Cruise

It was warm and muggy in the western Caribbean last week, as one might expect, but comfortable for the most part on deck.  Below deck was a different story.  It was cold.  We kept turning the thermostat up in our room till the icicles hanging off our noses finally went away.  Though we were out in the mornings, we did work up a sweat walking around Cozumel and Georgetown but we didn’t stay out long enough in Falmouth to get that hot. Continue reading “Cruise”

First snow
  • snow bridge

As promised by the weather weenies, it snowed Sunday night.  By Monday morning some 6-7 inches had accumulated, which when melted registerd .23 in the gauge.  Monday and Tuesday weren’t suitable for outdoor work but Wednesday wasn’t too bad so I spent a couple of hours at the Bluff doing what I could.  Thursday and Friday were really nice days but Saturday a cold front blew in and today (Sunday) we’re enjoying a wind chill of 17°.  The forecast is for daytime highs in the 60s this coming week which will be nice since the full contingent of granddaughters will be here and no doubt will want to run and play.  Heck, I want to run and play, too. Continue reading “First snow”

October wrap
  • Zion NP

October 2018 was the fourth wettest month in the last nine years, according to my records, exceeded only by May and July of 2015, the year we totaled 37.78 inches, and August of last year.  I emptied a total of 7.53 inches out of the rain gauge for the month, which is slightly more than  our October average of 1.92.  The trees better take a long, cool drink.  We never know when we’ll get moisture again. Continue reading “October wrap”

Wet spell
  • Capital Reef NP

Over the last couple of weeks, poor ol’ SA finally got the rain it so badly needed.  We’ve gotten nearly seven inches so far in a month that averages 1.30.  That will go a long way toward reaching our yearly average so that someone looking at yearly averages in the future would think 2018 was an OK year moisture-wise, when it definitely wasn’t, there being over six months from October last year to May this year when less than half an inch was accumulated.  Over an inch fell on Friday evening before we left for Utah on Sunday, which was gratifying.  Then I got a text from Chris on Monday saying 2.85 inches fell during the night.   Another 1.65 fell closely on the heels of that and since then the weather has been cool and cloudy.  There have only been three days in the last two weeks that there was no rain and this past Friday we got another .54.  Yes, I know much more rain has fallen around the state, too much in fact, but here on the high plains a wet spell such as we’ve just had is just what was needed. Continue reading “Wet spell”

Seventieth birthday
  • sunset

We’ve had a busy week around here.  Tuesday evening there was the volleyball game in which the Rebels thumped the Herford Whitefaces, or the “Herd” as they call themselves.  Our favorite Lady Rebel put on a show, including a kill shot that closed out the win in the first game for her team.  She was wreaking such havoc on the visiting team that the coach, in her infinite wisdom, chose not to play her in the third and final game. Continue reading “Seventieth birthday”