Hobbit Homes and Caves.

 Hobbit Homes and Caves.

 

When we went out to Carlsbad Caverns years ago, we had to buy all three children little souvenir slicker type jackets because it was so cold in the caverns. The tour guide informed us that it never deviated very much winter or summer, so in the hottest summers, it was about 50 degrees down in the caverns. And in the coldest part of winter—even if it snowed—the caverns were still only about 50 degrees. This summer is making me feel that a big cave would make a nice neighborhood—each person having a separate little cave to call his or her own. Now that would work for so many people—except for some folks who have problems with claustrophobia. But Texas has quite a few caverns; and Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas have probably that many more that would work as homes. The biggest problem, however, might just be the earthquakes. When we were youngsters, our dad took us to a cavern up in Missouri called the Underground Railway. The guide told us that many slaves had come up from other parts of the South and had hidden there or used the cave system to escape. But the folks who owned some of the land where we entered the cave were concerned about the roads being built nearby that were using explosives. Our guide showed us the deep underground pool that was filled from the river that ran through the cavern. He said they had not found the bottom yet. Sterling remembered the cavern and wanted us to see it again when we went to visit him and his wife. It had mostly caved in. The road blasting had done the trick. It was sad. The water from that river was SO cold and clean tasting. No fish or any other critters were even down there. And then the second time when we saw it, only a little water came from seepage from the hills around there. Guess time changes everything, but given enough dynamite, it is not all that surprising that the thing caved in. Maybe it will become another Grand Canyon someday if all that top soil washed away.

 

Grabbed a bucket earlier today and watered two little trees in the green house. Have a feeling the apple and one apricot tree are just going to curl up their toes and die. Dagnabit! If the bores don’t get a person’s trees, the drought will do it! Right now, assuming an early start were possible, a person could walk all the way around Lake Wichita on dry bed. Sad, just sad. If this drought keeps going, maybe the city might consider dredging some of that stuff out and making a deeper trench for boats. But that is probably just a pipe dream. Not sure where that saying comes from unless it might be an opium pipe. Who knows or cares? Random thoughts around here happen often.

 

Texted my daughter earlier. She sent me a radar picture that showed a storm coming their way. But she told me a few minutes ago that they got very little rain, but it cooled off and stayed that way at 83. That is cooler than it is in my house! But on the deck, it shows the gauge at 115, so it figures everything is going to stay hot.

 

Patty, my neighbor, called this morning and told me that her hot water heater had gone out last night, so she had to take a half a bath. Just did not want to wash her head in cold water. The water to the heater had to be turned off, but it had been draining into a regular storm drain in their basement, so it did not make a mess. But it only cost $1100 to replace the danged thing!! Yikes! Oh well. It is just money. Rolling eyes here.

 

The FedEx man brought the dogs their dog food, flea collars, and some spray for hot spots. Opened the bag quickly because both dogs were sniffing it eagerly. AND they ate it!! Apparently, Purina lamb and oats must taste pretty good. They had already had scrambled eggs and chicken, so they could not have been all that hungry. Just hope this stuff is good for them. It says that it is for sensitive skin and stomachs. We will see. Moved their dog food holder into the living room so that they can eat in here and stay cool. Only have one AC unit going today. Have decided to try to stay mostly in this room rather than trying to cool three rooms. Other than sometimes taking a nap or cooking, we usually stay in here anyway. And cooking can take place early in the morning while it is still decent.

 

Actually got four eggs today. Of course, there may be zero eggs tomorrow. But noticed that one of the molting Maran hens was in the nest, so she is a good hen if she can do both at the same time! These Marans don’t like to be touched and will peck when disturbed, but they lay good eggs. Wish the Black-Laced Wyandottes could teach the Marans better manners. Sigh

 

Jennifer said that her migraine medicine had helped her sleep despite the horrible headache this covid crud has given her. Feel for anyone who gets this mess. It just does not pay to be around folks right now.

 

Oh, and last night the one topic mentioned about climate got a tag put across my post about that subject by FB. If you don’t believe someone is not listening/reading, just try posting any of the key terms that are debatable currently. Read a history of today type post about the sedition act that was passed by Congress back when Jefferson was president. He did not approve of it in any way, but the worst part of it was that a person could be condemned and even jailed for saying anything considered critical of the president—especially by journalists. SO very glad that FB does not have the legal right to punish free speech. It’s bad enough that we have to be careful about what we say or what terms we use. Even a very unbiased post by Tara Ross gets hidden or otherwise removed if she happens to use a keyword that is unapproved. The world is getting crazier by the day.

 

 Sterling called this morning and told me to tell folks that he wasn’t mad at anyone, but he was tired of his phone blowing up with FB. Think he managed to remove the app or something. He said it carried on all one night with beepity boops. It made me laugh. Sounds just about right.

 

Don’t know much worth repeating, so just won’t say much more. We know that this extreme weather will have to give way to something else eventually, so hang in there and try to stay cool. Eventually the grass will turn green again. The days will get cooler. We might even get some decent fall weather. Meanwhile, pray for rain so we don’t lose all our trees and pastures. Praise God for even the small miracles in life.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.