It’s so hot and humid here that I have to get going on this post, so I can do a few things outside before it becomes unbearable. Many of you are going through the same thing, I know. Miserable. When it becomes this humid, my brain feels fuzzy and it feels like I’m moving in slow motion.
Great weather, right? Wrong.
I love my hydrangeas, the Annabelle hydrangeas always being the first to bloom. They aren’t standing quite so erect after the heavy rain we had the night before last, though.
Too many mosquitoes to use the Secret Garden.
I walked up to the back forty and gathered about 10 ripe black raspberries and I came back with two mosquito bites.
Blooming on the far side of the house. Come to think of it, I’ve never given that little garden bed a name! I’ll have to think on that.
In that same garden bed, coneflowers.
Escape to Margaritaville story: Don’s understudy is a great guy. He went on for Don during the run in Chicago when Don lost his voice, remember? Don found out that about 50 of his understudy’s friends and family were coming to the show for the matinee last Saturday. For ‘some reason’ Don didn’t feel well enough to perform in that matinee, so his understudy got to go on as J.D. and his family was surprised and delighted. Funny how it worked out that way…
Smile.
Lesley, a longtime reader of the blog who lives in England, sent me this British gardening magazine! I haven’t opened it yet because I’m saving it for an afternoon when the heat requires me to take cover in the den, which will most likely be today. Thank you, Lesley!
Two books read, by the way, and I’m well into number three, which is the newest by John Connolly – The Woman in the Woods. Huzzah!
Happy Thursday.
Yup, hot, humid, and good weather to hole up in the air conditioning to read. Those hydrangeas are gorgeous. We have no luck, no matter what variety. Your Don is such a sweetheart, but then I already knew that from reading this blog for the past few years. Stay cool.
He is a sweetheart. Thanks, Kay!
What a sweet thing that Don did so the family of the understudy could see him on Broadway. I love stories like this!
Me too, Vicki!
Your story about Don’s “illness” was heart-warming. More than once we’ve seen Broadway shows where understudies play major parts and they always bring heart, soul, and their all to the performances.
Saskatchewan has dry, dry air. One thing that we notice about people who live with humidity is that their skin is always years younger than their counterparts here. And now you know the good point of suffering through humidity!
When I saw Hamilton, the understudy was playing the lead. He was incredible!
We are under heat advisories through Sunday night. Today and Sunday will be 105 and Saturday will be 110! I am sure that is with humidity factored in. I swear I left Arizona 20+ years ago! 110 in Indiana! Good grief!
I am an emotional person. I cry when I am happy, sad, etc. My aunt always said I wore my emotions on my sleeve. When I read about Don having his understudy go on for him…well, to say I started sobbing is an understatement! What an absolutely wonderful and kind thing to do! He’s a keeper, that one!
Stay cool indoors this afternoon and enjoy that magazine!
Hugs to you and Don 😊
We are under them until Monday, so we’re a day behind you.
Don has a good heart.
Your husband is a great guy! You should keep him! 😉
I think I will!
oh, what a generous thing don did for the understudy!!! that much kindness (especially given the dwindling number of shows left on broadway) brings me to tears … with a smile on my face and in my heart.
so glad you and don have each other … a very good match indeed!
hope you get plenty of time to sit and enjoy the magazine and air conditioning.
that’s where i’ll be the next few days – indoors and by the a-c; our forecast includes temperatures close to and above 100* and a heat index of 105* or higher today and through the weekend (ugh)! might try one of those books you’ve recently read (trying to read more fiction) or just take a nap. :)
i know sunday will be bittersweet, but hope you enjoy the weekend and time together.
kathy in iowa
I mowed this morning, only because this heat is supposed to continue through the week next week. So I thought I’d tackle part of the property. Now, I’m exhausted!
Thanks, Kathy.
Pretty dayliles. I do not know what is wrong with this years weather. First I thought spring would never arrive and now rain and sun. Hubby has had to cut grass every weekend because of the growth. This weekend suppose to be near 100.
Same here. It’s supposed to be 100 degrees here at the cottage on Sunday.
What a sweetie is Don! No wonder you love him like you do! I love how you named your garden and I am all for you naming them all. What a great idea! Give Don a hug for me. Oh, and I hope he feels better. Cough, cough.
I think he’s recovered, Tana!
So nice of Don! If I were the understudy’s mother, I would have wept with joy!
We would like to see the ETM performance at the Capital 4th in DC. I see that all of the acts are supposed to be performing in a 90 minute window of 8-9:30pm. Do they perform then or earlier? I wondered if Don had the inside scoop. When we see them, I will shout out “Hurrah Don Sparks”!!
His wife cried. Isn’t that beautiful?
I have no idea when they perform, but Don will know closer to the actual performance. All I know is it will be VERY HUMID AND HOT!
