74 at 6:00 AM

I do not do well with heat. At least with cold you can put on more clothing. With heat you can only take off so much without getting arrested. So I decided to get up and water plants first thing. The mosquitoes had a thing or two to say about that as well. Pesky little devils!

We have a little house finch who has taken a liking to our fountain. He perches on the edge and just watches it. We are having a good time watching him!

 Below is a catbird. I wasn't sure what it was but that is where I started looking and sure enough, I was right. Having a bit more confidence in my identifying ability.

I am pretty sure this is our fountain watcher but today he decided to swing.

We are doing inside things with the heat being what it is. Last night we watched the last episode of season 2 of  The Handmaids Tale on Hulu. We can always find something on Netflix or Hulu that we like. I am not sure why but we always have trouble finding something on Amazon. A tip that may work for others is that I do my browsing online (computer) I find it easier than trying to work the remote on the TV to sort through the options. Then I make a list. Often times, after time has gone by, I forget why I may have chosen a selection but it usually is something we like.

Hotter than Hades

They are predicting really hot temps for the next few days. I think moderation in all things has been completely removed from the dictionary. The heat was predicted but at the same time, they promised a couple of dry days. Now they say we are not getting that either!
Butch is out on the golf course in his new SUN hat. It could get wet!
He does look good in it. With both of us dealing with skin cancers on our face we are taking a bit more care in protecting ourselves these days.

 I do not do good selfies.

And these are other pics of the last couple of days. The deer were on the trail today when Virginia and I went for our walk.

 And this is a juvenile House Finch. I tried to get a shot of our fountain spurting but could never catch it in mid-spurt. Just not quick enough.

On our walk, Virginia and I discovered we have much in common to our surprise. Virginia was born and raised in Linden Iowa and lived there for the first 50 years of her life, Just a block or two from Butch's uncle and aunt, Albert and Zoe Mix and their daughters Greta Fay and Gwendolyn. We are both former square dancers and remembered dancing to several callers. We very likely could have been at dances together and not even realized it. Our son Jason and her daughter Kathy were in the same graduating class in Panora. Her daughter graduated from Northwest Missouri State where our son Gary graduated from and even though 2 years apart in age they would have been on campus at the same time for part of their time there. It was a fun walk getting acquainted and connecting all the dots.

Bill and Jo family

Bill and Jo Brooker family (partial)

The State of things

The state of Iowa cannot seem to catch a break. They had a bitterly cold winter and then went straight into summer and now we are in monsoon season. It looks and feels like a rainforest and the only moving thing that is happy about it are the bugs!

Looking on the bright side I do not have to water my plants.

I walked this morning and added a new walking partner. Virginia and I have run into each other on the trail frequently the last couple of years but today we walked together and enjoyed each others company. The time goes so quickly when you are engaged in conversation and good walking partners are not all that easy to come by so we have agreed on a time for tomorrow morning.

Butch does his walking on the golf course and lately his feet get wet. That is where he is now.

Yesterday was a rainy day...again! So we turned to Netflix. And run onto a show called Backroad Bounty, a Canadian version of the American Pickers. We watched a couple of episodes and it looks like one we will enjoy

LEAVE HERE WITH A LAUGH
I couldn’t believe that the highway department called my dad a thief. But when I got home, all the signs were there.

InBox Surprise

My email this morning included a surprise from Butch's brother Don including a picture of him and his three handsome sons. They all live in the Kansas City area.

Brian, Don, Steve, and Brad

Still waiting!

Today's Ride

Keri and I rode bikes out to Bull Head Farm this morning. The goats have gone through all the foliage they seemed to get lost in when Colleen and I made the trip and have been moved further away so we passed on a close-up visit and headed back.
We had stopped at the bridge on the way south and the water is many feet high and rising. I took a few pictures.

 Keri