Day of Questions of the Month of Perfection

Kansas: 103º and sunny. Not too humid, but still ...

The heat sucks the life right out of potted plants, so I have to water those once or twice a day. Even the peppers, cucumbers, sweet potato in the ground wilt most every day. I have Habanero peppers ripening in a shade of gold. Since I planted the tomatoes in more shade and also deeper, they are fine except for some blossom end rot.

The marigolds seem to be handling the heat. My favorite is a bright yellow variety that looks like miniture roses. I also have single yellow and double cream, gold, orange and brown ones.

Here at the 'funny farm' we are suffering from the heat. It is wearing on folks. A quote from Ruth, "I've got a reindeer stuck somewhere and his name is Blinky."

Thinking of you:

Kay in Emporia, Kansas: 97º on a steamy day. Hope this heat is not complicating your health issues. Relief comes in September?
Anabel in Eureka, California: 68º. The coast of CA seems like a dream. I could use some sushi right now too!
Arden Kwong. I don't know where you are but it is 82º in your hometown of Hong Kong.
79º in San José, Costa Rica where I once lived. I probably still know folks there. Looked at my passport from those days ... could/should get another ... and visit.

There are storms brewing in the Gulf and Caribbean. Erin will land somewhere in Texas and could bring rain this far north depending on how it tracks and whether it is a rain-maker like some tropical storms.

Dean is a long way off but headed west and I see no way that it can avoid landing somewhere between Florida and Mexico. Too soon to tell who will be in the way.

I spoke with a good friend this morning. He says his son who turns 5 on Monday has been looking forward to the date for three months. Also, that they now have a caterpiller. He brought a snake home last week. Wish he could've been here this morning to see the blue swallowtail sitting on a bright yellow marigold and the flash of the golden oriole flying from the elm to the maple.

Day of Might of the Month of Perfection

Kansas: 96º with a heat index of 109.

Even a short walk can be dangerous and must be planned. The sky is beautiful and full of fluffy cotton. My garden is doing well in the heat between watering and the rain we have had. But ... I'm no marigold, nor do I have wings to soar with clouds.

IMAGES:

Along Vermont Street at dusk: one golden hypericum in bloom; echinicea faded to brown; bursting seed pods of the hollyhocks, a few stray flowers; angel trumpets poised to open up; red ricinus; thyme in a crack; green golden hosta.

The golden flowers of hypericum (Saint John'swort) reminds me of my father. The datura (angel trumpet) brings a mental image of the moment before the 'trumpet's blast' and I've already written about "Thyme in a crack".

Just snuck though the hedge row over to the Indian Methodist church and got me some fry bread. Indian Taco Day is the 2nd Friday of the month, but I'm not interested in beans today. The cashier there is a hoot and a half. I could've stayed longer.

Thinking of you:

Sandy and Rita in Peterborough, Ontario: 82º. I only drank one pot of coffee today.
Scarlett in Sheffield, England: 59º and a wet evening and wet week. Enough rain for the ducks already!
Snow in Las Vegas, Nevada: 101º. Would love to visit when it's cold!
Rocio who is from Santiago del Campostela, Spain: 68º in the evening; hot days. Sueño de visitar Galiza algún día. ¡Ya sabés eso!
Judith and Terry in San Francisco, California: 72º. Sounds like a perfect day.
Allen in Bonanza, Arkansas: 98º. Scorpions! I remember the scorpions!
Sweet Souad in Olean, New York: 73º. I still owe you a poem ...

I finished Bloodroot by Susan Wittig Albert. She places the family-murder-mystery in the Delta of Mississippi. Mixes in Choctaw, Whitefolk, Blackfolk herbal folklore. I could use some of Queenies' biscuits! Very good read that makes one wonder about one's own family tree. Did the old-folks lie? You-betcha! Ours has its secrets too. Not everybody is who you think they are ...