Summer Solstice Day — Water Color Art by kenne
— kenne
Leaves On A Log — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Went looking for faith on the forest floor,
and it showed up everywhere.
In the sun, and the water,
and the falling leaves,
the falling leaves of time.
“Aging in the Spring: — Image by kenne
— kenne
Happy Hour In Old Town San Diego — Computer Painting by kenne
We stopped
at the entranced
to the Mexican Cafe
for happy hour
on the patio.
“This way please,”
said the dark-eyed
women dressed
in a traditional
colorful Fiesta Dress.
We each ordered
Margaritas on the rocks
our way of reviewing
Mexican cafes
when traveling.
Music jumps
through the air,
venerable reminders
of European Polkas
brought by immigrants.
For good or bad,
our tastes for
Mexican food
continues to be
biased by Tex-Mex.
— kenne
Sneezeweeds Among the Ferns (June 30, 2017) — Image by kenne
we hike Aspen Loop
high above the desert heat
our summer retreat
sneezeweeds among ferns
along Mt. Lemmon’s stream
a trickle of life
— kenne
Panorama View from Kickback Rock in the Santa Catalina Mountains — Image by kenne
— kenne
Friday morning, July 1st, a little before 8:00am we stood in the McDonald’s parking lot
looking up at the dark clouds over the Santa Catalina mountains.
This is our regular meeting place before driving the 25 miles up to
Mt. Lemmon for the SCVN (Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists) summer guided hikes.
Only, this Friday morning there were just the three guides, Maribeth, Maureen and myself.
Others who may have been planning to hike on Mt. Lemmon, probably
took one look out the window deciding it was not a good day for hiking.
This Friday’s scheduled hike was to be a six mile hike starting at the Ski Valley parking lot,
hiking a loop of Aspen Drew, Lemmon and Meadow trails starting at 9:00am.
After a brief discussion, we decided to cancel the hike. However,
since all the SCVN summer hikes are posted in the Arizona Daily Star,
as the lead guide, I would need to drive to Ski Valley letting those who may
still be planning on hiking know that the hike had been cancelled.
As somewhat expected, the weather conditions got worse as I drove up Catalina Highway.
The conditions kept changing rapidly from mist, thick fog, to rain.
When I arrived at the Ski Valley parking lot, there were five vehicles
with about twelve people preparing to hike. At closer look,
I didn’t recognize anyone, so I ask if they were there to do the SCVN led hike —
no, they were members of the Southern Arizona Hiking Club.
The conversation ended quickly as we were beginning to experience a heavy downpour.
The rain lasted long enough for the hiking club members to call off their hike.
It didn’t help that the temperature was 55 wet degrees.
Ironically, the Southern Arizona Hiking Club had been planning on doing
the same combination of trails as SCVN had scheduled.
Now that my task was completed, I started my drive back, stopping at the Summerhaven public restrooms.
I was hoping to get a cup of coffee in Summerhaven, but that would have to wait till getting back down the mountain.
In the summertime, the monsoon weather can change quickly, bringing plenty of lightening, wind, hail and rain.
For the return drive, the fog had lifted and the thick clouds had begun to breakup.
Since I had plenty of time, what better used of it than to stop now and then takeing photos.
In the distance beyond the last ridge is the Tucson basin. Arriving home after 10:30am, I could see very dark clouds moving into the Tucson area. By mid-day we had received 1.8 inches of rain. What a great way to begin July and the monsoon season in the desert.
— kenne
Summer Solstice Full Moon — Image by kenne
— Wallace Stevens
Patio Sun Screen — Image by kenne
Our patio is where we can sit and watch the sunset. But when the temperatures start going over 100 degrees, it’s time for the patio sun screen. Through the screen we can watch the sunset with the shadows of the sago palm and olive tree on the screen — beautiful day in the desert!
We almost made it through May without hitting triple digits.
kenne
