Just Checking In

I went out the other day to check out this little second hand store a few blocks away as my daughter Debbie, was looking for a used car seat for her granddaughter Miliany. It of course was already hot out but I needed to get out of the house. I pulled in front and the security door was open but the sign said closed. I located the store hours and it said 10 am I was 15 min early. I sat for a bit with the truck running but I still could feel the heat. Just as I decided to leave the lady came out and said come on in. I found one and could not believe what good shape it was in outside of being a little dirt. What a gonga $10. I was hoping to find at least one high chair but they said they never get them in for some reason. I walked around a bit and they had some nice things in there and the store and the stuff is really clean for the most part. I paid for the car seat and headed out the door. Dang it got hot in that short amount of time.

I really needed to stop at the store so I hit Safeway picked up a few things and mailed a letter on my way out. 

It was only 10:15 and it was was 102. Yep time to go home.

I proceeded to take the car seat apart so I could wash the padding, I was hoping I would be able to put it back properly. All these companies that make padded things no longer use the good material on the backs, dog beds included they use this cheap mesh stuff that isn't worth a crap. Most of that fell apart and the stuffing was hanging out. I had some old t-shirts that started to fall apart so I cut it into the pattern needed and sewed it up. Not a bad job and it gave me something to do. 

The rest of the week not much was going on since the humidity is now joining the heat and it was just to ugly to move even in the house. I had to slide the entertainment center over and away from the wall so the A/C vent was exposed and more cold air could circulate the room.

Yesterday I did a quick run to the store again and right back home. today my daughter Tracy, and I did our breakfast run and then to Walmart and back home. The A/C in the truck was hardly cooling down the small cab of my truck. But it always feels so good to open my door and walk into the nice cool house. 

Good Night All 

Doing Things

It hasn't cooled down one bit and we have broken all the previous records. To hear the meteorologist talk about it its like some big wonderful thing. UGH! Not even the mornings are nice enough now to sit out and drink my coffee.

So I figured it was time for a long over due closet clean out. I emptied the closet of almost all the clothes except for winter stuff and that isn't much. My closet looks good and now there is lots of room on the rod and I intend to keep it that way I have enough to get me by for any occasion . Today I cleaned out some dresser drawers. I have a big bag to go to the  donation center if they are even open with this heat.  They usually are sitting out side of the truck or inside depending on the weather.

So not much else to tell about since I have't left this house since Sunday, I did take the trash down to the street and then back up after it was empty and of course to check on the water for the birds and letting Fred out and he sure makes a quick job of it too.

Good Night All

Getting Bored

This morning my daughter and I went out for breakfast and let me tell you everywhere was packed because of Fathers Day. Which I hope all the dads and single moms who played both rolls had a wonderful day.

We couldn't even leave the windows down in the truck because the heat was already up. But we ran to Walmart just to pick up a few things. When we came out of the store the heat hit you like a nasty hair dryer blowing the hottest air in your face. 

We then headed back to my house where it was cooler but I had turned the thermostat up to high this morning so it was about 80 in the house. Tracy didn't stay very long since the a/c in her black car doesn't work. That poor kid.

I have been watching this baby hummer in the mornings and I sure hope his mom is still looking after him. I know it's a male because it is starting to get his ruby throat feathers. But he doesn't seem to get the idea of how to use the feeders. He flew to one as soon as I hung it but it was only water. I watched him do this a few times so I switched it around with the sugar one. But he flew to the plane water one again I know it was because of the bright red and was looking on the top of the feeder where there isn't any thing. OK this little guy needs some help. I took the feeder down and took it into the house and made some sugar water for that feeder also. I wasn't out there today and by time I changed it over yesterday it was way to hot to sit out and see if he figured it out.

Since it was 110 today I don't know how cool it will be in the morning but I hope to have my coffee out there and maybe see if he has figured it out or I'm afraid he will die.

 I thought I had things figured out for this heat and staying home thing. Well while I make myself do some things I am not ready to start painting or doing some of the other projects I had planned. Even though the house is nice and cool for some reason I just don't have the desire to do much. I think part of the problem besides the heat is that I have all the blinds closed to help keep out the heat and makes the house dark. I don't want to turn on lights as you can even feel the heat off the lamps bulbs. 

