When the dust settles

The wind finally stopped blowing. For now.

 

I could sweep off the back porch but it would be pointless. It's a chore best left until the end of May.
And who knows? I might get lucky and the wind will blow the opposite direction and sweep it for me.

When I moved here, I knew I would have to deal with the wind and the shifting sand. This is the desert afterall.

I planted a natural hedge of chamisa around the yard to help divert the dirt. I even started a lawn.

It seemed like such a good idea at the time. The picture below was taken in the spring of 2006:

Wynonna, Waylon and Willie were the designated groundskeepers.

The natural hedge idea sort of worked. I can't imagine how much more dirt 

would end up on the porch if the chamisas weren't there.

A giant sand dune now slopes down across my once-level lawn.

Smooch doesn't care. 

She much prefers the giant sandbox to a manicured lawn.

Every desert dog needs a pink water bowl – the better to find it in a dust storm.