The View from Vista

As the map from Google Earth shows, Vista Drive is one of three streets that border a hilltop; it runs a long block between Coronado and Country Club (in yellow) and is one of my favorite short walks.

Here's the street corner where Vista begins (or ends, as the case may be.) The bench says a welcome "welcome."

Vista is one of the more historic streets on the west side of town and had a good start, complete to a sidewalk, a feature that only one who often walks would notice.

But it was never paved; as a result, grading and regrading the roadway has covered the sidewalk in places.

The one remaining lamppost from an earlier era -- and, below, the stump of another.

Actually, I'm not carping...merely observing! That there's a sidewalk at all is rather amazing in this town! And it suggests the age of the street and its houses (all of which are comfortably tip top!)

Another feature of Vista Drive: the many trees, including mature Arizona cypresses, like the shapely fellow above.

With all the trees, residents are well prepared for birds -- I didn't count all the feeders in these oaks.

As you can see, I took these pictures of Vista Drive earlier this year, when things were greener. As they are at this house, which might well be one of the four surviving Sears Roebuck houses on the street. Last night, I met a woman who has lived on Vista Drive for many years and she told me that originally, there were five Sears houses (one burned.)

In case you weren't aware, Sears claims to have sold over 100,000 houses in 447 styles between 1908 and 1940, and some estimates put the number as high as 110,000, but the actual figure may have been closer to 75,000. Regardless, Sears sold a significant number of their catalog homes, many of which are still standing today, according to the article at this site. And here's a big gallery of Sears catalog houses, which were sold as kits, complete to the paint to finish them. Look at the prices and weep!

But back to my walk! I like the use of natural materials in yards along the street. Note the cactus bones above. In addition to the handsome snag (below), the ground cover made use of many pine cones.

Along the way, I was struck by the outline of this bike, which turns out to belong to an old friend of mine!

Finally, a picture to let you know that there is, indeed, a vista up around Vista Drive. Just walk a few steps down the little circle drive for a great view of the city and mountains to the east.

Plants for Planting

It has decided to get chilly, being autumn and all that. A good time for planting plants, in my books. So I have these two problem children. #1, the two small Arizona cypress seedlings in the black pots above. I haven't really decided where they want to grow. The son-in-law said not to worry too much about overhead power lines at one spot I picked out -- any problem is years away, he said; I had to agree secretly -- I surely won't be around for the day of reckoning. On the other hand, I tried digging a hole at another selected spot up the hill yesterday and quickly wore down, hitting decayed granite all too soon. Don't know if a little tree will survive the challenge to its roots. Don't know if I can dig much deeper. One other, easier location is too near a hog wallow that has recently become active -- a pair of javelina appear to have moved in! They just look at me, wiggle their snouts and cuddle a little closer. Besides, it is too dang chilly to work outdoors this week.

Then there's my claret cup cactus that's waiting to go into the ground. And it's a beauty -- at least six stems! The problem is I can't figure out just where it wants to spend its life.

I guess the real problem is that I am dithering -- and it's just too warm and cozy inside.