Environment

Monsoon Season Returns

Monsoon Season

The last day of June brought us the first thunderstorms of the monsoon season. The forecast is for more chance of thunderstorms over the next couple of days, although the probabilities are down in the ten or twenty percent range. We had no precipitation here today, but the humidity popped up a bunch and we can hear thunder in the distance. We need the rain, so let it come.

Summer Sunset

Summer Sunset

We are indeed blessed that we can witness the majesty of our beautiful desert environment on a daily basis. This gorgeous sunset marked the end of yet another wonderful day of retirement in our dream home. Click on the image to enlarge.

Desert Spiny Lizard

Desert Spiny Lizard

I flushed this Desert Spiny Lizard the other morning when loading some aluminum cans into the truck. The lizard didn’t scurry under a rock right away, so I was able to get this shot of it still on the rocks where the bags with cans had been.

We have seen it several times since hiding near the compost where it (presumably) eats insects attracted to the heap. Cabela tries to give chase to the lizard when going out for a walk, but we don’t let her get close.

Walking The Dogs

Walking The Dogs

Damsel and I take the dogs for a little walk after their breakfast. Today, she went ahead while I was recycling some kitchen scraps. I took this picture of them as they were coming back down the road just west of the house. The hot weather is here, and the pups are anxious to get back inside where it’s cooler as you can see from the leash tension. Click on the image to see the wider-angle view.