But the thunderstorms that pop up in the afternoons aren't the violent kind we've gotten in other summers. Mostly they deliver a bit of noise and flash and a steady soaking rain.
Gray and black clouds hang over the mountains often.
But this week there have been the most incredible cumulus clouds billowing up over us. Everywhere I looked there were giant poufs of marshmallow white.
The skies looked unreal, like an overly exaggerated painting of a western sky dwarfing all below. The sky was brilliant blue, the clouds dazzling white, the shadows in the folds deep silver.
No real storms, just giant cottony ballooning puffs. What a summer.