SWF – After the storm

 

Last Tuesday soft female rain fell for hours into a canyon full of cloud. Day time visitors were disappointed. But late afternoon offered views of Grand Canyon as the last rays of sunlight illuminated the sky.

 

To view more skies from around the world, or to share your own, go to Sky Watch Friday by clicking here.

Look closer

 

I know folks come to Grand Canyon to see the big ditch, but don’t forget to look at the little stuff along the way please.

 

Or is this just a way to show off more photos I couldn’t seem to fit into a post?

 

Either way, I hope you’ll keep your eyes open for the Big…

 

…small…

 

…and unusual.

Chip n Dale

And I don’t mean the well greased male dancers.

But these two sure danced around on my truck tires.

Going camping on the way to town

Mike and I both have the next two days off and we’re heading Out of the park.

It’s about time to run away and play.

We poured over the maps.

Packed some food and camp gear.

And in the morning we’ll drive into the Kaibab National Forest…

…to some unknown beautiful rim camp.

What happened to monsoon thunderstorms?

July and August in the Southwest should be monsoon season, rain every day, or almost.

Yet it’s been days of dry with mostly blue sky.

Just a few fluffy clouds drifting over the canyon. Of course there’s never really a bad sky view over the canyon.

In Arizona we depend on the monsoon thunderstorms to water crops and fill reservoirs. The Colorado River has been flowing strong due to water release from Glen Canyon Dam being sent down stream to Lake Mead.

Just to break up the blue monotony

Statistically, weather forecasters consider it a "monsoon day" when the average daily dew point is 55 degrees or higher.  Today the dew point is 28 degrees.

Yet at the end of the day, all we can do is pray for the monsoon thunderstorms to come our way.

To view more skies from around the world, or to share your own, go to Sky Watch Friday by clicking here.

Flowers at the North Rim Grand Canyon

Thought I’d share some of the posies blooming here at the Grand Canyon.

Skyrocket Penstimon shooting towards the sky

Pigmy Talinum & deer vetch

Penstimon

Sunflower

Sego Lily and bug

Primrose

Geranium (maybe)

Rose smelling SO Sweet

Fleabane

Columbine

Paintbrush

Seems they came a little later this year.

MWT – Company at the canyon

I’ve been trying to entice my dearest friend Berta to the North Rim for three summers. She finally made the seven hour drive and was in awe.

Our first day we explored the area around the Lodge.

Then later went to Point Imperial for moonrise.

The next day we drove out the scenic road to Cape Royal.

And worked our way back stopping at numerous canyon overlooks. Just like real tourists.

To tour more of the world go to My World Tuesday by clicking here. Or come for a visit so I can show you around the Grand Canyon North Rim.

Bird watching at Grand Canyon North Rim

I am not the best birder but occasionally I get lucky.

The other day after my lunch out on the Walhalla Plateau I spotted this Yellow-rumped warbler.

Then while out with visiting company (see tomorrow’s post for more about that) we saw this (I think) Swainson’s hawk in a meadow searching for food.

SWF - Moonrise

After a delicious dinner at Kaibab Lodge tonight with Berta and Mike we drove out to Point Imperial for moonrise over Grand Canyon.

To view more skies from around the world, or to share you own, go to Sky Watch Friday by clicking here.

Can you overdose on chocolate?

I don’t think so. It’s good for you!

I treat myself to three kisses every night. That’s dark chocolate for me.

But it’s not like I don’t eat healthily.

Skies are suppose to clear and maybe won’t be seeing much of this view at least for a little while. This afternoon it hailed for less than five minutes with window breaking force. None of my windows thank goodness.

Company coming for the next four days so won’t be online much.

Oh BTW, I like all kinds of chocolate!

Afternoon monsoon at Grand Canyon

 

You can almost set your watch by the afternoon rains. Ah, monsoon season at the canyon.

 

You run for cover for about 20 minutes.

 

And then the sun returns leaving a freshness that is palpable.

MWT – Western Arts Day at Grand Canyon National Park North Rim

Western Arts Day commemorates the western way of life which helps define what Grand Canyon, Northern Arizona, and Southern Utah are today.  Read more here...