Friday bullets, July 19, 19

Wow, it's hot!

• So now we learn that we live in a place where in six months we can experience a 140 degree temperature difference. I don't need to experience this. I would be quite happy with 30 degrees in the winter to 80 degrees in the summer. But, wouldn't we all? 
• Because of the heat, I planned a no-cook dinner for tonight. I made hummus, both plain and red pepper, tabbouleh, and cut-up vegetables and pita bread to dip. We also had cut up cantaloupe. It was cheap, easy, cold, and no one went hungry.
• About that cantaloupe. At one point this afternoon, there were ten cantaloupes sitting on my counter. I am still taking advantage of the $0.88/cantaloupe sale that is going on. We've been eating 3-4 a day. I keep buying them, hoping that I can use a melon baller to scoop out some cantaloupe to freeze it for winter. As of yet, they keep getting eaten. I think I have to buy more.
• G., L., and Y. all had VBS this week at church. They had fun, but since we are still kicking around this horrid cold, there were a couple of days missed by a couple of girls. We have not had everyone well since Michigan. I'm pretty tired of it all.
• I discovered the dogs, at least Aster and Olive, accidentally turn on the oven with their noses when they are overly interested in the smells coming from the stove. I had no idea they did this, but according to my children, it has been going on for quite some time.
• P.'s phone met with an untimely end, so she used her money to buy a new one. It was supposed to arrive today. So, when a package arrived in the mail, and I couldn't remember having ordered anything, she assumed it was her new phone. Imagine how disappointed she was to expectantly open the package and find fly predators. Yes, instead of a phone, the box held a plastic bag full of bug larva. Then I remembered that I did get a notice that my next shipment of fly predators was due to arrive. Poor P. 
• Earlier this week, D., P. and I spend a hot hour in the barn stacking this:

That is 100 bales of hay that was delivered. It is about a third of what we need for the year. J. is working on fixing up the hay area to accommodate the rest of the hay. (I do need more pallets, though, if anyone has any.)

• I'm reading a book right now in which some of it is set in London. Can I tell you how very much I love that I can now picture what is being described and know where it is on the map? It is deeply satisfying.
• With the warmer weather, I decided to stay inside and work on organizing the studio. It had been ignored for several months and descended into chaos. After two days, I'm still working on it, which gives you some idea of how bad it was.
• Part of cleaning out the studio involved testing all the markers to see which ones still worked. this was the 'don't work' pile:

Do you happen to notice a theme here? This also tells me who has been using the markers the most recently. (R. is at the top of my list.) It is a shame that sharpie does not sell markers in packs titled, "shades of pink".

• J. is almost done with the other two stalls. A couple more sheets of plywood, and I think he'll be able to finish.
• I signed L. up for a one-time free writing class for late elementary students which is being offered at a local children's book store. I was surprised she agreed enthusiastically, especially because she is the only one who is going to be taking it. (She's my writer, and will come up with long and involved stories which she writes down.) It's in a couple of weeks, and I'm kind of excited about her going.
• Last week, I asked my five youngest if there were airports or airplanes during the Revolutionary War. They all looked at me a little quizzically and said, no. A couple even added that there weren't airplanes during the Civil War, either. Just feel the need to point out that this is not a difficult fact to know.
• The ducks continue to adore the new pond. Quite often we will see all eleven floating around in it together.
•  A. and her boyfriend attended a wedding last weekend (at the place where P. works, amusingly enough). Since they were all dressed up, I asked for pictures. They obliged and G. took the first two. Aren't they cute?

• Finally, for those who might have missed it, my brother and his wife are raising grass fed beef. If you want some good beef raised humanely, contact him and order some. I've bought sides of beef for years, but have been without since we moved. I really hate buying grocery store beef; it's not even close to being as good. Check it out! Riggins Family Farm

Have a great weekend, and try to stay cool. If you are in the teeny tiny part of the country that isn't spending every waking moment sweating, don't tell us about it, okay?