I did end up riding my bike to the farmers market on Saturday  and filled my bike bags with a lovely assortment of fresh veggies from all the vendors. Then I hopped back on my bike for the more difficult ride home, which is all uphill. (E unfortunately was not able to come visit because she was recovering from being really sick.)

The ride is only four and a half miles or so, one way, mostly on highway. But even before 10 am, the Arizona sun is intense and the air is hot and dry. There was a warm breeze blowing on the highway as I curved around the pit mine, which was actually nicer than no breeze at all because it broke up the thick, heavy feeling of the air. I stopped once for water, after I was back in old town, past downtown, about 3/4 of a mile from home. The rest of the day I spent inside, recovering from the heat. I plan to do it again with Snark's company, but I think we should go earlier in the morning or at least spray ourselves with the garden hose before we leave. Or maybe both.

Speaking of fresh veggies, we have a couple of peppers and some small bundles of green tomatoes coming to fruit on our plants. Hooray!

Every morning, before I water, I squeeze to death as many of those damn cucumber beetles as I can find. Drowning them with soapy water inside the squash blossoms where they like to hide is particularly satisfying.  

Our first pepper, planted from seed by our hands!

Our first tomatoes, also planted from seed all those months ago!