Thursday, February 7, at home in Arizona
Today I step out onto the porch and greet a brisk, calm morning of clear sky and sunshine.
“Looks like another beautiful day, guys.” Reggie and Roger take off across the porch to patrol the perimeter of our property.
Another beautiful day . . . .
Yesterday the boys and I wake to the surprise of snow flurries! Delighted and entranced I watch the flakes of snow swirl like confetti . . . a fanciful celebration.
The snow doesn’t stop the birds from singing. Quite the contrary. They chirp and chatter with an extra pitch of excitement as they hop about, scratching the ground under the feeders. Above them their cohorts also dine with gusto, flicking seeds which add to the bounty of those below.
Several times throughout the morning I break away from housecleaning, laundry, and general puttering to gaze out a window at the short-lived snowflakes.
Reg and Rog settle in for a long winter’s nap.
The day before, gusty breezes whip through here, drying the weeds in the yard of moisture collected over the previous days of on-again, off-again rain.
The boys reacquaint themselves with all portions of the yard, intently performing nose investigations. They’re happy in the moment, the way dogs tend (and humans try) to be.
I grab the string-trimmer and set to work.
I revel in the wearing of shirtsleeves outdoors on a day in the first week of February. Funny how what I would’ve thought a chore in my younger years, now is an exercise in thanksgiving — thankful that I’m able to heft and swing a weed-wacker! Ha!
My string-trimmer, recommended by a neighbor, has turned out to be one of my best purchases. Here’s a link to it at Amazon:
BLACK+DECKER LST300 Weed Whacker
Done with the weeds, I survey the neatly trimmed yard.
Gee, with a little imagination those chopped weeds look like “lawn.”
I pull up a lawn chair to savor the good feeling of Getting Some Work Done.
Little do I suspect that the very next day . . . snow flurries!
rvsue
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First or Last ?
FIRST! CONGRATULATIONS, BETTY!
Happy Arizona morning!!
Haven’t been online much ….. gotta catch up!! I hope this finds everyone with more sunshine than we have in my part of Texas!!
……and sending warm wishes to those who are dealing with the storms and ice!!
Morning
WOW! CINANDJULES TIES FIRST PLACE!
Ahem….I think it’s a tie! 😉
Your “ahem” tied with me congratulating you! 🙂
Hello!
I envy you the brevity of your snow. Here in Ohio, we’re having thunderstorms today and a below-freezing day tomorrow.
I have actually enjoyed using a string trimmer also. It’s good to have a really good one, though. I’ll go look at the ladder.
Enjoy Arizona!
Hi, Calvin,
I’ll be sure to post pics of my new ladder. I’ve wanted it for a long time. Gee, I’ll be able to see the top of the BLT! 🙂
Wish I could send you some Arizona weather….
The clicky to the weed hacker took me to an 8’ ladder.
Thanks, Cat Lady. I fixed it!
BTW, when you go to that string-trimmer page, scroll down and there’s mention of a newer model available.
Gosh. Caught this even before it appeared in my inbox.
Haven’t had any snow here in Dauphin Island. Today’s gorgeous after several days of quite a heavy fog.
Sounds like your house and yard are coming along nicely. Still haven’t found my new home in coastal Mississippi. Two possibilities were either too large or too small. Hope something shows up as I’m only at this campground for a couple more months.
Always enjoy your posts and photos. Got myself a new camera for Christmas and am getting acquainted with it before migration starts. Couldn’t rival your shots, for sure.
Congratulations on the new camera, Nora. You will take great photos because they will be YOUR photos. I love being able to browse my old pics and return to days gone by.
Good luck with the house hunt!
Woke up to freezing temps this morning…
Does Rog and Reg stay away from the trimmer?
Not sure if you’re opening the comments on Tioga George’s tribute.
In the previous post you wrote “When we are given news, we will know whether to be sad or glad. Until then, I’m setting concern aside.”
Sad in regards to his passing but glad that he lived his life how he chose!
The photo that popped up….Tioga George looking toward a beautiful sunset!
The supreme vagabonder indeed…inspirational to so many, like you, and yet so humbled at the same time. What a legacy! The sadness for you….so sorry for your loss.
Going “dark” for a day…what a sincere gesture. “If it weren’t for you”….both! Validations are often implied…making sure it is expressed.
Rock on Desert Woman!
🙂
Well said, Cinandjules.
Sue has a gift with writing that we all reap the benefits of!
Hi
Minus 33C today and more. Snow
Well, I think -33C converts to -22F. (Correct me if I’m wrong.)
Yup, that’s nose-hair-freezing cold. 🙂
Today is cold for me…had to get up early for a walk with one of the nephews…35* but I pulled out wool hat and gloves and walking we did…his goal is to hike down the South Rim route and up to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, my goal to just walk without an assist device around the park; lots of laughter and encouragement.
