It's HOT

We have had some record breaking heat in this area.  I seem to keep saying that the last few years but it's true.  In the city to my South they have had 5 straight days over 105 that broke records every day.  Fortunately we haven't had those high temps.  At times I find my thermometer 10 degrees lower, thankfully.  I have my sensor in a new location I am trying out in order to get more accurate readings.  I found out it had been in the direct sun for a few moments in the hottest part of the day.  That certainly won't be accurate.  We shall see how the new location works out.  But it's not unusual at all for us to be much lower than in town or higher at times.  It's crazy.

I have had an abundance of tomatoes lately out of the garden.  Most are very huge.  But I'm not sure I like those as much.  The meat seems a little grainy.  I managed to can 8 pints of tomatoes yesterday in order to keep them from going bad or 'K' giving them all away before I have had a chance.  I will use them for the salsa I make.  I don't have a canner so I use a process I found on utube.  It worked great last year, not sure if it worked this time.  I didn't hear the can lids popping when they sealed but with my ears that isn't surprising.  'K' said she heard something but didn't know what it was.  I guess I will find out.  

I will head over to Academy today and pick up some things that need to be replenished and maybe run by my Mother's for a quick stop.  I haven't seen her in probably two months.  I really can't tell you why but she gets a little off when I show up and it's better for her and me if I keep those visits few and far between.  However she has started complaining to others I don't ever come by.  It's a sad situation.  I am not looking forward to it.

Happy Trails

Hot Weather and Tomatoes and Clearing Out Clutter

Been pretty hot here this past week.  102* Thursday evening about 6:30.  An hour later it was down to 93.  On top of that we have high humidity from all the rain we had in previous weeks.  This heat will finally dry us out some and the humidity will drop.  It's a two edged sword.  These are pretty high temps here for this time of year.  

The tomatoes are doing great.  I have very big ones this year.  Some new breeds (to me) since I couldn't find my usuals.  We have more than a few waiting to be consumed.  Well that is until 'K' gave most of them away Friday to the pest control guy and the neighbor that showed up with some herbs she wanted to share.  I had planned on using them for salsa but no one asked me.  It will be at least a week before I pick anymore.  Then this heat will stop the development of more.  A little too early in the year for that.  They usually stop around July 4.  

The battle against clutter continues.  We moved on from the garage to my office that has been a catch all since the start of moving my Mother.  Tons of photos are being sorted and boxed.  We just need to find where we will store those,  It WON'T be the garage.  In the decluttering I have found some room in a small closet in my office.  There are two other small closets in the hallway that I would prefer they move to.  But 'K' says she decluttered those a couple years ago.  You can gather a lot of clutter in two years is what I was thinking without saying it of course.  It's funny how she has always said she has no problem throwing stuff out but I don't.  She is right for the most part.  I am pretty sentimental and keep things from my Grandparents.  But most of the things she throws out are my things lol.  She is really not interested in getting rid of all the left over components and beads (you have no idea) from her business.  She has been out of that business since 2012.  I think it's time.  She has no answer, just that she is not ready.  

Happy Trails

Unbelievable

I admit I don't understand all this debt limit issue with the budget.  I held out hope that the Freedom Caucus could put enough pressure on Speaker McCarthy and the rest of the RINOs to hold out for more spending cuts and in fact, add no more debt.  But alas, the taxpayer takes it in the throat again.  The uniparty is alive and well.  It still is to be seen if the Freedom Caucus will punish McCarthy.  They have that new rule that only one member can initiate a call to remove him from the Speaker office.  If they don't, that rule they negotiated and every other concession McCarthy made to get the Speakers role is meaningless.  

On another note, I went to get a couple new tires for 'K's CR-V.  The current tires are 9 years old(one is 7 years old).  We don't drive it far.  It may not be driven for a week or more at times.  Being a front wheel drive and me not keeping up with the rotation, the two on the front were in need of replacement badly.  So I headed over to Discount Tire to get a pair.  Four were going to be just too much $$ at the moment.  After their inspection they found something I missed.  One of the rear had severe dry rot.  Ugh.  After some discussion I left with 4 new tires.  Just over double what I paid for the ones I replaced, exact same tire.  From 450 for four to 990.  Ouch.  And I really need to replace three on our other vehicle.  

I could let the other vehicle wait a while longer and they are still serviceable.  However, we have committed to a vacation road trip with Son#1 and his family in late October.  I really want better tires for that trip than these with 35K miles on them,  I never liked these tires anyway.  So around early October I may be replacing them too.  I just want a vacation that is a little less worry free.

We had a quick violent storm Friday night.  Lots of loud thunder and lightning.  Must have been some very high winds.  There were a lot of fresh oak leave all over the yard.  That is usually a sign of hail/high winds.  I do not believe any hail fell thankfully.  but the high wind was enough to knock that very big limb down that I have been ben concerned about.  It had broken during the big ice storm we had a few months ago and I could not reach it.  One less thing to be concerned about.  It could have easily gone through a window on that side of the house.  It is now firewood.  I will still need to hire someone this fall to cut back the many limbs that hang over my roof.  

Happy Trails