Happy HOT Hump Day!

I knew it would happen.   You know....hit triple digits.  Get nasty hot.  Add a bunch of humidity to it too, and what you have is a HOT hump day here in So. Cal.   We have been out on the back patio since about 8 this morning.  Noah is playing with his trains.   I brought out some things to color, and the chalkboard to work on writing.  Is this precious or what?

Look at that tongue sticking out in concentration!   I love this!
I made little bags for each of the kiddos for our trip.  They can use these in the motor home, and have some fun with their little art bags.

 This is what is inside each pencil box.  Washable markers, colored pencils, crayons, mechanical pencils, eraser, glue stick, and scissors.  Gennifer may want to take Clairey's and hide them for a year or two!

I got them each a white board, with some dry erase markers, and color books, work books, and a few other things.


With this heat we are having, I quickly wound up with bananas that looked like this.

What do you suppose I did with those? 

Uh huh...more banana nut bread!  But this time, without the chocolate chips.  I was out.   Darn.  But it is still delicious!

I moved the little pool to the concrete on the patio.  I hate the mess it makes on the grass.  I put an old comforter down on the patio and laid the pool right on the top.  It is filling up now.

While it was filling, I did some of this.

I have been trying my hand at extreme couponing.  It takes some time, some work, and some planning.  But you can save up to 60% on your total grocery bill. It is a fun challenge too.
One of the things that I stocked up on with the Walgreen coupons was Yardley Of London soap.  I have one of them in my bathroom off the pool and it smells divine!!!!  The whole room smells good!

Have you ever seen one of these?

It is a neckerchief, with silica crystals sewn into the back.  You soak this in cold water for about 10 minutes, and these crystals puff up.  Imagine the disposable diapers when they are wet.  They become puffed up when they come in contact with fluid.   Same idea here.  When dry, the neck tie is flat.  But when wet, the crystals puff up, and this, when worn around your neck, keeps you cool.  I cannot survive the summer without them.  I discovered these about 8 years ago.  I wear them to garden, or do any yard work.  I wear them at the river.  I wear them when I am doing a big housecleaning job and it is hot out.  I am wearing it now, sitting outside on my patio.  It is nearing the 100 mark, and Noah is showing no signs of wanting to go inside.  He is in and out of the pool, so he is cool enough.  I purchased mine at Walmart.  They were in the sporting goods department.  Around 5 dollars.  Worth every cent and then some!  You can make them as well.  But I have not found the crystals yet to do so.  This is not a fashion statement, but if you read my Suck it Fifty post, and found yourself nodding in agreement,  you will want one for your very own too, regardless of how it looks!!!
I have been brewing an extra large pot of coffee every morning, and then about midday, I begin to enjoy these.

Fill your cup with crushed ice, pour your cooled coffee inside about 3/4 way to top.  Stir in a little bit of Hershey's chocolate syrup, or brand you prefer.  Stir really well, then top with a splash of fat free 1/2 & 1/2, and there you have a delightfully tasty iced mocha coffee to enjoy.  Sans the Starbuck's price!   Try it.  You will be making extra coffee too!
I love to walk into my kitchen and see these beautiful tomatoes and basil and things from the garden.  I cook with them every day.

My son Drew told me last night that he and his girl Diana had gone to Subway for lunch and had a veggie sandwich.  He said that they both were disappointed in the flavor after being so spoiled on my garden fresh veggies.   Awwww....that made me feel good!  I think I am going to make some home made spaghetti sauce and freeze it to take with us to Bass Lake with my tomatoes. I must be picking about 5 a day, sometimes more.
My chickens are really suffering from this heat.  I have one little lady who is particularly bothered by it.  Having difficulty walking at times, and despite water dunks, and misting, and all that I can do to cool her, she is still suffering.  I am concerned about going away and leaving them in someone else's care.  I don't feel I can ask them to come water dunk and mist them several times a day like I do.
Greg says..."Survival of the fittest Bunny"  He calls me Bunny.  And so it is, I suppose.  Chicken farming can be hard sometimes.  Losing any of them is very upsetting for me.
I am going to have Mr. G draw a name for the bunting giveaway on Friday.  I have a couple of personal emails requesting that I add their names because for whatever reason they cannot comment.  So if you still want in, scroll back to the last post before this one, and enter a comment.
Time for me to put my suit on and get wet!!!
Toodles from me on this hot hump day in So. Cal!