Chinook!

It's a bright, sunny, windy day. We broke the high temperature record yesterday - the old one was set in 1901 - it was 73 degrees (F); and it was 80 in Pueblo, to the southeast, breaking a record from 1904. We are under a "Red Flag" fire warning today, due to high winds, high temperatures (for this time of year), and drought conditions. Currently the wind is blowing in fits and starts, but will become pretty much continuous after 10 a.m. - with sustained winds at 30 to 35 mph, and gusts up to 60 or more - typical Chinook winds. The wind is already kicking up mini dust storms in the dry backyard. There are a few finches at the feeders this morning, and Lovey and Banichi are on the patio chirruping at them. And I had an escort of crows and ravens on my walk earlier.

I met my new neighbor - only one - no dog - yesterday evening. His name is Chris and he's a long, tall, thin guy; probably in his late 20s. I am terrible on guestimating other peoples ages these days, so he could be older or younger... My nephew will be 27 years old tomorrow... A cousin's mother fell and broke her hip yesterday - she's in the hospital in Kansas City and will have hip replacement surgery today. Please keep her in your kind thoughts... And unless the wind drops significantly, it looks like I won't be walking the Irish kids today...

I purchased a small stuffed bunny for the kits to play with, and a large wooly lamb for myself. Right now, Lilly, the bunny is sitting on my computer speaker; I don't know where Dilly, the lamb, is... Lovey sniffed her all over and dragged her off to do some heavy-duty nesting, completely ignoring the bunny I'd presented her with... I know; I'm foolish when it comes to critters!