June 4, 2007 Banded Sky

The afternoon features bands of rain broken sky. It rains then clears, Thunders then rains again. The temperature has dropped from the high 70s into the 60s.

It is interesting to watch and listen to the Juncos around the yard. They sing and forage. They are the predominant species. A song sparrow has staked out a territory in the back yard. A Wood Thrush sings from this side of the creek.

I wanted to hike but a thunderstorm is a thunderstorm. My house is also susceptible to lightning strikes. It has an insurance company installed arrester system. Last September was the last time it was hit. It just popped a breaker and thanks to the lightning rods no other harm. What it is about my house I don’t know. the neighbors houses are not far away but they do not get hit.

As I write the sky gets progressively darker. 10 minutes ago there was sunlight though a break in the clouds. To the west the sky is an ugly brown gray. More rain. The wind is picking up and the air cools a bit more. The birds are quiet now. They too can feel the coming rain.