Monday, October 11, 2010

Summer in Arizona is kind of like childbirth...

...when the temps finally drop below 100 and we see the sweet, little face of Autumn we get all excited and forget that just a few weeks ago we were looking at real estate in any northern clime. Any. Alaska. Canada. North Dakota. And trying not to simulate an Easy-Bake oven experience everytime we got into our parked cars.

But now, we've kinda/sorta forgotten the literally hellish temperatures we've been enduring for over five months.

Now, we are giddy with the season. Since the temps are in the mere 90's we look at Lands End catalogs for sweaters to order, we drag out all our Halloween decorations even though we can't carve pumpkins until two days before the big event for fear they'll rot too quickly. We haul wood up to the fireplaces preparing for that first chilly night when we can gather around the flickering flames...





...and then we go out to garden to pick zinnias and squash and cucumbers and green beans...



...confident in the knowledge that our newborn Autumn is the sweetest in the nation...

I'm tellin' ya. Summer in Arizona is definitely like childbirth...as we leave the the air conditioned caves necessary for our triple-digit survival, ready to kick up our heels and frolic in the chilly 96 degree temperatures, we forget all about the inhumane suffering we endured during the labor of summer in the Valley of the Sun-stroke.

Sigh...

PS. Just giving you a little anti-social warning here. Our Grands are off this week for Fall Break and I have jury duty (because I'm all dialed into civic responsibility blah, blah, blah) so it may look like I'm being all stuck up not answering e-mails and visiting blogs...but really, it's just because I will be falling further into the abyss of over-scheduled insanity...a place with very poor internet connectivity. Regularly schedule blog programming will happen as usual, though, so prepare your D's A-T people!

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43 comments:

Kim Lehnhoff said...

I have a brother living in AZ, he LOVES the weather - the hotter, the better.

Obviously, switched at birth.

Theresa Plas said...

O Jen! I can relate! Living in South Florida has been brutal this summer...but paradise lately. Isn't it wonderful when we get to the point where we can open windows and doors?
The house looks so cozy with the autumn decor and the garden is wonderful!
Better get that fur coat out of storage for the 80's weather...

Terra said...

I am stuck on the PS - I had jury duty last week! yes ma'am I did. I almost sat on the jury too, but I didn't - sometime I'll have to tell you why! Best of luck to you this week and enjoy those grands!!!

La said...

You could always come back to Ohio! Enjoy your "cool" weather. La

Paula ~ castleandcottagesigns said...

oh I'd so gladly take the heat of summer over cold...but the childbirth thing...you can keep it. lol:)

Kat said...

It's the same here in Texas. It was only 82 degrees the other day, and I saw a cute little high school girl wearing a fleece hoodie. I laughed myself silly until I realized that I had put on long jeans in case I got cold LOL. I was called for jury duty a couple of months ago, they filled the panel before they got to me. Thank goodness for my kindle or it would have been a LONG day. Kat

RoeH said...

I could not have said this better. But ... like childbirth ... I. Don't. Forget!

Viki said...

Have fun at jury duty. Hope your just not sitting around.

I can see your point about the weather but even though I moan about Ohio weather, I wouldn't trade lol.

Anonymous said...

Here in PA it's going to be 80 today...the AC is running...I would melt in 3 digit temps...

now I'll have that mental image all day: I'm melting.....I'm melting.......
all we owe, we owe her........stop the insanity :D

Stay cool and hope the jury duty room has AC :D

~victoria~

Betty said...

It's "cooled off" here too...YEA! Last week our A/C decided to die, but today they're coming with a new compressor. Thank goodness because we still run it to get the humidity out of the house...just not 100% of the time. I actually walked in the park last week and it was wonderful.

One Photo said...

Lovely fall decorations in your home - I love that huge fireplace. As for your garden, just fabulous, I wish I was capable of growing things, but sadly am not.

I laugh because I too drag out winter clothes when the temperature dips - 80F feels positively chilly :-)

Together We Save said...

Jury Duty!! Oh you will just have a blast! :-)

Glad you are beginning to feel the effects of fall, here is in Tennessee we are finally cooling off too.

Cheryl D. said...

We're generally pretty warm in October also, although usually by Halloween it cools off. However, I never carve my pumpkin more than a day or two before Halloween because it rots. I just assumed that was true everywhere!

Susan Anderson said...

I always report for jury duty but never get picked. Do you think that says something disturbing about me?

;)

Pondside said...

My job keeps me from jury duty - and that's alright!
You have a gift for titles, Jenny. of course we all had to read about your summer. Just a heads up - we won't be swapping houses in over 90 degree weather!

Pat Tillett said...

When it hits the 80's you break out the parkas....

Nice cozy looking room with the fireplace!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Georgia is not Arizona but I feel your heat!! I was so excited when it dipped below 90 and I could stay outside for more then a few minutes without needing a complete change of clothes from the sweating! Enjoy your fall. Survive your week!!

Unknown said...

I so understand about over-scheduled insanity! I am queen of that domain. Take care dear, sweet Jenny!

"Alone again.... naturally!" said...

