Staying Cool Around The Homestead

Looking forward to this next week. If the weather reports are right we will not be having triple digit temps but will even get down to the 80's! Going to be some good rainfall coming in with that cool front and I am truly looking forward to it. Even with the 100plus degree weather we managed to find ways to cool off and enjoy ourselves. Grandson Harvey took over PopPops straw hat while playing outside in the mornings and late evenings. He loves being a "farmer". Harvey's time here will be over next Sunday as he heads back home. Will miss my little helper. We were blessed to be given over 40 watermelons for the animals. They have really enjoyed eating them, especially during the hottest part of the day. Doesn't take them long to eat it right down to nothing but the green outer skin. The geese even dip the green part in their water and eat that. The rabbits eat early morning and don't want anything but frozen water bottles till late evening. Their days are spent sleeping next to or hugging their frozen bottle. I give them fresh drinking water but they don't even move from their spot next to their bottle to get a drink. By now I know where each rabbit wants its bottle placed. A couple like theirs in their sleeping box. A few like theirs against the back of the cage and others like theirs right at the front so they can stay cool while they watch the rest of the homestead. I thought I had a pic of the goats in front of their fans but couldn't find it. Will take another tomorrow. The pups and young goats lay down in front of the fan on the gate while the older goats like the one in the big stall out of the sun. The dogs have dug a hole  to China in front of their fan. Every once in awhile I will see a nose peeking out. I have been making myself caramel freppe's like there is no tomorrow. Love those things and boy do they cool me down! I will just pretend there are no calories in them. Canned peaches last night and hope to can butter beans and blackeyed peas this week while its cool. Tomatoes are ripening like crazy so will be canning more of those too. The heat got the squash and rest of the greenbeans. Hopefully the fall garden will do better this year. Tramp has started coming to the back door at bedtime. He comes inside, goes to the livingroom and lays down for the night. Think he likes the a/c. He did have a nightmare the other night and I had to wake him up. He was crying loud and painfully while his legs were going crazy. Actually had to shake him to wake him up. He looked so embarrassed when I woke him up. He got up moved under the desk and went back to sleep. I never thought he would want to come inside. Tramp is very shy around people and only lets very few pet him. Before he was rescued from the middle of a highway he was abused by a man (I think) because he doesn't like for a man to touch or get behind him. He is getting old and gray faced but seems to have plenty of energy chasing the fox around here. Meals around here are fixed on the grill, in the crockpot,on the top of the stove, or lots of salads. It is just too hot to turn the oven on. Tonight was fish,coleslaw,jasmine rice, canola beans, and dinner rolls. With cooler temps I see my oven getting used again, at least for a few days. Haven't taken Harvey swimming as its so hot the pool water is warm like bath water. He has enjoyed running through the sprinkler while I water plants. He has fun and my plants get much needed water. So there you have it. How Hidden Haven is beating the heat. Hope you are staying cool and are not one of the unlucky ones without electric.  While you are relaxing tonight don't forget to count your blessings....even those small ones we usually tend to take for granted.