Books and blossoms

The rains have encouraged the Barrel cacti to bloom.  Here's one I discovered this morning just about ready to burst.

Bear loves to walk in the desert and is usually so tired after his walks that he's the most relaxed dog ever as you can see.........

No shame whatsoever.....

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I love the late afternoons when we come in from outside because of the heat and have quiet time to sit and read or make music.  I've been plucking around on my guitar again.

Sing unto the Lord a new song is what is written......

I downloaded the book "The Harbinger" onto my IPhone last week and just can't put it down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLOhWR_xFz8

It's written by a messianic, Jewish rabbi and links Jewish prophesy with what's happening today in our economy.  It's very interesting and if you're thinking about reading it....read it with an open mind.  I've heard some of these warning before and since they have come from my trusted financial adviser in Ohio, my interest is peaked.

I also heard about this from Dr.Mike Brown at Zion Fellowship in Powell, Ohio.  He gave a financial seminar which also gave some of these warnings.  

I'm a firm believer that if you hear the same things three times from different sources, you better listen.  God still speaks today and not necessarily in a Moses voice but through people, books, circumstances.

Monsoon Clouds and getting busy around the house

I can't believe it's the middle of July today and also brother Bernie's birthday!  I'm still taking pictures from my IPhone when we go on our walks and if it's not too hot I even drag my "real" camera with me.  It's always exciting to see how the pictures come out.  We've had some beautiful clouds and really clear views of the mountains this week.

Front moving in from the Northwest.  

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Artur started working on the little courtyard I wanted at the front door of our house.  I need to protect my geraniums from the direct South eastern sun and I wanted a place to sit in the morning and see the sun come up over the Stronghold.

Artur is using Jim's Kubota tractor which he left with us while he's back in MN.  Very useful tool.  Art is mixing the mortar  which he pours into the opening of the blocks.  The wall will be topped off with some flagstone and the outside stucco to match the house which we hope to paint a more neutral color soon.

I have found a place for my German curtains.  Makes the room look less Spartan.

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My neighbor Pat took me to meet one of the hidden treasures of Benson on Friday.

Paul Malone is a published author, professor of English and accomplished artist living in a small house in Benson with his sister.  His house and his yard has touches of his talent all over the place.

I am so excited about finding him and I just know that there are so many more interesting people that I just haven't met yet hidden away in this small town.

Paul's Web Site: paulscottmalone.com  has examples of his art and interesting bio.

I'm hoping to be able to help him enhance his site and also give him some help with his Mac.  Yea, a Mac person in Benson!!!

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Brother Chris came to visit this morning:

Bear just loves him as you can see....

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We drove to Tucson today and stopped at the World Market for a French Wine Tasting.  We ended up with an international assortment of food.  French Wine and French sparkling water.  Also two kinds of Salsa for Chris and dark seeded bread from Germany for me.  We also ended up at the Park Place Mall off of Broadway and finally found a fridge with a freezer drawer on the bottom which fits into our 32" space.  It's perfect.  Now we can put the old fridge into the garage.  I guess we are spoiled.

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I'm so excited about all the small cacti that I have been able to collect in the last few weeks.  My side yard will be a beautiful cactus rock garden.  That's the plan.

Monsoon Skies

" Red sky in the morning"

It's always a treat to step out onto my courtyard in the morning to look at the eastern sky.  The mountains always put an exclamation point on the sunrise.

After a hot and humid day, the evening puts on a show.  I looked through my camera lens this evening and imaged that the second coming of Christ in the clouds couldn't possibly be any more dramatic....but what do I know...

We helped our neighbor trim the tree in her front yard today.  She lives alone with her dog Buddy and always lets us tromp through her yard to get into the enormous wash area where we walk in the mornings and evening.  Pat gave a warm welcome to the neighborhood so that's the least we could do.

Looking good Pat!

She's lived in Benson most of her life and knows everything there is to know.  It helps that she used to sell real estate.  She used to run a restaurant in Tucson which she has passed onto her 26 yr. old son.  The neighborhood is very quiet.  It also helps with peace of mind another neighbor is an EMT with the fire department.  

