La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
I DON’T NEED TO TELL anyone how difficult it is to get out of bed and get motivated these days. So enjoy the beauty of yesterday’s walk with me. Feel the breezy, exhilarating chill (it was 62°F/17°C). That might not sound chilly to you, but it was damp.
When the temperature hit 118°F/48°C in the desert (like when we lived in Palm Springs, California) people would always say, “But it’s a dry heat.” Yes, it was. But it was still 118°F/48°C.
Yesterday, however, I actually wore a lightweight sweatshirt. With the hood up. Still, it was at least a temporarily mood-elevating walk. I returned home for banana bread (ala San Geraldo) with chocolate chunks. Dudo joined me in my office and snuggled against the space heater, which was apparently warmer than my lap.
.
NO NECESITO DECIR A NADIE lo difícil que es levantarse de la cama y motivarse en estos días. Así que disfruta de la belleza del paseo de ayer conmigo. Sienta el fresco y estimulante frío (hacía 17°C / 62°F). Puede que eso no te suene frío, pero estaba húmedo.
Cuando la temperatura alcanza los 118°F / 48°C en el desierto (como cuando vivíamos en Palm Springs, California), la gente siempre decía: “Pero es un calor seco”. Sí, lo era. Pero todavía estaba a 118°F / 48°C.
Sin embargo, ayer usé una sudadera ligera. Con la capucha levantada. Aún así, fue una caminata que elevó al menos temporalmente el ánimo. Regresé a casa por pan de plátano (ala San Geraldo) con trozos de chocolate. Dudo se unió a mí en mi oficina y se acurrucó contra el calentador, que aparentemente estaba más caliente que mi regazo.
Tenía una amiga en Boston llamada Delphine. Esto me hizo pensar en ella con cariño.
Es ese vórtice polar. Obviamente ella es una local.
Haz clic en las imágenes de windsurfistas para tener una idea de lo fácil que no es.
Cool and humid or windy, does make it feel more bone chilling. Be more like Dudo and snuggle up to a heat source. My oldest brother was complaining on FB about it being 62 degrees in Florida the other day.
David:
SG would be complaining along with your older brother. Although I like snuggling with Dudo, I avoid the heat. The only reason it was on was for him.
Cats are so funny, how they love heaters. I don’t know how they stand being that warm. As for the woman on the beach in her heavy coat — I guess if you own one, you want to get some use out of it!
I’ve been to Palm Springs twice, and I think it was early spring both times, so I never dealt with that super-intense desert heat. It was beautiful when I was there.
Steve:
People here all own heavy coats. Scarves appear when temps drop below 70. The coats at 60 for many. Mine doesn’t come out of the closet until it drops below 50. We adjusted quickly to the hot summer days in Palm Springs. But you do learn to change behaviours. And most business is taken care of early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
I woke up this morning to find my gigi stretched out in front of the baseboard heating grate in my bedroom. my nyla will often sit in front of the one in the living room. whatever makes them happy. and SG’s banana bread would be good with a schmear.
Anne Marie:
This banana bread has so much chocolate that a schmear would be overkill.
NEVER! a good schmear would add to the flavor! but that’s just me.
anne marie:
It’s funny how in the past I wouldn’t pass up some cream cheese on my banana bread.
Winter is relative term. It’s a time to bundle up and hunker down till spring…….no matter where we live.
That first photo, Mitchell, is wonderful. The composition is calming to the senses. That is precisely why I love the act/practice of taking photos…….very Zen and in the moment. Now thee trick is to transfer that feeling to the rest of the day, eh?
Quick ‘wind surfing’ story……..mid 90’s on the Saint John River in New Brunswick.
It was my first time and I was eager to learn.
Hopped on and away I went…..that is down the river heading to the open ocean!
I remained upright most of the way until I realized there was no getting back.
Aborted the ride and waited until someone/anyone would tow me back up river to my alarmed husband and friends.
