It's too darn hot

Saturday felt hotter than any day during the current heat wave. Last night was bad. The house has heated up and sleeping is extremely uncomfortable. The good news is that it is expected to be significantly cooler today and for the next few days. Already this morning, at 06h00, a nice cool breeze is blowing through the house. Perhaps the worst is over.

Roses are fading fast in the heat.

We're keeping the vegetable garden and deck plants watered, but elsewhere the heat and lack of rain is becoming visible. I realize that I was complaining about the rain not very long ago, but when it doesn't rain for couple of weeks around here it feels like a drought.

I drove over to Tours on Saturday morning and got the new cabinet and sink for the half-bath. I also picked up a few other things we wanted. I won't name the big-box store I went to, but they sell Swedish meatballs that come with pictogram instructions on how to prepare them. And an Allen wrench. ;)

Hot stuff

She wasn't called Donna Summer for nothing. Our heat wave continues. Thursday was expected to be the peak, but Friday was hotter. We topped out at 35.8ºC (just over 96ºF) on our outdoor thermometer. The mornings are getting warmer, too, as the ground gains more and more heat. Fortunately for us, we are not down south where temperatures are seriously hot.

The rozanne geraniums are enjoying the heat. You can tell I'm not the most meticulous weeder.

The work has stalled in the bathrooms for the weekend. The builder has another job he needed to start, and the plumber is stuck waiting for him. He should be back on Monday and things should get back on track. There's not much left to do, but we decided to make one change. We're finding that the little sink in the new WC is just too small, so we're going to replace it. I'm heading out this morning to get the new one. The plumber stopped by yesterday to look at the specs and make sure the replacement would work and he gave us the green light. Photos to come.

Reach for the sky

The grape vines out back are growing vigorously. Soon, the trimming tractors will be plying the rows, cutting the sprawling tendrils back, creating neatly squared-off rows of vines. They do this, I think, to force the vines' energy into grape production rather than leaf production.

The grower who owns these vines has been out mowing down the tall grass between rows these past couple of mornings.

Our daily heat wave update: Thursday was a hot one. The high temperature at our house was 34.9ºC (about 95ºF). The humidity was a little higher than it has been, but it's certainly not oppressively clothes-drenching humid. Thank goodness. We're expecting another day or two with highs in the low thirties before the heat breaks. Please pass the lemonade.

Sultry

The weather is all the news in France right now. It's hot and humid over most of the country and today is expected to be the hottest. Yesterday's high on our sheltered outdoor thermometer was 33.7ºC (about 93ºF), but it's much hotter in the sun and on the deck. This morning our low is about 24ºC (about 75ºF). And the weather people say that all-time record highs will be broken today.

Wednesday morning at around 06h30 in the vineyard. It's much more hazy out there this morning.

Days when we can wear shorts and a tee-shirt on our morning walks with the dog are rare, maybe a few days a year. We're having them now. The air is hazy, and although the relative humidity drops in the heat of the day, it's around 90% over night and in the morning. By the way, this humidity is nothing compared to the very hot and humid places in the USA, like on the east coast and across the south. In France, humidity usually comes with cooler weather. They're not used to it when it's hot. Still, I know one Frenchman who is enjoying it.

Roses

One of our part-time neighbors has several rose bushes in her yard. She did some serious pruning last year and this year the roses are covered with blooms. This one is supported by the fence that runs along the vineyard road.

Our neighbor's pink rose bush just a few days ago.

Tuesday's high temperature reached 31.1ºC (about 88ºF) on our outdoor thermometer. Today we're expecting it to get just a little higher than that. Thursday is predicted to be the peak with one weather site saying the temperature will top out at 35ºC (95ºF) while another says 41ºC (about 105ºF). Evening is the worst time inside the house, but once the sun sets (right around 10:00 pm) things begin to cool off, albeit slowly.

Bloomin' heat

These are grape flowers in bloom. You really have to look hard to see them, but they're there. As the flowers fade, little grapes will form and grow into a more recognizable bunch.

The flowers have tiny white stamens, I don't think there are petals.

The heat is building in. Our outside thermometer, located in a shaded spot on the north side of the house, recorded a high of 30.4ºC (almost 87ºF) yesterday . It was hotter on the deck, though. This morning it's 21.7ºC (about 71ºF) outside and all our windows are thrown open. Cool air is moving through the house. The peak of the heat wave is expected on Thursday or Friday.

The green green grapes of home

The vineyards in our region have donned their full summer green. The grape vines are flowering now. Little bunches of grapes are on the way. The weeds are also thriving thanks to a rainy spring. And now we're entering at least a week of heat. Météo France is saying we will get up to 40ºC on Thursday and Friday. That's 104ºF, something we haven't seen since 2003, I think.

Summer finally showed up, with a vengeance.

Sleeping was uncomfortable enough last night, and we were only in the high 20s. Sleeping in the high 30s is going to be very difficult, with only fans to move the air around. We will be sure to stay hydrated. Oh, and I dug out the recipe and started making ice cubes.