When you wake up to seventy degree weather at 6:00 in the morning, there’s only one thing to do: head for the hills. I loaded the dogs into the SUV (you know dogs, it’s their favorite thing, right up there with walks, meals, naps, digging holes, and chasing wildlife) and drove up to walk a section of the Santa Ana River Trail.
The gnats were there waiting for us and quickly alerted their friends, the deer flies, that breakfast was ready. Although it was in the low seventies, the combination of humidity and bugs took the fun out of our hike.
We arrived back home just in time to save the garden.
Mike installed an air conditioner in the dog house.
And unlike mad dogs and Englishmen, we all stayed out of the mid-day sun and took a nap. Molly and Sadie thought the air conditioner was almost as good as a ride in the car.
judyrutrider 
During your ride you got some freshness due to the altitude and the river . The wild flora ( lupine ) was prosperous but back home the garden was near a disaster! Can I say this year my garden was awful for opposite reasons ( too much water during May and June ) .
Mike brings the proof that a man is useful in a home !! 🙂 🙂
I agree with you ,Judy, you dogs are the best in the world .
Have a good reading after lunch !! 🙂
Love ❤
Michel
LikeLike
Yes, a man is worth his weight in gold around the house, especially one who can (and will) fix anything. The only thing I haven’t been able to persuade him to build is a chicken house. I guess he figures I would soon be feeding a flock of hens that no longer laid eggs and I wouldn’t have the heart to kill them. And he’s absolutely right.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This isa beautiful compliment for Mike :a man is worth his weight in gold ! 🙂
LikeLike
RYC : I thuk , Judy, little things bring salt in life and even change a life . 😉
Love <<<3
Michel
LikeLike
I failed this : ❤
LikeLike
I replied on my site to your comment about your successful plantation of potatoes. Bravo Judy..
But in coming here I recall all of a sudden the fires in California . I hope you have not been threatened by those fires and not intoxicated with the smoke . I kno a ancient Xangan who lives in Washington state who is sick with the smokes of the fire not so far.
Love ❤
Michel.
LikeLike
RYC ; I replied on mt page but I reply the same here, Judy:
“The suffix “ouille ” brings a funny, affectionate and pleasant tune to the word “gris ( grey in English ).Do not confuse with Gribouille , the man who jumps in the water because he feared the rain !! 🙂 ”
I add I did not remember the English Xanga friend who had a cat named GRISOUILLE ; I have no many Englidh friends excepted Englishjuls ( Julie Eurke Essex , and Tim Beggard
I hope you are not threatened by fire ? the friends of the East Coast of the USA are not reassured ; There are big fires in the areas of Monterey and also in Wasgington state.
Love ❤
Michel
LikeLike
RYC :Hello Judy . It is time to post a new entry since this one is from June , at spring .
Fall is there and you have certainely something interesting to relate .
I can reassure you I am not a hunter and I hate personally to kill animal.and vegetal life . But I confess I like a meal with good meat well cooked . Weird , isn’t it ? I remember during the War II( 1940-44) we have nothing to eat ( the germans took all food ) . So my father raised rabbits ( with grass and various plants we picked at the side of the roads or in the meadows ) and hens . When he had to kill a rabbit or a hen to feed the family , It was a drama for him . He became livid . it was hard ..
BTW ,fall is there , Judy; Time for a new post ! 🙂
Love ❤
Michel
LikeLiked by 1 person
RYC : I imagine Judy it is hard to stack twisted branches of orange trees . I suppose you were sad to see those beautiful groves of orange trees removed . I knew those in Algeria in 1960 in well exposed low parts of the mountains . The upper parts was covered of cork oak trees. So beautiful!.
Love ❤
Michel
LikeLike
Yes, many people fought to keep the groves intact but ultimately, they were private property – owned by the farmers, who were entitled to sell the land to developers. The city did require developers to retain “green” areas around the housing developments planted in citrus trees. But now, we are facing an invasion of the Asian citrus psyllid which spreads the disease commonly known as “greening disease” or huanglongbing. The disease is fatal to all citrus trees. The county is spraying the pesticide pyrethroid in areas where the psyllid has been detected (my neighborhood is one) which doesn’t make me happy. I’m concerned about the effect it has on our declining bee population and I worry that any systemic poison will be in the fruit that we eat. I have one Mandarin orange tree in my yard. I have no need of other citrus since my dear friend has several acres planted in all kinds of citrus and avocado trees just a couple of miles away.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This shows how one must be careful when modifying an ecosystem that was installed.for long. Dangerous consequences.. And who knows the consequence of the oesticide ? But I have not to be pressimsitic .
LikeLike
As we grow more mature, it’s hard not to become pessimistic. Wisdom comes with a price.
LikeLike
Thanks ,Judy , for your comment saying how much you appreciate the Maine Coon cats . You got two of them.
The young Muscat still is tiny but I think we will be amazed by his growing.
Love ❤
Michel
ps ; I am sorry for the typing mistakes in my previous comment.
LikeLike