Some kind soul in a motor boat towed me back and all was well once again.
Jim:
That would be me windsurfing (if I ever managed to “get it up”).
I just noticed a hiccup in how I view your posts. If I access your latest post through FB the pictures that you suggest to click open ~ do ~ open however if I access the post through my wordpress site the pictures do NOT open.. Hmmm.
I needed to go one more step to finally open them in my WordPress site ~ just ignore me!! WINKS!
Ron:
So glad to help…
I made banana bread last week but baked it as individual muffins instead. They turned out yummy too!
Debra:
Individual muffins sound like a great idea! This chocolate chunk version would be perfect as a muffin.
Having lived in Sacramento, where the summer temps can get as high as 120, and then living in Miami where it’s 90-degrees with 100% humidity, I will take a dry heat any day!
As for cats, like yours and mine, and the chilly days, every morning Tuxedo eats breakfast and the retires to a spot under the desk in the living room because it’s near a vent. Smart one, that cat!
Bob:
I’ll take dry heat any day, as well. Because we get so much direct sun early in the day and then late in the day, Dudo always finds a spot on those sunny days. It just clouded up again, so he left his formerly sunny spot on the rug in the living room and returned to SG’s heated (OVERheated) office.
In the 70s this morning and it feels a little chilly to me – Dudo has the right idea! The shot of the Delphin Taes is superb,
Wilma:
Thanks regarding the photo. Those boats are always there, but not Delfín. Having that in the foreground added something special to the shot. I found that old friend on Facebook and am thinking of sending her the pic, but it’s been 30 years!
That second picture down with the boats just might be one of my favorite pictures you have ever taken. I dare say it would even be a wonderful greeting card for those of us who still write letters, or a framed picture!!!!! I love it
This is day two with no buns.
Mistress Maddie:
After the buns, I really have nowhere else to go. Thanks regarding the photo! I’d be happy to send you the hi-res file.
I used to travel to Phoenix on business fairly regularly. February was great–sunny, 70, not humid (so much nicer than the 25 back home); May was rough–115–couldn’t touch the steering wheel in my rental car until I let the a/c run for 10 minutes with the doors open, but then I got smart and started to take hotel towels with me to drape over the steering wheel and the driver’s seat. But still; July…in the middle of their monsoon–100 at even at 10pm and so humid it was like breathing through a wet, heavy plush blanket (pretty much the same it is around DC most of the summer).
As for windsurfing…never bothered after coming within inches of a major concussion when I tried regular surfing back on a long board in the 60s. Don’t think I have the arm strength to wrestle with that sail and stay upright at the same time.
Mary:
Windsurfing definitely requires A LOT of upper body strength. I figure if I haven’t tried it by now, I won’t bother. I was never in Arizona during monsoon season. I can’t imagine that heat and humidity combo. NYC and Washington DC were bad enough at times in summer at 95F and 90 percent humidity.
Wonderful photos as usual. It has turned cool here and we desert people love it.
Never learned to surf but I did body surf and loved it when I lived in Laguna Beach. Easy for me to learn plus no board !
cheers
Parsnip:
I grew up body surfing and loved it. Never did get on a surfboard.
A spouse, banana bread, a heater, and a couple of cats -bliss in my opinion
Only thing missing is a nice hot cup of tea.
Urspo:
Just had the chocolate chunk banana bread with my morning Twinings English Breakfast tea and milk.
The locals in Florida bundle up when it gets down to 60 degrees. Favorite Young Man has gone native and is often cold at this time of the year. The photos of the water are beautiful. Dampness definitely exacerbates the cold. This is our dry time of the year that helps me get through the hot, humid summer. You’re right, though. 118 degrees is 118 no matter how dry.
Love,
Janie
Janie:
When we arrived in San Diego from Connecticut in March ’93, we (in shorts and T-shirts) laughed at the sweaters and winter clothes in shop windows. Within a couple of years, we were wearing sweaters and winter clothes!