What a nice thing for Don to do! He truly is a special man married to a special lady! I know what you mean about the humidity. I need to get out and weed my garden, but it is just so darn uncomfortable out there! I envy the British their gardening magazines and television shows. I know you will enjoy reading the magazine.
I will. I ended up mowing, so I haven’t opened the magazine yet. I will!
Sweetest thing he could do for that guy and his family!! They will remember that forever and ever!! ♡
I think you should consider The Far Side for that garden area. Goes with the placement, and the times we live in.
Stay cool! Hubs had the dogs at the dog park by 6:30 this morning and we completed all the stuff we wanted to do today by 9:30. This heat is crazy. We have a high heat warning, and we seldom ever ever get a warning. Lots of advisories, but a warning is rare, indeed. Will have to water several container plants a couple of times today as I can see them fading already ~ before noon. It is always fun to have some reading material we are anxious to get to in these temps. I hope you have a good day, kiddo.
The Far Side has been suggested by another reader as well, so that’s what it will be.
The Far Side!
I just came in from watering for a second time. It’s brutal out there.
Don is such a gem!
What a wonderfully thoughtful and meaningful “gift” for his understudy and the understudy’s family/friends.
Love John Connolly… finished his latest last weekend.
Wishing you a lovely Friday and weekend.
I love him too. He’s such a wonderful writer!
Thanks, Amy!
There goes a man of pure Charity,(used in it’s intended sense) and Love of his fellow man.
please make sure he knows how he is adored and admired by your readers. I have a
sneaking suspicion he already knows?
As for the Garden? Piece of cake, The Far Side Garden
You’re the second to recommend The Far Side. Perfect!
That Don…what a guy! We were out early to pull weeds…I lasted 45 minutes…hubby stayed out longer…he was in the shade. He used to work in this heat, so his body is more tolerant of it than I am. I just got in from watering…second round…..and got several bites, and I’m a hot mess. Thank goodness for AC.
Stay cool….and hydrate! ;)
It’s terrible out there! I’m indoors for good, though I did a lot outside this morning.
OH, that Don! What a heart, and so unselfish.
Wow, your heat sounds just awful. I haven’t seen mosquitoes here yet. We’re getting a good west breeze off the ocean most afternoons which is cooling us off here in SoCalif. I’m not saying it’s not humid and too warm for me (mid-80s) in the afternoons and it bothers my asthma but, gosh, it’s nothing like what the Midwest/Northeast is getting as we head into 4th of July holiday. It’s the time of year here where the sky looks like smog; not clear; murky.
What we’re fighting is an ant invasion; the whole neighborhood. Hard to treat and deal with because there are so many pets in the vicinity; also wildlife. Can’t have ant poison on anything. Trying other natural remedies. ‘They’ say it’s because we haven’t had a hard freeze now, for too many years. I totally despise ants! My neighbor had to have someone come into the house again, just like last year, and spray inside the walls but I wouldn’t want to be breathing any of that, so it’s a ‘no’ for us. I’m sure the neverending drought here is also part of the problem. I have to set the dry cat food in pans of water (the ants can’t swim; I make a moat). Poor feral, outdoor cats have enough of a hard time without getting an ant in their nose on top of everything else! I’m bringing in a lot of tomatoes and cucumbers from the garden and I have to be careful about ants even on them!
One veggie surprise this year is the most amazing, plump, organic bell peppers from our little garden. They’ve done very well in the raised-bed planters instead of the ground. I’ve tried to grow them for the past 23 years and never got these fat babies, so it’s been a real treat. I’m washing/seeding/dicing today, spreading them on cookie sheets, then freezing in the frig; after they’re frozen, scooping all the bits into ziplock bags; great to pull out for salads or omelets or tomato sauce or anything, all year long; not gonna waste ANY of it, for sure. Such great flavoring; healthy; was so easy.
We have an ant problem every spring and early summer. This year was worse than usual. Makes me crazy! I wouldn’t let them spray inside my walls, either!
What a great Don story! But it doesn’t surprise me after hearing your tales of him all these years. The humanity and grace just shines from his face! Good man with a good wife.
He is a very good man.
oh. well.
that lovely act just sums up Don. totally.
actually the two of you are both rare and wonderful! YOU ARE!
and the Far Side is perfect.
Thank you, Tammy!
Bravo Don. Well done. You have a great heart
He does, indeed!
It looks like we are in for a heat wave for the next few days. Enjoy your magazine.
Marilyn
The heat wave up here is going to go on through next Friday!
Bravo Don…people will say that was one of the best performances you ever gave…the kindness you showed by not performing…
He’s a good guy, Nancy.
Just checked in on the computer to find this great post. I love Don and of course he was ‘ill’ so his understudy could go on. This cast/crew really is a family. I’m enjoying my mini vaca with my friends. Hoping to get in the pool today with my new Flamingo float I got for my birthday. Thinking of you, Don and the cast as this weekend will be hard. Much love!
Enjoy your vacation, Linda.