (yay!). We’ve got the old cabbages cleared out and fed to the chickens making room for some new plantings. We’ve got chicken pies in the oven getting cooked for dinner. What’s next on our list of happenings? 
Even though summer doesn’t begin until June 21st, we are heatin’ up all the same. Monday we had our first peek at monsoonal type moisture; accompanied by a rather destructive micro burst in Bisbee. Today we have rather high clouds and are a bit muggy; hopefully this is a good portend for our monsoonal season. This is a photo from the National Park Service… but it is a good example of what we will be seeing in just a matter of weeks. 
I never really got into theoretical math, although I am drawn toward theoretical physics (string theory, quantum mechanics, and dark energy), because it just blows my mind – I would never have succeeded in pursuing this as a career path because… I just really don’t like math. But, we all have heard something about chaos theory and “the butterfly effect,” right? Here’s an easy definition from “
OK, yes – I skipped a day. It’s always difficult for me to get back on track when I’ve been traveling for a while. We’re on our way to being normal again. I came back home and the landscape was completely changed. Pollen is everywhere! On the wind, on the ground, in the house… everywhere. Rather takes its toll after a while. This cartoon rather sums it up for me. 
I find it interesting that sometimes a thought will be running round and round in my head and then a friend or family member will bring up the exact same thing. Happens with Sue and I a lot – probably because we live together, happens with Mom a great deal too, and often with my admin at work. Now, I find the connection is still there with friends back home. Case in point: when I was growing up, we had a retired Navy Chaplain in our church, Rev. Ted Herman, who never needed a microphone when he took the pulpit. I guess all those years preaching on the deck of ships at sea just gave his voice resonance. At the end of his services, as his pastoral blessing, he would intone a special prayer, the tenor of which had been rattling round in my head a great deal lately, but I could only recall a few specific words, “this troublous life…” and then vague ideas surrounding that sentiment. I think it had been in my mind so much lately because of – you guessed it – the horrendous winds we’ve been struck with. THEN, today I had a message from our friend Tracy, back home, asking about this exact same prayer. She was trying to remember it, but could only think of “grant us safe lodging… and peace at last”. So I just gave in and finally googled the few words I remembered with the addition of “Prayer” and found it. It’s called the “Prayer of Blessed John Henry Newman”. I’ve put a photo of it above. It also came to mind today because of some lodging issues we have of our own right now. Well, chicken lodging anyway. 
Yes, yes, yes. I know we talk about the wind here a great deal. I supposed that’s because it is a big deal. Today we actually had wind warnings through 8 p.m. Our top speed in the last hour was 50 mph. The thing is, with that type of wind – it gets really difficult to do anything outside. Sue was hoping to get a head start on the weed whacking today, but the winds were blowing her over! The chickens have gotten somewhat used to the winds, and go outside to eat and drink, but they are also content to stay indoors. Did you hear about the warnings going out a few weeks ago back east? The Meteorologists were 
It’s hard to believe that a mere 7 days ago we were experiencing inches of snow! I know that they say the weather changes quickly, but we’re at a high of 78° right now! Can you possibly believe that? I saw this on a friend’s Facebook timeline today and had to laugh (thanks, Holly!) – this is truth, people! 