Tuesday, July 28, 2009

But I'm Not a Dog! and Other Random Observations

The Dog Days of Summer are upon us... We are having a record-breaking heat wave here in Oregon. And before you Southerners sniff at my discomfort, please remember that a good half of our population does not own air conditioning, including myself. Our weather does not usually require extra measures to stay cool.

Now we are on day 4 of temps in the upper 90's, and then yesterday and the next two days into the low 100's, followed by another several days still in the upper 90's.

I say YUCK! I get really, really crabby when I am hot- I think I belong in Alaska.

We have quilts and blankets hanging over all of the South and West facing windows, which yesterday helped keep the house a nice, cool (insert a huge amount of sarcasm here) 85 degrees by the end of the day.

On to something a little more pleasant... a Swallowtail spotted on one of our Butterfly Bushes:


My Mama has said for years that when I was young, I was the dirtiest little girl she ever saw- she even called me "PigPen" once in a while. Well, apparently, this little apple doesn't fall far from the tree...

We have TONS of grapes this year.


Jack still says, "Re-fritter-frajer" instead of "Refridgerator", and recently was overheard telling his Daddy in a rather scary voice, "I'm the Kraken! You're out of the CLAW business!"

I would love to re-live this moment from our recent beach trip:

I am just a few days away from finishing "On the Oregon Trail", which means it will be ready for an early August release...

I never showed you the clever little latch that Matt made for our Greenhouse door... its the ball-claw foot from an old piano stool!


Speaking of the Greenhouse, isn't this a pretty little vignette?

And because of our little hothouse, we have already eaten a few of these:

an event that doesn't normally occur until at least mid-August.

And that's all I have for you today. Now I'm going to go plunge my feet into a bucket of ice water.

11 comments:

Nancy said...

Can't wait to see the entire Oregon Trail. It looks like such a fun sampler! I love your door latch, and your tomatoes look delicious. There's nothing like home grown tomatoes!

Anonymous said...

Well we here in the NY/NJ metro area mostly do have air conditioning, but I still don't like the heat outside! My sympathies to you...though it does make the day go slower doesn't it? Enjoy it before the cold and snow of winter gets here!

Your latest design looks beautiful, I can't wait to see it!

Stay cool.

Glenna said...

We live in the south, so of course we have central air--not just one zone but two air conditioning units running full blast. Literally, the windows fog up outside. But think of it this way: we will also have a $300 electric bill this month. If we're lucky. So while I'm grateful to have it, it's a mixed blessing.

Glenna said...

Oh, and I can't wait to see Oregon Trail!

Jennifer Ann Fox said...

your kids are so precious!

Tanya Willis Anderson said...

Hi Beth,
Darling pictures of the kiddos and that beach photo looks like bliss to me. We head beachward on the 10th of August for the week - can't wait!!! I'm looking forward to seeing your new sampler.

Tanya :)

Unknown said...

We have heat pump/AC . . . how about an AC ride to our place for a 'cool' visit? I'm blocking out the coming utility bill . . .
Grandpa :>)

mainely stitching said...

Your upcoming release has me very curious!!

Like you, I'm not a fan of high temps (or high humidity). Ugh. I get all out of sorts!!

Here's to a bit of cool, dry summer weather!

JoJo said...

Beth, I live in Kansas and the weather you're having is much like our summer weather. But, and that's a big BUT, we have a/c. But when it gets this hot, I stay inside, take my clothes off and clean with the a/c going and the ceiling fans on high.

I didn't have a/c growing up and in fact, lived without it until I was 32. As I look back, I don't know how I did it. I DO know that as a single mother with two kids and no a/c, we spent a lot of summer evenings playing in the hose, trying to cool off enough to sleep. But I always woke up with a heat headache.

I'm sending you cooling thoughts and hope your heat wave ends quickly.
JoJo

Daffycat said...

Oh, that's where my hot weather went! I'm so sorry!

How I love your grape arbor...it's so beautiful!

Karen said...

Beth- I just turned off the news at 6pm after hearing about all the heat in Oregon. I wondered to myself if you would have a post on it! You do and coming from New Hampshire, I know how hot and cranky it can make you! Funny, the weather man just said on his forcast- "It's like the East Coast swapped places with the West Coast for summertime weather. We have had nothing but rain, rain, and more rain! And very cool nights! Very strange..... Hang in there~karen