My morning crow was back today, after being missing only one day. But I don't hear my cricket yet. He lives somewhere in the deep ground cover along my fence, and usually starts chirping before sunset. Of course it's possible that he finally found a mate and is now chirping so softly that I can't hear him. I twill get quieter out once the evening traffic dies out, the birds go to bed, and people turn off their air conditioners, and maybe I'll be able to hear him then.
I really ought to go out and water the front yard before it gets too dark. The back yard gets all the attention in summer, and the enormous bushes in the front yard could be in danger of dying of thirst. I've noticed that the leaves of the fruitless mulberry tree are looking a bit wilty, too. It's too late for the sourgrass, though. I let it go thirsty too long and now it will be brown until the rainy season comes again.
The forecast is saying it will be mostly cloudy on Friday, but predicts no rain. With luck those clouds won't bring any lightning. A big chunk of brushland across the valley is already in flames, and we certainly don't need any lightning-instigated fires over here. Last time I was out I thought I smelled oak leaves burning, but maybe it was just my imagination, or something insignificant, like a brain tumor. I thought I smelled bananas earlier today, too, though yes, we have no bananas.
