Chandler Neighborhood Shots - Disappearing Rain

One thing interesting about being in the high-and-dry desert is this phenomenon.  The sun is shining at an angle that allows us to see this rain falling from the could above.  It's pretty obvious that it's fallen about halfway to the ground.  I tried to trace its fall downward, but it didn't seem to change at all, even after the usual three minutes it takes rain to go from cloud to ground.  Why is this?  Well, as it turns out, it is so high and dry in the Sonoran desert that it never makes it all the way to the ground.  Yes, in some cases the rain evaporates completely before reaching terra firma.  Don't see that in Houston...

Chandler Neighborhood Shots - Pima Park Willow Tree

 

Chandler Neighborhood Shots - Succulent from Above

Like pictures of plants taken from this perspective, which remind me of this post, a favorite from the Houston Zoo.

Chandler Neighborhood Shots - Sotol Cactus

I remember seeing these things in peoples' landscaping in Orange growing up; think maybe we even had one in our back yard.  Evidently this species of cactus thrives in humid, sub-tropical as well as dry desert climates.  Scientific name is Dasylirion graminifolium, commonly referred to as sotol or grass-leafed Dasylirion.  Not that I knew this while growing up...

Chandler Neighborhood Shots - Family Portrait

 

Chandler Neighborhood Shots - Interesting Tree Trunks

A couple of interesting tree trunks we came across while out and about on our walks.  The one above is in Pima Park adjacent to a schoolyard; the one below is...somewhere else, I think South Gilbert:

Chandler Neighborhood Shots - Very Tasteful and Understated Halloween Decoration

...a unique, artsy and fun Halloween decoration in the middle of a yard just a few doors down the street.

Chandler Neighborhood Shots - Yet More Halloween Decorations / A Skeleton in the Classroom

As stated earlier, those in Chandler went all-out to celebrate Halloween in grand style.

Can't look at a skeleton without thinking about my 10th grade biology class.  In those days most schools had at least one real skeleton for study in their science classes.  This was Orange Stark High School in 1973, a standout school even in those days, when schools were generally better than they are now.  One day the teacher introduced us to their skeleton-in-residence, showing us how he knew it was a female (pelvic bone widened due to having kids) and her approximate age (via the dentition), which was mid-forties.  She was about 5'4" tall, had this or that disease, and through lifetime engaged in this much or that much labor.  Was very interesting, and the teacher was tactful and respectful in the way he handled the lesson.  "Can we touch?" some of us asked.  "Yes, if you come up one at a time," was the response.  Some of us did and some of us didn't.
 

Chandler Neighborhood Shots - More Halloween Decorations

Believe it or not, this was captured at the same address featured in the last two posts.  It wasn't a huge house, so we wondered where all this stuff was stored during non-Halloween times.  And are they just as eager about Christmas?

Chandler Neighborhood Shots - Halloween Lady

Saw this lady at the same address.  Actually they do Halloween in grand style there in Chandler, as can be seen in these and the pics to be posted in the next couple of days: