Sheep, a Balloon, and a Hazy July Day

A late July day out in the woods near Tahoe. The landscape was muted and dry, all sagebrush and pine trees under a hazy sky. It's that time of year when the color drains out a bit before the fall, especially when smoke from distant fires is lingering.

I was out on a drive when I saw movement in the trees. At first, it just looked like scattered white rocks, but then I realized it was an entire flock of sheep making its way through the forest. There must have been hundreds of them, part of the targeted grazing programs they use around here for fire mitigation. They moved pretty quietly through the brush.

A little later, I spotted something completely different. A brightly colored hot air balloon was ascending over a nearby meadow, framed perfectly by some pines. The saturated blues, pinks, and oranges were a sharp contrast to the rest of the landscape. It hung there for a bit before drifting off toward the distant mountains. Just a couple of unexpected sights from a regular Saturday close to home.