Exciting March monsoon

I don't think we've ever gotten a monsoon in March before. And that's a great time to get one, when everything is parched and trying to leaf out, doing its spring thing, before it gets hit with brutal heat! The mountains might get covered with spring flowers they've never had before in my nearly 50 years here.

All is brimful at the oasis with one and a quarter inches of rain. As usual, monsoons come with a price. It left the road in worse shape. I'm not sure spring birders can make it in without good clearance. 

Here's my March monsoon madness story:

Around 11 PM last night I was sleeping in the cabin near the oasis when I was awakened by what I assume was small hail on the roof. Then there was a roaring sound that I wasn't sure was rain or/and wind. Lots of loud lightning. It was really violent outside but I couldn't see anything except for the lightning flashes. Things calmed down in about half an hour, as water leaked down the inside of my walls.

I was so eager to go check the tanks, that I chanced the constant lightning strikes. With that and a flashlight, I saw the tanks all full and water still rushing into and out of them. Back at the cabin where I was anxious to get dry and out of the rain and lightning, and back under my warm electric blanket, the electricity went out. I added another blanket to my bed and waited for daylight, sleeping fitfully. Not chilled to the bone, but not comfortably warm either.

At daylight, I changed out the hummingbird feeders with fresh ones. Rain water from a big monsoon ruins the solution in them. Then I emptied the seed feeder where the bottom seed had gotten soggy and blocked seed from coming out the ports. Did my best to get that functional again. After washing feeders, checking other things, and doing numerous other necessary little repairs, I headed to town. 

Our road was bad and had lots of rocks needing to be picked up. These two were too heavy for me, but my son is going down tomorrow and will move them. Meanwhile, a vehicle can get around them.

When I came to the big arroyo on Snake Road, I thought I could make it through. Always had before. But in the past, I had carried a shovel or hoe and worked on the road before attempting it. Must be old and senile, but I barreled into it until I got bogged down. I spent a painful hour trying to dig out with my hands. After several times of doing that, I almost made it out, but then bogged down worse.

I decided to walk to a land-line phone and call my husband to come tow me out. (No cell service there.) My sister's house was a mile away, and I knew she had gone to Alpine, but I could at least go in and use her phone. It was a torturous walk after not having eaten anything today, not sleeping much last night, and wearing myself out working at the oasis and road. Not to mention my old arthritic body doesn't do much under optimum conditions anymore.

Once I knew he was on the way, I called my niece and found out my sister was on her way home from town. I wasn't sure she could get around my pickup (I hadn't taken a photo yet at that point), so decided I'd try to make it the mile back to the arroyo. Barely managed to force my body there. When she arrived, she had no trouble getting past in her 4X4 vehicle. Before long, my husband and son showed up and towed me out. Water never comes cheap! LOL

And just yesterday, I had worn myself out watering trees. While doing that, I saw a thirsty bobcat come drink at the water feature.

I'm getting too old for all the excitement and drama. Fighting it though!

It's finally spring!

Lucifers were a bit late returning this year. Don't know why, but just glad to have them back.

And I was finally well enough to water the trees. My son had been having to do it most of the time lately. So I'm more my normal self now. Hopefully, we'll get rain this year, and winter birding will be better next winter. Otherwise, I might have to take a long vacation to somewhere warm. LOL

I keep forgetting to ask my followers to please go to my daughter's Facebook page and click "like." Or "follow," and then "like" when a new post comes up. She and her husband have a rental in Rockport, and I guess it helps give them more exposure the more people that "like" it. I stayed there last Thanksgiving and had a great time and saw great birds! (The Facebook page is called "Stars on the Bay.") Thanks! And if you ever want to stay there, she offers a birder's discount. Just ask for it. The page has a link on it to do that, I think.

 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555084301912

A couple weeks ago we had a horrible wind/dust storm and a big trunk blew off a cypress tree at the oasis. Lee removed the broken limb.

And today while I was watering, I noticed the male Chinese Pistachio tree (top photo below) is starting to leaf out, but the female (bottome photo) that makes the berries looks dead. I watered it extra good and hoping for the best.