Whew! Texas In August!

Whew! Texas In August!

 

According to the gauge on the deck, it is currently 103 degrees of miserable. Even the dogs want under the AC! Two of the hens put into the pool just sat there. They are so very hot under all those feathers! And all seven eggs in the nests today got there early rather than in the afternoon. Yep, too hot to sit in a nest.

 

Got up at one a.m. to look at the eastern sky, but the light pollution from the State Hospital was so bad that it was hardly worth the effort. Then at five the streaks across the sky were still going, if somewhat less than often. And it was much easier to see them from the angle away from the east. It made me remember the trip to Palo Dura Canyon when we looked up at the night sky and felt as if we could just reach up and touch the sparkles! It was so very pretty. Know the cowhands on the trails must have felt that they were closer to God out there under the stars. It is sad that our cities have to light up everything around them. Lightning bugs have diminished in numbers now because of light pollution. They can’t find mates in all this extra light.

 

Took Patty’s mail down to her a bit ago. She had ordered some mint spray that is supposed to repel rats and mice and assorted critters. She gave me one of the bottles to spray around here. Now my house smells as if it has rolled in the mint bed. But then, the chicken coops smell like pumpkin pie because an entire bottle of that spice is now all along the inside 2x4s and around the feed trays. We will see if that helps. But then Amazon should soon get a poison trap here in a couple of days. The poison is not supposed to hurt dogs, cats, and kids, but it is also enclosed to prevent them from getting to it. Rats apparently like the scent and eat the bait freely. Here’s hoping!

 

Trimmed a bunch of tree branches out of the north fence that grew off the roots of a hackberry tree. Found a stupid mesquite root that had also grown out a few little branches. Tried to get most of it out, but will have to get the hatchet our and whack the base of it good when it is cooler. Mesquites make good fires for smoking meat, but their thorns are truly dangerous. Like rose thorns, they can cause all kinds of infections.

 

Downloaded a book today that has changed over the years. It’s been a long time since it was in my hands, but now it is on the iPad to be read—The Diary of Anne Frank. Remembering things changes as one ages.

 

Thompson just came over to me and gave me the once over. He thinks someone has been cheating on him. Patty’s Roxie drug herself all over me while wiggling and whining about being petted. Those dogs are something else. Rudy would still just rather chomp on me than let me touch him, so he gets left alone pretty much. But my dogs still have to tell me about it whenever a visit is made.

 

Other than the heat and the inevitable work that always has to be done around here, this old woman knows very little today. Have to pray for Texas and Florida because of this stupid virus that is making folks so very ill. Jennifer said that her family has been crouping, snorting, and generally feeling like crud, so they may have picked up something since the entire family has gone through it—including bad headaches. And my brother Sterling and his wife Jacqui have had the same garbage. From now on, everyone who gets ill may believe that it is some form of this stupid virus. And it may very well be just that, but so far most of us get over it about as quickly as a summer cold. And no, they have not found a cure for the common cold either!

 

No one asked for advice, and it is probably worth about as much as any other opinion, but this seems like a really good time to stay away from lots of folks in places that may or may not be clean. Hand sanitizer may dry out our hands, but it beats becoming ill. Whether or not a mask helps may depend on how close we are to others, as well. Anyway, may you all be careful about your health right now especially. Good food, rest, a good attitude, staying away from miserable sources of “information,” and trying to get outside when you can will make life more enjoyable.

 

Rest and be happy, my friends. May God bless you and yours. You are loved.