home is where the hot is

We arrived home yesterday after five days in the Colorado mountains where they were having a bit of a heat wave. Yeah. Almost 80 degrees for the high. I had to wear sun screen instead of a jacket when we biked from Vail Pass to Avon. Hard times.

Now we’re back in the East Texas blast furnace. 100 degrees and about 250% humidity, give or take. We can eat steamed vegetables right off the vine. Driving home from the Dallas airport we heard a report on the radio about how plants let us know when they’re thirsty. They emit a high-pitched whine caused by their herculean efforts to suck moisture from parched ground. However, the frequency is so high, only dogs and biologists named George can hear it. So, no surprise that when we pulled into our driveway, he launched into emergency rescue mode.

“Help us,” all the little stemlings cried in a voice much like the half-fly-man’s as he lay snagged in the spider’s web in that classic flick, The Fly.

George lavished them with tepid sprinkler water. Their sorrow turned to laughter, and they waved their little petals and blades in glad gratitude. What a happy ending. I should send this story to Reader’s Digest.

While we were gone I got behind on my July picture-a-day photo blog. But I’m caught up now. It’s quite the random sampling. Some of the shots are from Grace’s trip to Europe last fall. A few (wall flower, myrtle, weeping green) were taken in our yard right before we left for Colorado. There is no method. I just post whatever catches my eye from the vast picasa collection on my computer.

Today’s selection is in honor of our upcoming trip to Venice. I’m getting molto eccitato, y’all. But before that happens, Grace and Curtis are coming to the sauna state in all their abundant adorableness. He wants to experience a bit of her history. You know, see the family in its natural habitat. Breathe our pre-heated air. That sort of thing. I’ll let you know how it goes.

That’s all for now. Stay cool, hug someone you love, and give a flower a nice drink of water.