As we took the dogs out this evening we saw this gorgeous sky view with sun rays extending skyward. I was not carrying my camera, but Bob managed to capture the view from our driveway. We sure do love our Arizona environment. Click on the image to enlarge.
Damsel captured this image of a red dragonfly in the courtyard of the medical offices this morning. We’re not sure, but it looks like a ruby meadowhawk dragonfly that we spotted in California in October of 2007. Click on the image to enlarge.
Otherwise known as geococcyx californianus, meaning Californian Earth Cuckoo, this handsome roadrunner was drinking from my birdbath near the little wash out back. The bird has been seen hanging around for a few days, sometimes nefariously trying to catch a goldfinch at my thistle feeders out back. We wish it would leave the birds alone and keep on catching and killing the neighborhood reptilian population.
In any case, it is interesting to watch nature in the desert. Click on the image to enlarge.
Contrary to forecast for 105° and mostly sunny, the weather has been rain, thunder and lightening and gusty winds since noon today. The rain has been heavy at times and the clouds to the south have all but cut out satellite TV.
The closest lightning strike so far today was about a half mile away according to the time from flash to report. It is after 3PM now and the thunderclaps and rain continue. Looking at the radar on the NWS, it appears to be one big stationary mass of precipitation. “Little” Casandro wash, the road in front of our house is flowing with the runoff from the canyon to the west.
And, of course, the rain flushes out the anthills. I took the Ortho sprayer out a few minutes ago and laid a band across entrances to the patio, house and garage.
In spite of all this, we still love our little desert home.
Image above via The Patriot Post.
We have been pointing out the hoax aspect of climate change since 2006:
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.
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.