Bisbee stairs

This date was Bill's idea earlier in the week.  We met at 6am at the Mine museum and took off at 6:15am.  I left the dogs at home but I probably could have taken Hansel.  There were many other stair walkers and dogs out today, and didn't get hot until later in the morning.

Bill was talkative today, starting with  "I'm getting me a cat!" but that turned out to be because his main squeeze, Deb, is officially moving in with him by the end of the month.

I was a little surprised.  Bill has always bragged about his prowess and is still very active sexually.  (He volunteered that information.)  When I asked Bill what he and Deb have in common, his first answer is  "She's a sex addict!"  Uh-oh.  I really don't like to pry into anyone's intimate life, and wasn't expecting that for an answer.   He was talking about being polyamorous just the last time we met for the Bisbee walk.  So what changed? 

Well, I'm happy for Bill. He met Deb on a dating website (didn't ask which one!) earlier this year.  Maybe I should try that, but my impression of other men my age looking for companionship isn't very positive.  Boomer boys are very sexist and want a caretaker/maid in a woman and I'm not good at either.  I would love to start out with a passionate companion who loves to explore the outdoors, so that leaves me considering men who hike and camp and appreciate pristine environments.

"I should try that" I replied to Bill about dating apps.  "Must like dogs!" I added.  Hahaha.  Must like the outdoors, enjoy weekend road trips, appreciate desert gardening and be frugal with money (ie no excessive spending on frivolous things) and not talk excessively about former wives or girlfriends.  And, while I didn't tell Bill this, must not be addicted to alcohol or cigarettes.

Bisbee was in bloom this time and we stopped a lot for photos.  Sunflowers were everywhere, as where the Arizona poppies, dahlias, zinnias.  In another month or so the seed pods for the trumpet vine will be ready for harvesting.  I picked up a few seeds for Birds of Paradise, pomegranate and a few seedheads of dried flowers I can't identify right now.  I hope in a year my front yard will have blue palo verde, mimosa, honey locust, and yellow and red Birds of Paradise.  All of these are native to this region

We chatted briefly with a local homeowner named Zin.  We spotted a coatimundi on his front porch a year ago but he said he's never seen one in his yard.  Originally from New Jersey, he's travelled all over the country before he and his partner Jill settled in Bisbee four years ago. 

He let us into his small front yard.  He and Jill are gardeners and have used every space in their yard for various blooms. He also gave me permission to pick the trumpet vine seed pods when they ripen in another six weeks.  I had a trumpet honeysuckle at my old place but never properly trellised it so it grew more prostate than vertical.

We walked around for 3.5 hours. It was just past 9:30am before we drove our separate ways.  I went home to rest and shower, and have a home lunch.

Weather forecast for Wednesday is calling for severe rains in the afternoon.  Bring it on! It's been five days since our last rain.  My backyard is full of Golden Crownbeard, Arizona poppies and pigweed.  I don't remember having any weeds or flowers back there last summer.  Everything has popped up last week after the rains, and digging up the soil to lay down the fence posts also helped.