Sunday, July 21, 2024

Things getting done.

Gardeners came on last Thursday to clean up the tree mess. This is how it used to look - in the spring. 

This is how it looks now. At least the bushes under it will get a lot of sunshine now. 
While they were working we got hit with a sudden unexpected rain storm. The gardeners are waiting it out on the patio.
Just after the storm the water is about four or five inches deep in the drainage channel. Makes me nervous when it gets high and running fast. 
More rain out over the desert. 

A very short video of our rain storm. Sure was loud and heavy while it lasted. Turn on you sound. 

It continues to be pretty warm here  If we do have to go somewhere we go out by 7:30 while it is only in the 90's! So I've been working on another diamond dotz painting.  It is finished now, just have to frame it.  Nicer looking than the picture shows. My camera is starting to give me problems. One of them being not showing colors they way it should. 
And I am still sewing some. Working on my third "fall theme" throw pillow covering. All the leaves are the same size and I still have/want to make one more. Then I'll need to figure out how to use them to make the cover. I have to sew early in the day as that room gets the afternoon sun and really heats up. 
We are getting no relief at all this year. Been over 100 since the end of May. Been over 110 most of that time. And a week of over 115. It is not cooling down at night. So AC comes on before 7 in the morning. Getting tired of it. 
That is it for now. More to share but will do that later. 

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Worst summer we've had since we've lived here.

The weather continues to be the topic of every one's conversations. Have never seen the heat as bad as this year. Granted we are usually over 100 but NOT over 110 for weeks on end. This week is cooler - relatively that is  - instead of 115 to 120 it is now only 110 to 115. Notice one day of maybe rain coming. Some forecasters day maybe two days. WOW! But that means humidity - ugh!  If it would only cool down at night. AC runs day and night now and we have it set at 79. But every day during high energy usage the energy company raises the thermostat by 4 degrees for a couple of hours. So that is up to 82/83. Bill loves it, I can only sit and read or work on diamond art. For sure no cooking on those days. 

And then we got a WIND STORM. There was Monsoon weather around us, we didn't get rain just the wind. This is from the Internet -  "Ten days of record heat came to a possible end when a rare weather phenomenon blew through Las Vegas on Friday evening — a haboob, also known as a big dust cloud or storm." I lifted the picture from the Internet too. In fact we were/are keeping our blinds to the back yard closed to help with the heat so we didn't see it come through. I did notice it seemed darker for a little while, but then forgot about it. 

Later Bill went to look out the window at the back yard. He said, We have a problem in the back yard."  What?  "The Palo Verde tree is down." WHAT?! Yep half of our beautiful tree was laying on the ground with part of it in the neighbors yard too. Lovely. Guess I should have looked out when the wind came through. But glad I didn't. And it was the fullest and prettiest side of the tree. 

Broke off right at the bottom. 

Luckily we have friendly neighbors. And nothing was damaged in their yard. 
So called the gardener - who had told us last year the tree needed to be trimmed out. He reminded me of that when he came over to cut it up. So her iat is all piled in yard. He will take it away tomorrow and trim up the part of the three that is left.  Yes those are pigeons laying in the shade.

Speaking of pigeons - when we went out to look at the downed tree there were pigeon guts and feathers all over the back yard. Guess a visit from a coyote or very big cat  happened over night. ICK

I am still dealing with the home warranty company about our air conditioning unit. The unit itself is fine but we were told by AC technician that he thinks the pipe going under tst house to who knows where (that is my thought, not his) is leaking and that is why we have to keep getting the gas replaced every year. That gas is EXPENSIVE. In fact while I've been typing this I am on hold with a representative of the warranty company who is trying to find someone to come out and check the pipe. I have spoke to representatives working from South Africa and the Philippines, don't know where this one is from, but intend to ask. ( She too is from Phillippines and she has submitted a work order to a company, so I should be hearing from them soon. I hope.)

Put out my summer decorations the other day. The throw pillow covers I made. 

Table decorations I've had for a long time. Made the place mats. 
And of course summer stained glass. These pieces I made about 20 years ago. But still like them. 

Haven't done any sewing lately but have been working on a couple of diamond dotz paintings. Finished this one. Need to get a frame for it. It is 12 x 12. Looks prettier in real life than the photo. 

Well, unexpected things happen. We were sitting and watching TV last night when all the power suddenly went out. It was a big power outage  from North Las Vegas to Henderson, with us right in the middle. Energy company was on the ball though, got it fixed after about 1 1/2 hours. Sure glad as it was starting to get hot inside. Glad I had an ebook, just read while it was out. 

Do you ever feel like this. I do once in a while. 

Enough for now. 

Monday, July 8, 2024

HOT HOT HOT AND HOTTER

 Las Vegas is outdoing itself!  Broke  all highest records yesterday.. This is from the OFFICIAL thermometer for the city. I imagine it was hotter in some areas.  

And this is the forecast for the next week. Such fun. On Wednesday Bill has an eye doctor
 appointment at one o'clock in the afternoon. Sure glad the AC in the Jeep was fixed a couple of months ago. 

While taking pictures off the TV I got a snap of this one. This is going on about four blocks from us. SWAT team and Metro and Sheriffs all out there. No information about what is going on yet. But glad we don't have to go any where as Tropicana is completely blocked off. 

One of my sons posted this picture the other day. Long, long, long time ago. Paul in the back, John and Gil in middle and Randy and Dennis in front. 
And I finally finished this "fall" pillow cover. Turned out kind of pretty. Colorful any way. 
And that is all that is going on around here. Watching the soccer games,  So far Argentina is doing good.