Mid-summer

Mornings dawn clear and blue, most of the time.  By lunch time there are a few clouds to the west and by mid-afternoon big cumulus clouds are growing over the mountains.  Rain falls sometimes, in random parts of the city.  When I lived in central valley California I was used to the Mediterranean-type climate where you could leave a car window open until October and not see any rain.  Not so here !!
     Last Saturday I joined a small group of birders for a walk around Echo Lake.  At 10,600 ft we walked slowly !  The restaurant is popular for breakfast and lunch.  Birders come to watch the hummingbird feeders.

     A Rufous hummingbird busy chasing away the Broad-tailed hummer males.

This Yellow-breasted Chat surprised me during a walk at White Ranch Open Space park.  even more surprising that I could snap a picture of it !!

A young Robin standing on the trail, perhaps the parents have stopped feeding it.

Anthem

     I am doing training with a roomful of people, and an enthusiastic young woman who is the instructor.  There is no thick paper manual or binder, its all on computer now.  Each new employee has their own computer.  We have adequate breaks from our chairs, and the cafeteria is at the other end of the hallway.  Considering this is an 11-story building we are lucky to have the lunch room so close.
     Dress code ?   Everyone is wearing pants, except for the obese ladies wearing dresses. 
There is a bike rack in the front of the parking garage.  Maybe Thursday I can start riding Fuji-bike to work, when the rain storms clear away.
     I spent the Fourth of July holiday weekend with my friend Sandy at her house in the forest.  We went hiking at 2 nice places to the west of her place.  This Eastern Kingbird, above, was most cooperative.


Paintbrush,  and Penstemon.  2 beautiful wildflowers of the open meadows.









Western Wallflower at Tarryall Reservoir off Highway  24