I do miss working in the yard…in the 50’s, we lived in CO, our Dad had my brother and I alternate weekends, mowing the front and back yards using a push mower. What made me happy about this chore? Pulling up the clover flowers to make chains before I mowed the grass; oh, the smell of cut grass still makes me breathe deeply and bring back those wonderful memories.
Your photos of the Boys are adorable and has my mind wondering about their conversation as their wander around their own yard. Photo #1 looks to be a study in Botany or looking forward to what Spring might bring forth from this spot.
I’m off for lunch with bowling friends, going to practice a few games this afternoon before my Thursday night league hoping to improve my avg.
Take Care
This morning we had ice in Rochester. I can handle cold, snow, slush, whatever. But I hate trying to move on ice. My daughter held my elbow as I slid to the car. Then we gingerly maneuvered along our commute. Drop of granddaughter for before-school care, drop off daughter at her new job (drive over a single-lane metal grate bridge over the Erie Canal for that one, yikes) then my stop. Shuffle across the ice to the office door. I think it’s melted by now. And no major damage that I’ve seen reported, thank heavens. But I’m sure enjoying photos from you in AZ, other family in FL. My brother sent me a pic of his first daffodil in NC. Also loads of photos from Australia in a new Facebook group – heatwave there! Bring on the sun!
I am excited that our weather is very similar to yours…warm 70’s! Winter just might be over here with a single hardfreeze!_Carpenter bees are out and that is a good sign too! NOT for the Wood but for the weather!😂
Want to sell your shorter ladder? I’m looking for one.
We’ve had a couple of mild days. Mid 40’s into the low 50’s. It ends tonight with returns to below freezing, but I’ll take any mild days we can get.
After much deliberation, we are going to make our annual trek to Florida. We leave on Monday. We usually go for a month, but we cancelled some of our camping reservations and are only going for a couple of weeks this year.
My son is doing much better, and we’re giving him and his wife some space. I think they’re done with us hovering – LOL. They appreciated all of the help and support, but now it’s time for them to get back into the rhythm of their own lives. Of course we check in by phone and text almost daily, but don’t stop by as often. They are beginning to get together with friends again, slowly making adjustments and putting back the pieces.
It feels really weird to be going, but I do think it will be good for us. When I told my son, we may not go, he rolled his eyes – well, he’s never been a mother! We will be camping in just one spot, and can’t wait to get our toes in the sand and our faces in the sun.
Sue, the fence looks great, and is the perfect photo backdrop for the cuties!
Hi, Applegirl,
So glad that your son in on the road to recovery! Little by little each day. Keeping your family in my prayers. Enjoy your trip, and try to de-stress a bit! Safe travels! 🙂
Thanks, Denise.
Thank you for the update on your son…sounds like they are adjusting. Yep, tis indeed the job of parents…going on down the road when we are not needed so much. (We are in our location here in order to help one of our kids…still our help is needed, but not every day…we do not tend to go over unless needed or asked.
How well we learned THAT one with the first child!) Hope your trip is safe and the weather perfect!! Blessings on your family!!
Thanks Elizabeth, Sounds like you know exactly what I’m talking about. We’re all in it together!
Have a restful, worry-free vacation in Florida, Applegirl!
Hey Applegirl,
I am not asking where you are bound in FL, but Dad, myself and the crew are in Fort Lauderdale , if you happen to be in the neighborhood we could meet for a cup of coffee and help in any way we can, from one Blogerino to another. If you wish, perhaps Sue would help us connect.
Lisa,
Wow, what a great invitation. We’re heading to the Gulf Coast – Fort DeSoto. We’ll do a quick stop in the Jacksonville area to see family.
So, not near Ft Lauderdale. We did stay at Lauderdale by the Sea one year. What a lovely town. It’s a great area.
I would have been happy to connect, but it won’t work this year.
Thanks for the thought, though. It would have been fun, I’m always up for stuff like that.
Hi, Sue!
We all have been having crazy weather! Last Friday we had a weird snow….not snowflakes, not sleet or freezing rain. One of my friends described it best by saying it looked like someone spilled laundry detergent on her sidewalk. It was just enough to make the roads slick after sundown; I was thankful to be home before the black ice formed.
The past couple days have been in the 60-70 degree range. This weekend, Mother Nature will be more like herself, with seasonable weather. Even a chance of snow early next week. The birds have been singing so joyfully….maybe they know Spring will be here before we know it! 🙂
Isn’t it funny how snow or a good rain will wash away the scents of our yards? Gracie pup acts the same as the boys; she feels the need to “read the paper”, inspecting each blade of grass to see who may have visited our yard. I usually don’t have time to let her roam on weekday mornings, but when I get home from work, she get to leisurely explore to her heart’s content. Ah, the life of a well-loved dog! 🙂
Reggie and Roger are just too cute! Do they steer clear from the weed eater or do you have to put them in the house when you are working in the yard? I have to put Gracie in her crate so I can vacuum. Oh, how she hates that thing! Even crated, she will bark and carry on. I ask my neighbors if they heard me torturing her with a fork (not)!
