Rain?

They haven't started calling this season a "nonsoon"  yet. I understand why. There's been rain north, south, east, west, and all the compas points in between. There's been hail. Lightning. Impressive clouds building up over most of the horizons. Dust storms almost qualifying as haboobs. Something actually measurable fell once at Sky Harbor. Even a precautionary warning or two, though no actual flooding I'm aware of. All variety of warn wet stuff and promises all over the place. Just not here. Only dust for us.

Until last night, that is. I walked out to witness, see if it was really rain and not just more pigeon turds blowing down off the roof, needing to be swept off the sidewalk and driveway. Those hard little round pebbles really hurt under bare feet! But it was really, really rain.

About 50 drops worth!

Plus a little good old rain smell. So we were close.

If only the smell helped the plants survive. Even the agaves - the well established ones - are showing yellow spots on the leaves. Bushes native to these parts are struggling, yuccas d(r)ying back from their tips. The older trees in the back yard are doing OK so far, but I am having to water the recently planted mesquite. Palo verde and desert willow are thriving, and the big pine at least isn't yet turning yellow, the sign the one in the front yard gave a few years back to warn us we needed a tree service. Funeral service.

Nothing more in sight for a while except dirty skies from California fires. Maybe that qualifies as counting your blessings that those aren't close around here, but color me greedy. I was hoping for something wetter along the line of blessings.

Of course the forcast claims we're not seeing any more 115 degree highs for a bit, certainly a good thing. They said that after Monday's high of 115 about Tuesday, too. Also Tuesday about today.

Sigh....