we are all frogs in a kettle

We have our second named storm of the year swirling around in the Gulf but it appears that it will come ashore well east of us perhaps this weekend. We could use a little rain but it only seems to be torrential these days.

It's hot outside. I got up earlier than usual yesterday, went out and watered a section of yard. It's dry so this is my morning routine. Raking and sweeping the concrete apron in front of the garage before noon was my other yard chore and that was enough for the day so I took my sweat soaked body inside. In my defense, it was a lot of leaves and accumulated debris some of which had composted down and I moved it all into a low spot under the magnolia tree. After that I worked in the house all day cutting glass and getting the models ready to have the molds made. So this is how it goes, glue the model onto a piece of styrofoam and glue that to a base (I happen to use glass because that's what I have handy) an inch bigger all the way around and then build a cardboard box it will fit in.

I've finished all the separate models for the heron box and everything but the box itself and the piece of styrofoam that will become the reservoir for the box is set up and ready for molds. Marc will mix up the plaster and silica and pour it around and over the models and then steam out the wax. Five separate pieces not counting the feather and the feet (6 molds as the reservoir for the box itself will be made separately). Once they're all cast, there will be plenty of grinding off of excess glass and fine tuning the heron head inlay to get it to fit.

It was cooler this morning, only about 76˚ when I went out about 8 to water but it didn't last long. My outdoor chore for today was to use the gas trimmer around all the flower beds and the culvert on either side of the driveway. I almost finished but then I ran out of string. It was a toss up whether I'd run out of string or gas first but whichever I would be done for the day. So string it was at 12:15. I was soaked, had to peel my undies off. I'll finish tomorrow.

Did I say it was hot? Last night after yoga so it was about 6:30 I took the dog out for her walk. She likes to trot out ahead a lot or two before I put her on the leash and so she did, down the driveway, turned left, pranced across the space of one lot and stopped and looked down the street that was in full sun and she turned and looked at me and then looked down the street again and then turned around and pranced right back to the driveway and into the house.