The Endless Summer hydrangea. It’s never had this many blooms. I got this bush several years ago as part of a blog collaboration with a company. As part of my agreement, I wrote a post about getting it, planting it, etc. But it’s remained on the small side, both in height and the amount of blossoms. This year, it took off, and it’s all due to the massive amounts of rain we’ve had.
Those little blue wildflowers are cornflowers.
They’re so pretty. At the top of the photo, you can see the tiny bug that was flying by.
The heat is awful and relentless. We just stay inside, going a bit crazy. We might get a slight lessening of the temperature for a few days starting tomorrow, but then it’s back on Sunday. We’ve never had so many days of excess heat and humidity this early in the summer. My brain is in a fog, the humidity makes my allergies go haywire. Basically, I feel crappy. This is why I could never live in the south. (Though it sure seems as if I’m living in the south at the moment.)
Our grass is long, but we have air quality warnings so we have to wait to mow. I’m hoping I can grab some time tomorrow morning, Fingers crossed.
We got the new a/c unit early Monday morning because we wanted to install it before it got too hot up in the bedroom. It was a relatively easy install. I took naps throughout the day Monday and had a good night’s rest. We both slept in a bit this morning. And by sleeping in, I mean we slept until 6:15.
He’s back:
He got his hair cut yesterday!
I cannot tell you how much I disliked that long hair. But it had to remain for a few months because the producers of the show he was filming liked it that way. Then, we had to go through the delicate dance in which I don’t mention it because if I do, he’ll think I’m nagging, so I don’t say anything. After a week or two, I casually ask if he’s going to get it cut. Then I shut up again. Last week he had the impulse to get it cut, but Amanda was on vacation. Darn it! – I knew he would think the better of it and the dance would start all over again. The other day, I casually asked if he’d rebooked the appointment. Yes, he said. Tuesday.
But even then, he was back and forth about the whole thing. He likes the idea of longer hair. But the reality is that it makes him look older and it’s hard to control because no matter what he does, it eventually hangs in his face. Anyway, I stayed fairly quiet on the subject and he went through with his appointment and returned home beaming. He loves it. And let’s face it, it’s a heck of a lot cooler in this heat.
I mean, look at that cut! He’s got great hair and I am not ashamed to say I’m jealous of it.
I just finished Griffin Dunne’s memoir; The Friday Afternoon Club. I’ve always been fascinated by the Dunnes. It was a fairly quick read and I really enjoyed it. After I finished it, I pulled his aunt’s, Joan Didion, memoir off my shelves and I’m reading it. It’s about the year in which she lost her husband, John Gregory Dunne, while her daughter was battling for her life. Her daughter eventually passed away far too young. As Griffin’s mother had MS and his sister Dominique was murdered by her boyfriend, the Dunnes have had a great deal of heartache. Dominick Dunne, Griffin’s father, became a passionate chronicler of not only the trial of his daughter’s murderer, but the OJ Simpson trial and others – all written for Vanity Fair. I read everything he wrote.
Joan’s book is The Year of Magical Thinking.
Okay. I need more coffee. We have another heat advisory until 8 pm.
Happy Wednesday.
Stay safe.
I’ve always love the Year of Magical Thinking. I’d love the Dunne book, I think. It’s on my someday list.
Don is looking great. You’re right about short hair in the summer. I just found some old pix of my long hair days (I’m a person who should NEVER wear long hair — then or now) and remember how long it took to dry in the humidity and heat. And it was big hair. Yikes. That was then, this is now.
We’re leaving the lake today and going home to flooding in Lansing — 6″ last night in East Lansing and the “hard” rain is coming today. I have a feeling my basement will be like an indoor pool — unfortunately, more cess than swimming. Not looking forward to it. Lots of streets are closed off and we’re not sure what we’re going into but I guess we’ll figure it out soon enough. Hang in there with the heat!
Oh no, Jeanie! I’m so sorry about the flooding. Damn! I’ll be thinking about you as you journey home.
Extremes everywhere.
Stay safe.
I can’t believe the temps across the country…and the rain. We are having a few normal days right now. But the heat is to return by the weekend.
Your hydrangea looks great…it’s been a fantastic year for hydrangeas. It’s been a fantastic year for growing anything. I feel like I’m living in a jungle, quite frankly. And with the humidity, I know it’s a jungle.
Sounds like you’ve been reading some interesting books. Stay cool! ;)
Oh, it’s so overgrown around here! Too hot to weed whack or mow or pull weeds by hand.
Stay safe, Donnamae,
This summer is so hot. I’m still unpacking my craft/art room supplies and trying to reorganize. I can’t do much even in air conditioning. I do love the photos of all the flowers in your yard. I must admit I like Don’s hair shorter also and it is cooler!! Resting, Reading and some unpacking looks like the rest of my week. Take Care!
Glad you’re taking it slowly in this heat, Linda.
I like his hair shorter, too! He has natural waves and they spring back when his hair isn’t so long.
Stay safe, Linda.
What is it about men of older age wanting long hair and beards? Trying to go back to their youth? My hubby could never grow a good beard. His facial hair is kind of sparce in places. But now that he’s in his 70s he thinks a scraggly beard or gray stubble looks good!
