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Borrego Springs, CA

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

We’re having a heat wave

The last five or six days or so, we’ve been having an early heat wave here in upper Minnesota.  The weather has gone from cold rainy days in the 40’s to hot sunny days in the middle 80’s seemingly overnight.  It was like going to bed in March and waking up in August.  I’m not complaining, mind you, but what extremes.  Along with the hot weather has come a more than abundant hatch of mosquitoes.  About that, I’m going to complain. 

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                                         It seems ruby-throated hummingbirds like grape jelly too.

My entire summer here last year I could sit outside with Emma until just before sunset.  Not so this year.  Even in the middle of the day, I’m being attacked by hordes of mosquitoes.  I hate putting all that spray on, but I’ve had no choice.  I expect plenty of the little devils if I’m working in the woods or near the water, but not in the open area around my rig.  I’m thinking this is going to be a pretty buggy summer.

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Things have slowed down a bit at the Hard Rock Bird Café as nesting season has begun.  This robin obviously has young as it flew off with its mouthful of food to feed the youngsters.

The awful tasting water situation has been solved.  Although there was plenty of salt in the softener, apparently it got jammed up in the big salt bin over the winter from lack of use.  That means the water was coming from the well, and not encountering any softening effects from the salt as it flowed through.  That was fixed yesterday, and I’m back with tasty water once again.  I’m glad it was an easy fix, as that was a deal breaker for me.

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The old woodchuck is back once again to torment Emma.  I have also seen the fox almost daily making its rounds shortly after dawn and just before sunset.  They’re both crafty enough to know the length of Emma’s tie out, and take full advantage of it.

I’ve spent the last couple of days doing mundane chores, and getting a power point program ready for a group of about 30 seniors in a local town.  My presentation on beginning birding will be on Friday in the morning.  I chose the morning since some of you may remember my last experience giving a tour to seniors right after lunch in a nice warm bus on Anahuac NWR.  ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ….  I’m hoping this group will be pumped up with lots of morning coffee.  Winking smile

I leave you tonight with a view of a gorgeous sunset outside my rig on Monday.  I made the mistake of stepping out to take this pic in a t-shirt and shorts.  I was eaten alive, and the picture didn’t even come close to showing the striking colors.  Sad smile

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Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

28 comments:

  1. Oh NO! I hate hearing this. We are still planning on visiting the Great Lakes this summer (If we ever can get out of Pennsylvania). But a bad bug summer is not what I wanted to hear. Nor did I want to hear mid 80's in Minnesota in May. So what kind of bug spray do I need to bring?

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  2. To repel mosquitoes try a Thermocell available at Walmart. It uses a small tiny propane cylinder and repellent card, and will clear an area about 25-feet in diameter. Give it about 5 minutes to begin working, and you can sit out and enjoy the day.. Try Googling Thermocell for more information. We have used it far and wide, including the North country near Ely and Quetico.

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    1. we've added the Thermocell to our Amazon Wish LIst, and will order it as soon as we're somewhere long enough to get packages. . .seems like a good solution for the patio area. . .thanks!

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    2. Yes, I agree! Tested and approved while staying in Alaska.

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    3. Thermocells are amazing!!!! We have two and would NOT go without them! No more icky sprays or lotions or oily skin so soft. With Thermocells, it makes an invisible bubble around you about 10 feet like a DOME and they don't even dare to come near!

      ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
      Karen and Steve
      (Blog) RVing: The USA Is Our Big Backyard
      http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com
      ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

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  3. Unusually warm for May up there in MN. Even my uncle in Hibbing said it was in the 80s the other day. We're a cool 59 right now here in NJ. Sounds like you could use some bats to help with the skeeters! Hope it cools off and those nasty mosquitoes clear out.

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  4. Poor Emma - how frustrating! Do some of the birds gorge on mosquitos? Seems like there should be a beneficiary to the horrible pests.

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  5. Your sunset is absolutely breathtaking!!!! Mosquitoes are horrible, horrible pest!!! I also agree with you on the bug spray...smells bad and makes me feel greasy or something. Hoping they clear out soon.

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  6. You're just so sweet them skeeters can't resist you! :cD

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  7. I hate hate hate hate bugs. Mosquitoes are right at the top of the list. I sure hope we don't have a whole lot of them in Montana this year but we might with the snowy winter they had.

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  8. Oh my how I do not like those mosquitoes, but ticks are worse! Thanks goodness for the spray.
    Poor Emma to be tormented by the critters.

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  9. What a great shot of the Robin! Glad you got your water issue resolved, I can see where something as simple as clean, good tasting water, if you don't have it, could be a big problem. Good luck with your presentation. I haven't seen any Hummers eating the Oriole's grape jelly, but I have seen the Orioles drinking the Hummer food.

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  10. As I'm writing this I looks out to see frost on the ground... it's a much wetter and colder spring here than normal. But the bugs don't get bad until after noon... Always something, isn't it?

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  11. I agree with you. . .the water issue, yuck! The mosquitoes are attaching Michigan by storm also. . .got the skin so soft spray in my bag. . .hubs should love wearing that. . .LOL!

    Janice
    http://readytogofulltimerving.blogspot.com/

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  12. That woodchuck looks like trouble. Emma is in for a frustrating summer.

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  13. Oh poor dear Emma. We have mosquitoes bad in Ohio when we have a very rainy spring. Looks like it is going to be one of those bad summers.

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  14. Those pesky mosquitoes! We are seeing more of those and the darn gnats. They sure love John. Good thing I stocked up on bug repellent at Costco. Keep concerned out there Judy!

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    1. I hate auto correct. It should be keep covered.

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  15. I hope you get to enjoy more evenings outside before long! Did the powerpoint presentation go well or go z-z-z-z-z!

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  16. Coffee-that is what keeps this geezer going:)

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  17. The word Powerpoint sends shivers up my spine. I sat through or presented way too many of those things during my working career. Thankfully, I don't believe I've had to watch one since - no offence to yours which I'm sure was terrific!!

    Rick’s Bits ‘n Bytes, Pics and News

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  18. mosquitoes have been bad in Ohio, last week and are bad here in Michigan. Love sitting outdoors in the evenings, but it is impossible right now.

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  19. Sorry to hear about the mosquitoes ... I'm going to have to look into the Thermocell when we're back home. At the moment it's only 61F in DC ... enjoyed the cool weather ... nice change from the mugginess we had in Houston this past week.

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  20. Lots of mosquitoes here too, little tiny ones, but in swarms. Doubt there is anywhere you could go this summer without them.

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  21. Lots of mosquitoes here too, little tiny ones, but in swarms. Doubt there is anywhere you could go this summer without them.

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  22. I don't know which is worse - bugs or bug poison! Dislike BOTH. That's why I like the Mother Lode country in Northern Cal -- no bugs. A little poison oak and an occasional earthquake, but no skeeters or ticks or chiggers -- YAY! Good luck, Judy!

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  23. Hi Judy, sorry to hear about the plague of mosquitoes. We had the same situation at Brazoria NWR in Texas. We ordered mosquito jackets and they were worth more than their weight in gold. (They are very light, you see!) Just Google 'mosquito jackets and you will find several sources for them. May also help with the ticks if you get the pants too. Good luck! Karen

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