What's so special about a southwestern springtime?

Ahh, springtime in the Southwest is like no other springtime I know of. One day winter is still with us, with heavy comforters on the bed, thermostats set to 70 degrees, and long sleeved shirts. The next day we wake up to 80 degree temps, brilliant sunshine, and a blue cloudless sky. And the calendar tells me it is mid-March. I find myself rummaging through the closet for something appropriate to wear. My warm weather clothes look pretty tired after last year's long summer.

I throw open the doors and venture out to see if Mother Nature thinks it is springtime.  She has been kinder than I feared after a freak hailstorm last October.

Creosote Bush

A gangly creosote bush in the front yard is covered with small, fragrant yellow blossoms.  As a bonus, the nearby area has a crop of volunteer creosotes. I counted over thirty of various sizes. What a satisfied feeling to know I won't have to buy a creosote bush in the nursery, priced at $30.00.  As a matter of fact, my husband, Wayne, is threatening to chop down some of the smaller creosotes because Mother Nature provided us with so many.

Fairy Duster

The Fairy Duster, located in a neglected part of the yard, is covered with pink blooms that look like, you guessed it, tiny dusters that Tinker Bell might use.  This plant is so generous, requiring virtually no care.

Desert Marigold

And before leaving the topic of easy to care for native plants, this Desert Marigold appeared voluntarily in a part of the yard we dubbed the Tucson Yard.  This plant requires very low water usage. I suspect if I watered it like other plants, it would not survive.  It's always a joy to see where it is going to pop up each year. The Desert Marigold has a mind of its own and does not like to be disturbed.

Sunset Heights Garden

I was pleased to see native plants emerging in an area we nicknamed "Sunset Heights," after an historic neighborhood in El Paso where you can also view the western setting sun.  The pumpkins are real, but they didn't grow there.  I hated to toss them out after last November, and they did provide some color through the dull winter months.

Climbing Rose Bush

Blooming climbing roses are one of the harbingers of springtime.  This plant grows in a bed surrounding the swimming pool, and often presents us with blooms throughout the year.

Potting bench in backyard

Springtime means lots of empty pots are available for new plantings.  The former residents of the pots didn't make it through the hailstorm or winter weather. Fortunately I don't remember which plants they were, so I don't have to mourn their loss too deeply.

Springtime weather means living al fresco.  A new seating area in the vegetable garden under the pear tree provides a place to admire the tomatoes, jalapeños, pattypan squash, tomatillo, oregano, and sage that we planted this year, with fingers crossed for an abundant harvest.

Seating area in garden

I'm thoroughly enjoying each day of our southwestern early springtime.  Until the spring winds arrive.  But that is a story for another day.

Rosa's Cantina - El Paso, Texas

Sometimes it takes out of town visitors to pry you out of your comfort zone.  Our friends, Charlotte and Pierre Thibaudeau, visiting from the province of Quebec, mentioned they think of us every time they hear the Marty Robbins 1959 song "El Paso."  And can we go to Rosa's Cantina as one of our outings, they suggested? 

My husband, Wayne, and I had never been to Rosa's. although we had heard good reports recently about the quality of the food.   Taking guests to a restaurant that hasn't been thoroughly vetted can be a dangerous practice.  But the online reviews looked good with four stars, so we piled in the car and headed to West El Paso. 

A sign on the side of an old rock building announced that "Rosa's Cantina Food" adds life.  As if on cue, when we opened the front door and walked in, Marty Robbins was again singing "El Paso."  Two gentlemen who entered as the same time were discussing the history of the song.  And as we sat down, I heard two other customers exchanging information on the legendary El Paso basketball coach for the University of Texas at El Paso, Don Haskins (1966 NCAA champs).  Wow!  Were we part of a Chamber of Commerce tour?

The restaurant was spacious with ample seating at tables covered with red-checked tablecloths.

A large bar at the back of the restaurant was empty at the noon hour, but I imagined that nighttime brought life to that area.

Our table opted for iced tea all around and two orders of nachos.  Ordering nachos in El Paso is often like a role of the dice.  Too often one is served a plateful of commercial corn chips with canned yellow cheese poured over the top.  But fortunately, not this time.  The nachos were picture perfect, corn tostadas topped with refried beans, grated cheese, lettuce, and tomato, with side containers of guacamole and sour cream.  Sliced pickled jalapeños were not included, but the waitress cheerfully provided a plate of them (fresh!) on request.  Our friend Charlotte speculated on the amount of calories contained in a plate of nachos, but I extolled the nutritional value of beans, lettuce, tomatoes and jalapeños, perhaps relieving some of her guilt.

The feeling of being a tourist must have affected all of us in the group.  Yes, souvenirs were for sale.  How about a sign for a garage wall to remember our visit? Yes, Pierre thought that would be just the thing.

Wayne checked on buying a T-shirt for a friend from Virginia but decided to wait until short-sleeved shirts were available.  (El Paso springtime warm weather has only recently arrived, so only long-sleeved were on sale.)

As we left the restaurant in high spirits, Marty was again singing "El Paso."  Just in case a reader of this blog post hasn't hear the song, here is a YouTube video that will have you singing about my home town.

"El Paso"