With summer officially begun, it’s a time to enjoy cotton candy clouds and famous Arizona monsoon sunset.  A perfect time to stay home and watch the skies while RV and truck repairs are going on.

Roadrunner

Although I still feel a longing to travel I am getting into a pattern staying home.  No I’m not up before the sun to get out and walk.  When the daytime highs get over 96° I usually have the AC on.  Otherwise door and all windows open plus several fans seems to be OK so far.  If I’m working playing on the computer I move from one side of the RV to the other to stay on the shady side.  Otherwise, I frequently go outside to chair hop in the shade and watch the world, with a little bit of reading thrown in.

The weekend highs actually cooled down to the low 80s and with plenty of breeze and clouds felt delightful.  Mammatus clouds looked almost heavy enough to release some precious drops but quickly retracted and moved on.  I can almost smell rain.  Only a few drops fell.  I am feeling the alive of summer, all senses receiving. Some visual greens with dancing in the breeze branches send off whiffs of summer and a tickle to the skin and nose.  Achoo! Come on monsoon!

Even a short walk on the ranch can provide interesting objects and sometimes I find just a piece of, say a bulldozer, more intriguing than the whole machine.  Think it would fit on the hood of my truck?

Crepuscular rays before monsoon sunset

I actually did some yard work. Moved two Cottonwood stumps for chair hopping tables.  Plus working on placing winter rock collection on the berm below the metate.  (Photo ahead.)

My Saturday night included a pep talk from Bob about making videos for YouTube.  We’re both learning and sharing ideas.  He encourages my “branding” in the funny black hat I wear in my profile picture.  I have lots of hats so may trade them around depending on, my mood.  I remind him to introduce himself at the beginning of his fun videos going kayaking, dirt biking, and 4x4ing.

A little warm for this outfit

The next day I was inspired to make a video about Jackass penguins that I saw in South Africa, and thankfully took video and still shots.  Took all afternoon to figure out each video clip had to be first trimmed and saved removing the background noise, then reopened and add softened wave sounds and saved, and then reopened again to add a recorded narration clip, and saved, before putting all the pieces together.  There’s probably an easier way.  I might have video of lions and elephants for the future.

At one point, I heard the quail fussing and looked out in time to see them chasing a coyote.  Yea!  Funniest thing ever.  I WANT a trail cam!

Raven soars

It actually felt cold that night, or at least cool enough to close the windows and sleep under a blanket.

That didn’t last and I rushed to finish and load the penguin video before the temperature reached 90°, inside.  That afternoon, the ranch handyman, worked on lots of little projects at my place and I hung around to mostly get in the way I’m sure.  He’d already patched the camper where I backed into a tree.  (Don’t ask, just read.)

He firmly mounted the solar controller and 12v socket that I jerry-rigged last winter.

And replaced a door latch for the 5th-wheel as the old plastic one had broken and wouldn’t hold the door open in a light breeze.  The new one is metal.

I had overheated the previous day outside and not drinking enough water or eating so, Happy Solstice, I spent most of the day inside with the AC on.

Mornings offer clear blue sky but by afternoon the clouds build and threaten to drop rain, a sure sign of monsoon.

Two winters of rock collecting

By late afternoon the windows are open once again and I am outside to enjoy a beautiful Solstice sunset on a perfect summer evening.

Whiptail lizard

The rest of the week’s weather forecast called for 30-40% chance of thunderstorms.  How I wish!

Another day of cloud building and racing across the sky, but no rain.

Went to town on Thursday, an almost all day affair.  Rained just a little as I exited the store in Prescott and I danced in the parking lot as it fell.  I’m sure nobody noticed or even cared, I was at a Walmart.

Another night of monsoon sunset and after dark thunder and lightning followed, but very little rain.

The next morning felt still, and quiet, clouds skirting around the little valley where I live.  I sat outside most of the day watching the ever teasing cloud show.

Just before sunset a breeze carried the scent of rain and still only a few drops fell.

But to the east there must have been more rain because when the setting sun broke through clouds a rainbow gift occurred.

Thunder rolled all evening and finally about 9pm it began to rain and kept it up most of the night.  A soft female rain, just like this parched land needs.

In the morning the ground was damp, not more than 1/4 inch deep and didn’t last very long.  But still.

Another day of clouds, sometimes looking as tortured as I felt after word from the Supreme Court.  I don’t want to talk politics.  But I also don’t want to go back in time 50 years.  I shall say no more.

But along with rain and summer monsoon sunset, I shall shed tears.

WANTED: house/cat sitter, a StayCATion for you, in my 5th-wheel for one week mid-September in Skull Valley AZ only 30 minutes from Prescott.  Mom wants to fly to Chicago for her 50th High School reunion, and says I can’t go.  Meow!