Monday, April 28, 2008

Lizard Heat

To say it has been warm around here is an understatement. We have actually broken all time heat records this past week. Now, mind you, I am NOT one to complain about heat because I am sure that I am half lizard. Bring it on! We are fortunate enough to not have the humidity that can make heat waves so miserable. Our climate is very dry and just the slightest movement of the air is delightful. I do, however, get a little disgruntled when we have rolling black outs due to the drain on the power grid. This was the case over the weekend.








Saturday was perfect for a lovely BBQ and outdoor dining with my brother, sister, their spouses and my mother. The menu was changed at the last minute because our original plan was to cook in the outdoor wood oven. Considering that the oven heats up to 850* we felt that 97* temperatures outside plus the cooking heat was a little too hot. It was just fun to all get together and enjoy good food and good company.








Sunday was another scorcher. The temperature soared to 98*. The house stays remarkably cool if it is opened up early and closed as the sun comes up. We were lucky enough to not feel the need to run the air conditioner. However, as I was cooking dinner I noticed my lights start to flicker. Sure enough, that was followed shortly after by a total power outage. It wasn't too bad as we can get along just fine without the power for awhile. The biggest pain is to reset all the darn clocks!!! Everything is run by time or so it seems. Oven, microwave, coffee pot, VCRs (yes, I still have one of those), clocks, answering machine and all else look so happy just blinking away at "12:00." Why is it even the battery backup clocks tend to loose a few minutes? Of course it seems that I also have to dig out a few manuals to "remember" how to reset the times.








Monday was suppose to be considerably cooler but the temps again reached 93*. The humidity did pick up slightly which was a very welcome relief for the firemen working the fires in the hills. They do such a wonderful job protecting the homes that are built right into the hillsides. It truly is amazing how few homes will actually burn in these massive fires.










I have to share a picture of a creature that our grandchildren found near their yard.










When my family first moved to California from the Midwest we used to catch these things all the time. We always called them "horny toads." Of course they are really from the lizard family. The kids were quite impressed that I knew what it was and we immediately looked it up on the computer. Of course there was never any intention of keeping it for a pet and it was released after everyone got to see it. The one thing that I had conviently forgotten about it was the fact that they are able to shoot blood from their eyes to a distance of three feet. Now that would scare anything half to death. It truly looks and moves its head like a dinosaur. Considering the fact that they are currently endangered, I was thrilled to see one again.





I am hoping to get a little time in my sewing room this week. The schedule has been so busy lately and I really just need to make the time to have some fun. I found this wonderful reading on a blog a few weeks ago. I really wish that I could remember who had posted it so that I could give them credit, but it was just too funny to not pass it on to my readers who sew. This is how you prepare for sewing:



If you have ever had trouble focusing at the sewing machine or been a little stressed while quilting --this may be just the help you need.



Prepare yourself mentally for sewing. Think about what you are going to do. Never approach sewing with a sigh or lackadaisically. Good results are difficult when indifference predominates.



Never try to sew with a sink full of dirty dishes or beds unmade. When there are urgent housekeeping chores, do these first so your mind is free to enjoy your sewing.



When you sew, make yourself as attractive as possible. Put on a clean dress.



Keep a little bag full of French chalk near your sewing machine to dust your fingers at intervals.



Have your hair in order, powder and lipstick put on. If, you are constantly fearful that a visitor will drop in or your husband will come home and you will not look neatly put together, you will not enjoy sewing as you should.



From a Singer Sewing Manual, 1949



Do you love it or what? Think that I would probably never enter my sewing room if I had to worry about all of this before I start.









18 comments:

  1. "Have your hair in order, powder and lipstick put on. If, you are constantly fearful that a visitor will drop in or your husband will come home and you will not look neatly put together, you will not enjoy sewing as you should."

    Oh dear - I'd NEVER get any quilting done if I abided by this rule! Thanks for the fun list.

    It has been hotter than blazes, hasn't it? I'm ready for the cooler weather they're promising this week!

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  2. That was a very entertaining quote. I know that I want to be admired, but to strive for perfection in everything and at all times would be completely overwhelming.

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  3. Oh my gosh!! I want that heat! You are so right, if we could combine the two temps, it would have been perfect, lol! Thank you for the list! So cute and fun!

