Decided to write another post while it's too hot to do any more than absolutely necessary outside. This is our fourth triple-digit day, and last night, for one of the only times in the almost 35 years we've lived in this area, we kept the windows closed and the AC on in order to sleep. Tomorrow is 'only' supposed to reach 90°; I'll believe it when I see it....
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| from left to right: pullets Honeybun, Toffee Bits, and Snowcone, and mature Pearl |
In the last few days, the three pullets have started moving around more, kinda-sorta mingling with the older hens instead of clustering together as far away from the others as possible. Since I was told they'd be old enough to start laying in August, I was surprised to learn my neighbor's pullets (purchased from the same friend mine came from) started laying this week! I have never had this many white hens before (five out of nine) – or at least since I was a teen and we had a flock of Leghorns. That made me think of all the black-based sheep I have now, also an all-time high; 12 out of 17! Then there are the dogs, the barn cat, and Stella, so yeah; things have gotten very "black and/or white" here. (And yeah, my mind is often drawn to observations like this. 🤪)
One of the 'absolutely necessary' outside tasks, of course, is keeping everyone and everything watered. The garden is rewarding my efforts. Photos from this morning:
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| Tons of tiny tomatoes on my gold cherry plant |
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| that fingerling zucchini will probably be big enough to pick in about 15 minutes |
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| about half the strawberries we've gotten so far on this year's plants |
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| daylilies don't mind the heat |
Inside, my little orchid is putting on an encore performance:
All the hiding indoors from the heat has been great for my Tour de Fleece spinning. I've been spinning and plying the fiber snacks from BSG, and just completed plying the fourth 2oz. bundle of my sweater spin (progress to date shown with a fire extinguisher because of the scavenger hunt the Jenkins group is doing for TdF).
That's it for now from . . .
10 comments:
Oh my gosh, this heat! It was 82° last night at 11 pm! We have to leave the a/c on; our house faces west and gets the brutal afternoon sun. The extra wide eaves help, but it's still major hot. I hope tomorrow is a bit better; sleeping is really hard because I keep waking up, even with the a/c.
Like you, watering is a huge job around here. Nolemana is great about doing that.
I'm doing some spinning for TdF; I'm glad that's a cool activity. Your spinning looks wonderful! And your orchid!! So pretty.
I know triple-digit temps are NOT normal for you. Yikes! Spinning looks good - as usual :-) My asthma wouldn't stand for no AC at all, and when the weather is extreme, I do spend most of my time in the house.
Mokihana, our big windows face due east, so our house warms up FAST in the morning. Can't find my triangle shade cloth, either. Thanks for the spinning compliments, you and A. 😊
It was nice to find your post this evening! It seems that your temps are a wee bit higher than ours. We've had 99 for several days and Sunday and yesterday were at 100. Today was a tiny bit cooler here, but we were in Eugene, and I think it was about 103 there. We leave our A/C on around the clock, to make sure we don't let it get too hot in the house.
Your strawberries are beautiful! We get a few raspberries from a bush that moved in the the neighbor's. It came under the fence. Plus Marlys has some blueberries each in a very large pot. It's fun to go out and get a little snack.
It's nice that your pullets are beginning to venture out.
It hadn't even dawned on me of you having so many black animals.
Take care, and don't over-do things out in that heat.
This has been a miserably hot summer. Sorry you are facing the same. Nice spinning!
Jeanne, I'm sure my guys would prefer AC 'round the clock, but they don't see the electric bill or write the checks!
Sara, you and I share feelings about summer. Most garden produce wouldn't grow without it and we can't avoid it, though, so I keep telling myself "This, too, shall pass."
Crikey, that's hot! Our weather won't settle, and we go from cool to (relatively) hot then rainy again. I couldn't cope with that heat. Phew!
How do the sheep cope?
Ugh, that's too hot. More typical of my part of the country! But your garden looks lovely. Shows some love and care!
Question. You really like the Jenkins spindles, correct? Do they have a website?
At least your 'yo-yo' weather gives you a break from both hot AND cold, Alison. The sheep get pretty uncomfortable as do the chickens, but they survived.
Thanks for your garden compliments, Leigh; I'm really trying AND seeing results. The Jenkins have a new website that can hopefully withstand the stampede that occurs every time they post an update; it's https://jenkinsspindles.com. If you ever decide that you want one, it would be far easier for me to procure one for you at BSG or OFFF (coming up in October) than trying to get one in one of their updates!
Thank you for the web address. Wow, everything is sold out! I learned how to spin on a spindle but then started having trouble with my shoulder so I switched to a wheel. But every time I see what you're spinning, I think about giving spindle spinning another try. I'm definitely interested in your kind offer, and October would give me time to fatten up my piggy bank a bit. I will probably be in touch!
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