I am glad that you found the right tools to help you maintain your yard and house. It is such a wonderful feeling of accomplishment after a chore is completed! I can picture you relaxing in your recliner, admiring your handy work, savoring the satisfaction of a job well done. 🙂
Have a nice evening, Sue! Sending you, Reggie, and Roger lots of love and hugs from me and Gracie pup! xo 🙂
I watched a program on PBS last night about the great pyramids in Egypt. Recent discoveries have found that the workers who built the temples were not slaves as once thought, but more than likely farmers who could not farm during the flood seasons. The workers were fed very well and taken care of. They needed to be healthy and have lots of energy so they could put in a good day of work. Fascinating! 🙂
Good morning, Denise,
Great comment, as usual! No, the boys don’t bother the weed-eater. They keep their distance. Happy Friday to you and Gracie pup!
Thank you, Sue! 🙂
I still love reading your posts even tho you are now staying put in one location. I’ve recently had my 70th birthday and seem to enjoy staying at my little home more than hitting the road. I’m hoping that will change once the weather gets a little better. My ROADTREK has been sitting for way too long. Heading to the carribean for a sewing cruise the first part of April for ten days then maybe after that I will be able to get on the road again. I’m so glad you and the boys are so content! It’s a great way to be!
Happy belated Birthday, Linda Rose! 🎂 🎉
The weather here has been very warm and lots of rain, unlike the polar vortex we had last week. Record breaking temps up to 78 today, but dropping to the high 20’s tonight with a high in the 30’s tomorrow. Temps will be more seasonable starting Sunday afternoon.
Sue did you fence your whole yard or just the back yard? It is still the best looking fence I have seen in quite a while. Dennis and his helper did a very good job.
Haven’t done much lately to chat about. Mostly just taking care of Angel and hubby, doing my little work from home job and trying to work a little each day to clean out all the clutter in this house and the usual household chores. Anxious to get back to my hobbies, this de-clutter project has to come first. If something should happen to us, I don’t want my family to have to go through all the mess.
Glad things are going well for you and the pups.
Hi, Barbara,
The fence encloses all of the back yard and also about half of both side yards. This leaves the front yard enclosed by chain-link. 🙂
Love your weather. It has been like spring here in Memphis area. But tonight it is turning winter again. I have come out of retirement and now a proud Amazon employee. So buy so I can keep my job. Great working conditions and pay. I haven’t posted in awhile, but I still ready every post. Many prayers are being said for Ask in.
I got one of those weed eaters. It’s more like a toy. I call it my Barbie Weedeater.
Oh, and I read about you in a book written about van-dwellers.
Hi Sue,
70’s here too this week! But, even as I’m out welding that crowbar and sledge hammer in shirtsleeves I know…..it’s just a “trick”! Doesn’t mean Bella and I didn’t enjoy every minute outside that we could though! 🙂
Have a wonderful day,
MB & B
I always thought the only differenc between AZ and FL climates was just dry air vs. humidity. I must admit that you’ve educated me, Sue, re how often AZ experiences snow flurries, and I suppose it has something to do with your dry air and land-locked position over there. As always, I love the pics of the pups!
Good morning, Eileen,
I think more than anything the appearance of snow has to do with elevation. Arizona even has snow-capped mountains in winter. 🙂
Your being delighted and entranced as you watched swirling snowflakes makes me smile. A nice snowfall really can be quite wonderful when we don’t need to be out driving anywhere, and can just enjoy seeing it. This year’s winter has brought many of us unusually quick changes from day to day. It’s good to know that you and the boys have been enjoying them, too.
Last week when here by the lake in central NY state the wind chill was – 35F, howling winds sent tiny glittering ice crystals twinkling with bright colors flying past my windows. It was such a rare and beautiful sight that I wished at that moment it would last longer. However, Monday I was grateful, and amazed, to be enjoying a 65F sunny day. I don’t think I’d ever experienced a hundred degrees difference in temperature, within so short a period of time, before.
It is great, and impressive, that you can heft and swing a weed whacker, Sue. You’ll be able to enjoy all the improvements and maintenance you want to do as long as you stay in such good shape. I hope your new ladder is as good as you expect it to be. They have a 6′ tall version of the one you’re getting that I’m considering buying.
Sue, I want to thank you for introducing me to Tioga George. I am sad that he has passed. But upon starting to read his blogs, it seems like he went out doing what he loved to do. I wish that could be said of me when it is my time.
