"Having a Heat Wave..."

Tuesday was even hotter (88 degrees F.) and muggier (is that a word?). So, when I got home after work, I changed into shorts and a T-shirt and went out to water the container gardens.

I deadheaded all the purple wave petunias while I was at it (not an easy chore as they are in every container except for the mailbox tub).

I took some photos of the cracks in the tree box. That really ticks me off! I made the second one (who knows who made the first) out of stained plywood and it lasted a good five years. So, I spend the money on cedar (picturing it weathered and gray) and it splits in four months?

While I was at it, I took some random garden photos and photos of the North gate. Why the North gate? Well, I have an idea (I hate when I have ideas... it always costs me money and makes more work for me!)

Then I went out back and watered the upside-down tomato, the new herbs and finally, I checked the raised bed garden. I shoved my finger all the way down and found no damp dirt. So, I hooked up the square sprinkler, set it in the middle of the garden and turned it on.

Then I got the bow saw and the garden nippers and cut away the overgrown arbor vitae next to said-same North gate (see photos).

Now, you really are a long-time reader if you remember I padlocked this gate when I first moved in (the key now long-lost) and the gate is actually sunk into the soil. This is the spot where I dump the dirty rocks from Newt's bowl.

After 1/2 hour I turned off the sprinkler and coiled up the hose.

Back inside, it was almost 7:30 and I was hungry. I deboned the chicken left from the stock making and added it to a jar of store-bought Alfredo sauce. I warmed that up while making a pound of fettuccine. When the fettuccine was al dente, I mixed the two together, and topped it with fresh grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

I plated some and wandered in to watch some TV before going to bed.