It’s over 30 degrees and has been for quite a long while, so I spend my days lugging hoses around, watering and weeding a bit while I’m at it.  I have a bumper crop of everything this year, cucumbers, tomatoes, beans and figs.  I think it’s from the long, hot summer plus the gallons and gallons of water.  A win-win for my plants, but less so for everything else as we appear to be in a drought.

Because of the intense heat I do all of this garden stuff in the morning, then spend the afternoons inside the air-conditioned house doing things like ironing Calvin’s work shirts, repairing Louie’s stuffed donkey as he likes to tear out the stuffing, baking, cooking and writing this blog.  I know most landlords don’t iron their tenants’ shirts, but as I had two boys it just makes sense to keep going with a third.

We have a big Schiller shindig set for this Wednesday as Julie and family plus Sunny and family will be coming to Osoyoos.  I’ve already made and froze butter chicken and am now making meat sauce as I’ll also make lasagne so people can eat whatever they like.  I made a pound cake, and will buy raspberries and make a custard for a raspberry trifle.

But then the next day when I get back home Margaret’s arriving so I bought some nice foods for us and when she leaves on the 23^rd, Alison arrives so will be cooking for her, too, which I love to do.  I just feel so discouraged about the size of my gut and can see there’s no way to deal with it now.

I had a nice birthday party with the Crones at King Taps on July 12^th, and then a birthday dinner at mom’s in Osoyoos on July 13^th.  It was so damned hot we had to eat inside as it wasn’t possible to sit out on mom’s deck.  But that’s pretty much how my birthday always is, hot.

I met my pal Ralph from UBC days for a farewell lunch as he and Pauline are moving to Sooke to be with grandkids.  I asked him how they came to that decision, and Ralph’s one of these adorable people who basically takes you back to Genesis and then forward from there but I don’t think he ever did get right to the part as to why they decided to move.  He loves to talk, so it’s quite relaxing to just listen.

I’m currently watching a reality show on Netflix called Alone set in the Arctic, which is quite fascinating.  So far two people have spent quite a bit of time vomiting, one from eating a muskrat and the other from salmon eggs.  They have to hunt for their food so you can imagine after ten days without any a medium-rare muskrat would hit ya the wrong way.

It’s Rhonda’s memorial next week and all six remaining Ya Ya’s will be attending, so that’s really nice for Ron.  He asked us to write something, or to speak if we want, and I think I will try to write something however as I’m a crybaby I can’t really see myself up there, but who knows.

I recall sobbing on the bed the day of our graduation from high school as I was the valedictorian and was emotional about my speech.  Luckily I had mom who told me in no uncertain terms to suck it up or I’d make a total ass of myself.  I did the speech, no tears.