It's summer and it's a bummer.

[Big Frank]

Here's a view off the porch this afternoon. It's 2X zoom, so my yard is only half as tiny as it looks. After an hour of so I couldn't take the heat anymore. It was ~89 but felt hotter, and I felt like I was going to melt. I'll go out with a machete in awhile and start trimming branches off what I cut. I may have it all bagged and bundled for collection on Tuesday, but maybe not. I still have some tree trimming to finish. I tried cutting branches around where they crossed the fence line, but they were flopping around, so I cut them next to the trunk. I haven't seen my neighbors back there in a month and they may have moved away. Not that it matters. I'm going to do whatever I want, even if I have an audience. A couple of the upper branches were about as big as my wrist. I can see a vine in one tree looks as big as my thumb and has woody bark on it. But most are half the diameter of a pencil and I can pull long pieces off by hand. 

[billt]

I live in one of the hottest cities in the country. This time of year the nationwide record daily high is either us, Palm Springs, or Thermal, California. Sometimes Bullhead City to the north. Or else Vegas. It just depends. Next week it will be in the one teens all week. I've done a total of 34 Summers out here so far. And a total of 38 Winters back in Illinois. (Chicago and suburbs).

I'll take Summers out here 7 days a week, and twice on Sunday. I just can't handle the cold weather in the Midwest. Not to mention the constant rain, sleet, and snow falling. I LOVE the dry weather. My 2015 Jeep, and my 2018 Toyota Camry have yet to be driven on a wet street. The only time they get wet is when they get washed.

I generally use a car duster on them every couple of weeks, and they get washed once a year or so. I don't shoot in the hot weather, and generally take it easy. Any outdoor projects get done at first light in the morning. (Last week I replaced all of my anti siphon sprinkler valves). I was done by 9:00 AM. It's much the same with other things.

I try to do all of my oil changes and automotive maintenance in the Spring and Fall, when the weather is cool to mild. Stuff like grocery shopping, Lowe's and Home Depot, get done early as well. This time of year there is usually a crowd waiting to get in when they open at 6:00 AM..... Usually a bunch of old geezers like myself, with a list of crap to buy to complete some type of project.

[crusader rabbit]

I don't know, but I think I may have discovered the most favorable geographic compromise here in Western North Carolina.  Sure, we get a bit of the white stuff in the winter.  And we get a few days in the 90s during the summer.  But all together, it just ain't too bad.  And the seasons provide a different look four times each year.

I lived in Phoenix for awhile, and apart from the heat, the monotonous landscape contributes to its hellish nature.  Even the houses are painted to look like adobe.  Boring.  When you can't walk your dog for fear of the good boy getting blisters on his foot pads, it's just too hot.  Yeah, I know it's a dry heat.  But so is your oven and I wouldn't want to live there, either.

I spent a good long while in Florida, too.  Humidity and Palmetto Bugs don't contribute to a pleasant lifestyle.

FWIW

Crusader Rabbit