There are very few days in England when I wish I had an air conditioner. Yesterday was one of them! We got to around 90º F (32º C) in the afternoon, with not a whisper of moving air. I spent pretty much the whole day out on the garden bench in the shade, reading "Demon Copperhead." (I'm about halfway through it.)
We have a second flush of roses on some of our rose bushes. The pink ones above pair well with the purple Michaelmas daisies...
And the young teasels are flourishing in the unmowed section of the lawn. We're going to have a teasel forest out there next year.
This video pretty much sums up the day -- a red admiral butterfly on our plumbago, Olga dreaming on a blanket on the lawn, and the same red admiral back on the same bush later in the afternoon.
Of course it sounds whiny for me to complain about the heat amid the disaster unfolding in Morocco. As many of you know I lived in Morocco for a couple of years when I was in the U.S. Peace Corps in the early 1990s. (More on that here and here, among other posts.) I lived south of the current disaster zone, in the Anti-Atlas Mountains, but I knew volunteers who were stationed right in the middle of what is now a devastated area. I've communicated already with one Moroccan friend who says his family in Agadir is safe.
When I lived there I was always aware an earthquake was a possibility. Morocco suffered a legendary quake back in 1960 that leveled most of Agadir and killed 12,000 people. But at the same time, it seemed like a very remote risk, one I just didn't think about in day-to-day life. I lived my first year in a modern but probably not very well built concrete apartment building in a small town, and my second year in an old rock-and-mud walled house in a village -- the same kind of construction that collapsed in the old city of Marrakech in Friday's quake. I was never worried about the village house's stability. I was more concerned about the scorpions that lived in cracks in the rock walls.
Anyway, I will be looking out for ways to help the Moroccans as they recover from this disaster.
23 comments:
I'd love to know what Olga was dreaming about. The roses are the perfect shade of pink and I liked the butterfly.
Do you know the charity " ShelterBox"? They are asking for donations for the Moroccan earthquake .
I have vague memories of the heavy heat of September in England. Summer's lazy last hurrah. And then bang, Autumn came knocking with the promise of cold. And I also remember how English houses are not built for heat so the only way to cope was to sit outside in the breathless still of the afternoon. Your video and post invoked so many memories.
The situation in Morocco is so sad. If all we have to complain about is a bit of heat (or a lot of it as I will be doing soon) then we are blessed.
Living here, the Moroccan disaster seems more real than it would if I were still in North America. Truly awful and, of course, the news keeps getting worse. Hope our donation will do some good. It's not enough.
Still, I can't imagine living in the heat and humidity without AC. The roses and daisies are breathtaking together. The video is charming. Olga makes me want to hug her.
Terrible. My heart goes out to the people of Morocco - especially those who have been directly affected. I shall respond to the appeal. An event like that makes our own everyday anxieties and issues seem like chicken feed.
I think when I have disturbed my sleep by coughing, I look like Olga.
I didn't know about you living in Morocco. We have a gay friend who went there several years ago and .........he thought it was paradise.
I enjoyed the colour as I read your Moroccan posts.
I hope your heatwave doesn't last long; one day without AC is okay but after that? No telling what I might do.
The stories out of Morocco are heartbreakingly sad. Having been through earthquakes in America where the buildings may not be 1000's of years old is quite something, so I cannot fathom the devastation and numbers of dead.
Your color of those flowers in your video with the bright butterfly is just wonderful, Steve. Sweet Olga, dreaming away!
So many tragedies around the world!
Your video was very welcome today a little oasis of peace and butterfly action and a dreaming dog. There's such a lot of bad news that this is precious. Thank you.
I feel completely helpless about the tragedy in Morocco. It is just so beyond my comprehension.
I have a feeling that it won't be long before Londoners start installing AC's.
When I was watching the video, Olga's dreaming yips made Maurice get up from her perch on the table and come to see what was going on.
Love the video of the butterfly and Olga. We haven't seen a Red Admiral here this summer. I miss them.
The earthquake in Morocco is such a heartbreak. I've been in earthquakes like that, and it is scary to be reminded that there is no forecast for such things.
