This and That

After a really wet and cold June, summer's finally arrived with a vengeance. The temperatures earlier this week were perfect for me, around 24C with a lovely cooling breeze.

As the week's progressed, so has the heat intensified daily. Today we're supposed to hit 35C and Sunday 36C. Ugh! I am working a market on Sunday and I'm a bit concerned about it being so hot, as I get sun/heat stroke very easily. I've emailed the market manager to request a spot in the shade, and hopefully she'll be able to comply. If not, I may have to forego the market.

I've been arising earlier to go out for a bike ride, while the morning air is still cool. Heck, this morning, the sun hadn't risen above the mountains (I still missed the sunrise though, dammit), and although cool enough to ride, I noted the air was still very warm.

The other day when I rode through the foliage tunnel and was taking photos of the wildflowers as the sun wove it's way through the trees to backlight the flowers, I noted a dying flower with a bee on it. I'm not sure I've mentioned it before, but I have a mad penchant for bees. I love them and constantly attempt to get that perfect photo of them in flight, or on a flower.

Walking over to the flower, and getting my macro lens super close, I took numerous photos of the bee and was surprised it didn't fly away. After closer inspection, I realized the bee was dead, possibly caught in the strands of the wildflower. But what a great opportunity to get some good close-ups. It didn't look dead, just as if it was sitting on the flower.

I thought of cutting off the flower and taking the thing home to take photos, but thought, no I'll come back tomorrow and take more. Silly me. No idea what happened to it and the flower, but it wasn't there the next day.

This morning when I went out, the sun highlighted a branch shaped as a question mark in the slough, and slanted across the algae covered water, leaving everything else in deep shadow. It's fascinating to me how a dead branch sticking up out of the water and marsh grass can look beautiful when the light shines on it just so.

A new dairy calf has arrived at one of the farms, and I believe it's only about a week old, as I saw 'Mom' laying on her side last week in the grass paddock, looking very uncomfortable. The little thing is so cute, bounding around the paddock while Mom eats grass. I've managed to get a few photos of it, one of it sticking it's tongue out.

As I'd left much earlier this morning, I think I was too early even for animals, as the birds and wildlife seemed subdued. I didn't take many photos today, unlike most other days, but I'm okay with that. It was a lovely bike ride and great way to start the day.

Arriving back home and going out back to pluck the first ripe tomato of the season and water the plants, I was shocked at how my garden has literally exploded in growth. Holy crap! The tomato plant that was struggling due to our rainy June and almost died from being too wet has grown at least 12 inches this week. The other tomato in the ground has almost outgrown it's cage.

My potted tomato is doing well, with another tomato ripening on it. The three zucchini plants that were so puny even a week ago are HUGE! One little zucchini is growing on it and I'll have to keep an eye on it, or it'll be massive in no time.

Between biking, keeping the plants watered, and working, life has been darn busy! I'm antsy to go someplace new though, and hope it cools off enough next week for me to hit one of the rail trails in the US.