The heat has been brutal, and the internet impossibly slow, so an entire week has evaporated. After a pleasant ride on Monday, the hot weather and hectic schedule inspired me to give the horses the rest of the week off. Harry started rehearsals this week for the Tennessee Williams Festival’s production of The Rose Tattoo. Six days a week, 8 hours a day – it has changed our life for a while.
A familiar turtle turned up under a lily on Monday. I gave him some cantaloupe melon, which is his favorite treat.
The same turtle returned on Tuesday for more melon. What an honor it is to become familiar with these creatures!
Harlan returned on Tuesday, too, and he was ready to spray wasps that had been nesting around the dumpster. I had disposed of the nest and taped up the crevices the wasps frequent and was able to convince Harlan not to use chemicals for fear the young lizard might be affected. Harlan is a good sport, despite his understandable aversion to wasps. Later in the day I got stung by a yellow jacket, a vicious ground dwelling bee whose nest I encountered working in the woods. Karma.
Weedy attentively listened to Harry learning his lines. Later, when Harry took the dogs to get the mail, I had the camera with me as they came by.
Wednesday was shoeing day, and it was very hot and miserable, but Fred was full of fun and did a beautiful job despite the conditions.
The perennial hibiscus plants are thriving in the heat. The phlox, too, is resiliently blooming, and a few daylilies have happily evaded the deer.
Birds have been eating well this week, and drinking a lot. They are a great joy.
We harvested the peaches after the raccoons took half the crop. There weren’t many, but they were delicious.
Wednesday, July 20 would have been my mother’s 94th birthday. My brother, Mark (whose birthday was July 14) sent me this vintage 1970s picture of Trudy that I had never seen.
The cats do not care about the heat advisory.
The horses are coping with the heat and the horse flies. It is part of Missouri summertime.
The deer are thriving, and though they are too numerous, they are still beautiful.
Weedy is very sad that Harry is gone all day. He will be so happy when Harry stays home tomorrow!
This evening the beautiful sky heralds the end of this latest heat wave.
Be safe, be well, be grateful for every day, even the hot ones. Slava Ukraini! Peace.
How wonderful to have the turtle! I’m not sure if it’s my computer but the pictures after the pileated woodpecker do not come through.
I have PC aggro too, so could well be this end.
Best wishes