Unusual weather

In the past year, we’ve seen some unusual winter weather. Coming from Kansas where winter weather may include 70 degree days as well as below zero temperatures, we should have been prepared for non-typical Arizona weather. Last February in Huachuca City and Sierra Vista, we experienced overnight temperatures at zero for 3 or 4 nights and everyone was completely confused, as well as without water since their water pipes aren’t protected the way we would do it in Kansas. The whole RV park water system froze! One Sunday morning later in the month, we woke to an inch or two of snow, which we laughingly called the Blizzard of ’11. By noon it was gone except in the mountains and the roads were never covered at all.

This year, we thought we’d try Yuma since it is usually warmer here. We may be warmer than other parts of the state but it has been unusually cool and wet for this time of year. Tuesday last week we had 1.12 inches of rain, the most for a day since sometime in 1902! And Wednesday morning, I think it was, we woke to pea soup fog. Low clouds oozing over the mountains make a curious sight. I wish a picture would do it justice.

The rest of the week has been nice but with a couple of unexpected afternoon or evening showers. We’ve been shopping in short sleeves and just take along a jacket in case the evenings get cooler.

I got an early Christmas present this week. My microwave/convection oven does an okay job as a microwave, but I have never been very happy with the results as a convection oven. An RV acquaintance of ours, Nick Russell, publishes an RV newspaper called the Gypsy Journal and writes a blog about their travels. In the last week or so, his wife, Miss Terry, got a new Breville toaster-oven. Her experience with a microwave/convection was much the same as mine, I think. We had been looking at several and even though we hate to give up the counter space, I really wanted something that would let me use the bakeware I already have. So this is the result. My first attempt at baking was a real success. I had gingersnaps to give away to our neighbors!

Christmas lights in the foothills keep us reminded of the season, though. One evening two golf carts came by, completely covered in Christmas lights. One reminder is even closer at hand, though.

I’ll be posting our Christmas pictorial, a year in review, later this week instead of sending Christmas cards. I didn’t want to subject everyone to pages and pages of Christmas letters!