The Dog Days of Summer

In the middle of writing about how hot it is, it rains…on my parade!

Oh, it’s hot outside folks.  It’s really hot.  Me, I’m happy.   Most humans I know, not so much.

Even though I love the heat, I would trade our current stretch of 90 plus degree days for something cooler – the animals are just plain wilted.

I’ve got the fan going in the goat shed.  The cooling heads of cabbage and lettuce are hanging in the chicken run for afternoon snacking.  I’m hyper-vigilant about making sure the various bowls in the barnyard are full of clean, cool water.  Sometimes I add ice.  If I DO add ice, for sure Doink will methodically go from bowl to bowl, tipping each one over and rolling in the ice water.  He is one smart pig.

We have this awesome weather in Boulder.  Mornings are almost always so clear and blue it makes your eyes hurt.  Then the weather starts rolling in around mid-afternoon.  The clouds build and suddenly disperse, then build again.  It might sprinkle, it might pour.  Then, it might not do either and go right over your head.  Which is what we’ve had at our house for the past couple of weeks.  Maybe rain today…maybe.

When we bought this house 24 years ago, our neighbor asked us if we knew we had moved into the “Gobi Desert”.  He pronounced it Go-bye.  He said, “Yep, every afternoon you can see the rain go by this way and go by that way – but it hardly ever rains here.”

(OK, I SWEAR the second I typed that the heavens opened up and it started pouring – and the sun is still shining.  Mr. Kennedy, you were a great neighbor and wise man.  I miss you.)

Current magnificent shower aside, two hours ago the chickens looked like this.  Lots of panting and that weird wing spread that makes them all look a bit goofy.

Jasmine, known around the barnyard for being dramatic, puts on quite the hot weather show.

Louise flutters all over the place, checking in on everyone else.

Hermione looks like she’s trying to get onto Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross Station.

I’ve tried misting them, but they are not big fans of the mister.  Lots of squawking and running away.  Doink doesn’t even embrace getting sprayed.  He’s much more comfortable wallowing in water than getting it shot at him from a hose.

Keela, on the other hand, has a favorite water game…

Keela and the Water from Joan Hobbs on Vimeo.

I hope you’re keeping cool during the dog days of summer!

(Shared at Clever Chicks Blog Hop, Homestead Barn Hop, Backyard Farming Connection Hop, Tuesdays With A Twist, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, HomeAcre Hop and From the Farm Blog Hop!)