That unshaved look is sexy on young men…old men with gray stubble just look older and unkempt in my opinion. Same with hair.
Anyway, I have to play that careful ‘suggestion game’ with my hubby too. Can’t push too much or he will just get stubborn.
I’m glad you got a new AC unit. I don’t know how I ever lived without AC but we never had it until we put in central air about 20 years ago.
Stay cool
Well, Don has. neatly trimmed goatee and mustache. He doesn’t like stubble, either.
He loved having long hair when he was on Broadway. Perfect excuse!
Stay safe, Marilyn.
It’s decidedly cool and rainy in my part of the UK. Last Saturday I was invited to an afternoon BBQ . There’s an hilarious photo of everyone sitting outside snuggling under cosy throws and blankets at 4pm because it was so chilly!
My hydrangeas are also pink and doing well. My next door neighbour also has them but her plants are blue despite being separated by only a few yards in length.I
Glad that you’re happy with Don’s haircut
I was thinking that Vicki in Southern California hasn’t posted for a while. Hope she is okay.
Happy Wednesday
You’re right about Vicki. She wrote me a letter a while back letting me know she was still reading the blog, but some medical problems are keeping her from using the keyboard. She sends her love to everyone. Let’s put some positive thoughts out there that she can come back to chat with us soon. (She didn’t want to me to bring it up unless someone asked and now that you have asked, I can address the situation.)
Thanks for caring and stay safe.
same from me … love to vicki, also ck in wisconsin, bb in florida, d in phoenix and all the rest of you! i keep you all in my prayers.
xo,
kathy
Chris K comments on the blog, maybe not as frequently as before, but she’s doing well – as is Deb in Phoenix. I haven’t heard from Brenda at all except when she told us something had happened and she was unable to comment.
Wow, mother nature is sure having a hissy fit, a very hot one. What did we mere mortals do to deserve this? Don is a handsome piece of eye candy with his new haircut. His colourful shirt looks great. Glad you got your new A/C hooked up with no problem. A/C is a must in this weather. Keep reading, Claudia. Stay cool. Hugs, Elaine
I’m so restless! Hopefully, I can do some work outside tomorrow before it gets too hot.
Stay safe, Elaine,
We look forward to summer all winter only for it to be too hot and humid to be outside anyway. Just not fair. Don does have great hair. Yesterday my brother texted me a picture saying, “who’s this old hippie?” It was him from 7 years ago when the entire year before he retired he let his hair grow out to his shoulders. Finally got it cut two years into retirement and it took years off him.
Our upstairs reno is sooooo close to being done. New floors replacing all the wall to wall carpet look great. Just little odds and ends in the bath and, hopefully, the city inspector giving the all-OK on Friday. Once we had running water on Tuesday, I considered it a real honest to goodness bathroom. Got up today and read the 20 pg. booklet of instructions for the bidet attachment so I can work up the nerve to actually use it. It has a remote control that will hang on the wall! Who knew toilets were so complicated these days.
Take care and don’t overdo mowing in all the heat.
Kay
You’re so right! It’s not fair at all.
I’m so glad your renovation is almost finished, Kay! Enjoy.
Stay safe.
We’re having a heat wave here in Northern Alberta too! Just in time for our music festival. But it might rain a bit tonight, so fingers crossed. My new plants are not enjoying this extreme.
My dh used to have lovely long hair, which I loved as he has curly hair. Now it’s white and he likes it short – easier to manage, he claims! I don’t like it so short so we have the opposite argument with our respective guys!
Enjoy the new a/c. Loving ours. Best investment ever.
X Chy
I always remind myself that it’s his hair and he can wear it however he wants, but…..
Stay safe, Chy.
dear Claudia/Don — love that haircut — I always say the stylists are not beauticians but magicians !! sorry for the hot temps — same here — bluegrass is turning ugly brown — horse/farms already feeding hay– bad sign — heard the dreaded word “drought” for the first time this year this a.m. hoping for some relief soon for you and us. stay safe/healthy
I’m sorry the heat in KY is taking a toll. I sure hope you don’t have a drought, Linda.
Stay safe.
Don’s haircut looks FANTASTIC!!
It does, doesn’t it??
Thanks, Jenny.
Stay safe.
so glad you have a new air conditioner to keep cool!
beautiful flowers!
great haircut, don! shirt, too.
for all but maybe ten of my 66 years, i’ve worn my hair short … a true over-the-ears pixie cut. that’s mostly out of necessity (i don’t have a lot of hair), but it suits my face and style and personality. the times it was longer, it really needed to be shorter because i just like it better that way and is part of me feeling like me. when i cut it very short in high school, the guy i’d had a couple of recent dates with saw me from the gym balcony and asked a friend “who’s that?” … didn’t recognize me. haha.
anyway, hope you and don and everyone else are having a great day.
xo,
kathy
Thanks so much, Kathy.
Stay safe.
I love long hair on men but Don looks very chic and younger with it short. Nice woman you are for not nagging.
I try!
Stay safe.