That heat would kill me....We are in the 60-70's here in the West, but the rain has come back with a vengence!
You seem to be able to garden all year round though....do you ever get a break from that?
Good luck with jury duty...we have that here in Canada too, so far I have escaped that particular "pleasure". Thankfully! Cathy

Busy Bee Suz said...

How I still miss living in AZ!!!
We are sort of in the same predicament...it is in the 80's now with less humidity. Bring on the snow boots!!!!
Hope your week is not too hectic.

Theresa said...

Oh girl, the weather is perfect here in Vegas. I am enjoying every minute of it but will enjoy my Georgia weather when I go home! I will have to hustle to get my Fall decorations out before Halloween and Thanksgiving! Big hugs and enjoy your day:)

Jean Tuthill said...

I don't think I could live there....I'll take New England, thanks....I don't like the heat. This summer was brutal and it made me realize that I don't like it. Good luck with your jury duty.

Jo said...

have fun with that whole jury duty thing ... it is good to be civic minded and stuff like that ... as for the heat ... i couldn't for sure do summer in the AZ ... Im definitley a four season gal.

Judie said...

For the last couple of years, we Arizonans have suffered with a little glitch in our summer weather--humidity! We are used to "its a dry heat" and even a little bit of humidity sucks the life out of you. Am I right, Jenny? Yes?

Have fun with the Grands!

Barb said...

Oh yeah, when I think 100 degrees is cool, I know I have been living here too long.


hugs,
Barb

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

We are having an unusally warm autumn to follow our unusually hot and humid summer....I bet this means a frigid, cold, blizzard full winter! You'll be warm then and so happy that you are there! What I really want to know is why you have that BIG beautiful fireplace and I have none? lol!

Hope JD goes well and goes fast!

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Thanks for your sweet visit Jenny -- Love having you as a guest at my cyber tables. Looking forward to having you back from Jury Duty ...telling us all about your latest adventure!

Brenda said...

Your fall is still way to hot for me. Our highs are in the 70's right now and that is just perfect for me. If I could temps' 70-82 all year round I would be a happy camper. Our garden is tilled under and waiting for spring again. Happy fall Jenny!

Sue said...

I really don't think there was anyplace cool to run to this summer. We have been in the
mid-80's the past few days. That is pretty warm for this time of year in Illinois. However, we get down to 40's and 50's at night. I just love it.

Good luck with the kids and the criminals!

J said...

I have never been to Arizona, but I hear it is brutal. The autumn decorations look great, though! :D

Willoughby said...

We have the opposite problem here in Michigan. Our summers are lovely (although it does hit the triple digits a few times), but our winters can be a nightmare.

Jury duty....hate it! I did it a few years ago and it was incredibly boring. There weren't many cases that week so we all sat around watching television and reading. I hope you have a more exciting experience!!

Enjoy the grandkids!!

Deb said...

gosh I thought you were talking about Texas there for a minute...anytime its under 99 we think it's a cool front...below 80 is like winter....

I Wonder Wye said...

I like your decorations - and preparations for fall -- my favorite time of year! The soup recipe is now posted on my blog, thanks for asking.

Amy said...

I have never really understood why houses in really hot places have fire places. I just don't get it. But then again, everyone needs a fire place. I suppose we can't discriminate climate.
I wish you had more of the fall experience. But why oh why would you be sweater shopping?

Have fun with the Grands, and I hope your jury experience is truly wonderful!

Anonymous said...

It does sound rather busy. Maybe you'll get to be on a jury that gives you lots of wonderful writing ideas because, after all, real life is more bizarre than any fictional story.

Teresa

Tina said...

I would DIE if I lived in AZ. D.I.E die. I can't stand CO's heat...let alone that blast oven you call home. Today we had a perfect fall day: 60's, blue skies, falling, colorful leaves...aaahhhhh. Btw, loved your childbirth analogy!

Unknown said...

Your stained glass window is soooo pretty! And we has some nummy squash for dinner....lots o butter o course ;)

Have fun with the Grans hun!

Nicki Meier said...

Hey there Arizona!! Looks like the Arizona sun was a warm one this summer! But, none the less, your garden was once again a great success.
Well, I am back to blog land...it has been awhile. Looking forward to getting back into the gyst of it and seeing what everyone has been up to. Your blog has GROWN you amazing woman you! So glad I can say, "Well, she is my friend too!!" :)
Hugs to you...

Unknown said...

Fall is a state of mind.....
the decorations look wonderful!

Julie Kwiatkowski Schuler said...

Your weather is silly hot. Have fun at jury duty!

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

So funny post title!

Worry not about blogging issues! Busy time is time to take TLC of yourself, first! "Auntie" sezzzz!

RNSANE said...

I haven't spent much time in AZ...we did have a forensic nursing conference once - in AUGUST - in Scottsdale ( because we got such great rates at one of the posh resorts ). I spent most of my time INDOORS. It was hard, coming from my cool foggy San Francisco, that's for sure. I left Georgia and the Southland shortly after nursing school because I hated the heat and humidity...I guess it's dry heat in Arizona but hot is hot!

Moore Minutes said...

Lol, so true. I miss Arizona! :) The photos you have up are beautiful.