Finally, after several days of overcast and rainy weather, we have a cloudless Arizona sky. While we were walking the dogs this morning, I took this photo of the neighbor’s flagpole with the third quarter moon above.
The forecast is for continued sunshine and cooler temperatures with highs typically mid-sixties and lows in the low forties. You can see from the flag that the winds are light and variable. Click on the image to enlarge.
The so-called “Pineapple Express,” southern segment, is thrusting a mass of saturated air from the south Pacific via the sea of Cortez right up through the state of Arizona. We’re getting up to an inch from this storm which has been with us since early last eventing. It is forecast to remain tomorrow with a chance of more showers and thunderstorms throughout the weekend.
The green and yellow blob moving through the state in a northbound flow, has us in its direct path. Not to worry, though, we’re high and dry on our little casita in the desert. Monday is forecast to be our usual mild winter conditions of sunny and not-too-cool. The rest of Thanksgiving week is forecast the same.
This is a view of the setting moon that I took yesterday morning from the driveway. I liked the way the moon floats among the sky textures of cloud formations and a contrail remnant. Click on the image to enlarge.
Why haven’t we posted anything for a week? The answer is complex, but suffice it to say that our plate has been rather full of good busy things and a bad one or two.
Second spring is still going strong here in town. We were on an errand this morning and I spotted this wildflower growing in the landscape patch next to the clinic. It is a desert marigold (baileya multiradiata). Click on the image to enlarge.
From Wikipedia:
Baileya multiradiata is a species of sun-loving wildflower native to southwestern North America, especially the northern Mexico, California, and Southwestern United States deserts.
Although called a desert marigold, it is very remote relative of the marigolds. This lovely wildflower is a short-lived perennial to annual that forms a clumping patch of silvery-green foliage which bears many tall, naked stems, each topped with a bright yellow daisy-like flower.
One of the nice things about living in our town is the tourist attractions here. This Cowboy and Saloon Girl bronze is one of about a dozen life-sized sculptures scattered around old downtown. Many of these are accompanied by a play-on-demand-audio narration describing the exhibits in context of their old-west setting. In addition to the statues of people, are sculptures of desert wildlife such as diamondback rattlesnakes, Gila monsters and tarantulas. Click on the image to enlarge.
Being a veteran myself, I still deem it appropriate to be thankful for those other veterans who have served and are serving. Ramirez posted this nice tribute to say thanks:
When we bought this Bishop’s Cap cactus in a nursery somewhere near Chandler, AZ, eighteen years ago, we had no idea that it would produce so many flowers. This happy cactus has been flowering since early spring and will likely continue to do so through the rest of November. Click on the image to enlarge.