I suppose it’s only human nature to hope that the long episode of marvelous summer-like weather we’ve enjoyed would continue. So far, this winter’s temperatures have averaged well above normal. For example, the average daily hi temperature for Palm Springs at this time of the year is 72 degrees F., and we’ve had day after day at 80 or above.

Well, reality struck last Saturday, as a cold storm (relative to what we had been enjoying) moved into Southern California and brought some rain with it. It didn’t add up to much over the weekend, only .23” of rain but the big change was in the temperatures…much lower temperatures. Today our hi was only in the low 50’s and the storm brought a beautiful rainbow and another .25” of rain with winds up to 50 mph or so. Now I know if your are where the temps have plummeted to zero or below you’re laughing at my complaining about 50 degree days. If, however, you haven’t worn anything other than shorts for 6 weeks, it is COLD.

About ½” of rain is a good start to greening the desert and bringing on the explosion of Spring wildflowers we so enjoy seeing.

A neighbor left for home and forgot their bird feeder in the tree at the front of their place. Judy moved it to our space and we’ve enjoyed watching the yellow finches and other little birds hanging all over it. It’s just a tub of woven material and the birds just stick their beaks into one of the holes in the weave and extract a seed. We have seen as many as 9 birds on it at one time.