The HEAT is here. We have had 16 triple digit temp. days this month (almost a record) and I'm just trying to deal with it. It has only been in the 100 to 103 degree range, so it is not that oppressive kind of heat that knocks you over when you step outside. The 110 to 118 degree days will come soon enough for that.....
The Green House is holding it's own, the temps. get up to 100 degrees at times with the Swamp Cooler running at full tilt, but the plants seem to like it in there.... The tomatoes are just growing like crazy, and we even have little Bell Peppers growing.... We have never had luck with Bell Peppers before, but I think the Humidity and shade are working out well for them....
We harvested the few Corn Cobs that made it to their max potential, and they were delicious even though pretty small..... We just harvested the Garlic and after drying for a few days on the drying table, we cut their tops off and have plenty to keep us for a year. The huge Onions are hanging in bags in the closet where they are cool and dry. The Garlic will join them shortly.

The Giant Sun Flower that came up on it's own has been harvested, and the Cockatiels got the flower to eat the seeds off of.... There are about 20 more out in the Garden to harvest hopefully just before the wild birds start in on them. We hope to have plenty of seeds for next year so we can have a whole wall of the giant sunflowers around the Pool yard.... I have a huge

Compost pile now that I keep turning over with the tractor that I will be piling on the rows in the Garden to add to the wealth and thickness for next years crops. I expect we will grow some winter stuff in at least one row, but the others will be cooking for next year. Once I have used up the aged compost pile, I'll move the more fresh Paca-poo pile over and start a new Compost pile while dumping the fresh Paca-poo in a new pile. There are always two piles out there, one is aging, while the other is freshly collected Paca-poo. There is nothing like FREE Compost..... And the plants love it!
We have barely used our A/C unit lately as I have put new sweet smelling pine pads in the Swamp Cooler and it has been doing a great job keeping the house cool.... There have been a few high humidity days where we had to use the A/C unit, but we just got another change to our "Averaged" Electric Bill, and it dropped another $23 per month... That is about $100 less per month than last year with the earlier $75 drop, and now the $23 drop. SO... that Swamp Cooler, and the Alcohol Fireplace have done as hoped, and we are going green as best as we can.
I can't wait till I can afford to get enough Solar wattage to run the Swamp Cooler on the house like the one on the Green House..... Then we'll really see some savings....

The Chickens are growing like crazy, I expect we'll be collecting Eggs soon. I open their "Creep Gate" so they can wander the yard during the day. Ben has been leaving them alone except to herd them back into the Coop in the evening when I come out to feed..... The Alpacas take great interest in watching them wander about, much like they watch the bunnies and squirrels play.
Well, I'll write more as the Summer Heat hits us harder, I'll try to keep a positive attitude. Bob