Sunday Safari

Our drought continues.

The Zinnias are providing food for the butterflies.
I water them twice a day.

Today's forecast is for 106 degrees.
Too hot for me to be outside even in the shade.

The lawn is straw.
I am feeding the birds and making sure they have plenty of water.

Every now and again

I peek out and watch the butterflies .

I am happy they have nectar.

We are watching the Olympics.

I am looking forward to Fencing.

We are getting ready to pack up July.

August is coming and I want to be ready.

We will remember July 2012.

We will remember to be grateful for every

drop of rain that falls.

Water is a precious resource.

I am planning the gardens for 2013.

We will replant.

We are gardeners.

We always have hope.

Happy Sunday Safari.

May you have cool shade to rest in.

Sunday Safari

As the temperatures rise

and the drought continues

I am impressed how nature adjusts.

Butterflies seek shade

and the large leafed plants

fold their leaves.

Mating continues

and the small butterflies 

seem to be less skittish.

The Missouri River is lower than normal.

The Corps of Engineers is 

releasing water upstream.

Keeping barge traffic operating is a priority.

After our early morning watering 

 we came inside.

We watched the finale ride

into Paris.

Congratulations to Bradley Wiggins.

Congratulations Great Britain.

This is your week.

The Open played at Royal Lytham & St. Anne's golf course.
The fourth round was very exciting. The course in Lancashire, England is remarkable.  I knitted while marveling at the sand traps! On these amazing hot and dry days I work at finding ways to enjoy the afternoons. Thank goodness for air conditioning and knitting. It is 105 degrees in the shade.

I am looking forward to watching the summer Olympics.
Opening celebrations are next Friday.
 I have been following the the torch relay.
The Olympic Flame is in London! Such fun.
I remember when in 1984, the Olympic Torch
was on its relay west across the U.S. to California.

A runner came down the street in front of my house
 with the Torch burning brightly.
Family and friends gathered on my front lawn.
It was very exciting.

There is barely a breeze this afternoon.
Very low humidity. The air is dry.
I will water again. The gardens depend on me in the heat
and drought. The seedlings seem to call out for water.

I put a sunhat up on the porch wall.
It seemed to be the perfect end of July decoration.

The shootings in Colorado have touched my heart.

Namaste.
We are one.
Happy Sunday Safari.

Sunday Safari

We woke before dawn.

We went out to the deck to see

 Venus and Jupiter with the 

waning crescent moon.

I watered the seedlings 

first thing.

I removed the tall toms I had soaking overnight.

I will fill the pots with soil and more zinnia seeds.

Zinnias will be wonderful butterfly food come August.

We have two 20 gallon tubs filled with water

on the deck.

We are dechlorinating the water

for our hand watering.

The butterflies are out early

in the day.

Our lows are in the 70's.

Highs are once again in the upper 90's

 and into the 100's.

I checked the Fig garden.

The Figs are doing just fine in the heat.

I think we will have a nice crop come September.

The gourds are beginning to form.

I am very excited.

They will stay on the trellis until

next April.

Still we have had no rain.

The birds find ways to stay cool in the heat.

After watering the plants and refilling the bird and bug's
water dishes I sat with the birds.

By 9am I was inside.

I am enjoying my inside time this summer.
I am adjusting to the heat and dryness.
I made garden potato salad and lemon sorbet.

I am falling in love with my handmade life.
It is a simple life.  It is the life of a gardener.
Happy Sunday Safari.

Sunday Safari

I heard the wind come up.
I stepped outside.
Temperatures dropped from 105 degrees to 95 degrees.

Overnight the winds shifted to the Northeast.

Our heat wave is broken, for now.

I watered the seedlings this morning.
Like I have done every morning for weeks.

I cannot leave the gardens until we have rain.

The birds and the bugs depend on the water I set out.

Our gardens are in survival mode.

There will be no thrive until the rains return.

I have been studying.

Learning to trust nature.
Learning to let go.

I have been following the moon

and learning Luna Astrology.

It has been so dry we have had no

morning dew.

I carry water and become the dew.

Too hot to walk,

so I dance the Mambo and pray for rain.

Happy Sunday Safari.

May you find a smile today.