Before I start the subject above, I want to mention that one reader who is a friend and subscribs to this blog told me via email that she recently received another blog post since the Valentine’s Day one.  She said it appeared, briefly, without pictures, then when she went to the website, it was not there.  I haven’t written a blog since the Valentine’s Day one, and I’m wondering if anyone else has seen a more recent blog supposedly from me?

On to the weather!

We’ve experienced all of the above in the past week.  (Cold, wind, rain and snow, that is). The cold is relative, I understand, but fairly cold for southern Arizona, with lows in the 30’s at night and highs in the 50’s.  This forecast continues for the next week at least.

I’m heating WS with the Little Buddy because the furnace fan uses too much battery power in a boondocking situation like this.  I don’t use it at night so in the morning the temperature inside is around 40 degrees of late.  That’s ok because I’m snuggled under 2 sleeping bags, wearing sweats and 2 pair of heavy socks, but it’s getting up to start the heat flowing and the coffee brewing that is rather painful.

I brought the reflexes out and put it in the windows to help keep the heat in, as well.

The good news is that this is the kind of weather that Joy and Shiloh like, and also that since rattlesnakes don’t like it, they will remain in their underground beds for awhile yet. Yay.

There’s always a bright side!

We had soft, gentle rains,along with fog, for 3 days straight.

So good for the thirsty earth.

Heavy cloud cover.

Much rain was absorbed, instead of running off in the washes.  So much in fact, that the guys were able to make some headway  smoothing out the rocky, washboard 8 mile road that leads to the ranch.  It’s really noticeably better, and I for one, appreciate it very much.

Winds for Tucson were forecast for gusts of 35 mph, but here on my little hill I’d wager they were a good bit stronger than that.  I put away, or tied down, everything that might blow away…chairs, dog beds, toys, rugs, and even the table.  I attach a cement block to it permanently.

I put most of the bird feeders on the ground among the rocks, and I  parked JR on the southwestern side of WS to deflect some of the wind, as well.

The next morning we woke up to snow and ice, but it had melted by 10am.

Snow covered steps at 6am.  One dog print.

Snow covered cactus.

JR and Snow.

This after the month of January was quite lovely with temps ranging in the 40-70 range and only one day of rain.

The dogs love the cooler weather!

A romp in Banner Wash after snow.

Joy has been doing remarkably well recently, but with the colder temps she’s been outright frisky.  That’s her in front, above.  Not bad for 14 1/2 Years.  Shiloh rarely has a down day at age 11 1/2, but the cold weather has him bouncing and running all over the place.

And there are always the beautiful sunsets…..

So much more to say…..coming soon!