Good Night All

Water For The Birds

The mornings are still really great. So I have been taking advantage of them. I set up some watering stations for the birds. I have a young hummer that isn't quite sure about the feeders. I always have one with sugar water in it and I have seen a adult or two going for a drink. Yesterday I hung a feeder without sugar for the other birds and this little mite went right to it but I guess it didn't know what to do and flew off. I saw him do that again this morning so I moved the sugar feeder to that side. I hope he gets the hang of it soon or he may die. I know it's a male as he is getting his ruby colored feathers on his throat.  I also hung one at the other end of the porch without sugar. I moved the pretty bird bath my granddaughter gave me to another place closer to the bushes on the property next door hoping for more shade. Also used the plastic pans the are used under pots to fill with water. These birds will need all the help they can get. 
The temperature reached 105 today and it is very dry. The temperature will rise steadily for the next week and they still aren't sure how high it will go but they are thinking around 115. In the early morning when I get up I open the door and some windows as it is really cool because of the dry air. It's nice to get some clean fresh air in the house. My computer room is on the east side and I usually have to close the window and blinds by 8 am. The porch is on the west so I can leave that open until around 9:30 am. And that is when Fred and I have to go in and close up the rest of the blinds. 
By 4 pm you can start to feel the heat more in the house and I have to lower the thermostat a little more.

Tomorrow morning I will make a very early run to the grocery store for a few things and get back home.

Good Night All

We Are In For It

Today I did a lot of veggie cooking so I will not have to use the oven again for some time. I made the steak cauliflower that Phyllis had added to her blog. What a tasty treat that is, also made cheesy cauliflower with the other half of cauliflower. My daughter had posted a wonderful recipe last night for a meal on the grill. I had all the ingredients so I made that for dinner, and that was soooo good.

Of course I cut this down to just 1 serving as this recipe is for I believe 4 servings

Butter Garlic Herb Steak Foil Packets

Ingredients

·      1 pound small red potatoes, cut into fourths

·      2 carrots, sliced

·      1 red bell pepper, cubed

·      1 green bell pepper, cubed

·      ½ red onion, cut into cubes

·      salt and pepper

·      1 Tablespoon olive oil

·      1½ pound top sirloin steak, cut into one inch cubes*

·      Garlic Herb Butter:

·      ½ cup butter, room temperature

·      ¼ cup freshly chopped parsley

·      4 garlic cloves, minced

·      1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped

·      1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped

·      ½ teaspoon salt

·      ¼ teaspoon pepper

Instructions

1.  In a medium sized bowl add the red potatoes, carrots, bell peppers, and red onion. Add salt and pepper and toss with olive oil.

2.  Place four 18x12-inch pieces of heavy aluminum foil on counter. Evenly place vegetable mixture on each piece of foil. Top vegetables with steak.

3.  To make the garlic herb butter: In a small bowl add the butter, parsley, garlic, rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper. Divide evenly and place on top of the steak. Double fold top and ends of each piece of foil, leaving space for steam to gather.

Place packets on the grill and cover. Grill 15 minutes or until steak is cooked through and veggies are tender. Carefully open packets and serve.
Note* I don't bother with this bowl stuff I cut everything up and just put it right onto the foil, even the butter it will melt while cooking 

The latest on our heat wave is not good. Next week we will hit well over 115 degrees and now I am really sorry I did not head for the mountains. It will be way to hot to travel there now and maybe not for another week at least. I had been checking the weather channel and it doesn't show any of that but the weather on TV sure told it like it is.

Good Night All

So Many Fires

The temperatures have gone done by a couple degrees but it is still so hot and so very dry. There were 2 fires in Cochise County near Benson, and the fear of them joining did happen. Because of the winds there and the dried grasses of the winter they can not even get any containment. Buildings have been burned and a home. The area has little ranches and farms so they are on high alert to evacuate.

You always get excited when there is a wet winter but then realize all that grass and other vegetation that grows like crazy dies and drys out in the high temperatures and create high fire hazards.

I finally went to get a hair cut this morning and the regular girl wasn't there. My hair cut is so bad I don't even want to talk about. But can we say HAT!

Good Night All

No Rain For Us?

I was able to check off a couple more things on the to do list.

Had to really force myself out the door this morning. Kept telling myself I really didn't need to go to Target, a store I really do not like. But once I pulled out of the driveway I made my way there. I picked up a gift card for my daughter's birthday on Sat. and bought the twins their birthday gifts. I know a lot of people do not like Walmart but at least you can buy clothes there made in the USA. I should have just bought the gift card and left. All the clothes are made in Taiwan, China, India and a few more of those countries and the prices are through the roof. I will never shop there again.

Then on the way home and mind you it was only around 10 am and it was a scorcher, I stopped for gas and hit a second hand store but didn't buy anything.

I wasn't home long when I had to close all the blinds in the house as the temperatures started to rise fast. We hit 107 today. Even Fred made quick work of his outside runs.

As I was watching the 4 pm news the weather man said we will not be getting any of the rain that was building on the south east side, well buddy what is that torrent going on outside. Yes it poured and it poured hard for at least 5 min. I live on the south west side of town.

Made some stuffed mushrooms tonight sure happy I have a toaster oven to cut out the use of the oven.

Good Night All