Waiting for Chico and for Rain

In the Wet Mountains, April 17, 2011

I took this photo of M. looking at the clouds on Monday. That night it rained, perhaps a quarter inch at most. I had not yet put up the rain gauge, not wanting to watch it fill up with dust. Most days have been dry and windy.

Today is cool and cloudy, but nothing has happened yet. It is nerve-wracking weather. We are sniffing the air like dogs for smoke.

And, weirdly, the male broad-tailed hummingbirds who usually arrive reliably on April 15th have not arrived. (At our house, of the males are called "Chico," just as all scrub jays are "Timmy.)

I hung up a feeder this morning away, like a lighthouse for hummingbirds.

UPDATE: I wrote this post mid-day at the library. When I came, returning from walking Shelby the lollie, there was Chico at the feeder, and a light rain was falling.

It's the power of new media!