Hot time summer in the city…back of my neck, getting dirty and gritty…
Hot time summer in the country…back of my neck, getting dirty, gritty and sweaty!
Come on, Come on, dance all night, despite the heat it will be alright…right?
Last spring, our county was declared a drought disaster due to the dry winters with little snow pack in the mountains…the lack of fall and spring rains…and the hot temperatures we have had. In other words we have been in a drought situation for the last three years…this year the lack of moisture has become critical.
Several Oregon rivers have been closed to fishing by the Fish and Game, due to the heat and high water temps…the Columbia River waters are a record breaking 71 degrees…causing salmon and large 5′ to 8′ sturgeon to die…threatening our native fish.
We hit a 100 to 110 degrees most of June and July with almost daily fire weather watches due to low humidity, high temps with dry winds and heavy dry fuel that would ignite quickly between the wheat fields and the dry weeds…its a world I have not seen here in my lifetime. We have had dry times and crop failures before but this summer is different…worldwide I might add.
My cousin and I were driving wheat truck one summer…waiting on combines by sight and sound (back in the days before CB radios or cell phones) we were half asleep, reading our books, when all of a sudden we heard our uncle yell and jump off the combine! Smoke was billowing out from under it…my uncle got the fire out under the machine but the fire took off quickly and in a split second we were learning to fight fire. Luckily we got it out before we lost our field!
Tonight as I write it is 74 degrees on my outside thermometer…our humidity is currently 18% with wind speeds of 18 mph with 31 mph gusts…at 10:00pm.
Melody’s pasture looks green as we water it with the big irrigation guns to keep her cooler, plus she has a great shade tree in her paddock area that helps too.
And no she does not get to go out on the lush green stuff as she would bloat and get too fat…as you see she is NOT impressed!
100 degree weather is normal each summer but this year it feels much hotter due to the dry soil lacking any moisture down deep…instead it feels like hot hot desert heat!
For reasons unknown to me, our county road department decided it was time to resurface our roads two weeks ago…with a chip seal effect leaving loose rock…the above picture looks like a gravel road but that is our paved road in front of the house covered in gravel….
Several farmers were heavy into wheat harvest in Juniper Canyon, with semi wheat trucks hauling wheat directly from the harvested fields to the grain terminal on the Columbia River, about 80 miles round trip.
We had 10 to 20 double trailer semis per hour driving by our house…throwing loose gravel with major dust for that gravel road effect:)
And we had a photo shoot schedule here for “Oregon 1859.” Not sure when our article will come out but here is the link… https://www.1859oregonmagazine.com/
Last Friday morning, I was scrambling trying to figure out how we could do the shoot with the dust and gravel…emails were zipping and zapping back and forth with the photographer and the editor! Saturday evening we decided to go for it and give it a try Sunday evening:)
God smiled giving us a quiet no traffic day…no semis trucks and only one car during the shoot…it was awesome!
Mom used to always say “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade”…so we made lemonade, the shoot went off perfectly…we had silly fun and made new friends with a bq dinner in the middle of it!
Wherever you may be in your life…dusty roads or hot hot temps or lush jungles with beautiful waterfalls or rocky craggy peaks that are steep and tough to climb. Always keep a going with smiles and laugh out loud moments that tickle your funny bone, while making lemonade…the memories will carry you through the ups and downs we all experience at times in life.
HRCG, Wild Bill, Ellie and of course Melody wish you all a cool night or a moderate day where ever you may be…
Hot Rod Cowgirl 
Aug 27, 2015 @ 03:52:30
Wow that is a lot of dry weather,we have had the odd nice day here but it has mainly been wet and chilly by your standards,of which Speedy disapproves greatly of,xx Rachel
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Sep 02, 2015 @ 20:50:19
I can imagine that Speedy would object to wet and chilly…so do I as I get too cold…most of the time here our humidity is drier so our cold is more of a dry cold which is better than a humid cold…I do enjoy the warmer months except when we are in a drought like this year and then the fires begin so easily…Ellie also agrees with Speedy:)
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Aug 18, 2015 @ 08:00:05
Hi Marci. Cousin Jim here from Iowa. Think of you often and our visit last Sept. Sorry to here about your drought conditions. Ironically, we’ve had an unusually wet spring and summer here. Love all your pictures as usual. They bring back wonderful memories of our visit. Love to all. Jim
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Aug 19, 2015 @ 21:20:17
HI Jim, it is great to hear from you and nice to see your name:) Yes the drought here is severe and in my lifetime I do not remember it being so dry down deep in the soil…and so very hot. All of June and July were hot temps and in May we had 100 degrees which hurt the development of the wheat for the farmers. It has been a strange couple of years of weather here…the one positive for me is the amazing skies to capture. We so enjoyed meeting you last September and look forward to seeing you again on your next visit:) Sending Juniper Hugs Back with Lots of Family Love to ALL in your neck in the woods and Norway:)
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Jul 31, 2015 @ 18:28:59
LOL I prefer the COLD over the heat & humidity!
