This is one of my favorite times of year here in Tucson. The days are pleasantly warm (mid-80s) and the nights are wonderfully cool enough for a blanket on the bed. What I like most, I think, is that in the early morning when I take Kubric (the schnauzer) out for his morning stroll (some would say he takes me), there's lots of wildlife to observe: coyotes, rabbits, quail, and roadrunners--and that was just this morning. Also, this morning a most beautiful red bird flew across our trail. I'm not a birder or I might be able to tell you what it was, but it was stunning. At night, with the windows cracked, a symphony of crickets and the faraway, haunting wail of a passing train lulls one to sleep.

I know a lot of you think that you've been to Tucson if ever you've been to Phoenix, but the two destinations are completely different. Tucson is higher (and, thankfully, cooler) than Phoenix and, although it's unfortunately growing, it hasn't yet reached Phoenix's sad status of being called "Los Angeles East." Tucson is still a "cowboy town," as evidenced by the corral of horses at the bottom of the hill and the lone cowboy I sometimes see moseying along behind my house.

Happy Trails! (I need to get some work done on a book.)