Busy Morning

1st 2:  washboard clouds over the Sacramentos

Warmer for our morning hike due to the presence of sun; it wasn't hot by any means, though.  However, the humidity was a bit high owing to yesterday's rain.  We could get more today.  Dr. K, Willow and I did our regular route, and my knees held up pretty well.  After the trek Dr. K and I drove down to Alamogordo to do some grocery shopping at Lowe's Signature Market, get gas and make a quick stop at Home Depot to buy Flex Seal for a touch up at our lower desert home.

Willow on her morning constitutional

Interesting clouds this morning

Wils on break

Morning light on hedgehog cactus

Break #?

One way down

Mountain vista on the way back

Mountain Mang

Pines

 

Overcast and Cool

Sacramentos

Very cool and cloudy when Dr. K, Willow and I got started on our hike.  We took a different route to the top of our "mountain," but we couldn't stay long because thunder convinced Willow that we should head down immediately--which we did.  Going straight down was a bit hard on my gimpy knees, but we made to the bottom without any further auditory disruptions.

 

Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays (juveniles)

Heavy overcast

Turning her back on us

Living in the high country

Sacramentos vista

New growth

A look into Karr Canyon

Right before Willow heard thunder

Willow and Dr. K

 

Mountain Morning

Side yard in orange

It was cooler this morning for our forest hike; a little breeze and fewer flies made the trek more bearable.  We did our regular route, seeing few noteworthy subjects to photograph.  Only saw a bird or two on the wing.  We enjoyed our excursion nonetheless.

Haynes Canyon

B&W forest

This & next:  looking down

Lay down juniper

Willow on break in the forest

Taking a breather

What a trio:  yucca, pine, prickly pear

Willow and Dr. K

Mountain doggy

 

Thanks to Shade and Wind

Sacramentos early

This morning's hike in the forest behind the cabin was surprisingly good; Dr. K, Willow and I had the benefit of the shade from junipers and pines, and a steady light wind that provided decent evaporative cooling.  We did our regular route, my gimpy knees not complaining too much.  We delighted in seeing a Flame Skimmer dragonfly or two during the outing, and I got a photo of a New Mexico Whiptail.  All in all a very good outing.

Mountain dog

This way

Come what may

All dragonflies are Flame Skimmers

New Mexico Whiptail

This & next:  Willow catching flies

Sun through huge juniper

 

Lo 2 Hi

Just getting started down low

Dr. K, Willow and I took a morning hike in the lower desert before returning home to finish packing for a trip to the high country, where we are now.  Cooler than down there, but still quite toasty for up here.

Clouds to the southwest

One of two cactus wrens squabbling like Heckle and Jeckle

Tortugas and the Organs

Four O'Clocks

Two in the bush (Ash-throated Flycatchers)

In the high country

Willow in the shade of the cabin