This summer has been hot. Really hot. I’m a hot weather person, and even I was to the point of begging for mercy. 90 degrees is fine, I even enjoy the occasional 100 (with low low low humidity) but 112, as it was the day I judged my county’s fair, is brutal. Thankfully, the last few days have brought welcome relief!
Lest you think we’re complaining (Kansas weather does leave a lot to be desired, although outsiders think it’s nice that we have all four seasons. I suppose if you count the average 2.5 days of spring or fall during the year, that does equal four seasons…) it’s been, on record, the hottest summer I’ve lived through.
A few stats:
- We average 10 days per year of 100 degree-plus weather. As of July 31, we were at 36. That’s the most we’ve ever had by that date. I believe we’re at 41 now. A few people want to break the record for most 100 degree-plus days in a year. We call them sadists.
- We had 24 days over 100 in July, tying the all-time record in 1980
- We lived through the two hottest days of my lifetime, both at 112
- We had the hottest average temperature for June and July on record, at 85.4. This takes the high and low for each day and averages them.
Needless to say, it’s made caring for animals a difficult and time-consuming task. I’d be lying if there weren’t days I felt almost resentful of them for the time I had to spend and my inability to go anywhere for more than a few hours at a time. Getting up early to water, bringing a few in the house before work, taking a late lunch to put out ice bottles and re-water during the hottest part of the day, then picking up and cleaning said ice bottles to re-freeze and waiting until midnight-ish to feed made for long, sweaty days. I got up near sunrise several weekend mornings to clean at the only time it was both light outside and bearable. But we made it through, and everyone is in remarkably good condition considering that most weren’t eating much. I still maintain that a hard winter is worse (snow to tromp through, coveralls to put on, windshields to scrape) but most are disagreeing with me!
Just as the heat was starting to break, the Johnson County Fair rolled around. It’s a small morning show, but the lack of shows plus cabin fever prompted a lot of excitement. I packed up a few young juniors (the good ones are mostly blue, again!) and since Merry was looking good, made the last-minute decision to take her along.
Two months after having her first litter, she won BOB in a large Dutch entry, and went on to take Best 4 Class!
Not the best picture of her, but she was not interested in posing. I think she was upset with me for reneging on my promise to retire her. BOS went to a sharp Black JB owned by my friend Rick. This show picks a Reserve 4-Class and 6-Class, so when Merry was announced as Best 4, the BOS Dutch came up to compete for Reserve. And he won!
Really not posing…I think she thought he was cute.
The young juniors are growing, and I’m excited about the late September and October shows, and of course, Convention! Merry is bred again, but I’m not ruling out a return trip for her…
