July 31

From ornamental olive tree outside laundry room: July's lavender snowfall.

July 30

Our black, brown and white cat stretches out under the ceiling fan, dreaming with one eye open.

July 29

An original thought battles cross currents and drought to wash up on an uninhabited page.

July 28

Internet connection temporarily lost -- brain awakens to this moment.

July 26

Black pepper-flecked country gravy fills mashed potato valleys.

July 25

On the windowsill of my mother's room, our cat stretches in bright evening sunlight.

July 24

The usual patch of light: an imperceptible change nudges us toward fall.

July 23

Crumbly, steaming whole grain blueberry muffins draw surprised, sleepy-eyed smiles.

July 22

Softened green roadside weeds and grasses thank the rare raindrops.

July 21

A nestling, all feathers and fuzz, huddles against our wall and listens to our worried voices.

July 20

Grackles finished nesting, and we can hear the neighbors' wind chimes again.

July 19

Living waters bathe the sorrowful soil. Hope, bewildered, sends up green shoots.

July 18

Cracked, sun-stricken soil turns to powder in brush country wind. Brass-colored cornstalks stand tall.

July 17

72% of Texas in exceptional drought: a statistic for some, singed cornfields and auctions for others.

July 16

Cool, sweet, crunchy shapes in cold milk: bedtime snack.

July 15

Our cat's warm, purring body nestles against my chest as he kneads the day's burdens from my shoulder.

July 14

Wrote "just one more post"...my numb fingers beg my brain to look inward.

July 13

Alone with chocolate-cake-in-a-mug recipe: bakery aromas waft from the microwave as husband and cat sleep.

July 12

Blue and white networking pages: which "real me" is on what resume?

July 11

Three articles later: burning eyes, temperamental internet connection. Good night.