June 21, 2007
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Hot Times
UPDATED AT BOTTOM
Yesterday was sweltering hot here. The good news/bad news is that it hasn’t rained for a while, so it’s not a steam bath, but due to the fire danger the borough has had to issue a complete ban on open burning, except for cooking and campfires in approved areas. The last few evenings, between about six and midnight, we have had thunderstorms without rain. Heat lightning has started a few little wildfires within a few miles of here, quickly controlled, but the real danger is people, stupid careless ones as well as arsonists.
Even though it has become common in summer, it still gets my attention when I hear thunder rumbling. Lightning and thunder used to be so rare here, that oldtimers said it never happened. I was in Alaska for fifteen years, and five in this valley, before I experienced lightning and thunder here. Then it was weird: a little black cloud, alone in a blue sky, rolling and rumbling along, crackling with lightning. It took less than 5 minutes to travel from north to south across my field of vision.
With just a couple of weeks to the Fourth of July and fireworks, I’m praying to Tlaloc for a good soaking rain. As it is, Doug and are I having to make more frequent runs to the spring than usual for water to keep my plants and tadpoles alive.
I missed Xanga yesterday. The denial of service attack made me lose the latest episode of my memoirs when I tried to post it. That hasn’t happened in years. It worked to my advantage, however. I forced myself to rewrite it, and I think the new version is better than the original since I recalled a few more details as I went along. It’s in a protected post just under this one. If you don’t see it, and you’re old enough that your parents won’t get me in trouble, and broad-minded enough that you won’t flag me, tell me and I’ll add you to my protected posting list.
UPDATE:
Lightning last night caused a wildfire about five miles from here, and right now the smoke is thick around here. We are off to the spring for water soon, and I’ll take the camera with me. The light is weird, as it always is when filtered through smoke.
Comments (4)
i suppose it’s better to lose your memoirs than lose your memory.
we’re getting dry here. of course you know dry here doesn’t mean it’s not humid as heck. hoping for a good storm tomorrow or sunday. (want to mow on saturday) (wait…change “want” to “need”)
we’re having a lot of rain here…not weird for The Netherlands….but in april we had high temperatures…higher than now…and that is weird.
hope the Dutch clouds decide to reach you over there and water your plants…
would you add me to your protected list please?
I wish you a rainy day Susu!!
Strange how our story change when we have to tell it a second time.
Interesting post one down.
Hope the fires don’t get close. That would scare the hell outta me.