It's Summer !

Corona de Tucson

June 21, 2024 

Yep...hazy, lazy, crazy days of summer have officially begun and I am loving it !  

The Northern Hemisphere's summer solstice typically falls between June 20 to June 22.  This years solstice occurred on June 20 and is the earliest solstice in 228 years...it last occurred on June 20, 1796.  

On Saturday, we met Jamie and Andra in town.  We strolled thru Gather and the other warehouse shops in the Lost Barrio neighborhood.  Gather is such a fun place to go...it is always "dressed up" in the season and this month's market was very patriotic.  

And it turned out to be a lucky day.  For quite sometime, I have been looking for a table to replace the one between two chairs in the living area.  It's funny how the eye can just spot something and you have a really good idea "this is it".  I had not even considered round, and thought I "needed" a rectangle table with drawers.  But, this vintage table made by Jaycee Furniture in England is perfect.    

 

Afterwards, the four of us enjoyed lunch at Barrio Brewing...Joe and I devoured yummy Pub Fried Fish Tacos with slaw, Pico de Gallo (a fancy way to say salsa), and topped with habanero cream sauce served with beans and corn chips.  

Monday I had a mammogram and Tuesday Joe had an appointment at the eye doctor.  Dr. McColgin was pleased with Joe's progress...she removed the lens and says the cornea is healed.  She did leave the plugs in the upper and lower openings that drain fluid from the eye so his tears can continue to provide the enzymes that help prevent infections.  He returns in a month.  His eye is red and vision is about what Joe expected and he says the procedure was worth the time and discomfort.  And as we often say around here, "One day at a time." seems to sum it all up.     

Thursday, we were up early and headed north to Oracle.  I had made a reservation at Life Under the Oaks Lavender Farm.  We visited this beautiful farm last year and had such a nice walk and picnic brunch that we went back again.  I am so glad we did...sometimes when revisiting a fun place it doesnt have the charm that it did on the first visit.  Not the case here.  

The weather was so nice...sunny with a calm breeze and cool temps compared to home.  The flowers were so pretty...snapdragons, wisteria and yucca not to mention the wonderful lavender and its delightful fragrance.  We enjoy the walk with whimsical "art" hidden in the nooks and crannies and hanging from the trees.  And the yummy breakfast croissant, breakfast potatoes, lavender scone and lemonade was so yummy sitting in the shade under the old, gigantic oak trees.     

The newly built barn is home to a horse, a donkey, a goat and a sheep.

Snapdragons in all colors along the walk...these were my favorite! 

Wisteria blooms remind me of Georgia.  I was a charter member of the LaGrange College Wisteria Garden Club...

The lavender smelled heavenly and was so pretty swaying in the breeze. 

Chandeliers in trees...

Tree fairies...

Benches, swings, and gliders and tubs of flowers, butterflies, and secret hiding places under mushrooms make for enjoyable "sit and take it all in" spots throughout the farm. 

A nibble a day....

Yummy fun under the oaks...

And the lavender boutique...so quaint and pretty with a nice variety of All-Natural lavender products... 

Back at the oasis, we were up at daybreak and enjoying the early morning cool air. 

A pretty sunrise...

We met our goal of 10+ miles this week...

Sally helps with backyard chores after her morning walk...

Some of the birds are teaching/learning life lessons.

I couldn't believe my eyes Monday morning as a mama quail and her babies came thru the fence into our yard.  Nature is so amazing...what a good mama she is with her tiny little babies...we counted at least 12 of them.  She led them to the corner, gathered them all up and they slept there.  Some of the photos are fuzzy...but the sequence tells the sweetest story.  All the while, daddy quail was standing on the concrete column keeping a watchful eye for danger.  

This year I have been experimenting with flowers and what works best.  So far, all is good except for one plant that the birds have enjoyed more than we have.   Even with all the sticks, the tiny little lesser goldfinch and sparrows have managed to eat just about all there is to eat in this pot.  

