Only six more.
We ran. We barked. We jousted. Now let’s go back inside. It’s hot. ©
Only six more weeks of scorching weather? Dream on. With luck the kids won’t sweat through their Halloween costumes.
We have a phrase here: “Don’t invite anyone you like to visit in August.”
After 692 days, temps finally reached 100+ degrees and the heat is sticking around.
One year there were 23 days in a row at or over 100 degrees.
All those spring rains and that huge flood here? That was then. This is now.
The ground is cracking. There’s a run on soaker hoses.
Here, you have to water the house’s perimeter to avoid the foundation from fracturing and shifting. Houses on concrete foundations don’t flex really well. Then inside walls crack, too.
Speaking of weather related hazards: bored dogs.
The heat is deadly, so they are stuck inside.
“Oh, darn. Staff threw the ball. It’s your turn. You get it.”
“No, you’re the guest. I defer to you. Insist, as a matter of fact.”
“Perhaps we shall agree to pretend we simply didn’t see it?”©
They are getting creative.
Blinding is a new one.
The German, who feels it is her duty to know if anything is going on in a 3 block area, is perfectly equipped with a long full functional nose so she can easily nudge closed window blinds aside if they block her view.
She has discovered the fun of quietly nosing the slats out of blinds. Molly was quick to suggest a game of keep away from Staff.
Both were greatly disappointed in the slats’ chewing durability and taste.
As the days roll on, any piece of furniture becomes an obstacle course.
Mountaineering on sofas. Even with little traction on hardwood floors, the ottoman serves for hurdles. (Noooo, German. Sleepover Camp is over soon. We can’t send you home limping.).
We probably should put up traffic warning signs for visitors: “Speeding dogs. Brake or get ready to break.”
Day after baking day, cloudless skies.©
The sky is hazy from the controlled wetlands’ burn smoke cloud rolling in from Galveston as well as even more Saharan Dust arriving from Africa.
The Saharan dust cloud is good news and bad news. It does keeps the lid on hurricane development with high wind shear and dry air.
Possibly one of Africa’s better exports. (And what do they get in return? McDonald’s and Walmart? Is that fair trade?)
Good to have a couple of large furry dogs around. No better dust mop. Or entertainment device.
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge
Hey, stop here! Even the palms hopefully lean towards a promise of clouds. ©
Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge 
Sigh. I can’t even tell you how ready I am for October, rain, or even a cloud. Not necessarily in that order.
But, there as signs of normalcy about. The mullet are jumping again, after being MIA for a couple of years. I hear that up at the head of Tinity bay, the shad are starting to — become odiferous — again.
And of course, the birdies are panting at the water dish. Aren’t we all?
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Do not want to hear one whisper of “brownouts”! Might have to pack up and head to the mts if that happens…there’s snow in places. Just a few more weeks…a few more weeks…(sad attitude considering this hasn’t been the normal fry and egg on the sidewalk weather until this week). I love the little kids across the street come and run back and forth on our sidewalk when the sprinkler’s on. Makes you smile through it. Thanks for lightly splashing down
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Our grass is just starting to get the brown color it acquires come mid-summer. Thanks to a lot of rain, we enjoyed green-ness longer than usual. Now we’ll probably have to water it a bit, which I always feel guilty doing knowing how bad the drought is in some areas of the country. Just because we don’t have one where I live doesn’t mean we should waste resources.
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Normally we’re crispy and dry in July and brown in August, too. Hate to complain. Like you say, between the wild fires and drought, you count your lucky stars and keep fingers crossed. We’ve briefly had water restrictions and warnings about power usage. Counting those weeks until fall. Thanks for mowing down a comment to leave
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Gorgeous photos and your weather sounds like ours!
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Since Mother Nature flipped the heat on switch, all the green won’t last much longer. We’ll all have to huddle down for a few weeks ( and hope the hurricanes are deterred by the dust cloud.) Thanks for wafting a cool comment this way
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It is the middle of winter here. Doors and windos are open and it is 17C (62F) The plum tree is starting to bloom and the asparagus is coming up.
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And that’s the weather the best-est doggies deserve. Oddly this morning – very early – it was 78F with low humidity as a rare front came through. The German and Molly ran wildly outside with delight for as long as possible. Then they splashed in the wading pool for a bit before coming in to snooze. Now it’s back to scorching. Asparagus is is so pretty and fluffy when it comes up…and the dogs smile at the nibbling possibilities.Enjoy that winter and all those open doors and windows. Thanks for the lovely refreshing comment
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We’re hitting our hottest time too although it’s not as hot as yours. We have rain every couple of days to knock down the humidity and water the plants. The summer has been glorious in a sense. The spring was long and cool so we didn’t have much watering to do but the veggies were late too. Always something! My cats are most active morning and evening. Oh wait, that’s how they always are. High noon is always nap time except for Morgan. Someday she may grow up but not now.
