Sleep is rather difficult sometimes. So I always circle the deck and sit for a bit by the spa on the western hill, taking in the night before heading to bed.

That's what I was up to that night.

The summer evenings are magical in the desert! The warm breeze against your skin, there’s nothing like it. There is a deepness to the darkness. Something resonates. Behind the house, the only things visible were the shadows of the hills hanging underneath the dark sky. And then of course, there are the stars. I always just look for the Big Dipper.

That night, the noise was loud. What is it? The July air was warm and the stars were out, but even with moonlight, it was still pitch black. I stood on the deck for a bit, trying to make out where the noise was coming from. Is it a pack of coyotes? But it wasn’t the familiar howling. But it echoed. Where is this coming from? I stood there for a little longer, then it went quiet. Without turning the path light on, I slowly made my way up the pathway.

Halfway up, I noticed something that made me stop in my tracks. Something was on top of a tree stake, about twenty feet away. I squinted into the darkness, trying to figure out what was sitting there! Under the moon, it had a faint glint. And suddenly, the night felt a little unnerving.

I walked back towards the house, trying not to disturb the mysterious visitor, but the back door was locked. Dang! I ran as quietly as I could around the 270-degree deck to get inside. I wished Nathan were with me. I needed his eyes and ears.

I rushed back to the north deck with my phone and started recording. About 20 seconds in, a sound resonated from the hill. Some sort of squawking sound. I tried calling Nathan, but no answer. I sent the video and called again, but still no answer. Standing there waiting, it felt like a million years.

I gingerly walked a little way up the path, then just raised my phone into the air and snapped a picture, hoping the camera might reveal what was lurking in the desert darkness. While standing, I stared at the photo. Look at those eyes, looking directly at the camera!

I got so spooked and ran back inside, breathing heavily and holding back screams.

Once inside, I burst into laughter.

There it was, staring at me, all the while I was snooping and stumbling around.