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Friday, February 26, 2016

Five on Friday

I'm writing my Five on Friday post on a very hot Friday afternoon. I'm so happy to link up with Amy and cruise around to all of the other participants especially those blogging about chilly weather in the northern hemisphere.
 
 
This week I'd like to share some pictures I took this week. It has been a hot and dry week at the end of a hot and dry summer and although I don't want to wish time away, I am ready for the hot weather to make way for the cooler seasons. It is unpleasant here and the town closest to us is going to go onto heavy water restrictions this week. In our house we are always on self-imposed water restrictions, we only have the rainwater in our tanks that we collect from our roof. It's precious stuff.
 
It is so much worse in places further west from us. So no complaining. Well not much.
 
 
One.
The temperature on my veranda yesterday afternoon. My intention when I took this picture was to show Grace how lucky she is to be shivering away in frosty Suffolk, UK this week. This afternoon the car temperature display said it was 43degC and it felt every bit of that. Yes, Grace is glad.
 
 Two.
Really these pictures don't show how brown and dry it is but I'll share them anyway. Everything is crunchy underfoot and unless you have irrigation, there is no way anything will sprout at the moment. Even bean seeds in my vegetable garden are struggling to poke their heads through the soil and they have enough water. Only just enough.

 Three
It is so very bright when it is hot like this. No clouds, just blue sky and sunshine.

 Four.
Ok, this is a bad picture of a dried up dam. I drive past this dam every time I go to town so I see it dry up in a kind of time lapse fashion. It's only a shallow dam so it will fill quick enough when it does rain. Let's hope that will be any day now.


Five
My fruit trees are sad and sorry. The citrus in particular are suffering. They have been watered but they are turning up their leaves and dropping fruit still. A good downpour is what they need. It's what everyone needs actually.

In the colder climates, seasonal affective disorder happens when it is dark and cold but I think it is just as real in the heat of summer here. It really does put a damper on your spirits. I haven't felt like doing much all week. Sandwiches for dinner, no baking and only a couple of letters leaving my desk and no sewing or craft whatsoever.

Good news is that our son is coming up for a visit tomorrow. He's a busy lad . Studying and working so we get to see him not nearly enough. I know I'm a big fan of snail mail but thank goodness for the power of the internet for keeping in touch.

Thanks for visiting. And thank you Amy for hosting.
Tracy

18 comments:

CountryMouse said...

41 and the 43, yuck. It has hard to watch everything curl up, whither and burn in the Summer heat. Am however sick of the news reporting it all as heat waves, 'ummm hello Mr Weather Man, it is called Summer'. Unfortunately it seems to have been a dry one all around. It has been like that up here in Nth QLD as well although we got a bit of a rest from it for most of this week. I know that my car said it was 41 at about 4 in the afternoon on Monday. The humidity is a killer here, sapping the energy from you so I so get what you are feeling like. Doing anything is just too hot, let alone cooking. We are up for a clear weekend and I am hoping the temps don't get too high because our main air con just went on the blink. I don't like my chances. We might be off in search of a cool swimming spot. Stay cool and I hope the rain comes soon.

Anonymous said...

Hi Tracy i have Sue on my blog today showing me the lovely letter that she got from you.
Oh its so hot where you are,its dry down our way also,hope you get some rain soon for your garden xx

eclectichomelife said...

Wow to the heat but how sad about the fruit trees. Feel your pain

Chookyblue...... said...

Yes arriving hot here to.... Feb had been much warmer then Jan.....
Everything is frizzling up.....

Unknown said...

Just spent a few days in East Gippsland and its so green. It drizzled every night but had warm sunny days. Even the 40 degree day on Tuesday felt cooler while looking at the lakes surrounding the house.

mamasmercantile said...

I can't imagine that sort of heat, here's hoping you get some rain soon.

riitta k said...

My symphaties to you because of the heat and draught. The soil in my garden is very sandy and I'm sure I could not grow anything here with your temperatures. I wish you cooler days and rain!

Coastal Ripples said...

Not a good temperature, particularly when it lasts a while. Bet you are out there doing a rain dance as I type. That citrus tree will be glad of a drink when it arrives. Plenty of rain in my part of the world at the moment! Barbara x

River said...

I don't think I could stand to live where you do, it's just too hot for too long. I'm in the city with water-on-tap and we sometimes get water restrictions, but surviving on just rainwater and waiting for the next good rain would do me in. I've become soft in my old age I suppose.

Gracie said...

It is certainly nicer in the cold. I am glad I've missed out on the awful weather.

Shortbread and Ginger said...

I complain a lot about the rain here in Scotland, but your post it has made me realise that perhaps we are lucky.
Liz

Patsy said...

We had the same problems when I lived in Southern California. In the summer it felt as if I lived in a world of cereal. Our hills were covered with that dry, brownish vegetation.

Now I live in a green world in the middle of the USA, but the trade off is that our winter brings trees with no leaves at all.

When I win the lottery, I shall just sell my house and follow the seasons around the world, choosing the best of the best. Dream on, Patsy!

Linda P said...

That's very hot! I'm not surprised it saps your energy.
What a shame that the fruit trees are suffering from the lack of rain and everything is so dry. Have a lovely weekend with your son coming to see you.

Mac n' Janet said...

I know exactly what you mean. I'm not a huge fan of winter, we don't have a really bad one here, but I prefer it to summer. Summers here are very hot and very humid, often the humidity is 100% and it's not raining.

Lorrie said...

Hello Tracy. Those temperatures are so extreme. Here on the west coast of Canada I can hardly imagine such heat. It would sap all energy, for sure. I do hope you get some rain soon. If I could, I'd send you some of ours.

Kimberley said...

we are officially in a proper heat wave in Auckland - 99% humidity today but at 29 degrees. 35 degrees yesterday after school in my car! It is mental at school with a wet t-shirt by 9.30am even in an air conditioned room (the only place in the entire school with air con). You look SO dry. I am hoping for winter asap too!(we did get massive rain today which was fab! Can't remember when it last rained!)

Crimson Kettle said...

Goodness that's hot! It all looks so dry and dusty but no doubt when you get some rain and cooler temperatures it will all spring back to life. :-)

Pondside said...

Big sympathy from me on the wet west coast of British Columbia. Our winter is rain, rain and more rain. People think it rains year round here, but the truth is that come summer, we are in drought conditions. The grass hurts your bare feet, the trees dry up, we're on watering restrictions and we all pray for those October rains to come early. I hope you get some relief soon.