I try to call my mother at least once a week, but lately, hearing about the “cold spell” they are experiencing is getting old! I know that she doesn’t mean to complain about the temperatures dropping into the low 70°, but hearing about those “cold” temperatures in August makes me yearn for the days when I (too) lived in Colorado Springs!
My husband and I are starting to ponder where we might want to retire in the not-so-near future, and it isn’t in San Antonio! In the past, both of us assumed that San Antonio would be where we eventually retired. But, this last summer has been particularly difficult for us. Just walking across a parking lot is something I dread in these over 100° days.
Sprite (our 14 1/2 year old “puppy”) is going through a time of blissful ignorance… Poor little Sprite… We have to be sure to watch her when she goes outside because she frequently lays down in the sun, on dried-up grass that we are only allowed to water once a week (our night is Thursday, and we get a very limited time span in which we are allowed to water.) If we aren’t particularly diligent, Sprite will simply lay down >>> never in the shade >>> and pant, pant, pant.
Because of Sprite, we have never wanted to “attract” birds, squirrels, or (of course!!!) the neighbors’ cats to our yard. But this year, my husband and I felt like we simply had to go buy a bird bath to put outside. After seeing several squirrels laying on tree branches as if they were going to pass out, we visited our neighborhood Home Depot and bought one. Slowly, the birds and squirrels are getting the word out… WATER!!!
As for Sprite, the little animals don’t seem to bother her. She would have enjoyed running after the squirrels a few years ago, but now she seems oblivious to them. She does enjoy inspecting her backyard domain in the morning to make sure no nighttime trespassers are still on the premises… Then it’s off to nap it off!
Maria BearMountainBooks says
I love Colorado Springs. Just a beautiful place (sadly they and NM have income tax and also tax 401k distributions, and Texas doesn’t!)
We have a bird bath too. The cats LOVE to sit underneath it and chatter at the birds. The squirrels scold the cats. The cats give them a waving tail.
I hear it will only be high 90s today. Even a few degrees helps. It has been a particularly difficult summer. Hit early and hit hot!
Sue says
It seems that no matter where they live, some people will complain about the weather. For the most part up here in Michigan we’ve had a pretty mild summer. Temperatures have been in the upper 70’s and lower 80’s. I’ve loved it, but many people complained that it’s been too cold to go swimming, especially in “The Big Lake” (Lake Michigan). At the end of July, here in Grand Rapids they closed the public pools because they weren’t generating enough money to cover the cost of keeping them open. About a week into August, the temperatures shot up into the mid 90’s with humidity that threatened to drown you if you took a deep breath. Now I’m complaining.
Sandra says
Ah….Phoenix in August!! NOT LOVING IT!! It’s my 55th August here, yes a real native Arizona person. And you would think I would be used to it and just accept it. But seems like August is getting me more and more down each year. And ditto on the public pools closing down because of budget cuts. Of course, here quite a few people have their own pools but it’s too hot to even venture out to get into the pool! LOL. I also have to say this….school started here in late July or the first wk of Aug…earlier and earlier each yr. They are crazy to try to air condition the schools then even.
On a good note about August in Phoenix…it’s so hot that nobody minds if I don’t want to do anything but stay inside my ac’d house and read. I have enjoyed at least one book each day of August so far!! Finished the entire series of Karen Kijewski’s Kat books. If you haven’t tried them…they are very good. Kat Colorado is a PI in Sacramento who has a Las Vegas cop as an on again off again lover. The last book in the 9 book series is Stray Kat Waltz….I won’t spoil the surprise but it is unexpected and sad…read them all! I’m betting you will enjoy them.