Purple Mountain Majesty

I know the song and always wondered where in the heck would you find purple mountains???   Well  there they were today on the road from Sierra Vista back home.  Just beautiful, had to stop the car and catch that moment with the thunderheads hovering overhead.

On Charleston Road heading to Tombstone

Even the poles don't spoil this picture

San Pedro River flowing again after the thunderstoms.

So there it is:  Oh beautiful for spacious skies for amber waves of grain, for purple mountain majesty above the fruited plain.  America, America, God shed his grace on thee and crown they good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea!

Certifications and such...

Today I received some really great news considering that I've been really busy lately.  Apple Computer gave me a gift.  I had emailed the "certification" group about getting an extension since my Apple Technician Certification was about to run out on the 7th of July.  I was hoping for another week to settle in and study but here it is:


On June 23, 2013, AppleCare updated its Service Training and Certification program. This update is based on feedback from the field and ensures a simpler and easier way to create and maintain service technician credentials.

All service technicians that had an existing Apple Certified Mac Technician (ACMT) certification on of June 23, 2013 were granted a new ACMT certification that eliminates annual recertification exams. This new certification will allow the same ability to order service parts as the preceding ACMT certification and will not expire.

The most beautiful words were "eliminates annual recertification".  I've taken this test with fear and trembling and every passing year told God that if I fail I'll change jobs. I passed it for 12 years, thank God!  So now I can concentrate on finding more work here in Benson.  Just ordered some more business cards and organized my home office last night.  Appropriate for the 4th of July....."freedom".
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Experienced my first real monsoon rain here in Benson.  I couldn't leave the Safeway parking lot because of sideways rain.  When I finally was able to reach my car and drive up the road, the washes were literally raging, yes raging.  I would not have believed it.  Too bad I didn't have my camera handy.  I will from now on, just put new batteries in the camera today.  It was very scarey driving home with my low to the road Jetta.  My smart alack husband passed me on the way home in his "high" Ford hillbilly truck

Benson 4th of July Parade

9 AM on 7th Street awaiting our first Arizona parade.  Brother Chris took Elijah and his cousin Seth to collect candy for the rest of the family.  Because of the heat.....it was 90 in the shade and getting warmer by the minute.....they don't have any high school marching bands walking the route.  There were plenty of ATV's in all colors and sizes.  An ATV is an essential piece of equipment here in the desert according to the people in this area who love to ride them up, down, around and through the washes.  In our morning walks in the desert, the ATV trails are all over and the Yucca's probably cringe when they see them coming.

Elijah and Seth on the way to the parade.

Brother Chris in his doctor's coat.  He's smart.  He wears white in this heat.

Looking more like mom every day, this is my Arizona look.  

God bless America!

One of many ATV's in the parade

Proof that we are actually in Benson.

We all felt sorry for the horses.

St. David wanted to join in also....

Lots of motorcycles!

Little ponies need a break!

Old western wagon

Love that German Shepherd

Old fashioned yoke (poor cows, or steer) whatever??

Here comes the wagon train....

This one's for Jim, our John Deere lover

Now there's the real thing...

Guys and gals love their souped up rigs..

Nice Mash float

So then it was off to the park for Firemen water battles..

Because of the heat and the fact that Benson lost thousands of dollars in fireworks last year due to heavy rain, they are doing a laser light show this evening.  Probably a smart thing to do considering all the tragedy they have experienced with fire this month.

Mysterious and Glorious

I love these mountains.  Every morning is a gift.  I can see why Cochise held on here before his end.

Reminds me of the Psalm 121:

 I lift up my eyes toward the mountains—

from where will my help come?

My help is from the LORD,

maker of heaven and earth.

So as Cochise learned, help does not come from the mountains, only from the Lord.

Lots of rain last night.  Time to weed and plant.

Spent time in Tucson yesterday where it was 100 in the middle of the day.  That's actually pretty normal temperature for June.  I loved the thunderheads forming as we walked out of the Mall and sure enough by 4PM it was pouring.

We did drive around all day looking for a bed for our guest room.  We settled on a futon which can serve double duty.  Can't wait for Cyenna to visit on the 23rd.  Brave girl....she's flying alone on a direct flight from Miami to Phoenix.  What adventures for a 12 year old.  She's awesome!