Yesterday's visit with Marcela was lovely; amazingly <g> we never do seem to run out of things to talk about.

  Unfortunately she couldn't stay for dinner this time, though she's coming back to Phoenix in early October, and may even stay here for a night or two.  So I invited Alex over for dinner (Gabby was at work) and he grilled the rib eyes that I'd planned for dinner with Marcela.

Alex did have to bring over his propane tank because it turns out that ours was out of gas; apparently Tom used the last of it when he grilled chicken the other night.  I've always "marveled" at the fact that the tanks have no way of letting you know when they're getting low.

Brownie and Vera were thoroughly enjoying their time together yesterday, 

and entertained us with their "fighting" over the squeaky doughnut.  

The baby oleander in the Back 40 (inside the small red circle) is once again totally engulfed in grass, so trimming that back (by hand) is on today's agenda.  The oleander in the larger red circle, planted a year earlier than the newest one, has now grown to wall-height; once the hedge gets topped off again this winter it'll blend right in.  Will be nice when that hole, caused during a "downdraft" during a monsoon some years ago, is all filled in.

Also on today's list of possible chores is continuing to trim stuff out front.  

Happily these bushes won't need much attention to look better.

 

Brownie seems to approve of this trim job, 

the first one I tackled upon my return.

At least today is going to be considerably cooler (though yesterday was wonderful; I had the AC off and windows open!)   And of course I'd much rather be working out in the yard than doing housework! 

 Pokey may not have been quite so happy with the sharp temperature decline; she was 'busy' sunning herself first thing this morning.

I did tell her it could have been worse.  

Terry sent this photo of her yard a few days ago.