Rain!

I should complain, or at least be depressed, more often . . . it rained last night! I felt as though I were on a different planet, it's been so long. Then the irrigation system mysteriously turned itself on in the middle of the night, in the rain. It does that a lot. I think this house is built on the site of an ancient burial site . . .

Hot, Dry & Depressing

We're in the middle of a terrible drought and just walking outside is so sad. Everything is brown, brown, brown. Much fewer bird babies than usual this year (though there are some!). Our meadow is completely dried out, except for the prickly pear. We are irrigating every day just to keep things wet near the house. Most of the trees are still green, but the area out back is covered with a two- or three-month-old layer of brown, dry, cedar needles. There have been two fires in our neighborhood, within a mile or two of our house, in the last two weeks, so it's frightening in addition to depressing. Sigh. I ought to be taking pictures anyway, to document this crap year, but I just can't get inspired.

Storm's a-Brewin'

Or at least I hope so. It's been horribly humid and oppressive all day, and the sky all hazy. There is now lightning in the northern sky. . .

This is Not Usually a Creek

Storm Clouds over Shovel Mountain

The billowy field of blue sky spotted with pink clouds that I could see from down by the mailbox was gone by the time I got up the hill, inside, and out again with the camera; but this is just as good, if not better. Even if my lens was slightly fogged over.

Raindrops

Spiderweb

Tiny Rain on Tiny Grass