Fiery Furnace

It's 105 degrees outside--hot, hot, hot.  We've never had a June so hot--August maybe, but not June. Added to that is the need for rain. Last week we got two tenths of an inch, but the ground is in terrible shape again, and the grass is toasted. I'm really ready for rain and some cooler weather.

 I've been leaving the house before six in the morning just so I can get home before the heat. When I start walking the sky looks like this. That's the moon up there, not the sun.

 By the time I get home, it's bright and sunny. Too sunny if you ask me. I could do with less cheer and more clouds and mist and drip, drip, drips of drop, drop, drops. I think it's becoming an obsession with me.

Just leave it on the Doorstep

"I know I've called twice today, but I really need to know when the kiln is going to be delivered.You see the owner of the shop is on vacation, and we're not open every day. Someone needs to be there to open the door so you can load it right into the building"

"Don't worry. I have the tracking number. Right? It's the one you gave me?"

"Yes, but there won't always be someone at the building. If the delivery people could call us a few minutes before they get to town we will make sure someone is there to meet them and open the door."

"Don't worry. I'll take down all your numbers and they will call you before they get there."

"Ok. Here are four numbers: my house number, Turtle's job, Claye's cell, and my cell number."

"Don't worry. I've got the numbers. They'll call."

That was Tuesday. On Wednesday, Claye got a call from her boss who is in the Caribbean. She came rushing into the living room to tell me the kiln was here. The delivery truck driver had read the number on the door of the shop and called him. So we jumped in the car and drove as quickly as we could to the shop ten blocks away. Too late. They were gone. But they left five hundred pounds of equipment outside on the sidewalk. Man! Doesn't anybody listen?

Nothing Quite Like an Early Morning Hike