September 23rd

 

Today is the autumnal equinox of 2018.
Or, the first day of Fall.
All it really means is that,
the Sun is directly above the equator,
and day and night are approximately equal in time.
This happens twice a year,on the vernal (spring) equinox and today.
Equinoxes and solstice' are directly related to the sun and seasonal changes.
The summer and winter solstice are marked by the sun being at the highest
in the summer with the longest day, and the lowest in winter, with the shortest day.
Hope that cleared it up for y'all.
But those changes never really come to the deep south.
Ha!
Yeah, I'm laughing!
The temperature outside now is 85, and it feels like 95 with the humidity.
We've been known to have 80 degree Christmas mornings!
I'm just tired of this oppressive heat.
The other day I went to pick up the grandkids from school,
and it was so hot!
How hot was it you ask?
This hot!

(an actual picture of me waiting at the gate for them to get outta school)

Really!

 

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The hens, even though they are all molting,

are finding creative cool spots to hang out in the yard.

I guess because there is less feathers between their skin and the ground.

I usually do a head count whenever I'm outside,

just as a precaution.

If I can't find one of the girls, then I systematically look for her.

Ethel was MIA.

I'm calling her and looking everywhere the girls usually sit.

Nothing.

Not even a cluck.

So, I got out the big guns, the one thing they can't refuse,

their dried mealworms!

Its like crack to them.

I shook the container and they all came running!

Ethel, however, flew down from the ledge we have

a tape player on.

I never thought to look UP!

I guess it was cooler up there for her.

Also....

They need extra protein while they're replenishing their feathers,

so we give them a can of tuna weekly.

They'll gather around the can to eat it as soon as they can,

then run to drink water and find the coolest spot under the tree.

They avoid napping on the cement of the patio.

It probably feels like they are being fricassee'd.

 

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I couldn't sleep last night.

Not a new thing with me.

I couldn't turn my brain off.

I usually try to go back to sleep if I'm awakened,

(counting sheep has never worked, sorry fluffy guys)

but even after a trip to the bathroom,

a glass of cool water,

and turning my pillow to the cooler side,

I still tossed and turned.

Then I got too hot and threw off the covers,

and eventually decided to get up and read.

I don't like to turn any lights on to navigate

from the bedroom to the den,

but last night was very dark.

Thank goodness the Nook is backlit.

It served as a flashlight and I narrowly avoided

tripping over the dog,

breaking a hip and going to Rehab.

So.....

I read for a bit then crawled back in bed

around 5.

I slept till 8!

Yay for retirement!

I can finally sleep in if I want.

 

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And remember....

 

and

 

 

😉