Weird sad.

 Went grocery shopping today.  Had my list, was maybe a quarter of the way through it, which brought me to the chips isle.  For the last several months, I have noticed a new guy stocking chips.  Not The Big Guy who has been there since we moved up on the mountain, and with whom I passed inconsequential conversation just about every time I was there.  He was Big, with a capital B, scruffy blonde beard, gentle giant sort of nature.  Just an all around nice guy, always willing to help or chat.  So today I asked New Guy--"Where's the big guy been?  Haven't seen him in quite a while." 

"He passed away.  Pneumonia." 

I never even knew Big Guy's name, so why did it make me so sad?  I guess because he seemed young--younger than I am, at least.  And it was unexpected, even though carrying that much weight couldn't have been healthy.  He once told me (we were talking about chip consumption in general) that they moved $30,000 just in Frito Lay products every month.  I know he didn't drink, because I tried to recommend this gawd-awful peanut butter flavored whisky I'd found.  I know he was willing to help lift the heavy kitty litter for me (one isle over) when I'd had surgery and under lifting restrictions.  But I never knew his name. 

Sorry to be a Debbie Downer.  Just wanted to say; if you get a chance, say something nice to the people that are "incidental" in your life.  Nobody is forever.

Rain! Flowers! Mud!

 We live in the high desert mountains, as I'm sure I've said.  There is always, during the summer, the worry of forest fires, because of how dry it can get, and because with the beauty of the area come tourists and campers.  Who wouldn't want to camp here?  I don't fuss about the summer people, because without them, this little cluster of towns would dry up to nothing.  The combination of Show Low, Pinetop, and Lakeside (where we live) is around 22,000.  In the summer, that can quadruple!  You can imagine the traffic. 

So...where was I?  Fire danger.  There are, among those summer people, a few reckless, careless, or just plain stupid people who don't understand--or don't care about--simple fire safety.  Forestry personnel constantly find fires there were left still smouldering, or fires when there's a current ban on camp fires.  It's always the few that ruin it for the many, right?  When it gets really bad, super dry, or windy, they just close the forests, and camping is only allowed in supervised camping areas, and even then, no fires.

BUT...

With the rain this summer, starting around the 1st of July, we have little to worry about!  I'm not sure what the annual rainfall is for the area, but we've likely hit that amount already--even without the coming snows!  The wild flower show has been spectacular, and every walk across Sherwood Forest to get the mail is a wonder.  We even have mushrooms, sprouting up everywhere.  I had to get a field guide so I could identify as many as I could while they're here to see--there are years when very little blooms.  But to name a few; wild yarrow, geranium (cranes-bill), a kind of tiny cosmos, a kind of blue-bonnet, of course thistles, desert mallow, clovers, and a gazillian sun flowers! 

It's amazing to see how green everything is, how many colors line the roads and paint a color wash across the grazing fields on the way into town.  There are even baby pine trees, sprouting all over the yard.  (Get them now, if they sprout where you don't want a tree!)

Along with the flowers is mud.  This is primarily because we just built our house last year, and the natural carpet of pine needles and oak leaf litter has yet to re-establish itself.  Muck boots are the order of the day for walking the dog, and for any outdoor chores.  But it's worth it.

Now, if it can just dry up enough so we can get the chicken coop foundation dug and poured, I'd be happy. 
In the meantime, here's a picture of a volunteer sunflower "bush" that sprouted by our driveway.  Most of the ones along the road to town get maybe 3 or so ft high.  Phil is 6 ft tall, for reference. 

 Hope everyone has had a fabulous summer!