. . . snowbirds are genius . . .

. . . i mean really . . .

. . . if i had the means . . .

{and if my husband, kids and grandkids could come with me ~

is that too much to ask?}

. . . i'd only want to live in arizona

from november through april . . .

. . . wouldn't you? . . .

. . . october? . . .

. . . not so much . . .

. . . especially this year . . .

. . . it was still ridiculously hot . . .

. . . but in the last month . . .

. . . our lawn has gone

from looking like this . . .

{aka dry piles of verticut grass}

. . . to this beautiful lushness . . .

. . . complete {as of yesterday}

with the first mow lines

of the season. . .

. . . and three carloads of geraniums . . .

. . . are making themselves comfortable

in their new home. . .

. . . they're getting past

that awkward stage . . .

. . . where they look great

for about two days

after you plant them . . .

. . . then all the carefully forced blooms

that were cultivated

in a california nursery somewhere

get crispy, shrivel up and die . . .

{that's always a little discouraging}

. . . but not to worry . . .

. . . . a little water,

a little sunshine,

a little root stimulator,

and a couple of weeks later . . .

. . . that was just what the doctor ordered . . .

. . . and now they're filling out

with a new round of blossoms

on the way . . .

. . . warm days and cool nights . . .

. . . great for plants and snowbirds . . .

. . . and ME! . . .