Hot

Temperature is 82.4 degrees.  Heat Index shows 100.  It's 9:19 pm.  We see clouds and storms up in Iowa.  We are on a Heat Advisory for 2 more days.  It has been tough. 

Richard and Melanie are making sure the Chickens have fresh water.  They are also checking on them fairly often. 

I'm watering pots day and night.  We are reluctant to water in the big Garden.  Our philosophy is if the plants make it they make it.  We do not want to resort to extraordinary means. 

We are continuing to put straw mulch in the Garden for insulation around some of the Plants.  Actually most all the Plants are mulched and that really helps. Richard picked Celery today and discovered that the tips of the leaves were drying up.  The pretty Violets from Mother are none too happy either.  Both of these Plants prefer cool.

Melanie likes to leave the Chicken House open as long as possible. Last night, she went out to close them up and discovered a Raccoon in the backyard.  That is not a good thing.  We need an outdoor Dog, a subject which came up again this evening.

It is now dark.  Melanie is sitting on the Deck.  I shall join her.