    Hugs,
    Amy

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  4. I was thinking about you when reading about all the wildfires. We haven't had nearly the heat you have..
    We have a rotating outage grid # that is the same as the No. CA CHP dispatch center. They never cut power to them, so we never get ours cut on rotating outages. (we do lose power for other reasons sometimes)
    Loved the quote from 1949 sewing manual.
    Stay cool!
    xo

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  5. LOL. I would never get to the sewing machine, either! I sew to get away.. from those household chores......
    thanks fo rvisiting my blog last week!

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  6. Well darn it, it's no wonder it's so cold here, you've got all the heat over there! lol I don't think I could ever get use to such high temperatures, though...especially not with the "power surges" I've been experiencing lately...ahem! hehe It only went up in the 30's here today and this morning when I got up there were snowflakes flying around!!! Thank goodness it stopped, don't think I could handle seeing snow on the ground again after having it for 6 months!

    I've heard of "horny toads" but never knew what they looked like! Wow, they sure do look prehistoric don't they! I'll print out that picture to show my sons, they would love to see that. We don't have any type of lizard around here.

    I'm still giggling at that quote from the 1949 sewing manual...thank goodness things have changed! lol

    I so enjoyed your tutorial on making fabric postcards in your previous post...you sure do make it look easy! One of these days I'll have to take my sewing machine out of storage and try something like that!!!

    Hope you've been having a fabulous week:-) xoxo

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  7. Yuo are so lucky to have heat, we are still having snow/hail. Its so stupid!!!
    Have a great evening!!
    Stephanie

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  8. I am so thankful that life has become a tad less uptight!!! So funny.

    That is quite the creature - yucky!

    It is way, way to early for that much heat, isn't it?? We're still roller-coastering from cold to warm - one fairly hot day so far.

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  9. When I get the notion (no pun intended )to sew,everything else gets put on hold!
    I remember days when I sat down at the sewing machine, first thing in the morning in my nightgown, when I had a deadline to get a project done! Have a good day and try to keep cool!
    Suzy

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  10. That is a hoot! I would never get any sewing down if I had to get all of that stuff done first! lol!
    I don't envy you the heat. I've been watching the weather out your way and seeing the temps in the 90's. It's been cold here, very cold riding this morning even though we were all bundled up. Would be nice to have a happy medium wouldn't it? The fields were very wet and mucky from all the rain on the weekend so we pretty much had to stay on the road.
    That is some weird looking creature! Squirts blood out the eyes???!!! D would get a kick out of that! ha!

    I was going to get started on a new pattern tonight but time has just gotten away from me. I bought it in Florida and it's got Santa, Mrs. Santa, an elf and a reindeer with lights in his antlers. Def will start it tomorrow.

    Got to give Mom a perm too so probably should do that first!!

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  11. I just read your profile and found out that you did just like my hubby and i did. We met at 16 and 17 and started dating. Never dating anyone else. We were married at 18 and 19 and have been married for 44 years now!! It does work..but it take committment...doesn't it!!?? You have hot weather. We are supposed to get a bit ourselves today here in Ga.

    Blessings, Sandy

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  12. The little lizard scares me..lol
    thanks for the tips to. I hope you have a wonderful weekend..
    It's supposed to rain here..

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  13. I agree...I would never be able to sew a stitch being held up to that standard!! :)
    We are barely staying at the 60 degree mark...but we are happy to say there is no snow!!
    ~Blessings!

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  14. the sewing rules are too funny.
    love the photo of the lizard..how cool!

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  15. I hope things cool down soon...I don't do well with heat at all! Have lots of fun sewing!
    Hugs,
    Kelli
    P.s. I thought of Pea too, when I saw my fairy. I will definitely be hiding it. ;0)

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  16. That is a yucky lil bugger to shoot blood! Gross.

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  17. I loved the picture of the "horny toad"! We used to catch those by the dozens when I was a kid in West Texas.

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  18. Oh dear, I would never get to the sewing room either if I had to worry about all those details :) Makeup to sew. Ha! What a riot!
    We could use some of the heat you were having. It almost feels like winter again here after our warm 2 weeks back in April.
    Thanks for sharing that wonderful lizard. What a great picture you got! My mum used to feed raw hamburger to frill necked lizards in her garden in Australia. She enjoyed them :)

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