WORK WORK WORK

 Little did I know, this day was going to be filled with WORK WORK WORK.  Yup it's hot, so when you call the local guy to wash the almond dirt off your solar panels, he shows up at 8:00 on the dot.  I'm always up early, but that doesn't mean my brain is engaged.

Do these look great or what?  Nice shiny black.  I should have taken a BEFORE picture.  They were really bad!!

Unfortunately for me, that allowed another problem to rear its ugly head.  As he washed the side panels off, I noticed water was coming out THROUGH the gutter.  Ugh ... another project.  The corners of three gutters have come apart and need repair immediately because it's ruining the paint on the facia.  Luckily it's not going to rain any time soon, so I have some leeway to get it fixed.  He explained what to get and how to do it.

He did a fabulous job of cleaning, as always.  As he was finishing up, I had a GREAT idea.  Maybe he could wash the top of my rig and it's three solar panels too?  Of course he said, so I pulled it out and he got right to work.  The panels have been working great, keeping the batteries topped off even while under cover, but this will help, I'm sure.

Unfortunately for me, that left big streaks of dirt down the sides of the van.  RATS!!  I didn't think about that part.  After he left, I had to give it a bath.  Talk about work!!  By then it was a lovely HOT 85 degrees and I was quite toasted.  Back under the shelter it went!

By the time I got to work on my next project, it was just too darn HOT.  I got the T-posts out, along with my T-post driver.  I've pounded many a post in my day, but I was MUCH younger then.  They are still laying right there.  Maybe this morning.

This tiny little guy entertained me as I walked back and forth.  I don't know how they can stand the heat.  Apparently he hides under the rosemary bush during the day.  I picked a few more tomatoes, eating half of them before I even got in the door to stand right in front of the fan.

That's when I got the phone call.  There's one little Hmong farmer in our area who grows boysenberries.  Every year, you have to make reservations to get some.  Unfortunately for me, Mama wasn't there, but the teenage boy was.  Too bad he didn't even know what they were.  He wrote my name and phone number down like I asked however.

Lot of good that did.  The phone call was to say my friend had picked up THEIR supply, and did not see my name on the list.  No surprise, so I immediately drove to the farm.  Sure enough, she had none and my name was nowhere to be seen.  She wrote it down once again.  Hopefully someone else will NOT answer their phone.  Note to self ... answer every single phone call, even if you KNOW it's spam.  

They grow lots of stuff there, so I picked up more zucchini and two big red onions.  She also had olallieberries ... unfortunately frozen ... but they will make my next project ... JELLY!!  It's not cheap these veggies, but they're fresh!!  After all, we have to pay for Mama's new car!!

Back home I got a message from Patsy.  Did you get your mail recently?  Ummmm yes, but I knew there was a reason she asked.  I hit the mailbox about every other day.  Sure enough, look what I found.  A gorgeous HAND MADE birthday card.  How sweet was that!!  It took awhile to get here ... their post office guys are on strike and ours rarely show up for work!!  I love it!!!

My laundry list is getting long, but you know what today is ... it's Tuesday ... Magic Castle time.  And just because life likes to throw me hard balls ..... it's a FULL MOON.  Oh yeah ... this is going to be FUN!!!