Not a happy sunset yesterday evening as the wind changed and smoke from the Lake Hughes fire descended on the canyon.
The fire isn't close by, so we are safe from it.
The heat is another thing. I stepped outside for a minute and looked at the thermometer. It's in the shade, but not 100% all day, so take away a degree or two.
The heat is another thing. I stepped outside for a minute and looked at the thermometer. It's in the shade, but not 100% all day, so take away a degree or two.
So I said to myself, lets step out in the sun to see what that feels like. I have been in hot weather before, so I just wanted to be reminded -- or act like a stupid Swede (as my countrymen of yore were called when other immigrants, from slicker nations, were able to cheat the more honest Swedes, or so the story went in the upper mid-west. Long ago.)
Yore -- what? Can you tell I just finished reading this great book called The Adventure of English, The Biography of a Language, by Melvin Bragg? It tells the story of the origin of English and how the language grew and developed over the centuries to become the universal language it is today.
Back to the heat:
Believe me, I would not have survived long in the heat. I got dizzy immediately and turned around.
I made the dogs come into the air conditioned bedroom where neither one likes to be. I had to close the door to make them stay. I worry about Samson and will pour a gallon of cold water from the fridge over him soon.
He much prefers to lie on the slate tile in the entry hall, so I let him after I cool him off in the air conditioning. The water works best, but makes a big mess since he has so much fur. In the above picture he's resting under the fan in the dining area. This is where he likes to stay at night too, both a fan and an open window to the cool mountain night air.
Faith tries to be a photo bomber in the above picture, but not at all as successful at this as Samson.
And now we are getting a thunder storm, right here over my house. This would be great if it comes with some rain, if not, dry lightning just adds to all the scary nature stuff right now.
I just went outside and it's raining, like crazy raining, raining. Oh, I'm so happy, you have no idea what a big rain like this means here in our hot and dusty canyon.
Yore -- what? Can you tell I just finished reading this great book called The Adventure of English, The Biography of a Language, by Melvin Bragg? It tells the story of the origin of English and how the language grew and developed over the centuries to become the universal language it is today.
Back to the heat:
Believe me, I would not have survived long in the heat. I got dizzy immediately and turned around.
I made the dogs come into the air conditioned bedroom where neither one likes to be. I had to close the door to make them stay. I worry about Samson and will pour a gallon of cold water from the fridge over him soon.
He much prefers to lie on the slate tile in the entry hall, so I let him after I cool him off in the air conditioning. The water works best, but makes a big mess since he has so much fur. In the above picture he's resting under the fan in the dining area. This is where he likes to stay at night too, both a fan and an open window to the cool mountain night air.
Faith tries to be a photo bomber in the above picture, but not at all as successful at this as Samson.
Since she always has to be in on everything, I'm posting her picture too. She looks like she's gained some weight to me, so I make sure she gets a good run in the mornings before it gets hot.
Today, I drove the Jeep and let her run around, I told her "go find, go find." The reason for this was that Joyce texted me that her African tortoise had escaped. He has escaped before and it's amazing how fast that tortoise travels.
When I tell Faith to "go find," she moves in circles, wider and winder circles to look for something. She probably thought it was her ball, but had she come upon the tortoise, I would have known of course.
It's very interesting how she responds to this command, using data in her DNA somewhere. I've never taught her to widen her circles, it's just something she always knew how to do. And, believe me, she always finds her ball.
Sometimes, she does it in reverse, from a wide circle to a smaller one. I guess she has a fair idea of where the ball may be.
Sometimes, she does it in reverse, from a wide circle to a smaller one. I guess she has a fair idea of where the ball may be.
No such luck with Kenya, the tortoise. I so hope he is found.
And now we are getting a thunder storm, right here over my house. This would be great if it comes with some rain, if not, dry lightning just adds to all the scary nature stuff right now.
I just went outside and it's raining, like crazy raining, raining. Oh, I'm so happy, you have no idea what a big rain like this means here in our hot and dusty canyon.
It rained so hard, the Jeep got clean. What a happy ending to this hot and miserable day.
