Oh lord. It’s in the nineties with lots of humidity – for the whole week.
I’m not the type of girl who thrives in a humid climate. Oh no. I wilt, I get testy, my brain turns to mush. Yesterday’s drive to Williamstown and back was smack dab in the midst of high temps and humidity. On the way back, the temperature gauge on our 12 year old car kept moving towards HOT. This same thing happened to us last year, mostly in the summer. Our mechanic could never figure out what was causing it, at least not enough to charge us a lot of money for something he was unsure of. When this happens, I have to add coolant. Fortunately, I always carry some with me. So there I was, on a country road, searching for a place to pull over. I ended up in the parking lot of a motel, where I then had to wait thirty minutes for the car to cool down. Hot sun. Sweat. Not a pretty picture. Eventually I added the coolant and it was smooth sailing.
Until I ran into a severe thunderstorm as I drove through the Berkshires. Lightning strikes everywhere, rain so heavy I could barely see the car in front of me, hail, you name it. A precarious Hudson River bridge crossing where I could barely see the side of the bridge. Cars slowing to a crawl. Cars pulled over on the side of the road. This went on for quite a long time.
I was more than ready to see my driveway awaiting me at the end of this journey.
The bee balm is starting to blossom.
Williamstown is charming. I’ve been there before, but the last time I saw something at that theater was in the mid-eighties and a whole new complex has been erected in the meantime. I didn’t have time to do anything other than help Don get settled. He’s staying in student housing; sort of like a dorm, but nicer. He’s in a house that has individual rooms, a common room and a nice kitchen. The dorm room I lived in never had a hardwood floor or tall, beautiful windows. I distinctly remember tile floors and cinderblock walls. There is no air conditioning, however. We brought along a fan and the theater provided him with two more. I hope he had some cool air during the night.
As he slept on his twin bed. 6 foot 4 inch Don on a dorm-room-sized bed. Oh boy.
Coneflower
He shares a bathroom with another actor. Fortunately, that actor is an old friend of ours who is also in Pygmalion. She is a wonderful actress and her partner of many years is also an old friend of Don’s. When I spoke to him last night, he said that it was so nice having both of them there and it helped make his birthday a little more special.
Because I did drop him off and leave smack dab in the middle of his birthday.
The Williamstown Theater Festival is a major force in the theater and well respected and lots of well known, even famous, actors work there. Don’s already spotted several. When I went there in the mid-eighties, I saw a play directed by Joanne Woodward. It was opening night and I spotted Paul Newman in the audience. Afterward, I saw them walk away from the theater, hand-in-hand. That image is still vivid in my mind, all these many years later.
Hydrangeas have bloomed
I have to get going and water my moisture-starved plants. There’s a chance of a thunderstorm or two almost every day this week. Good. The garden could use a good rain.
Happy Tuesday.
Happy birthday to Don !!! I love your flower pictures. Could you send somke warmer weather here ??
Uptil today we had cold weather, only 59 F : (
Have a great day.
I’d be happy to send it your way!
Hi Claudia,
Happy Birthday Don. Your flower photos are a pleasure. Glad you made it home safely. Bet Scout had a few postures and glances to share after you got home.
Joy
Yes, and her bladder was full!
What an adventure you had! I’m miserable in the heat as well…I melt…cranky…just like you said. We’ve gotten plenty of rain here…and the weeds are thriving! I need some drier weather to be able to pull them! ;)
I don’t like humidity, Donna!
That hydrangea in the picture above looks a bit different. Heads/blossoms aren’t as rounded as ours are. Ours are almost a “ball”.What’s its name or do you know? Very pretty!
xoxo,
Connie
It’s an Annabelle Hydrangea, Connie. The flower heads are just starting to bloom and they’ll get a bit bigger.
We’re in the same climate..Mollie and I can’t wait for fall !!
I have the same flowers blooming now…Cutting my hydrangeas..Something tried to dig up one of my coneflowers..I replanted it this AM..
Stay cool, Missy!
Sorry you had so much trouble getting back home! I had a car that did that and it was always a problem. Plus, it smelled a weird smell when it got hot, does your?
Glad you’re home safe. Stay cool.
Judy
What did you do about it, Judy? Yes to the weird smell. We only have one car and I hope it hangs in there – we really can’t afford a new one at the moment.
I think if I had ever seen Paul Newman in real life it would be burned into my memory, for sure!
My old car did that, it had a leak. The smell may be the anti freeze. In my case I had the hoses and water pump changed and then 1 week later the plastic radiator cracked and had to be replaced. Have you mechanic check for cracks in the radiator as well as leaks in hoses or water pump. You sure don’t want to get stranded.
I know that my mechanic checked all the hoses, etc last year. He had the car for a whole day. But this time, some of the coolant sprayed. Not sure what’s happening. He hinted it could be the head gasket – very expensive – but I’ll have to call him again and explain that it only seems to be a problem when the weather is very hot…
I glad to hear that you are home and safe with Scout..I pity Don trying to get comfy in that little bed..I hate humidity too Claudia..
He had a hard time getting to sleep, it will take some adjustment, that’s for sure.
Lovely photos, Claudia. I like the soft focus behind each subject. I hope all goes well for Dawn and for you at home.
-Karen
Thanks, Karen.
It’s hot and muggy here too, but nothing but rain and thunderstorms the past few days. Quite a difference from last year when we had a drought. Why can’t Mother Nature just give us a normal balance?! Anyway, I feel for you on the car issues. We have old cars, too. My car is also 12 years old, but thank God, so far it’s fine. Doesn’t overheat, no mechanical problems. (It’s a Honda Accord.) My son’s car is a different story though. His Civic is 18 years old and overheats all the time. Like you, he’s always having to add coolant. He’s had the thermostat and radiator replaced and just about everything else too, so who knows.
If your son has any insights into the problem, I’d love to hear them, Melanie!
Yes, it gives us a reprieve by raining and then the grass has to be mowed. I hope Don isn’t miserable in the heat. It gets so bad here you get sick to your stomach going out. So I don’t go out much.
Brenda
So far, we have missed the rain..There’s a chance every day..Hope we get some..you too..