I want some coffee!

We're about 2 months into Fall and the temps have been gradually declining. Freezing most nights until the last week of November when it managed to stay above freezing for a week. So the Admiral has had a few nights off from covering plants. Covering is important stuff. She plants greens (chard and this year a red curly leaf kale) which goes well in our morning smoothy. One of the Earthboxes with chard ... ... and one of the 2 kale crops (lots of EarthBoxes at our place!).   It used to be a this-is-fun gardening activity. Then Safeway got yet another new store manager and with that comes yet another price increase. So anything consumable she can grow gets reflected in our bottom line. Life in the fast lane that is Benson, Arizona.

It happens every year and every year I act like it's news. 2nd weekend of Nov is Yard Sale day. That's the day everyone that has junk to get rid of sells their crap to their neighbor while simultaneously buying the neighbor's crap. No net gain but everyone is happy. Ugh! I want some coffee!!

 ... and I have the proof. It's our first freezing temperature for this Fall 2024. Time to get out the Long Johns! Oh... and it's a 'new moon'. Check this from a couple mornings ago. Yes, up for my walk before dawn (your laughter is rude!). Just in time for Halloween. (Almost a) New Moon- 29 Oct 2024 Life in the fast lane that is SKP Saguaro Co-op in Benson, AZ. And in keeping with the arrival of October it appears the snow birds are starting to return to the park (without the snow birds there would be no SKP Saguaro!).

... is much like watching grass grow. For those stimulated by change it's probably not too rewarding. And this year is more of the same but exaggerated. On the bright side there have been a few nice sunrises to enjoy as I plod around the park pretending I'm awake. I can make it about 1/4 mile then I have to stop till the cramps in my hip subside, then I stomp along like everything is 'peachy keen'. Mmm... to non-octogenarian readers, 'peachy keen' is like 'just fine' but with a sarcastic bent. I can think of several more self explanatory word choices but I'd probably offend someone. And, just so I don't look too conspicuous standing in one spot like I'm waiting for a handout, I get out my phone and pretend I'm reading a new text message or checking my BBC News feed. I'm living in a place with people much like myself so I'm probably not fooling anyone but it's what I do. Getting the phone out is also an opportunity to point one...

We're witnessing summer fighting to the last gasp. We might see 100°F today here in Benson. But we won't be here to 'enjoy' it since I have some tests to complete before I see the ophthalmologist next week. Instead we'll get to enjoy upper-100s in Tucson. Oh joy. But I definitely had a nice morning walk this AM. This shot was taken looking East across San Pedro Valley toward the Dragoons... Post-sunrise as the sun paints a nice start to a Fall day.

I was afraid we were going to go thru all of September - the last month of monsoon season - without a drop of rain here in Benson, Arizona. Monsoon season most often brings us at least 1.5" of rain each month in July, August and September. But Mother Nature came thru for us... Proof-positive we had some rain in September! 0.19" of rain is not much but it beats zero !

... it's turning hot again! Well... maybe not so much 'hot' as dry! This was a typical September head-fake that summer is over. But instead of genuinely cooler weather from the approaching Fall season. the monsoons dry up which means no clouds. No clouds = hotter weather.  8 days out of 10 with no rain means no clouds to shade us from the sun. Ugh! I occasionally note the number of leaseholders returning to the park. We have 113 here compared to a mid-summer low of about 105. That's 113 leaseholders on-site compared to a maximum of about 300 leaseholders. There are also about 23 annual 'renters' plus another 27 six-month renters (renters don't get to vote at board meetings but are probably on the Hot List to get a lot when one becomes available). There are something like 400 leaseholders and renters combined, though not all return every year- travel plans and health issues make it variable. So the annual migration of snowbirds to Southeast Arizona hasn't...