The house is finished.  The roof is on.  The siding is in place. The door-frames have been replaced and the doors sanded and painted. The gutters have been cleaned.  The window frame has been stained and finished.  Now, we need to work on the shed.

I received another set of bookcases for my library/ writing/ computer room. Of course when you visit, you can sleep there.

I received an email today, which asked, “Anything else new in your part of the country?  Hot and dry or hot and rainy?”  It is hot and dry!!!!! We haven’t had over 100 degree temperatures for 6 years. This July we have had over 100 degrees almost everyday.  The farmers who planted corn in March or early April may have a crop but the drought has caused very few kernels on the corncobs for those who planted later. Because of the poor Midwest crops, the news channel on TV said that food will be higher next year. Since most of our gasoline is mixed with gasohol, fuel will raise in price too. Where the lawn is green, the photos were taken on June 21 to 25. 

Where the grass is brown, the photos were taken last week. 

I told Terry that I wanted him to be careful with my hibiscus.  He put a large garbage can over it and saved it.  The hand-sized flowers have been doing well since I watered them everyday. I have planted day lilies and Asiatic lilies next to the garage where my iris flowers have returned after the hailstorm.  My tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower vegetables are small even though the plants are large. Some Queen Anne’s lace came up voluntarily by the patio so I asked Terry not to cut them down.  They have survived very well even though I haven’t watered them much.  Maybe my brother is right when he calls them weeds. Only weeds grow well in this weather. Because it’s hot, Terry and I get up at 5:30 am to paint and fix the house and water the plants so we siesta around noon.