Swooning in the Swamp

Now reading The Snoring Bird: My Family's Journey Through a Century of Biology by Bernd Heinrich. Three chapters in, and am hooked. The New York Times, in reviewing the book, said, "This particular gene pool turns out to be something of a fever swamp, and thereby hangs a tale of two naturalists that reads like a cross between a Darwinian parable and a Nabokov novel: an absorbing scientific saga rife with uncanny twists and fraught with quandaries over the primordial tussle between nature and nurture."

Take Ten to Recharge

Writing, reading, exercising, weeding, sleeping and eating (though not necessarily in that order!). Evenings are for us, though, and last night Steve skipped off to capture this image of horses in a field on the south side of Hwy. 50. One day, all of this land will be houses. We're enjoying it now, while we can.

Snoozing Mallard

Too hot to do anything but sleep.

112 in the Shade

Steve came upon this panting coyote last night around 8:00. It was 112 degrees, breaking the record for Folsom (paper actually recorded temperature at 114; we believe it). We're hoping for a little relief today. And maybe a glass of iced tea.

Early Flockers

Still hunkered; just started chapter four of novel, and am editing short story for Squaw. Meanwhile, nice pic of Steve's to share -- house finches near the 'hood. SPT says they are done nesting, and although it's early, they appear to be flocking for fall.

Donner und Blitzen!

The blogs will become less frequent for a while, as I've begun writing a new novel, "Old Will Road," the first chapter of which was featured as a Story of the Week in Narrative's May issue. I'll continue posting Steve's photos from time to time -- this one taken Wednesday evening, when we'd scheduled a camping trip to Grover Hot Springs, but later cancelled due to inclement weather.

This shot is looking north from our upstairs bedroom window.