Monsoons !

Corona de Tucson

July 17, 2021

Monsoon season in Tucson is from June 15 to September 30.  The word monsoon originates from the Arabic word "mausim".  It means season.  Most of the year, winds in this area blow from the land towards the gulf.  But during monsoon, the winds shift and blow from the gulf towards land.  Somedays, during the monsoon "cloud bursts" will occur bringing with them torrential rains, strong winds, and lightening.  We experienced one of those storms last week.  It was amazing, exciting, scary, and beautiful all at the same time.

This photo was taken around 6:45 pm.  The heavy rain and 40+ mph winds lasted about an hour. The tree in the neighbor's yard across the street split and broke almost in half during the second storm we had a few days later.

Once the storm passed on, we had the most gorgeous sky.

The video I shot was too long to post.  The dark clouds in this photo produced some beautiful light...not in streaks like the next photo, but the kind of light that lights up the whole sky.  I just noticed the wind blew the top up on the feeder.

  

It was hard to make myself come inside.  The streaks of lightening were incredible...so much so it's easy to forget how dangerous they are even when they are miles away.  

We had one other "cloud burst" monsoon storm a few days later and two days ago it rained for several hours mid-day.  It was one of those nice steady rain showers with no winds.  We do check the hourly weather these days and try not to venture out unless there are appointments to keep when the chances are high for rain. 

Flash flooding is a serious issue here and we don't take it lightly. 

So besides the weather, life has been pretty routine for us.  We are still waiting for biopsy reports.  Did I mention I don't like waiting ?  

Keith, our friend who just happens to be an electrician by trade, came over and installed a fan on the patio.  

We usually have a nice breeze in the backyard and the fan just makes it that much sweeter to sit on the patio.  

Dover sure enjoys her time on the patio !

We have had a couple of visitors this week...

A Gopher snake...looks a lot like a rattler and could just have easily been a rattler !

Joe and I didn't make a positive ID on this hawk.  Do you think it is a Sharp-shinned hawk?

...both were beautiful reminders not to let the pups out without checking the yard first.   We do live in the desert !

Morning walks continue to be part of our routine.  We look forward to them every morning.  Of course, the best part of walking is getting home and having coffee on the patio.  Can't think of a better way to start the day.

So I mentioned Keith.  One of the redos in our home (last March) was to change and move a ceiling fan and add (there wasn't any light for a dining area) a dining room light in the living space.  This is when we first met Keith. He does outstanding work, is dependable, and since that time has become a friend.   

The "path" from the patio door to the kitchen

The original fan was in the center of the room...right in the "path" to the patio door.  We wanted the fan over our sitting area.

Now the new fan is where we can feel it when we watch a movie, visit, search the web, or just relax with the pups.  We all enjoy the breeze !

And if we ever have company, we can actually see what we're eating !

To continue with the westerny style, Joe replaced the other ceiling lights and ceiling fans to match the aged bronze on the doors.  

We chose brushed nickel for the bathrooms.  

 

That about wraps up our week and another redo project. We did eat Mexican at Manuels in Green Valley.  They have fried catfish tacos.  I'm a southern girl and I do love some fried catfish every once in awhile !   

So until next time, a blast from the past...

West Maroon/Hasley Pass Hike in Crested Butte in July 2016

HAPPY TRAILS !