It's Cool.

 

I was visiting with my sisters yesterday afternoon outside their home when this little pine squirrel provided a delightful diversion, scooting around their deck and later toward their parked vehicles. 

When Todd, the grandpuppy came down the driveway, the show ended as the little guy scampered off to a safe zone for squirrels. 

I'd call these contented cows. 

They have recently moved to a new pasture flush with ground-cover crops, and they are not wasting a bite.

Maybe we'll get that 60 percent chance of rain tomorrow, and maybe all the area pastures will get a boost.  

After seeing Facebook last night and this morning, I decided that last evening a lot of people  standing outside, looking west and looking east. 

This cloud formation just before sunset caught my eye and later, my camera caught it. 

My camera missed the dramatic forest-fire scenes from the Trestle Creek Complex after dark with flames engulfing trees.  Many other photogaphers in the area snapped pictures and posted them to Facebook.

The cloud formation lasted a few minutes, while there's no telling how long the fires, which started in early July, will last. 

Sad. 

Bill brought this home Saturday from the POAC Arts and Crafts Festival. 

He went early, hoping to slide in and slide out but concluded that a whole lot of other people had the same idea.  Sounds like it was a success.

And, we have more yard art. 

Some aspects of homegrown crops have been bountiful, to say the least.  

Yesterday, after seeing eight big garden cukes piled up in the refrigerator, I decided it was time to share some with family. 

I have to be careful cuz Bill sure does love his cukes and 'maters. 

As noted before, picking 'maters this year has been like picking berries. 

Eating fresh 'maters has been like popping pills, only much healthier. 

Good year for 'maters, cukes, carrots and beans.  Much better year for corn, but I should have planted more cuz we've consumed most of the crop. 

Pumpkins?  Not the best. 

I have one pumpkin on the vine.  It's about two inches across.  When I think of past years when fair time has been earlier, and I've taken blue-ribbons with my pumpkins, I'd guess the heat has not been good for this year's crop.

Same is true with the cantaloupe.  Lots of blossoms but tiny fruits which will probably not mature. The ever-spreading plant is pretty. 

Regular blog readers may have figured out over the years that this is one of my favorite scenes from our driveway. 

The great part:  it always looks a bit different.  

This morning, smoke from the Trestle Creek fire complex is rising in the background, and the clouds are pretty. 

We have begun a new chapter this morning with cooler temperatures.  After today's low 80s, we'll be in the high 60s and low 70s for a week.  

I don't mind wearing this sweatshirt, and I'm sure everyone's moods will improve with the long-awaited break in the heat.  Heck, maybe even the bees will go away.

Whatever the case, it's a welcome change. 

Happy Monday.