Thursday, we had a teaser...lots of clouds, the smell of rain, lightening in the distance, but only a few drops at our house.  

However, yesterday was a glorious day...it rained !  It didn't just rain, we had a beautiful monsoon storm complete with winds, thunder and lightening and a downpour that lasted for several hours.  I found myself walking from window to window and out to the patio it was so wonderful.  The temps dropped about 20 degrees.  

A beautiful sunrise to start the day with overcast skies most of the morning.

Mid afternoon before the storm...

That's a wrap for now, but I will close with a few more favorite photos from the week...

Until next time,

HAPPY TRAILS! 

Busy Doing Nothing !

Corona de Tucson

June 11, 2024 

The gorgeous morning glow and golden grass...

I didn't get a post written over the weekend.  Joe and I were busy...busy doing absolutely nothing !  It seems like we always have somewhere to go...and three of those "always have somewhere to go" days were on the calendar last week with another one on yesterday (Monday)...an appointment for me at the GP, a vet appointment for Sally, an ophthalmologist appointment for Joe and yesterday a dentist appointment for both of us to have our teeth cleaned.  I'm good to go, Sally hid from the vet tech, Joe's eye hasn't completely healed, and our teeth are shiny white.

Sally is not a fan of these monthly visits for shots, but they have helped.  After a couple of droopy days and no appetite, she once again hippy-hops around the house...especially when it's time to eat.     

She is hiding from the vet tech! 

Dr McColgin's exam didn't exactly give us great news about Joe's right eye.  It still has a small crevice where his cornea has not completely healed.  He is still on antibiotic drops (4 times a day) and she added an antibiotic capsule he takes twice a day.  She plugged the upper and lower tear ducts in his eye so his tears will not drain and put in another contact lens.  We go back on the 18th for a re-check.  Did you know that your tears have an enzyme called lysozyme that helps prevent infections in your eye?  It has antibacterial properties and is a component of the immune system.   

Appointments are not all bad ! I love how Pearl (our jeep) knows the way to fun and yummy things to eat...

Lunch after the eye doctor...

It's a brownie Pizookie at BJ's after the dentist...

Back at the oasis, we did manage three morning early walks.  

We have crossed paths with baby Gamble's Quail on our walks, but haven't seen any in our yard to photograph.  We haven't seen any baby Cardinals either.  The grown-ups visit frequently for water and usually leave with a morsel or two.  

And the baby Cactus Wrens are now teenagers.

We love visitors...especially during patio coffee time.

One thing we do enjoy during the summer is the yard.  While the coffee perks, Joe and I feed the birds and water flowers.  The mornings are so nice and it's our time for cooler temps, fresh air and sunshine.

The Torch Cactus we have had a couple of years just keeps on blooming.  It is so pretty.  I took these photos (and all the pictures of the blooms) this morning. 

I have for as long as I can remember loved zinnias.  I could never grow zinnias in Georgia.  I never figured out why...maybe too much rain or humidity or the dirt wasn't right.  I was surprised to find zinnias at Chivano Nursery a few weeks ago and could not resist.  I chose pots instead of a bed in the yard.  

 Sue had beautiful beds of zinnias at their lake house and every summer when she posted photos, they made me smile.  My fingers are crossed and Sue if you have any secrets for keeping them healthy and blooming, I need to know. They are such happy colors ! 

I love mixing yellow with any color, but I do think pairing it with purple is especially pretty.  I mixed Desert Marigolds and Phlox together in a pot and so far, so good.  

The Pincushion is full of flowers.

 And I can always depend on begonias for lots of color !

A photo of photos...my computer bouquet !

Sally's agenda includes a morning walk.  It is the highlight of the day for her and for us !  

And thats a wrap for us.  It's hot here.  Not the same kind of hot as in Georgia with all the humidity so I am not complaining.  Just thankful to have a few hours in the early morning and late afternoon and so happy to be here!  

Until next time,

HAPPY TRAILS !