Home in Arizona

 We've all been busy getting used to living in a larger house with no stairs or wheels and more than one bedroom and bathroom, and a toilet that flushes by hand, not foot.       Remembering where the paper towels are, remembering to put things in the recycle bin and not the garbage (yay!), remembering what temperature is comfortable to keep the house in the day....at night.      Where are the coffee filters?    Where are the scissors?     I didn't know we had those bushes?    Wow, look at those beautiful flowers!

Lewis is not immune to these "settling in" issues.    Where should I "get busy", where is my leash, can I just go out this door without Mom and Dave?   Why are these stones so sharp, where's the grass?   Where do I sleep in the day, at night?   Where is Dave, where is Mom?    Where is my favorite ball?     Do I have enough food - where is it?    Which rug is best to wipe my face on after I eat?   Will someone notice if I bring my ball to play  and they aren't in the same room?  Where do we have second cup and do I still have to find my treats under balls in that old cupcake tin?

is this a new rug?   do I like it?

Dave, Dave, what are you doing?   Dave where are you going?

will we have second cup here or at the table?

this rug will do

yep, living room rug works best

So.....I think we've all figured things out and now we're enjoying our static home in the desert.   Beluga is snoozing in her building next door until she's needed to go exploring!

  Monsoon season had just ended when we arrived home, but mother nature still had a few storms up her sleeve - just so we'd see what we missed.     Last Saturday morning, while Dave was at the Lowe's house helping Steve with some electrical work, I was awakened by something clicking against the house outside the window.   I got up because I knew what it was.     I needed to make sure the stained glass plant (that has been with us for many years) was safe from what sounded like the beginnings of a big blow.

consultation

I was right, the wind began to howl, rapid thunder and lightning and rain blowing sideways met me when I stepped outside.    I had to run around like a maniac - in my nightgown - chasing all the chair cushions as they headed for the desert.     I was soaked to the skin by the time I got back in but only one cushion escaped!      In the desert the storms blow up fast, and draw away just as fast, leaving an innocent blue sky behind......like nothing ever happened!

Enjoying those interesting skies, welcoming our old second cup and happy hour friends, a few quick trips into the Valley for things not available here in little Wickenburg, organizing the house and Beluga,  relaxing,  various Dr. appointments, and a little socializing and getting reacquainted with a slower pace of life.    That's what we've been up to.

ruh roh....

Our resident owl, we call it Hootie Sapperticker, watches over us while we enjoy a shady second cup unter his tree.     Sometimes he ejects a pellet or two as payment for his safe and quiet daytime sleeping perch  ( before he leaves for the night....it would be rude to cough up one while we were watching).     I can't wait to dissect them to see what he's been eating!

mr.

mrs.

During happy hour yesterday, this young lady marched past us on her way somewhere evidently very important,  judging by her pace and total disinterest in us.     She was about 4 inches long (about average for a Tarantula)  and moved along at a smart pace.     Dave "suggested" she make a detour back into the desert and she complied.    How cool she was and we're glad she stopped by but hope she finds a different route next time.

We met a new friend at MonaLiza and Steve's house shortly after we arrived home.    Even Lewis got a chance to introduce himself to LT!

Lucky for LT, Lewis doesn't really care for lettuce.    Now, if he was munching on aspragus, Lew would have asked to share!

Wednesday is often Sonoran Hot Dog Day at El Ranchero Restaurant in Wickenburg.   I say "often" because they usually only have them on Wednesdays after "roping season" which, here, is the fifth season of the year.    Many things revolve around this season in Wickenburg we've discovered.     At any rate, last week I noticed the Sonoran Hot Dog cart in front of the restaurant and stopped by to inquire whether they would now be making them year round (be still my heart).    Evidently not, just last week and this until after "roping"  he says.     So, we planned to ask Steve and MonaLiza to join us for this treat.     After clearing a ridiculously long list of already planned things so we could all be free to indulge, the food cart was NOT THERE!     After a quick pivit, we managed to enjoy the Bank household, last minute, somewhat abbreviated version, using some recently purchased Buffalo, NY Sahlen's hot dogs.    Later,  there may or may not have been a comparison wine tasting from our recent visit to the Rocks District in Walla Walla, Washington.