You Bought WHAT For Your Birthday?

 Overnight low of 72 degrees.  That's pretty warm for this part of the country, but the high only reached  95 on this day.  Apparently the extreme heat warning was from our Governor and it was for the homeless.  I doubt they got the message since most, if not all of them do not have cell phones.

It didn't bother Mr. Cooper in spite of my mis-programming the A.C.  In my defense, it's a new fancy one that my neighbor installed when my last one died.  You have to set it for every time you want it to change throughout the day ... then change it EVERY day.  There's no "copy" that I can find.  I was wondering why it didn't turn on when it said 86 degrees inside.

The squash thought it was perfect weather, but the rest of my garden was suffering and wilting, kind of like Cooper and I.  LOOKY HERE!  We have yellow squash!!!!  AND I harvested another ten cherry tomatoes.

But there was REAL work to be done.  My hitch needed to be removed from the truck bed.  I sometimes forget what time I actually get up.  I knocked on the neighbors door at 7:30.  Everyone doesn't get up as early as I do, but he was kind enough to put on his boots and come help me.  BEST NEIGHBORS EVER.

It's very easy with this hitch.  You just lift it out and set it on the garage floor.  Having messed up my back previously, I wasn't taking any chances.  How did you get this thing IN HERE he asked.  Oh I just lifted it up.  

I don't need it any more since the fifth wheel is gone, and now I have room to take my bicycle for new tires.  

But FIRST ... let's put that vacuum together.  This is unlike any other I've worked with.  Apparently it comes apart at several places so you can carry it upstairs and still vacuum. I just want it to clean the carpeted bedrooms.  It worked, though I didn't get far before it came apart in my hands.  Big sigh ... apparently you are supposed to listen for the CLICK.  

I headed to the sewing room for a quick test drive.  Wasn't I SHOCKED to see this after only doing half the floor.  YIKES!!  Either there was lots of dirt in there, or this vacuum is a hundred times better than my old Dyson, because most of that looks to be dog hair.  Cooper doesn't shed and Jessie never went in there.  This is from the previous owner?????

Oh gosh ... I don't even want to TRY my bedroom!  I should be happy that it works so very well ... an A++ in my book ... but vacuuming is not my favorite pastime.  And I see lots of it in my future.

With that, I headed on off to town.  Sometimes you see things that make you say .... hmmmmmmm.  This is a Guardian Mobility Transport van.  It's my recommendation that you NEVER call them.  Before turning on to this road, he was completely over the line, in the oncoming lane FOUR TIMES in one mile.  Then another three times along this short section of road.  I'm sure he's looking at his phone or texting.  Whoever was inside is probably dead from a heart attack! 

I hit the grocery store for a quart of milk, though for the life of me I can't remember why I needed milk, and this perfect bag for the baby shower gift.  Alexa is from Hawaii.  Sadly, I won't be going because I have another barbecue to attend.  

The REAL reason for going to town was this!  A stock tank to be used as a raised bed NEXT year.  In the meantime, I think it's going to become my hot tub.  Fill it up, leave it in the sun and VOILA!!  

As it turned out, it was so very hot in the afternoon that all my new plantings were very sad and drooping to the ground.  I knew they needed a little shade, but I couldn't figure out what I would use.  At last it hit me ... I have several dog kennel panels that might work as a temporary fix.

You have to use what you've got.  The panels didn't offer any shade, but worked to hold up the old trellis I found, along with an old camp chair, sitting over the peppers.  They should get plenty of sun until they get bigger, but won't die from the sun's flames.

With many things still on my to-do list, I called it a day.  It was just too hot and I'm too frugal (my new word) to run the AC.  I found these new "cheaper" ice cream cones at the store ... where I stood in front of the open door for ten minutes, you know, just to cool off a bit.  They are made with REAL ice cream instead of the fake stuff.  I know, not on my diet.  I'm sacrificing the ham and cheese.

And so another month has slipped by, adding another year to my total, and what did I do?  I bought myself a vacuum cleaner.  There's something wrong with this picture.

Today I've got ribs to smoke, maybe come up with a new garden cover, or at least something to prop it up so I can use my hot tub/swimming pool.  More vacuuming will ensue and another trip to the store since I forgot the two tomato cages I need.  

High today 101, so I better get with the program before we all burst into flames.