I’m glad you are having fun doing chores around the house. That is a gift indeed. When I was a child, my chore was to mow the grass. I was trying to do the “fun” chores, while getting out of the more mundane chores, like laundry. To this day, I LOVE the smell of freshly cut grass. If I had to, I still don’t mind mowing either. So, it was a good chore for me.
GOOD MORNING, BLOGORINOS!
A quick note to thank you for adding your unique voice to my blog. It’s a pleasure to read your comments!
Warmest wishes to you for this day,
Sue
The thing that keeps me coming back every day is the comments. The questions answered, the warm wishes, the condolences and of course the written word by the best blogger on the internet. Pictures are great but the words you and other write are as beautiful as the pictures. Please keep up this great blog and thank you from the bottom of my pea picken heart.
On behalf of all the blogorinos and myself, thanks, Ruthie.
Ha ha, no, I’m last.
As for fickle February. It is every year. We had balmy 40 to 50 degree weather last week and now we are in the midst of a winter storm complete with snow accumulation and more to come!
OK, so now Renee isn’t last.
I am finally over the overloaded busyness of an annual fundraiser at my church. I had a great time cooking Spaghetti for about 100 peoples. In the brief time I got out of the kitchen, I could see that everyone attending and helping was having a good time too. We had a great win-win for all, including the community members that we will be able to help with the $ raised. I also enjoyed the massage I scheduled for the week after! I am still sore from that, but in a good way.
Good for you Sue, doing chores and enjoying it! I have an old fashioned reel mower that runs on fat, mine that is. It gives me a good workout, although I think it bothers Dad to see me do the work. I got an electric string trimmer from Worx that is also an edger. It’s light enough that Dad can use it, which we both like. I hope I have his health and energy when I am his age.
Actually, he has inspired me (along with the masseuse) to return to my practice of Yoga. I tried some this morning and well, ouch! I have to practice more, LOL. What does everyone else do for health and wellness?
Hi, Lisa,
I bet you don’t want to see a plate of spaghetti for a while after cooking for 100 folks! Glad that your fundraiser was a success!
Years ago, I helped put together a church dinner. After making individual salads for 80 people, I was off salad for a few weeks! 🙂
Every morning I do yoga sun salutations…gentle stretches to help keep limber. I also do core stregnthing excercises with a large excercise ball and stretchy tubing.
If you have a shortage of “fuel” for your mower, I would be happy to donate to the cause!! LOL! If only it was that easy! 🙂
WELL Blogorinos…have you all been praying that the Northwest might finally get some real snow?? If so, IT WORKED!! We had almost a foot this morning…sun out now and 40 so it will melt a bit…but more is coming!! AMAZING…beautiful…and we can stay home so that is even nicer!! If we only had a nice wood burner to sit beside…would be perfect…but close enough!! Some of our friends over in the central part of Washington have a lot of snow already…lots more coming…no temps above freezing in next 2 weeks so they are definitely in snow awhile.
If I had prayed for you to get real snow I wouldn’t have asked for you to get a wood burner, too, only because you wouldn’t enjoy carrying the wood or cleaning the mess of it all, 🙂
So glad you are enjoying the amazing beauty.
Haha…yea, tis a trial alright at times…to pack in wood and chop kindling etc…but tis awfully nice too when the electric goes out, to have some heat!! SO FAR, we are ok that way. I have never seen the wires hold SO MUCH SNOW before…anyplace we have lived. Must have had at least 8 inches stacked up on them…which fell off in one fell swoop…weird!! I happened to be looking out when it fell. My daughter said her 2 trees in the front yard lost their tops due to the snow. Oh well…they seem hardy so likely it will be ok. This week we are expecting more plus cold temps…so I am figuring on staying indoors (hubby gets cabin fever so bad…so maybe I will be able to keep him inside…hope so!!) Thanks for the good wishes!!
Hi, Elizabeth!
Enjoy your beautiful winter wonderland! Do be careful if you have to venture out, even if just to get the mail. I hope you and your hubby are nice and cozy, snuggled in and comfy. 🙂
Thank you Denise!! I cooked a new chicken recipe and Hubby even liked it!! Remember the commercial where one kid says to another: “HEY MIKEY, He likes it”?? Haha…I texted that to my daughter!! I saved some for her…she KNOWS if he liked it she really will. Cooking in this small place…heh, now the whole house smells like a restaurant. Hope you are staying warm there too!!
Isn’t it wonderful when a new recipe turns out to be a winner?! 🙂
Gracie pup and I are snuggly warm, too. 🙂
This time of year in the desert is always such a delightful variety! Especially in the higher elevation of southeast Arizona, you never know what the morning might bring 🙂