Sunday, June 21, 2020

Time Still Passes Quickly

June 11-20, 2020
Tombstone, Arizona

Although we both grew up in the desert, neither of us are fans of the heat. At 4500', Tombstone "normally" enjoys mild seasons year 'round. Well we know where Normal went this year. Another planet. 

With record high temps throughout the Northern Hemisphere many other places are hotter as well. Vermont is in the 90's this week with 40% humidity :-( We can at least take comfort in our 10%! 

Our plan is to get more landscaping done, but we quickly lose motivation as the thermostat moves past 95. The fairly new AC works great, and we spend much of our days enjoying its comfort. Ezra has plenty of games and toys and manages to engage us in his imagination. Brian and Jeff both have work, and Shalise gets to be a kindergarten teacher each day. With three different diets, I do more cooking than usual. And of course there's the weekly trips to pick up groceries curbside. There's little change.

Yet time still passes quickly. June is already 2/3 past, while Easter was just yesterday! For the first time since I retired I'm anxious for a year to be over. I don't know why we're programmed to feel like when the calendar year changes somehow circumstances will change. Like the 12 month period has been cursed, and once we change those numbers it will be lifted. But alas I think we're all hoping, praying, pleading, believing that getting 2020 behind us will be a good thing. Fingers crossed! (Although sooner than that would be even better.)

Brian and Shalise are in escrow for a home in SoCal, and she has OB appointments there, so they have to make that 18 hour round trip a couple times during their time here. They're able to do it with minimal contact with others, but of course it's exhausting :-( Still, we're all happy that most of their time can be spent here with more isolation and more space for everyone. Once the house is theirs, they'll move back permanently. It will be too soon no matter when it happens.

They love to make each other laugh.

Tessa has security backup.
Another rock collecting trip takes us back into the Dragoons. No campers this time, it's hot even in the trees. A nice breeze keeps us comfortable most of the day, and Bill, Jeff and I bring back small rocks for our river bed and large ones for our tree ring. It's a beautiful area and we stay out of the big boulders to avoid snakes.






Our home on the hill gives us a lot of joy with the ever-changing skies and the bird families coming to visit. Not liking the heat doesn't mean we aren't loving our desert home!

We now have four different Quail families, at least two Finch families, and single Thrasher and Northern Cardinal families that come for food and water each day.

They're so tiny! Sadly they don't all survive and we see their numbers drop quickly. Most coveys start out with 12-20 and by the time their top knots are visible they're down to 4-8. Nesting on the ground or in low brush, they are easy prey to snakes and roadrunners.
We get about a half hour of rain one day - it's heavenly!

The sun washes the Burros with light.

Rain continues to fall in the setting sun over the Whetstones to the west.

We never tire of the magic of Mother Nature.

Ocotillo in the gloaming.


We have decisions to make about our one pending travel plan for September, and I'm beginning to look at routes for 2021 Spring/Summer. I'm amazed by the number of RV parks and campgrounds filling up this season, and yet it makes sense as families figure out how to vacation while practicing social distancing. Airports and hotels continue to be "only in an emergency" options for most. When we're able to continue our travels hopefully there will be room for us!

Summer Solstice is the perfect night to enjoy a fire to celebrate the waning of the light. The stars are bright and plentiful, and we're all happy to have this opportunity to see so many overhead. Ezra has a couple roasted marshmallows and is excited by his first sparklers. 

Boo!

So yummy.

"It fills my whole mouth!"

Solstice Blessings. May Summer bring us all many good things.




27 comments:

  1. This Spring has had some brutally hot days and with no plans to travel this summer - like you - we've put that budget into the house. You little slice haven has been a nice haven for the family.
    Will the kids be moving to OB?

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    1. It's been fun to have us all here with room to spread out and still be together! They're moving to the mountains north of LA County.

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  2. I feel like this is the second year in a row that has been rather like cursed. Makes no sense that things will be better when it's over but I can hope. I've been reading that RVing is now the social distance practice of choice and that sales are booming which means campgrounds are filling. I fear it will not be at all as wonderful as it was before. Or maybe that's just my needs an overhaul attitude. Solstice Blessings to you and yours!

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    1. I too am concerned about how it's going to look "out there" when we feel comfortable getting back on the road. The costs are already becoming outrageous!

