In the Desert Again

Willow on break

Dr. K, Willow and I were back in the lower desert this morning doing our regular hike.  We saw Pickup Lady and her dog and the Basset people bushwhacking in the desert to the northwest of us.  Afterward John the handyman came by to fire up our evaporative cooler.  Temps are in the 90s now, expected to approach the century mark.  I want to be back up in the mountains.

This & next:  male Scott's Oriole

Prickly pear blossom

This & next 2:  Walkingstick Cactus

This & next 2:  Soaptree Yucca flowering

Desert Cardinal on a bender

 

Scrub-Jay Day

Willow on our drive

Dr. K, Willow and I took another pleasant forest hike on the mountain behind our cabin this morning.  Afterward we drove to Cloudcroft to buy some items at Family Dollar.  We were hoping to get six or eight gallons of water, but they were all out.  So, too, was Allsup's across the street; no gallons at all.  Dr. K and I had already anticipated the dearth of gallons because this was Monday after a weekend of visitors to the mountain.

Morning moon

This & next 5:  Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays

 

Tree along the way

Willow leads the way

This & next:  remnants of fall

This & next:  tree and cloud

Willow, the happy hiker

Not that way

Break

Sacramento view

Windy Hike

Mountain moon

The wind has really been up of late, and was it ever high this morning when Dr. K, Willow and I set off on our forest hike.  Trees offered a fair amount of shelter most of the time, but gusts found us often enough.  Later, when we went out after lunch, the wind was a bear.

Haynes Canyon yet again

Community

Heading higher

In the mountains

Willow leading us back

Rocky Mountain Duskywing?

This & next:  our butterfly bush

Wils on break

Long-distance shot of a Black-chinned Hummer

 

Butterfly Bush Delight

1st 2:  Sacramento Mountains

Dr. K, Willow and I had another pleasant hike this morning in the forest behind the cabin.  The butterfly bush in the back 40 provided much beauty and entertainment.

Haynes Canyon

White Sands NP in the distance

Looking into the Tularosa Basin

This & next:  Willow waiting for us

Tree

This & next:  American Lady on Butterfly Bush

 

Dreamy Duskywing (?) skipper

Dr. K and Willow in the back 40

Dreamy Duskywing

Upside down bee

This & next:  same bee, no ID

Last 2:  American Lady again