Winter...

Corona de Tucson

January 12, 2025 

January was off and running with some really nice weather.  For about a week and a half, we enjoyed temps with highs in the low 70s - high 60s and lows in the 40s.  It was perfect Arizona winter weather for enjoying outside.  Add in blue skies, clouds, and no wind and you will usually find us in the glider in the backyard with the warm sunshine at our backs.   

Sunrise this time of year is around 7:15.  It's the time of year Joe and I can sleep a little later and thank goodness Lucy is in total agreement with the plan. 

Sunset this time of year is around 5:30 and perfect for a short walk with Lucy.  We are still working on walking with a leash and go for a couple of walks everyday.  Progress is slow, but we have hope! 

The biggest excitement at the oasis was having our home painted. We spent an afternoon moving plants and outdoor furniture...

We are very happy and have nothing but great praise for William Hernandez, owner of Arizona PRO 1 Painting, and his 2 employees who were efficient, steady, and did an awesome job. They arrived on Thursday (1/4) to pressure wash everything and returned on Friday (1/5) to do two coats of paint and a sealer.   They were polite to us and each other, worked together like a synchronized dance, and doubled checked to make sure we were happy and pleased with the job they did.  

William is liscened and bonded and guarantees his work for 5 years.  After 5 years he said we would notice the color fading...the paint is still good, but the heat and sunlight fades the color.

We kept the body and the trim the same color, but changed the front door to an English Forest green.   

We won't paint every 5 years, but the fresh paint sure makes a huge difference.  

 Wednesday the weather changed...it was so windy (the air quality was awful) we could hardly see to get to the grocery store.  The mountains disappeared behind a haze of sand and dust.  And though the photo doesn't show it, driving was a bit of a struggle.  

I am always keenly aware that Desert Valley Fever (often misdiagnosed as pneumonia) is caused by a fungus that grows in the desert soil.  It causes infection in the lungs when inhaled and humans and pups can get it. Lucy only goes out to potty and we cover our noses.   

The temps dropped, the clouds rolled in and we actually had snow flurries. 

There has been a freeze warning since Wednesday which continues through Monday I think.  It actually looks like winter outside.

The patio reminds me of a nursery and the torch cacti in the yard are covered with black yard bags. 

The other three shelf unit is on the back wall filled with flowers and cacti too. 

The birds have been busy at the feeders...

the cardinal visits at dawn and dusk...

and this sweet little Costa's spends it's day perched out of the wind.

And who can ignore the first full moon of 2025 ?  

January's full moon is the Wolf Moon.  We haven't heard any wolves, but, the coyotes have been howling up a storm the past few nights.  

Joe and I actually like the weather change and a new season for awhile.  Home is cozy and warm and we are so happy to be here.  

I love the way the sunshine fills the kitchen this time of year.

Lucy is just like Dover was...she will find a small spot of sunshine for a nap if we aren't napping.

And this week we added tiny pieces of frozen bananas with the frozen blueberries for a treat. She is growing like a weed and weighed in at 11.6 pounds last Friday.  

Back on the east coast, Felix and Edith had snow on Friday that turned to ice overnight in South Carolina.

Felix discovers very quickly that ice isn't so great for snow angels !

But it is great for riding down the hill in a saucer.

 Edith rode down the steep hill all by herself in the video that this picture was taken from.  

And further north in North Carolina, Jill and Bill woke up to a beautiful snow on Saturday.  Their home and barn made for gorgeous photos.  

  

Until next time, a blast from the past...

Ronnie and Joe at La Jolla in January 2016...so many wonderful memories!

HAPPY TRAILS!