Staying home for June’s moon

I’ve been staying home to conserve fuel, work on a non-traveling pattern, and shoot June’s moon.  In my mind that’s my Mom’s moon, named after her birth month and born on the solstice she would have turned 96 years old, Dad a few days later would have been 99.

About two weeks since my last trip off the ranch to Dewey then back with chores along the way and I stocked up with enough food that I haven’t gone anywhere since.  And that was the plan.

Temperatures in the high 90s are mostly keeping me indoors and running the AC.  Sure glad I have big windows to see the beautiful landscape and wildlife.  In fact I put out three more wildlife water-bowls within sight of my desk windows.

Presumably June 15th marks the beginning of monsoon in the Southwest.  I’ll believe it when I see it.  There was hope as dark clouds built up, swirling and wind whipped, but dropped no moisture.

Only the hardiest flowers manage to survive like Prickly Poppy.

Though I try to keep the house comfortable too often running the AC, I also sit outside most afternoons chasing the shade, or as Bob calls it “chair hopping”.  The clouds do make for beautiful sunsets and once the sun goes down I open all the windows overnight.

Cleared enough to give a peek at June’s moon.

In the morning one bird I think is a flycatcher found the hanging bowl of water.  Sadly, it seems a lot of ants found a bowl on the ground.  I hope someone escaped to warn the others of drowning.  I moved the bowl in hopes of that not happening again.

Another 97° day kept me indoors running the AC until late afternoon when the sunlit clouds drew me out.

Plus another sight of June’s moon.

And another delightful sunset.  One bonus of hot weather is saving on propane to heat water as it comes out of the cold faucet hotter than hot.

bluehorn tripod/selfie stick extends 40 inches & BOYA miniature omnidirectional microphone

I guess everybody knows I’m bummed about not traveling so I figured if I shared a video about that I’d feel better.  One of the important things about a YouTube video is the thumbnail, you know that first image that is suppose to catch your attention and make you click and watch.  Being this video was just me sitting inside and kind of ranting a bit I racked my brains for an interesting thumbnail.  Little did I know how much pre-thought goes into making a completed video.  So I took my new toys/tools outside and set up a shot using the tripod/selfie stick and remote.  After the video went out Sue asked what the tools look like, so I took pics and here they are.  In fact I was out early in the morning for this staging as it was predicted to be 99° later.

And it was still warm when I went out at 6pm to shoot the almost full June’s moon.  Some may laugh, but because so many plants here have burrs that stick to clothing, I wore my rubber boots while out shooting the moon and scoping out a location for the next night too.

Devils Claw

BTW, I did feel more accepting of the lack of traveling after making that video.

Awake to 70° at 7am with door and windows open all night but the AC back on in a couple hours then off in a couple more hours when the power went out, thankfully only for another couple hours but enough for the RV to warm up.  Big winds kept the outside 90° doable for a while at 87° inside. I tried ice in front of a fan and wouldn’t want to have to rely on it.

I spent most of the day chasing news about the Pipeline fire northeast of Flagstaff and the flooding in Yellowstone National Park.

Unidentified bird

Finally in the late afternoon I went outside to just sit and enjoy the air.

Then I donned my rubber boots and walked the electric line trail to a nearby hilltop to shoot June’s moon the night before actual full Strawberry moon.

I took lots of photos but the night’s winner was when the Raven flew by.

So many photos of June’s moon and more kept me busy inside processing and managed no AC at 89° outside.  I finally had to get out in the late afternoon but didn’t get much reading done because of the nearby small wildlife watching.  Saw some baby quail starting to grow topknots.  They are just so cute.

A side-blotched lizard posed for a while while flexing its muscles.

The biggest surprise was seeing a dragonfly in this dry environment.  I can’t believe my little water bowls are enough to bring them in.

However, the lizards sure like the easy access metate water-bowl.  This whiptail drank, then after its pushups I wondered if it was going to throw the mano like a medicine ball.  Great morning entertainment.

I did manage once again to stay inside working playing on the computer much of the day without AC.  Yet by about 3pm it was time to get outside and see what my world had to offer.  Have you ever seen a grasshopper so tiny?

The next morning, Chipmunk came by before I filled the waters.  The metate is so shallow it dries up rapidly.

Scrub Jay

Yet birds are beginning to find the water also.

Another day of AC inside until afternoon when clouds danced above and looked like possible rain.

I heard drops on the roof, rushed outside, and felt six raindrops. Could almost smell rain in the air.

The westering sun broke through and delivered a lovely rainbow as the clouds slipped to the north.

Followed by an exquisite sunset.

And an encore of double rainbows.

So once again the next day there were lots of photos to process.  In between taking more photos like when a Cottontail joined me for breakfast.  Then outside in the afternoon sitting on the shady side of the RV.  I only get a little reading done because the world distracts me.

Cloudy sunsets are magnificent, especially with crepuscular rays reaching out.

I’m getting into a pattern.  Certainly not my usual pattern.  But it will do for now.  If I stay home I don’t spend money.  Well, that’s not 100% true.  Because there are parts ordered for repairs on the 5th-wheel, camper, and the truck’s AC.  But that’s next week.