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  3. Thank goodness for AC, and family to fill the days. I love the boulders around your place but am guessing the daytime highs could be brutal. So ready for the BS called 2020 to be over and move on with better.

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    1. Yes please let there be better around the corner!!

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  4. After having spent two weeks in the heat and humidity of Arkansas I can agree with you about air conditioning. It's so cool you have family there with you. And yes, I'm ready for this year to be over too but not sure why--I don't think our troubles will be over.

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    1. I'm grateful everyday that we don't have humidity! Even when my skin is so dry I know it's better than dripping all day. I remain cautiously optimistic, but it gets harder all the time.

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  5. Silver linings......Your silver lining is the wonderful family time you're able to enjoy in your own home. You have a place for them to come to and be safe. Marshmallows outside, cuddling and laughing with grandpa, searching for rocks with your adult son.....would you be doing these things if things were different? If everyone was busy with their own lives? You all are making the best of a tough situation and some good memories are being made.

    We're still planning on heading out this fall, finger's crossed and masks on! I need to have that carrot dangling in front of me.

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    1. Yes we're getting opportunities we wouldn't have had otherwise and that's truly a blessing. It sounds even better when you say it!! Amen to the carrot :-)))

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  6. Spending the whole summer in the heat was not in our plans. We fidgure six weeks here to enjoy the pool mid summer would be plenty. Oh, well, we are rolling with the changes and have created a new routine. We are truly blessed to have a nice place to hang. My jigsaw addiction is keeping me busy for hours. How nice that with the changes you get have both sons home with you and get to spend those unforgettable moments with Ezra. Three different diets...yikes! That's a lot of cooking. Good you have that new kitchen with lots of space! We, too, are planning the late summer/fall with hopes that we don't have to cancel. Fingers crossed thing improve soon. If everyone would only wear a mask when out in public! Love your sunsets.

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    1. With these hotter temps your pool looks so wonderful - what a blessing you got it although you didn't look for a house with one! I still need to get my puzzles out! This kitchen is the best, so glad we put the money into making it ours first thing. We do have incredible skies :-)))

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  8. Great post and thanks for taking me back to the desert! We still have plans to travel that way this coming winter but who knows if we'll be able to cross the border.

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    1. I sure hope winter will find us in better circumstances. We love our desert winters!

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  9. We went to look at some RV's recently and both dealers had very low inventory...lots of folks are discovering RVing as a way to avoid planes and hotels! Darn it!

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    1. I'm afraid it's going to be challenging when we travel again, but right now I miss it so much!

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  10. I sure hope that more RV parks start opening to handle the increase in RVs on the road, Jodee. How nice to have all that quality time with the kids. It’ll feel empty when they head out. Didn’t see any photos of Fluffasweetie in this post. :(

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    1. I told her you noticed - she wagged her thanks for noticing!!

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  11. This is such a surreal time...and with so much uncertainty as to what it's going to look like a few months, or even a year from now. It sure calls for us to be present in this moment. We want to resume our travels, too, but who knows when? It makes me happy to see you enjoying such sweet times with Ezra and family. That's definitely a blessing in the midst of the uncertainty. OX

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    1. It looks like places will be shutting down again before long so I'm afraid it could be next year before we can do any real traveling. We're luckier than many in our circumstances so I do try to enjoy the present :-)) Stay safe.

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  12. Despite everything going on in the crazy world you're making some great family memories. Sounds like with 3 diets you're putting the new kitchen to good use. Campground here is full every weekend and many more are here during the week than normal. We'll be turning into snowbirds for the next year or so, TX to IL, IL to TX and repeat. We've even blocked our site in TX for the 21-22 winter, and our job here in IL is ours as long as we want it. We're to the point of hoping they won't open the Christmas tree lot, not sure what we'll do if they do ask us to work this year. Solstice blessings to you and yours. Stay safe and healthy.

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    1. Glad to hear you have a safe routine that will sustain you for the near future. At least you'll get a change of scenery and weather. Weird to think of how our Christmas is going to look this year!

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  13. How awesome that you've been getting so may Ezra hugs! He will certainly remember this time with you fondly :-)

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    1. I'm so behind with blogs again! We loved our time with Ezra and miss him bunches.

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  14. enjoying your blog! will follow you guys....

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    1. Thanks! Looking forward to getting back on the road with more to share. Still, life does keep us busy :-))

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