Late Autumn 2023 Thoughts

The autumn season is marching on and soon will draw to a close as the winter chill increases every day. 36ºF/2ºC this morning. 

My house exterior stucco was repaired and the house painted green with white trim. I love the color.

Shortly after this expense, my chronically misbehaving clothes washing machine quit. After 10 years of battle - I give up. I’m going to haul it to the dump. I bought an attractive shiny grey replacement that is a front loader, instead of the top loader. So far I am very pleased with this new LG washer. If my opinion means anything, don’t ever buy a Crosby top loader. It warrants many unprintable words.

The orange marigold flowers are still blooming their hearts out and my girlfriend gave me a pot of mostly pink geraniums. Together they make a striking display as you approach my front door. This is especially true as the native plants fade away, their small leaves dropping unnoticed. Only the Barrel Cactus fruit ripening to yellow brings color to the dull green and brown/grey landscape of these short days.

Soon I’ll be buying nice Christmas cards to mail to my friends and family. Even as the days are shortening in the northern hemisphere, at least the mailbox will be brightened by messages of hope and cheer. There’s likely not going to be any snow for me to dash through here in the desert, but the mountain snowstorms will play out above me on Mt Graham. I will marvel at the wind and the play of cloud and sun. It is amazing that mankind has survived all that nature can dish out to us, especially when you hear how people get so seriously troubled by the inconsequential. I like to count my blessings, and not the slights.