Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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.

The first Rose of Sharon bloom in the early Sunday morning light. As I look outside today, there are 3 or 4 more.  I’m sure they’ve been helped along by the extreme heat we’ve been having. That heat continues today and tomorrow.

This will be brief, as I’ve had 2 – count ’em – 2 hours of sleep. Our bedroom a/c unit started making a strange noise and it woke me up around 1:30. I turned it on and off a few times, but I could never get back to sleep, probably because I was worried the noise would start again. That it did. So we have to buy a new unit today because we cannot go without one in this heat.

Sigh.

Anyway, I’m already barely functioning because of the humidity and now we can the strange sounds to the mix. And no, I’m not going to see if someone can repair it – what would we do in the meantime?  By the way, speaking of repairs, the mechanics who service Don’s car told him about a month ago that Hondas, especially Honda Pilots, are known for engine lights going on when there’s nothing wrong, as well as a blinking drive light – also other lights as well. As they couldn’t get to his car that day, they suggested he drive it around and see if it worked okay. And it does. Sometimes all the lights on the dashboard go on, Sometimes, 1 or 2. Sometimes – none. I think it’s a computer problem. For example the oil light went on but Don had it changed not all that long ago and he checked the oil – he has plenty. I know I sound like an old fart, but I wish cars weren’t dependent on computers. Mine is pretty basic and I’m quite happy with it.

Just thought I’d show you how the Elizabeth Jane Howard Cazalet Chronicles look when lined up in order. Isn’t that lovely?

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.