93°F in my house today ~ Upstairs is sweltering

I'm so glad that the stray puppy found us last Tuesday, before this extreme heat wave became worse.  She may have not made it if she had not found my daughter.  The doggie swimming pool, which is a simple small plastic portable pool, has been used hourly today.  I'm so glad we could offer the dogs a way to cool off.  After today's newspaper article that is on the front page, I have doubts that the humane society will take the pup (if we don't find the owner).  The article talked about all the animals they have taken in, had surgery on, and those that still need homes.  All we can do is hope.

I'm about to take the garden hose to the girls because they are getting ornery. The heat is making the bees go crazy too.  My 11 year-old daughter got stung by one just sitting still today.

The dogs aren't the only ones we worry about in this heat.  Thanks to the wonderful information from my farmgirl sisters, I have found out that our chickens can die from heat exhaustion.  We have a fan running in the barn and have even given them bowls of crushed ice.

The barn cats are cooling under shaded plants and won't come out until the rain cools the air.  

The garden has blessed us yet again, so many meals are planned when the temperature drops.  Including my mother's zucchini bread.  Yum!  I'm not turning on my oven until the rain arrives.  I am seriously considering the costs of a summer kitchen.  It would work perfect for us during hot summer days.

Ice cold sliced watermelon sounds pretty good for dinner right now.

Meet "Molly" ~ Stray Dog

Meet the newest addition to the homestead.  So far, we have not received any phone calls for this stray dog my daughter found.  We've checked bulletin boards and so far no one is claiming her.  The kids have already taught her to sit and shake, and are in the process of house breaking her.  Luckily we had a dog crate from when the other dogs were puppies.  She is just a cutie and the family is getting attached to her.  She jumped out of a creek when my oldest daughter was out for a run early yesterday morning.

The kids have given her a name because we can't just say "come dog" etc.  When my daughter found her she was starving and dehydrated.  She will lay down beside the water bowl, place her paws (one on each side) around the bowl, and rest her chin on the opposite rim of the bowl and covering it.  Almost acting afraid that we'd take the water away, making us wonder what had happened to her previously.

Now that she knows we won't take her water or food away, she is content.  She will even go inside the crate to take a nap during the day.  She's free to go where ever she wants and is never taken outside without a leash.  Luckily, we still had some out grown collars, so one went on her.  We went out and bought her puppy food and a few toys.

If no one calls, she may very well be the newest, and permanent, member of our homestead.