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It’s August, what can we expect but hot? The TV ads for those lovely fall clothes seem out of season. RC delights in basking in the sun…inside with the AC on. The local pick it yourself farms with veggies had to close early as the crops matured early from all the rain. We’ll wander back over once/if they reopen with fall produce. Naps for all until then. Thanks for raising a comment to put in this bushel basket
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Yikes! I didn’t know that you had to water your foundations – Whew. What do you do when there is water conservation? Can you still water your foundation?
It’s a bit warm here – about 85 F – but I have a breeze through my room so its pretty good. The grass is still green and usually stays that way most summers. Occasionally we get a summer that is hot enough to brown the grass, but not often.
Sounds like a rough one having two large dos inside all day because of the heat. Do they get out at night when it cools?
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We’ve already been at the next level of water rationing ( watering two days a week on assigned schedule – only at certain late or early hours.) But right now it’s voluntary. Once we are at the highest restrictions, no watering or anything at all anytime is allowed. So people are trying to get the ground “seasoned” or enough moisture down to withstand ultra dry periods. Foundation cracks are a huge problem in this area. There are repair methods, but it’s never quite “fixed”and can shift again as the gumbo soil swells or cracks depending on the weather.
Most vets feel dogs/pets can stay outside for most of our winters, all living things need to be inside in summer. It’s still 89-91 degrees F at 10 pm. A police dog died in his run a couple of days ago because the handler left him in the run overnight. Just too hot for a fuzzy animal. Needless to say, before there was AC, life during the summer moved at a much slower pace, with lots of mid day naps. Siestas aren’t a joke.
A breeze does make a difference! Glad you’ve got wind wafting your way. Thanks for raking up a comment to leave
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All I can say as I sit here in “temperate” Western Washington and sweat this summer, is… ugh.
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We complain, but this is pretty normal for August and everyone adapts. If this El Nino weather pattern continues to develop, maybe the west coast will get some rain (and the Eastern Rockies some nice ski snow)..but that means our January will be dark wet, cold, and yucky. It’s always something. A bit of rain to squelch the wild fires a bit would be welcomed. Stay cool – and enjoy all the beautiful views there. Thanks for tossing a comment this way
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Ah, I remember the brown summers when I lived in Texas. Had not heard about the Sahara winds though. Of course not sure we get them up here in Canada. Our weather has been weird, cold, rain then hot and sun. Even for Canada that just ain’t right this time of year. Hope the poor dogs get some relief, you too!
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Brown: the basic color of summer in Texas. It’s been much greener than usual until now…hey weather, don’t feel you have to make up for time and catchup immediately! I don’t think you get the dust, but we share geese who fly back and forth….tell them to wait a bit…Thanks for joining this countdown
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So you get Sahara dust coating your car, too? So do we! When the wind blows from the south, which it certainly isn’t right now… We SHOULD be enduring our own high summer heat. Instead the night temperatures drop to the mid-50 degree F and while it is reasonably sunny during the daytime, we have been enduring north-easterlies during most of July, too chilly to sit in the garden comfortably and any flowering plants are being thoroughly bullied. My outdoor tomatoes are very reluctant to make an appearance and early mornings are on the nippy side of cool. The daytime temperature is struggling up to the high 60’s, but with the wind chill it feels a whole lot cooler than that and the grass is still green, as we have also had regular downpours. A typical Brit summer, in other words… If only we could effect a quick swap – I could parcel up some of our cool, changeable weather for your baking head, just for a few days. If would give you and the dogs some respite, while I could enjoy the unusual sensation of being too hot.
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That dust sure gets around.Very pretty sunsets, but how odd to feel like washing off plants on the patio each morning so they don’t look dusty….I can barely keep up with the dusting indoors. Wish Dr Who would create a world traveling Tardis -no disturb the time period, but make long distance traveling zappy…somehow they would find a way to make standing in line longer than the actual trip, I’m afraid. If they work it out, I’ll be happy to house swap a bit. Thanks for baking up a comment to leave
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My three are wilted in the heat. One of these days I think they’ll go crazy from sleeping so much, but I think with the older age it’s been delayed. Even a few years ago, that much inactivity would drive them nuts. Not so much anymore. It’s so hot . . . even the beagle won’t stay out!! And humid too.
Sorry to hear they wrecked the blinds. Those are not cheap to replace. Good chew toys although a bit big to run through the house with.
Nancy
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The German just snorted at the dented slat and said “Hey, now it matches Molly’s Obedience Training Certificate”…. Luckily I can hide that one at the bottom as the whole thing is a little long. Fall means they will all be recharged with energy and ready to romp outside…good news, bad news…but they will be outside – watch out squirrels! Thanks for sweltering along
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I can’t wait for fall… our sommer is wet and cold and the sky shows 50 shades of grey :o( we should invent a weather mixer, so we all would get the perfect weather :o)
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A weather blender – now that would serve up some perfect days (Use the low speed only…tornado strength is too problematic) thanks for digging up the perfect suggestion
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The Met Office has suggested August is going to be one of the hottest on record. Terrific (not) living in a tin can, even if it is on the water. Temperature in the boat went up to 42 degrees C (approx 109 F) when we went to the river festival. None of us knew where to put ourselves to keep cool, especially at night, when the temperature dropped to oh yeah, 38.
