"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands........" 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Saturday, June 27, 2009

On A Hot Summer Day

The days have slowed down a little, due the the extreme heat of the day. I am up when it is still dark to water and weed the garden, before the heat of the day sets in.
The two little birds I have been taken care of flew away last week. Healthy and happy to start their life on their own.
The chicks are almost grown and the terror of snakes, hopefully, has been forgotten.


They have now been able to leave their hutch and roam the chicken pen yard.

My zinnia garden is starting to do well......




and I have found some unusual leaves in my flower gardens. This morning glory looks like a butterfly...don't you think?



And I am sure you all have the heart shaped leaves of morning glory surrounding you by now.






Out in the pumpkin patch, eggs lie in wait on a crispy green leaf. By 10:00 A.M. the heat of the sun drives me back inside...





where I spend much of the day doing what I really love......the little quilt top has come together








and the embroidery is falling into place quite well....I will leave the outdoors







to the other creatures.....









that are trying to find moisture and shade.











The heat has slowed Boo down as well, at 14, she spends much of her day napping.....










Max, at 13, is really getting shabby looking. He still spends the morning hours exploring the woods, but by the time the sun is in the sky, he has taken his retreat to the coolness of the front porch.













Abbey, almost 7 , is still active, but enjoys a good cat nap anyway....












and young Salem.....well....there are trees to climb, birds to chase, and soft green grass to roll in.....naps can come later....














Sophie.......patiently she waits by my side,....as I stitch......waiting for the late afternoon to go on a long walk.
I have been reading on many of your blogs how you too, have been struggling with the heat. My question......what do you do in the extreme heat of the day?.......watch a movie........take a nice swim.........sit out in the coolness of the porch? I would love to hear.
















19 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a lovely post today. Your kitties and Sophie are just precious. I would like to give them all a hug! I love the leaf that looks just like a butterfly! And oh, your quilt with the delicate embroidery is beautiful. After lunch, when it seems to be the hottest in the yard, I like to catch up on blogs and usually my 2 cats and Harriet nap nearby and then come to life early in the evening to play!

papel1 said...

I know what you mean about the heat! Close to 100 here so the cats find shade or come inside by the AC. We have put up tiki torches in the garden and that is where we will be sitting tonight.
Judy

Linda said...

I well remember the heat of Texas summers.

I live in Oregon now. This morning I awoke to 49 degrees. The high today is expected to be 83 degrees.

Reading blogs during the heat of the day sounds like a good idea.

Debbie said...

It was a little cooler this morning early and I took advantage of that to trim my front hedges, pull weeds and pull out agressive plants who creep into other areas they shouldn't. I fixed breakfast and now I don't know what to do with myself!It't too hot to go back outside. I think I'll take your example and embroidery:)I've been doing some tea towels for my daughters. Thanks for letting us chime in.

Wish on a Whisker said...

It's hot here too! I try to stay inside and find creative things to do (or maybe some chores). I love reading about your farm creatures. Salem reminds me of our outdoor kitty Baby. Have a lovely weekend! ~Mandy

Connie said...

I enjoyed seeing all your critters and pets, Kathleen. :)

I hope you are able to keep cool inside. Your quilt top is beautiful!

Conni said...

Just stopped by to check on those little birds. Glad they flew the coup.

I spend the hottest part of the days in my office or studio - soaking up the air-conditioning...

Carol Murdock said...

Love the critters! We have Salems twin, his name is TC! Stay cool, we are melting to. The Weather Channell was reporting 95 at New Orleans and we were 100, I told Hubby that weather channel is full of crap! NO in 90 miles south of us!I read,write on book, watch movie or blog during the heat of the day!

Linda said...

Oh it's hot here too. I get up early also and try to do most of my chores while it is still cool, then around 8am I like to stitch and read for awhile then have a bite to eat. The afternoon I just do whatever.....as I type this I'm thinking this seems like a weird rountine but it's working for me...hugs, Linda

Kelly said...

I am happy to say that we very seldom reach the high 90's in Maine and if we do it is the complete converstation. Currently it is 53 degrees.
Kelly

KathyB. said...

The temps here don't often get as hot as you all experience, but much past 80 degrees melts me. My husband and I sit down by our pond, with the tiki torches lit to keep mosquitoes at bay. We read, watch the birds, and I will often spin wool or locker hook rugs.

I agree, the embroidery on the quilt top is exquisite! And the spider, well, gave me the creeps just looking at it looking back at me from your blog, AHHHHHHHh!

Sounds like you and the pets have the perfect way to spend hot days, quietly indoors together!

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

Looks like you all have your agendas figured out for the heat. :) As for me, I stay inside during the hottest parts of the day and catch up with blog reading and tv watching when Mr. Cutie Pie comes home.

Mama said...

What a great post! Loved the theme and the sweet tone as you described the day.

We had a bit of a slow drizzle today, so it was cooler than usual, but the hottest part of the day finds me inside, usually at my computer.

Hoping your days are all special!

Nancy M. said...

The last couple days we have been working on building a pen for some bantams. But, normally, I am like your cats and like to take a nap, if possible. Either that or visit blogs.

Pat / Silver Thimble Quilt Co. said...

Your post is wonderful..those cats know what to do in the heat. I try to sew or read during the heat..but my schedule keeps me on the run WAY too much.

Pat

Paula said...

I love all the pictures, Kathleen! I'm so glad your "bird-raising" was a success!
I've reversed my schedule this time of year- instead of doing indoor chores in the morning like laundry and cleaning the house, I save that until after lunch now. Then, it's back outside in the evening after supper- thats usually when I mow the yard, too! (The honey bees are not as active in the clover by then, so I don't have to worry about running over them!!)

Vickie said...

Hi, Kathleen - We've been having 100+ temps here, too, and couple that with the high humidities, it's been unbearably hot. I feel sorry for the folks that have to work outside.

In the evenings when the sun goes down (and it's still hot) my husband and I will be out driving back from the farm and we like to roll the windows down and let the wind just blow us away. I close my eyes and remember back when I was a kid and we didn't have AC in the car and that's what we did.

I also like to turn on the sprinkler in the garden WHILE I'm working there to keep me cooled off. Works really well, except I need some goggles! haha!

Princess S said...

I take a nap....the heat makes me extremely sleepy!!!

Lanny said...

I loved this post! Summer puts us on a very differnt schedule indeed!