I love Autumn & Winter. I used to like Summer more but without the trees it is far too warm for me & less shade.
The weather is off & it throws me off!!!
It has started to cool off!! Hurrah!!!!!
((hugs)) Sherri-Ellen
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Aug 03, 2015 @ 00:03:20
Yep Yep Yep:) The weather also throws me off…it is crazy weird for us here!
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Jul 30, 2015 @ 11:05:08
Humid & hot & no rain here…it is feeling like 100-102 F with Humidex!!!
Inland is worse. I haven’t been out all week. have to keep the place closed up with fans going 24/7. Brutal!!!!
And then you are all under fire watch & that is worse….where oh where is the rain???
If anyone says there is NO such thing as “Global Warming” I just might punch them in the nose!!!!!
Meanwhile parts of India, Pakistan & Philippines having horrid Monsoons with record rains! The world is topsy-turvy!!
Congrats on the photo shoot despite the gravel mess…
Wishing everyone there some rain & soon!!!
((HUGS)) Sherri-Ellen
P.S.: Love Ellie’s piccie ❤
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Jul 31, 2015 @ 13:07:46
That humidity would bother me but like you I prefer the heat over the cold! I keep the house closed up too on hot hot days which helps. I agree that the world’s weather is off and crazy it seems every where….sending cool wishes to you and hugs:)
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Jul 29, 2015 @ 13:46:56
OMC Baw-B-Que dinner? Yummy. Even mommys mouff be waterin’. Gawjus fotos as always. It be hot here too altho’ weez flooded so our humidity is just pawful and fur da furst year in a long time weez not havin’ as many fires. No burn bans here, Stay cool.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Lexi
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Jul 30, 2015 @ 09:59:47
You two are so very sweet:) Your humidity sounds awful…we hardly ever have lots of humidity….sometimes right before a storm or afterwards. Humidity and heat together sounds very hot. I have been to humid places before when it was hot hot and you are wet all the time from sweat and the humidity. Sending you prayers for a break in the weather and that you will have cooler days and nights without humidity!
Lots of kitty rubs and kitty loves coming your way and hugs to your mommy too:)
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Jul 30, 2015 @ 12:47:33
Fanks. Yep da humidity usually raises da temps by 10-40 degwees pendin’ on da levels. Weez stayin’ ourretty steady at 70% so our 110 days feel more like 150. Weez always have humidity cuz we have so many lakes and such, but since da state flooded back in May and June, it’s a lot higher this year. Fank catness fur centwal air. MOL Stay cool.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Lexi
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Jul 31, 2015 @ 13:20:13
I am glad that you have central air as that helps! That kind of heat would be hard to take with the humidity! I am thankful we do not have it here! But living where you do and seeing all the beautiful lakes would be nice:) Sending pawsome-awespme kitty scratches and loves:):):):)
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Jul 31, 2015 @ 13:36:18
Fanks. Ain’t it funny? Yous wuld like our awea and weez long fur where yous live. MOL
Luv ya’
Dezi and Lexi
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Jul 31, 2015 @ 16:27:21
:):):)
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Jul 29, 2015 @ 12:57:40
Yes, the heat continues and with it now has come humidity-something we are NOT used to on the Central Coast. We also had a thunderstorm a couple of weeks ago that brought such humid temps I almost had heat stroke. My body is not used to it and after working at the barn I got sick-I guess my face was beet red a friend a told me! I only hope that if we do have El Nino it comes in waves and not one big long rain-the ground won’t be able to handle it, and we will have distasters of other sorts to contend with in landslides and flooding. Thanks for sharing such wonderful photos as always! 🙂 XXOO-Kasey
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Jul 30, 2015 @ 10:07:03
Hugs:)
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Jul 29, 2015 @ 12:49:38
Oh, the heat, and for us, the humidity along with it! It has been rough this summer already, and our grape crops are suffering rot from the muggy weather. Right after a strange and large thunderstorm that passed through here a couple of weeks ago it quickly rose to 90 degrees outside as I was mucking stalls. I almost passed out and got very sick because my body wasn’t used to the humid heat. While we are hopeful for an El Nino, I also have fear of what will happen if too much water hits our land too fast because everything is so parched. Beautiful photos and great story along with them as always, HRCG! Hugs! -Kasey in Cali 🙂
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Jul 30, 2015 @ 10:06:24
You sound like us but we do not have the humidity part..our humidity is low normally and this summer it has been too low with the heat and winds….fire weather watches…so far we have been lucky that no fires have been started around us. Crops are not great here either!I have to wonder what do you mean by a strange thunderstorm…wondering if you are seeing different weird clouds and colors too…we have had weird weather and clouds for the last 3 years or so and when we do have a thunder storm it is weird too and more severe. That is scary with your health, almost passing out!!! It sounds close to a heat stroke so be careful…I know what you mean about the flash flooding from rains or storms hitting the ground so far that it runs instead of soaking in…wishing you safe days and nights, no more heat illness and that your rains will come again in a gentle way:) Prayers and Hugs:)
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Jul 28, 2015 @ 20:28:52
We enjoyed the pictures and news you sent. Please let us know when the article comes out in 1859 so I can run out and buy a copy! Sending our best wishes to you and Bill!
