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 !

Sonoran Dogs

Corona de Tucson 

July 9, 2021

I'll get the ranting out of the way first.  To say I am totally frustrated with blogger would be an understatement.  I innocently tried to change the Header photo and hours later still can't figure out how to fix it.  I have changed the Header picture too many times to count since beginning this blog in 2012, but now with the changes they made in coding it is next to impossible for someone with little knowledge as to what HTML, HTTP, HTTPS, etc. is to do anything.  Gadgets are locked and the information on codes never match.  So, here I am with no Header !!!  

Joe and I both had dermatologist check-ups this week.  I had a place on the side of my face that was frozen last fall and it came back.  Never a good thing for that to happen.  It was biopsied.  Joe also had a place on his nose that needed checking.  Poor Joe just can't seem to catch a break.  After the exam he looked like one of those dot-to-dot puzzles.  Several spots were frozen and six biopsies were taken.  

He needed three more biopsies done, but six is the limit for one visit.  We both wait for results.  I'm not so worried about me, but I dread it for Joe to have more MOHs surgeries.  I have lost count.   Positive vibes please !

Ever heard of a Sonoran Hot Dog?  Simply put, it is a grilled bacon wrapped hot dog topped with beans, green chile, tomatoes, grilled and raw onions, mustard and mayonnaise.  All of that yummy goodness is stuffed into a split-on-the-top soft and sweet roll called a bolillo (boo-lee-yoh) and served with a roasted pepper.   

Back in May we indulged in one of these savory delights at El Guero Canelo.  

The owner,  Daniel Contreras, began selling Sonoran Dogs from his cart in 1993. 

In 1994, another vendor Benjamin Galaz and his wife started selling their dogs from a cart.  As the story goes,  at one point the two vendors were only a few feet from each other selling dogs in South Tucson. They became friends, but the friendship soured and a rivalry began when they opened their first restaurants across the street from each other (located on 12th Street - known to locals as Eat Street).   Today, Contreras owns three El Guero Canelo restaurants and Galaz owns two BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs restaurants.  The scrumptious Tucson dog definitely has a following.

So, after the dermatologist and a haircut for me, guess where we headed for lunch.  Yep, BKS for a Sonoran dog and to decide for ourselves which dog is our favorite.

I decided on BKs only because the bacon was crispy. Other than that, we couldn't tell any difference.  But don't ask us.  The Travel Channel's Food Wars visited Tucson in 2010 to settle the battle and El Guero's won. You will just have to decide for yourself !    

 

Most mornings Joe and I are up and out the door by 5:30 for a walk.  Santa Rita Golf Course located in Corona de Tucson opened in 1976.  It was an 18 hole course on approximately 116 acres.  Our home was built in 2004 on a fairway...I don't know which one.  In 2011,  the golf course was put up for sale and never purchased as a golf course.  Over time, different people bought up a few acres for private homes.  As a result, we can enjoy what seems like endless miles of tarmac and desert landscape for walking.  After a bit of research, I found out that Tin Cup, a great movie with Kevin Costner and Rene Russo, was in part filmed here.  Thats pretty cool !  

There are reminders of days gone by here and there, but mostly the desert and its wildlife call it home now and so do we !

We see coyotes from time to time.  

Some morning we just sit and enjoy the show...

   So until next time, enjoy the day and...

 HAPPY TRAILS !