The Wandering Minstrel

We got the bad news this morning that our giant saguaro cactus, the “big guy,” is doomed. Our landscape contractor did an analysis after the crew dug up some of the soil around the root base.

The verdict is that the cactus has root rot, a symptom of over watering this type of cactus. The experts assume that the previous owner must have done too much irrigation and the root rot originated there, since we have NEVER watered the big guy in his current home. Regardless, he is going to be hauled away to cactus graveyard.

Eventually, the big guy will be replaced with another similar saguaro cactus as soon as the arrangements can be made. We’re sorry to see the big guy go, but we know that another will fill the empty hole.

Clickable image, saguaro root rot courtesy of TBH.

A troubling gap appeared at the base of our giant saguaro cactus. The gap between the cactus and the ground is on the north side of the root. The Better Half noticed it yesterday but we don’t know for sure how long it has been like that.

Clickable image - the saguaro gap - courtesy The Better Half

Needless to say, I immediately placed a call to the garden shop that sold us the saguaro. The owner indicated that he would get in touch with the expert from the cactus farm and that they would have a look at it tomorrow. It’s troubling, but they assure me there’s no reason to panic.

I hiked up the little hill right behind our house (while staying alert for rattlesnakes or Gila monsters, of course) and took this short video of the RV pull-thru. I panned left to right, although the RV will pull through the other way for convenient access to the hose bib, sewer hookup and the 30 amp electrical hookup located on the rear of the house just to the right of the screened-in patio.

Our contractor graded the road for us at no additional charge since it came in handy for him and his crew for access to the rear of the house during construction. The pull-thru has been used by delivery trucks, the screen contractor, landscapers and others, but we have yet to have the first RV hook up. One of these days . . .

When I added the chore to my ‘to-do’ list, I wrote “prune suckers” to remind myself to grab the garden shears and cut off all the extraneous growth around the base of the creosote bushes lining the RV drive. When I read the chore list this morning, I thought - prune suckers? That sounds like a bunch of toothless geriatrics trying to stay regular.

I went out before the temperature got very hot and commenced pruning. The creosote next to the orchard (1 lemon and 1 orange tree) was particularly bad. As you can see from the composite (clickable) image, I accomplished my mission. Retirement is nice, but it is not zero work.

It’s not quite finished yet, but the contractor made a lot of progress while we were in California last week. It appears that all is mostly complete, with the exception of the bay at the far end, which we directed be left open pending the delivery and installation of the new spa.

Clickable Image - Screened Patio Enclosure

We sat out on the patio this afternoon (it only got up to 110°) and drank iced tea and read. After I put the dinner entrée on the grill, we switched to wine (TBH*) and beer (me). Supper was great and it was a very pleasant afternoon!

* The Better Half

The Better Half took this photo from the bridge on I-10 as we crossed into Arizona this afternoon. If I were to have been carrying Fat Man, my Glock 30 (and I’m not saying whether I was carrying or not), at this instant I would have gone from being guilty of a misdemeanor under California’s ignorant gun laws to being a free citizen of the state of Arizona under their Constitutional Carry law. Thank God that we’re back home safe and sound once again. Clickable image courtesy of The Better Half.

We traveled westbound to the California house today to visit family and friends and to attend to business in the (formerly) Golden State. Instantaneous loss of most of our Second Amendment rights occurs when we cross the Colorado River into Blythe. At least, we (sort of) have castle doctrine while we’re at the house.

Image - progress on the screen enclosure

As we left home this morning, our screen contractor was making even more progress than this photo from yesterday. By the time we get back, most of the job should be complete with the exception of the panel facing the RV drive closest to the camera. That will only be completed after the new spa gets delivered and placed on the patio.

We just got here and we’re already homesick. We will be heading back at the earliest possible opportunity.

This is the “before” view of the back patio taken on the eve of the beginning of construction on a screened enclosure. The Better Half and I thought about it for a while and decided that this would be a good, if not necessary, improvement.

First of all, it would keep the dogs, Scratch ‘n’ Sniff, from wandering off. We currently have to keep the little one on a leash, or she will give chase to every bird, rabbit and squirrel that frequent our back lot. Conversely, it keeps most critters out. Neighbors have reported rattlesnakes and Gila monsters in the area, so keeping those out of the patio seems to be a real good thing, not to mention insects.

I should be able to post a photo of the completed enclosure next week. Clickable image.