good-times-rollin: monsoon storms

Monday, August 5, 2024

Lots of Green with Spots of Color...

August 4, 2024

Cotona de Tucson

Madera Canyon Road

Our only adventure last week was a hike at Madera Canyon. We started our hike at the Amphitheater Parking lot and did the 3 mile hike thru the forest to Mt Wrightson Picnic Area and walked the road back to the jeep. It's not completely shady, but it's a nice summer hike at 5500 feet elevation.

We crossed a mountain spring and sat for a few minutes to enjoy the sound, colors, and smells.

Green was the predominant color...lots of calming shades of glorious green...

with spots of color here and there...reds, oranges, purples.

The manzanita bushes were gorgeous and thick...the berries and bark were quite showy.

We admired the locals...

and savored every morsel of a scrumptious Almond Danish we bought at the Gift Shop while we chuckled at the turkeys, hummingbirds and woodpeckers.

Madera Canyon Road is a favorite. This time of year, it is lined with a mimosa bush that is the prettiest shades of pink. And the Arizona Poppies are blooming too.

And if all that wasn't enough...a black bear cub ran across the street on lower Madera Canyon Road right in front of our jeep as we headed home. I was shocked and even though he paused in the road to look at us, I wasn't even close to having the camera aimed and focused for a photo. He turned around one last time...and a quick phone photo was all I captured.

On the family front, Felix turned 8. How can that be? Not only that, he enters third grade this year.

A celebration on his birth day with his family...

After a big outing to a Monster Truck event with friends and family, Felix had a party at home. He designed and decorated his very own monster truck cake to share.

And Edith is the cutest little cowgirl EVER !

Back at the oasis, our morning walks have also been green with a few spots of color here and there.

We have monsoon season to thank for all the green and colors we see everywhere. I don't think we have gone a week without a storm since monsoon season started. This week was no exception and I found myself running from window to window to watch...the storms (so far) never grow old. One of the several storms we had this week produced the loudest thunder I think I have ever heard.

Wednesday's storm and our street was flooded...we were under an emergency alert for flash flooding...

Last Saturdays's storm also produced high winds, thunder and lightening, and pounding rains...

We have monsoon storms to thank for interesting skies...

...brilliant colors,

...and clean fresh air.

We can also thank these same storms for yard work.

On rainy afternoons, Sally and Joe dodge the drops as best they can.

And nap as often as they can!

I practiced with the macro lens this week...

That's a wrap on our week...we turned the calendar again and celebrate life everyday! It was a nice week. I will close with a few more photos...

A morning walk on the cart path...

The welcoming committee at the Gift Shop at Madera Canyon...

The Santa Rita Mountains...

A juvenile male cardinal...

Gorgeous views from the trail...

Memories...I emptied the vase and realized it is the first piece we purchased during our full-time RV journey...

Manzanita berries...

Until next time...

HAPPY TRAILS !

Monday, July 22, 2024

Old Tucson

Corona de Tucson

July 21, 2024

We have enjoyed monsoon storms three days this week...

Old Tucson was originally built in 1939 by Columbia Pictures on a PIMA COUNTY owned site as a replica of 1860s' era Tucson. The first movie filmed there was Arizona in 1840 which starred William Holden and Jean Arthur.

Workers built more than 50 buildings for that first movie set in 40 days and many of them are still standing.

Although we have driven by this piece of history many times thru the years, Joe and I had never stopped there. So. when Jamie and Andra invited us to go with them to Saguaro Sunset Night Market at Old Tucson on Saturday evening, we jumped at the chance to join them for a double date!

Sunsets in the desert are gorgeous!

We were lucky as a storm completely surrounded the area with winds, thunder and lightening and rains. We watched the weather in all directions and only a few drops of rain fell the entire time we were there. The late afternoon glow was stunning !

It was such a fun time...we walked, we talked, laughed a lot, ate messy pulled pork b-b-q sandwiches and slaw, learned some history, watched the blacksmith, took lots of photos, and enjoyed the beautiful sunset and each other !

The kiddos spent the night Saturday.

The rest of the week was here and there...Joe had a dentist appointment for a new cap, he also had an eye appointment with the cornea specialist, and I had a much needed haircut on Friday. I love going to get my hair cut. The salon is on the north side of town and other than haircuts, we rarely ever get there. So, on Friday, we did a little shopping and had a really nice lunch at Wildflower. Wildflower is described as a modern American restaurant inspired by flavors from all over the world.

The menu changes with the seasons serving both classic and fresh flavors. Joe enjoyed fish (flown in fresh daily) and chips with slaw, fries and yummy tartar sauce. I had a warm salad...lobster and artichoke hearts with grilled asparagus, roasted tomatoes, crispy potatoes, baby greens and truffle vinaigrette. It was divine ! And we shared desert...Bars of Sin. It's a praline chocolate cookie, cappuccino mouse, and vanilla gelato.

Our meal was beautifully served, Mica (our server) was wonderful, and we both thoroughly enjoyed our lunch experience. Their patio is nicely filled with wonderful green plants, but we didn't eat outside as it was already too warm. We are looking forward to a fall visit with cooler weather.

Back at the oasis, we had afternoon storms. Lots of rain and lots of wind and thunder and lightening too. No complaints here...I am so thankful for every drop we get.