"How was the eclipse last night?"
"What eclipse?"
It's only fair to mention that if Risa tried this, she would fall asleep even faster.
Simplified solar shading on the south, east and west walls this year: burlap shades on outside of windows. Cost: fifty cents per window. These shades are used indoors in winter, outdoors in summer, and they help a lot. The burlap will bleach over the season, adding to its reflectivity. We're about half done with the white roof treatment as well. Today it is 84 degrees Fahrenheit outside, and 58 in the house.
Moving wood. This pile will help keep the house cool during the summer, while also losing moisture content for use as heating and cooking fuel next winter.
Changing out the duck water. Big chore, done twice a week. The geese and ducks find clean water extremely sexy, and will begin orgying in it as soon as Risa's back is turned. The rooster, a new Americauna one named Julio, will pick up on the electricity over at the pools and start chasing hens. Buffy, the new hen, has caught on to him and is hiding among the ducks.
Carrying the old duck water to the outlying pear trees. The ducks snootle the water pretty thoroughly by mid-week, and it sprouts a lot of algae, which become compost for the orchard.Risa's beginning to feel the heat, and is going inside for a nap. She's not making you any tea until after she wakes up; sorry!
"I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June." -- L. M. Montgomery
The family and I will be cruising past Eugene tomorrow, on our way to Puyallup that night. I will think of you as I drive by!
ReplyDeleteAwww ... (^_^)
ReplyDeleteAnd just last week I wore my winter coat to work. This weekend I worked in the semi-shade near my chicken coop, and got a robust farmer's tan. Those years without a transition between winter and summer are tough! Reminds me of that song ... "What is this thing called Spring?"
ReplyDeleteBy the way, read "I capture the castle" and saw the movie too on Netflix. Very British!
Finally had a weekend free to work in the garden, for what seemed like the first time in six months ... and wouldn't you know it, first thing I did Saturday morning, running with the dog, was catch my foot in a hole and fall down. Feels like a rib may have cracked.#$##^&^%@!!! Ah, well. Guess that's the general perversity of things. It's a year to be grateful for the CSA. Not much gardening got done, although we did, at least, clear out a lot of the invading blackberries, and, thanks to the kindness of a friend who dug up a small plot for me, most of the tomatoes are in, along with some parsley. Better than nothing!
ReplyDeleteOff to brew some comfrey and mint tea.
NM
Be kind to yourself, there will be some catching up to do!
ReplyDelete