Paula
From: Hot Rod Cowgirl Reply-To: Hot Rod Cowgirl Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at 10:54 AM To: Paula Thompson Subject: [New post] Hot Time Summer In The City
WordPress.com Hot Rod Cowgirl posted: “Hot time summer in the city…back of my neck, getting dirty and gritty… Hot time summer in the country…back of my neck, getting dirty, gritty and sweaty! Come on, Come on, dance all night, despite the heat it will be alright…right? Last sp”
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Jul 28, 2015 @ 21:30:23
Thanks so much Paula:) We miss you and Kenny too…will do on the article, it was a fun shoot:)
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Jul 28, 2015 @ 13:45:00
….not so cool up here in Kamloops, B. C.–it has, like you, been sometimes 104F, and fires all around us. We wish you well, and thank you for the write-up and photos.
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Jul 28, 2015 @ 17:10:20
Thank you and I’m so glad that you stopped in and wrote about B.C. as I wondered how Canada was faring with the weather as often it shows our weather drifting up over you. I hope soon that we both can report of good fall rains of any rains:)
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Jul 28, 2015 @ 12:40:23
Had to laugh as that song IS summer.
Sad to hear how dry/hot it has been there. People forget about all the impact besides crops, there’s the lakes/rivers/fish/wildlife/tourism/hamburger stands. Hope things moderate there.
While we had floods in spring and the rain total is twice normal amount, it’s been weeks since rain here and close to 100 (87-90 is 10:00 at night…basically typical summer). The ground is cracking. But the lakes and rivers are close to normal. And the dogs do not want to get off the couch…I don’t blame them!
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Jul 28, 2015 @ 17:08:13
Yah me too:) I used to love it and sing it to myself when was living up at mountain cow camp…I would sing it when I was herding cattle or Red Rubber Ball was another:) Silly how music takes you for a ride in memories:) I hope we have some rain soon too but long range does not hold lots of hope yet….between the hot heat like you are having and the dry winds it is not good all over Oregon…I worry about the wildlife we have here with deer, elk, the many birds and fish….and of course all the other little critters we have around…I am thankful we still have water in our creek for them and the farm ground we put into CRP still have good forage.
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Jul 28, 2015 @ 11:49:38
We are still in drought here, but less than the past 5 years and far less than you. Drought is a terrible thing. I never appreciated how awful until everything really dried up. The river and lake bottoms were showing and I wondered if any of the water fowl or other creatures who depend on the rivers would survive. Certain it has had a severe impact and the amount of wildlife is far less than it was before the past few years. This year, we have had rain. Normal, not more than usual … and not enough to refill the dried out aquifer, but much better than last year and the year before. Last year was the worst, with almost NO rain for the entire spring and summer. If we hadn’t had a lot of snow the previous winter, it would have been even worse. I feel for you. And you know, there are droughts not only all over North America, but in Europe, Australia, New Zealand too. That’s scary. Mother Nature is mad as hell and she isn’t going to take it any more.
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Jul 28, 2015 @ 17:04:17
I love your last line…made me laugh and I agree! The weather has changed life here this year for sure…for the most part the wheat harvest that begun two weeks ago, some three weeks ago is done! That is very weird for here as it usually begins the early part of July and goes into mid August…we have not had one semi truck go by this week. The drought hit the wheat hard this May with intense heat and no moisture when it was developing the heads of wheat so the wheat kernels did not fill out or develop…leaving the majority of farmers with wheat that did not grow. Very bad for the farmer and in the long run bad for us and the world. We are to hit the triple digits again the end of the week…we have had four days of 80-90’s temps and we have all enjoyed it…now if the wind will settle. Yes I do think the impact is great on the fowl and fish….it is a scary time in the world with all of this! I would never have imagined that you had a drought there as I have not been to your area but imagined it to be filled with trees and lots of green…but that shows you that even if you do have some your area is not immune to drought nor any other area…I hope we get some rain soon but the long range forecast shows nothing on the horizon…
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