dust storm

Living Small

Just about 8 months ago I packed up, well just a small bit of packing, and left my home of many decades. My company offered a position in the state of Arizona that I had desired since I started my career, so many years ago.
This new journey has many rewards and many so difficult times, so I have decided to share them here… oh lucky you.

So when the offer came in I needed a place to stay, of course. We looked all over Maricopa County and well how do you know where you want to live when you really don’t know where to live? Each time I was in AZ I would stay in different areas hoping to find the community that I would enjoy. Well I enjoyed them all. It was just like on vacation, you stay long enough to know you love it there but live there? Not sure.

Because I am so resourceful I decide to live in our 5th wheel until we decide where I should live. Eight months later I am still in the 5th wheel and well I am enjoying it… completely.

This is my story of leaving a small ranch in CA with my 4 horses, 4 dogs and one completely wonderful and supportive husband, to a 5th wheel in the middle of Maricopa County with only myself and my dreams of a new and wonderful life.

It’s a new and wonderful world in my new little home…. Dust Storms and all.

Dust Storm 2014

The dust is coming

This was my first dust storm that I was able to really watch roll in while not having to work. So this guy started down south in Pinal County and rolled up gathering power, wind and of course dust. They look so far away but before you know it they are on top of you.

It grows

This shot is within minutes of the last and as you can see the sky is filling and the dust is growing. At this time I can feel the grit blowing in my face and eyes, the wind is strong and the air is hard to inhale.

Thick air

So it is hard for me to capture the air…. I can only describe it as thick, fog like and dirty, brown fog best says it. Breathing is like when we run the horses in the sand at the river bottom and you are behind the other 30 horses.
It lasts about 20 minutes once upon me, but the sun sets and the night is dark and I really cant tell if the dirt is gone or not. Often these are followed by thunder storms and rains….
These storms are during the monsoon seasons in AZ, which I am told are marked for beginning July 4th, well this one was right on target, as it rolled in July 3rd.
Living in a new State is exciting and what is a nuisance to those who have lived here for a long time, is just exciting to me. I so enjoyed the entire experience and look forward to the next.