White-breasted Nuthatch

 

 

 

 

Like red-breasted nuthatches, white-breasted nuthatches can move in any direction up and down a tree.  This one spent more time right-side-up for us than the red-breasted one we sent pictures of a few weeks back though. 

 

 

Window covers

 

 

They work great when they’re up

 

But the attachment mechanism is a problem.  When the window covers aren’t up, all those metal bits stuck on the glass to line up with the magnets in the shades; visual clutter.  It’s distracting.

 

We have a solution in mind.  Replace the individual metal pieces with black metal strips that run along the top, bottom, and sides of the windows.  The strips would disappear into the black borders that are already there.  Being continuous strips, they would provide even more secure attachment points than the individual pieces do now.

 

To test the theory, we got some black electrical tape that’s the same width as the individual pieces we have already stuck on.  We ran the tape down over the metal pieces in (mostly) straight lines.  That worked!  The attachment points almost disappeared by comparison. 

 

A big improvement.  Next step is to source some thin metal strips of varying lengths, or get them cut to size, for each window.  Then I can stick them on with the same high temperature adhesive that came with our window cover kit, and we’ll call it good.

 

Pop Quiz

 

 

This little spot on our deck.

 

Is it a grasshopper, or something else?

 

 

 

Answer below.

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Answer:

 

Something else.

 

There are several other critters that look like grasshoppers but aren’t.  Katydids, Crickets, and Locusts.  The beauty pictured above is an adult Katydid.

 

Patterns in nature

 

 

 

Exposed weathered roots and fresh ground cover.

 

 

 

Spotted Towhee

 

 

 

 

Up to his ears in suet!

 

 

It’s that time of year

 

 

 

 

A few more flowers

 

 

I didn’t ever get to send out the rest of the pictures from Christie’s yard in Edmonds.  Here is the last batch:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can you spot the moth on this tree trunk?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Google Images says it an Underwing Moth.  They’re named for the bright underwings that are normally hidden.

(Not my image.)

 

We make the computer setup work while we’re on the road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

But it’s so nice to be home to the full-size keyboard and the big curved monitor.

 

So much workspace on that screen to work with.

 

I was just thinking

 

 

Sixty years ago, Judy and I got married.

 

Sixty-five years ago, I was a 15-year-old kid on a bicycle delivering newspapers.

 

 

Thursday

 

 

We were going to stay at South Llano River for a couple nights, but the heat is wearing us down.  (And by “us” I mean “me”.)  We drove on to Choke Canyon State Park for our last night out.

 

2026 Summer Trip Map link

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time to get home to the air conditioning.  We can still be out in the heat there, but we can ration our exposure better from home base.

 

 

And now it’s Friday, and we’re there.

 

2026 Summer Trip Map link

 

Two and a half months.  Nine thousand miles.  It’s good to be home.

 

We’re planning our next trip.

 

Wednesday

 

 

South Llano River State Park

 

2026 Summer Trip Map link

 

The stop at Lum’s BBQ for an early dinner on the way in.

 

 

 

When we got here, we realized it was a perfect storm of conditions.  South Llano River is a Dark Skies Park; no outside lights at night.  The sky was cloudless.  It’s a new moon; no competition from the moonlight.  This was the height of the Perseids meteor shower.  We stayed up into the wee hours.  It was a slow start.  After 11pm we started getting some shooting stars.  The height was supposed to be around 4am.  We didn’t stay up that late.  We called it a night.

 

Morning light

 

 

 

A last look down into the canyon.

 

And south from the Texas Panhandle to Central Texas.

 

2026 Summer Trip Map

 

Abilene State Park

 

Sometimes

 

 

Sometimes we stop early in the day, it’s hot, and there is no shade to park under.  Can’t sit in the car and work with the sun blazing in through all those wonderful windows.  Found the solution.  Insulated window covers tailored to fit each window.  Installed them while we were at Becky and Brian’s house.

 

To attach them, we had to stick some metal bits on the window glass, and the window covers attach themselves magnetically.

 

Slick.

 

 

Along the way today.  Goofy rock formations in Southeastern Colorado at the Gobbler’s Knob rest area on Hwy 287.  Beehives.  Credit irregular erosion for their appearance,

 

 

Now at Palo Duro Canyon State Park.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/nW9EDRu4ypxqskFb6

 

Less than 100 degrees.  Slightly.  Very comfortable after the sun went behind the canyon wall.