Hope that heatwave there ends soon.
Video so welcoming-your garden is so loved -well cared for as usual. The heat has been surprising! Staying in, curtains drawn , drinking gallons of London tap water. Still happy to be here! So so happy- will catch up with you soon. There is time.
I love that first picture ... the colors are perfect!
I empathize with the people of Morroco ... many years of living in northern and mid-California ... I know big earthquakes and all of the after quakes following a big one! Not fun!!
The stories I've read and pictures I've seen about the earthquake have been devastating. I'm glad to hear your friend there is okay.
I loved the little video. Olga must have been seeing foxes and cats in her dream.
I realize that 90 degrees can be extremely hot in a place like London however, I'm seriously wishing it were only 90 degrees here. That would be heavenly.
Tragedies like this do put things into perspective. My life is blessed and it's frustrating not being able to help all those I would like to.
Beautiful flowers and sweet, sweet Olga.
the planet is in upheaval. I didn't realize Morocco was in earthquake territory. Now I'm really sorry I have never made it over there. It's one of the places I've always wanted to go.
90F for a day or two is doable. The week we had of 110+F this year not so much.
Still, oppressive heat: ugh. Poor Olga was probably dreaming about frolicking in a pond somewhere.
We have cool here now. The leaves have begun to swirl down already. THe seasons are changing. Enjoy your days in the garden. They are numbered.
When I was scrolling through your post at first I thought Olga was a panda bear! Ha!
I thought about you when I heard about Morocco. So tragic.
Best One Minute And Four Seconds On The Enter Web E - Loved The Front Paw Action
Shakes Are Brutal ,
Cheers
Such tragedy in such a gorgeous place! I can deal with low to mid 80s but anything above that is miserable to me. My heat pump was an excellent investment.
River: Squirrels or cats, I'm willing to bet.
Frances: I don't know them, no! I wound up giving through a charity I know that specializes in Morocco and specifically the Atlas Mountains.
Caro: That's exactly the problem. English houses are built to retain heat, not shed it.
Mitchell: I've wondered if I should be doing more, given my experience in that area, but it's really NOT the part of Morocco where I lived and have contacts.
YP: It's true. I felt the same way about the tsunami many years ago. A truly cataclysmic event that no one could predict or control.
Andrew: Your gay friend's perspective is interesting. Morocco IS a muslim country and gay life there is quite underground, though of course it does happen.
Bob: Yeah, those old rock and mud buildings are just not made to withstand any kind of seismic activity! But buildings ARE better now. The 1960 quake was milder but killed many, many more people.
Ellen D: When there's such sad news, I try to focus my camera on something positive.
Boud: Accentuate the positive, right?!
Ms Moon: I've wondered whether climate change will prompt building changes here. Large buildings (like our school and office buildings and shopping centers) do often have A/C. Even in houses some people have portable units with weird vent hoses that stick out the windows!
Robin: It's interesting you have red admirals there. I don't ever remember seeing them in the USA!
Linda Sue: Yes, there is time! Get settled first!
Marcia: I haven't heard much about aftershocks following this one, but surely there will be some.
Sharon: It's all relative! Yeah, I'm sure Olga is dreaming about chasing something.
Kelly: Yes, it reminds us that we're lucky to live as we do.
Ellen: You can still go! It's not a very active seismic area, but when there are quakes (few and far between) they tend to be big ones.
Ed: Yeah, I would struggle to tolerate that, for sure. Even with a/c that's got to be miserable.
Debby: It's true! The weather is already getting cooler, despite our recent heat wave.
Bug: So funny that you mistook Olga for a panda! She is that cute, but much smaller. :)
Padre: I knew you'd like that! LOL
Margaret: Yeah, I agree -- anything above 85 or so is pretty uncomfortable. Glad the heat pump has paid off!
If you did that video with your phone, you have a great phone! It's beautiful and the colors couldn''t have been more perfect. Sweet Olga. I'm glad your friend was safe and hope others are too. It's a bad one.
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