By most standards, it was hot this week. But, in comparison to the week before, it cooled down. Except for two really hot days, the temps were low 100's, and even 90's one day. Each night it's cooled way off, which helped us to begin each day pleasantly. Next week should be more of the same.
Btw, next month with be a blue moon. The first full moon will be on the first, and the 2nd on the 31st.
The fire this week really stressed me out, and reminded me of the danger of this time of year. I swear that, if I could settle my finances, that I'd build an area for a couple of small goats in need of homes - animal-proof, and then let them graze all of the undergrowth between up here and the fields. The dogs, being herders, would love to get to know them, I think. Goats have been the most effective tool in the fire arsenol for people. I know that there were huge numbers of them at the Reagan Library this year, and other places.
Thinking about the car running, a truck to pull the escape pod, getting the animals moved safely, etc. in the case of an emergency has given me an enormous headache this week...
In better news, our deer herd seems to have added babies to their numbers. We watched them cross the road the other day, and there were definitely more than 7.
The dogs have gotten into a happy routine of doing things when it's at the coolest. They know now that they are going to eat both before and after a certain time, play ball in the mornings, and so forth.
We discovered the weirdest thing. There are some type of bees (?) that buzz so loudly that it's almost spooky, and now they are going to...the pumpkin patch. That's not the weird part...though they are mystery bees, never before seen. The weird part, is that every day we hear them caught in the pumpkin flowers that close for the heat of the day. We tear open the flowers, and there are one or two trapped inside!
When you release them, they go back to the flowers, like it's a drug! If we don't search for them, and release them, they don't survive...maybe it's too hot in the afternoon? And, the ones in there are yellow with a coating of pollen. I want to send photos that we took to an entomologist somewhere, and learn what kind of bees they are.
We also found a large one of those beetles that squirts the hot liquid at enemies. They are quite good looking. Large, about the size of my thumb, black, with interesting markings on them.
We've been overrun with spiders. Even the long-legs are everywhere. I'm not all that fond of 'spider season.'
I hurt myself over a spider a week ago. I turned my head, and a spider was next to me on my head pillow. It was white, and shaped, essentially, like a black widow, though I knew that it wasn't one. Dh said that the rounded part was an egg sack. Not sure if that makes it better or worse...
I pretty much levitated and twisted to see it, and keep it off of me, while Dh came to assist. But, somehow when I twisted, then put pressure on my left arm, shoulder, etc. I pulled/tore ? something. It's in the left side of my chest and has made it so that I can't reach with my dominant left hand, and have had trouble speaking/taking a deep breath, coughing, yawning, etc. I've been treating it with the blue sports gel that I use for my neck, and while it does not get rid of the pain, it does allow me to fall asleep. I do think it's a touch better, but feel that it will be a while yet before it's healed completely.
We got more raspberries from that wild bush that we found, and are keeping our eyes on the blackberries that are ripe in August.
I'm not sure, but think that one of the new chickens is a boy. I did ask about that when they came in, as his coloring looked different to me, but no one else thought so. We shall see. Not that I mind having a rooster, though I prefer to hand raise my roosters from birth, and choose them from mellow breeds. That can't be changed, so we are handling him as much as possible since he's been here.
I've decided to allow myself a container of that vanilla Toonie Moonie (the expensive, but edible for me, fluff.) once every couple of months. I find it addictive, and the only sweet thing that I can buy to eat in any case. So, I'm looking forward to one next month!
I found a good deal on the canned chicken that the guys and Thyri eat. Thyri takes it for lunch to school on Fridays as a sandwich. For a while it wasn't available at all, then when it came back, it was ridiculously expensive. But, I am paying a little less than an old-time good deal on a 5 oz. can, for a 10 oz. can. That works for me!
I learned about a great new site that my publishing company bought. They sell book covers for reasonable prices. I'm well versed on graphics, as I spent so much time on them, starting in the 90's, on my site. I have no idea how many hours, but A Lot. So, when I saw how this site worked, it was immediately familiar to me.
Basically, graphic artists have created generic covers, and sell them for a fee. You choose one that you like, and they will put the name of the book, tag line, and author's name on it. They don't make graphics to order, and the placement and font for the writing is already decided. But, if you can find what you want (65,000 choices.), it will be retired so that it's the only one, and the price is about 2-4 x's less than having one made to order. So, I'm excited about the prospect of going through them.
Well, that's about all from here this week. How was your week?
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