Outside

Although at this time of the year, the weather in West Texas is hot during the day, very often as the sun sets, the ambient temperature, combined with the ever present breeze, makes the evening air very pleasant.

Yesterday was never hot in West Texas terms.  I was able to sit out and enjoy the evening air.  I read until late into the night. I fell asleep reading, and about 1230 AM was awakened by intermittent rain drops that were needle sharp.  The last time I was sitting out, reading, and the rain started, the drops were mud filled plops of water. 

Well, I had an inter-library loan book from the Texas Collection, Baylor University, restricted circulation outside with me.  The book is Haskins: The Bear Facts by Don Haskins as told to Ray Sanchez. I hastened it inside before I did anything else.  When I fall asleep reading, I often drop my glasses.  I did that last night.  I could not find my glasses.  So, the second task was to find my spares (in the sun glass compartment of the Vue) and find my glasses. They were on the ground next to the chaise lounge in which I was sitting.  Duh! I hauled in the lounge cushion, and went to bed. I had stayed up way too late, unintentionally, reading!

I sat out again tonight, after doing some yard work.  I waited to start the yard work until 8 PM, and the temperature was about 88°.  That temperature was a blessing, there was a stiff breeze, and the work was completed without much heat stress.

So, then I sat out reading and there was a strong wind. The air was mild and pleasant.  I decided to come inside, and realized that the breeze had stilled, and even though the temperature was 81°, the stillness of the air, and the humidity made it a little oppressive.

It is so interesting to me that the weather in West Texas is so fickle, changes so quickly, and sometimes, so minutely.  I remember, years ago, when Ken and I had a house on 91st St., and there was a hail storm. It was amazing to me.  The roof was ruined by hail, but the hail mostly fell on the west side of the roof, and not the east side, and the neighbors across the street to the east sustained no hail damage.

So, the vagaries of the weather in West Texas continue to amaze me.