Loved the dogs conversation on the lawn. My GSD had the attitude that as I threw the stick, I could fetch it. 🙂
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We had such a nice spring and early summer, we got spoiled. Now back to normal. I think you can actually fry an egg on boat decks in the summer. Talk about hot footed – and finding it hard to sleep. Fans don’t even seem to help. No wonder everyone took siestas mid day before air conditioning…couldn’t stay awake.Whew. Hope the weather moderates for you guys…or there’s overhanding shade along the way. (And yes, the dogs do get that look on their faces about the one who throws the stick, gets the stick.)
Thanks for floating over here to chat a bit
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My pleasure.
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We had a very odd cool front move through Friday and with it came a lovely 2.5 inches of rain. We got another .08 over night last night. This will allow me time to get in the failing garden – from too much rain in May and then the usual heat in July – to eradicate the horrid weeds that took over this year! This coming week the forecast is for triple digits! I will have about a two day window to get up super early and work on those weeds. In my life the weather dictates everything… we just roll with the punches. Keep cool, my friend… I’m sure the hurricanes are on their way! Isn’t August the month for them to make their grand appearance?
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What weird weather. Normally by now there’s no problem with weeds as they’ve all died along with the plants. Even here, without a time clock and scowling boss, weather and day’s length runs my life, too. Life seems to flow better when you are able let it go naturally.
The worst hurricanes usually show up between the last week of August and about Sept 20th. Fingers crossed until then. Even if the vacation areas weren’t over run during end of summer, we’d still hold any vacation trip off until threat of hurricane season is past. Don’t want to tempt fate.
Thanks for roaming these grassy plains
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I think we should just go with crazy weather is the new normal. We had the chilliest July for quite some time, and yesterday straight up for August was warmest – 25 C. But you can keep the dust, there were bushfires likely deliberate lit not courtesy of Mother Nature in the nearby Blue Mountains over the weekend. We can’t blame everything on the weather but I hope your temperatures fall into Fall 🙂
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We are really just a degree or two above normal – the nice spring/early summer weather spoiled us.A small front came through and dropped the humidity for a couple of days, so getting out early wasn’t too bad. A great mental boost to sit out and see the sky.
Knock on wood, other than the planned wetlands burn south of us, the wild fires are staying away. Each year I’m more ready for that first hint of fall. Dreams keep you going, right? (giggles) Thanks for breezing in with a comment
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Getting weirder here… snow on the beach in Hobart! http://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/weather-are-you-for-real-its-hotter-than-summer-and-bitterly-cold-at-the-same-time-in-this-aussie-state/story-e6frflp0-1227468336205
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Now there’s a continent trying to please everyone. (There’s a new straight flight to NZ from here..and it’s only a short hop across to there, so I hope I win those tickets for the first flight down!)
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Doggy day care is back in full swing today with a visit from Chuck, Thelma and Gaia. Their parents are both working a long day and much to Alice’s delight, the pack is back. Couch mountaineering and hassock leaping indeed! Now if the rain would stop we could have a less soggy living room!!
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Oh, let the chaos begin! The German left ( but shall return sooner or later) so both the dogs are catching up on sleep. If this El Nino weather pattern holds, then we’ll be back to cold soggy weather this next winter…and muddy floors, cushions, rugs…Oh, well, nothing is funnier than watching couch mountaineering…after coffee…
Thanks for pawsing to comment
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Our problem here is the opposite of yours. So. much. wetness. At least we’ve gone from constant rain to sunshine with scattered showers, but it’s weird. Your situation sounds crazy-making. I hate being too hot and over 100º F is way too hot. Stay hydrated and safe, ok?
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According to records, Aug 1-10 is always our hottest time of year and after that the temps start inching down. (debatable). We’re just hiding inside. Now if the El Nino weather pattern forms up as it appears to be doing, we’ll have a rainy winter. UGH. At least in spring and summer the plants enjoy the rain…and yard mowing crews. Scattered showers sounds wonderful. Thanks for sending some dream inspiring comments
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I hope you catch a break soon. After more rain than normal well into July, we’re now in a typical dry pattern with only the occasional thundershower. With a brand new lawn, we have no choice but to water…. Ugh!
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I was hoping you guys were getting rain for your lawn. We actually had a shower yesterday, but back to ordinary August now…watering as we speak…annoying to do and you just watch dollar bills dripping into the grass. UGH for sure, but will cost more if you don’t.
A few more weeks, I keep telling myself…Molly is about crazed, though, from lack of activity with doggy sleepover done – she making valiant attempts to befriend RC Cat. Ought to be some chuckles there.
Thanks for joining the countdown comment zone
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