EXCESSIVE HEAT DIARY – DAY 4 (TUESDAY, JULY 9)

I missed posting this yesterday because the electricity went off at 4:50 p.m. Mike set up the generator to run the refrigerator, the TV, and a box fan. We had already planned that he would grill our supper, so he also warmed our side dishes. After supper we watched TV for a while but eventually gave it up. Mike turned the generator off, and we went to bed. At 10:45, I was awakened by a vehicle coming up the lane, and I knew it was Clearwater Power checking the line. And since we’re the last place on the route, I figured the electricity would be on within half an hour. It came on at 11:09. The temp was 80.

THIS INFO IS FOR TUESDAY, JULY 9

Morning low – 68 (It was still 75 at midnight.)

Temps: 85 at 10:00 / 93 at 12:30 p.m. / 98 at 3:30

Breeze – Often still; a hot late afternoon breeze at 7 mph  

Attic fan on – 10:40 a.m.

We were up at 5:30 and back from our morning walk before 7:00.

This is our hottest day yet. We’re now struggling to keep the house cool. It’s 81 downstairs and 82 upstairs. We’ll see if it cools off tonight.

The paper says that this West Coast heat wave will peak tomorrow (the 10^th), but triple-digit temps will continue at least throughout the week.

The report from the U-I extension agent is that the winter wheat will probably do all right, but it remains to be seen if the spring wheat will be damaged. I hope the photos show how much the wheat fields change from day to day.

I thought tick season was over, but Mike found two on his person yesterday and one today. But the grackles are gone, and the robins with them. It’s much quieter.

I checked the cherry tree yesterday, and the cherries still weren’t quite ripe enough.

We saw a small whitetail doe on our morning walk. Mid-morning a doe and a small buck ambled through the yard. Mike and I watched but Bess was oblivious as the doe crept behind her.

Yesterday I picked two young zucchini for our supper vegetable. More are setting on. I read that if your zucchini plant doesn’t produce, it’s because of a lack of pollinators. KW