What a day yesterday was. The heat was a complete surprise. Everett and I headed for the road after a stop to scratch this calf's head (this one is half of a pair of twins, and at two months old is still tinier than today's newborns) and to photograph this funny-coloured, shy heifer that stands out from the crowd of blacks and reds. I think she has a pretty face.

We'd barely gone any distance before Everett said "I shouldn't have worn my boots" and ran back to the house to change into runners. Then it was only a few minutes later that the sun forced the removal of Scott's jean jacket, which I was wearing, and only moments more when the green jacket came off and I was down to bare arms. Everett insisted I carry the stick (he thinks this will be a weapon against mountain lions) while he brandished a smaller, pointy one he calls his "knife."

We walked the mile to Golden Grain Farm (the killdeers are back, running along the edges of the sloughs and calling to each other) and by the time we got there we were complaining: it was as hot as a midsummer day. Snow in the ditches was quickly turning into raging small rivers, some of which were about to overflow onto the road.

We had a drink and sat on the step to rest and cool off, but it was too hot there and we went and stood in the shade of trees instead. After a few minutes when the only sounds to be heard were the rustling of junkos in the bush, checking us out, a wind came up from the west, gathered force, and blew loudly through the yard. It provided enough relief from the heat that we were able to make our way home in comfort.

We saw a huge flock of birds at a distance, too far to distinguish what they were. I've yet to see the snowbirds on their migration to the north but Scott has spotted them once. Any day now, I'll be able to stand looking up at them for 10 minutes as they pass over -- flocks so large I'll be amazed, as always.