X Is For...

X is the algebraic symbol for unknown quantity, and today I think X will have to stand on its own as such.  The only alphabetic "x" word that comes to mind is xenophobia, defined as fear or hatred of strangers or foreigners, and there is too much of that in the world and I won't capitalize it or expound upon it.

The heat persists.  Hoping to catch a bit of the erratic breeze, my friend and I moved our conversation out to the deck in the afternoon.  The dark clouds over the mountain would occasionally flash with lightning, followed by a clap of thunder.  The hummingbirds were out in full force at all three feeders, buzzing around our heads, occasionally hovering beside one or the other of us to eavesdrop.  One hummingbird is a joyful sight...thirty to fifty is just plain awesome.  Their aerial acrobatics surpass the Blue Angels.  Farview seemed determined to put on the best show possible yesterday.  As if the hummers weren't enough, Linda noted several vultures circling, thinking something must be dead across the way.  Continuing to watch, we saw more of the silent, huge birds joining the circle, and I realized it is September!  The annual migration always occurs in September.  It is earlier than previous years, but this has been a goofy, out-of-sync year anyhow.  With only about twenty forming the vortex, some soaring so high they became sparrow-sized specks, this must have been the precursor to the mass migration when there are X numbers in formation.  Even the preview was enough to bring out the goosebumps; it's a breathtaking sight.

Appetites stolen by the heat, we again snacked on picnic fare.  The main course...the only course...was an apple pie just out of the oven.  One of the benefits of being a grownup is eating dessert and calling it dinner.