Thank you for the warning. Today it was 94, I didn't even get to the mulch I was going to do although I did do a few things to get ready for the mulch project. I can't see me doing very much mulch hauling while it is this hot, I'll do what I can, a little every day.

Carrie, I can't believe you were out on the lawn mower for three hours! Thank goodness for some breeze.

Lucille, I am really wanting to spread a little mulch too. But it was 97 here today, felt like 101, no breeze, and the heat just seemed oppressive. Other years it's been 107, even 110/12 and didn't feel as hot, or maybe I just forgot.

It doesn't cool down much in the evenings. Last evening it was something like 85 degrees at 9:00. Early mornings are about the only time I feel like doing anything other than water a few things.

Y'all be careful now. The big projects can wait.

I just planted some tomato seeds today and stole some cuttings from some bushes of turkscap at a shopping center. They were draping over the curb.They would have been cut soon. I will make cuttings of them this evening.....oh, it is getting close to evening now. That is about all for the gardening except watering tomatoes and seedlings.

I'm glad that Bob is feeling better. I've heard that once you've suffered through heat exhaustion or heat stroke that you'll be more sensitive to the heat.

Carrie! That is too long to be out in the heat! Please just do an hour or less each day.

Why,I tell you it was so hot here today the armadillos and skunks were,,,,,,,,,,,,for a minute there I forgot that I was talking to other Texans. Yep,I count my blessings that I'm still able to do anything at all outdoors. I have always began slamming water before getting underway and keeping it up until at least 30 minutes after shutting down. If urine is darker than usual,bring on more water. BTW,hug every firefighter you come across. Wherther it's a fire call or something else they wear all that heavy protective gear. Can you even emagine how hot that must be?

BTW,hug every firefighter you come across.

Some of the Houston firefighters are pretty huggable:

https://www.facebook.com/houstonfirefightercalendar/

Lucille, what a cute calendar! I like it better than the men's garden club calender that came out a few years ago ... lol

Klem, speaking of 'slamming water this guy's got it the right idea. Another link to it. Reminds me of once when I was so hot after working in the yard I jumped in the swimming pool fully clothed!

Pam, I read that too. Bob will have to be extra careful now and not think he can take the heat like he could when he was a Boy Scout ... !

"Reminds me of once when I was so hot after working in the yard I jumped in the swimming pool fully clothed!"

A hot lady jumped in fully clothed at our neighborhood July 4th celebration to. I don't think her appearance or need of comfort had anything to do with her decision. (:

Roselee, was DH under hydrated?

i had no idea about 24 hr after-effect. Scary.

ETA: wondering about the landscape guys and road crews that work in the heat.

Bossy, as for being under hydrated, I don't think so. He's good about drinking lots of water and also coming in to rest. This time he was near the end of the project and may have pushed himself a bit to finish.

Also he said that he thought it was more the heat in the garage where he had to spend a little time in conjunction with the outside project that was the culprit. When I went into the garage it felt like an oven. I suggested we open the garage door and turn on the fan in there, but he said ''No, I'm almost done.''

'Done' is right -- as in well baked!

Klem, there's nothing like a cool pool to chill out the hot ones, hot from whatever reason ...

I work in non AC and we are careful about it but sweat we do and if we stop sweating. That is when I worry.

Mara, I don't know how you stand it. What does the temperature get up to in your shop? From photos it looks like it has a high ceiling so that would help. Do you have fans going?

One thing that didn't help Bob (and we argue about this) is that when he was a teenager he hung out at the gym a lot. The trainer there told the boys never to cool down quickly and never in front of a fan, as it would make the muscles cramp, etc. etc..

That was Vermont. This is Texas. That advice might be good after a moderate workout at the gym. I don't think that advice has served him well after yard work in Texas.

This is the advice given on the Internet:

If you have signs or symptoms of heatstroke, seek emergency medical

help. Others should take steps to cool you off while waiting for emergency help to arrive.

• Get the person into shade or indoors.
• Remove excess clothing.
• Cool the person with whatever means available — put in a cool tub of water or a cool shower, spray with a garden hose, sponge with cool water, fan while misting with cool water, or place ice packs or cold, wet towels on the person's head, neck, armpits and groin.

In a heat emergency, such as heat cramps or heat exhaustion, the following steps may lower your body temperature:

1. Get to a shady or air-conditioned place. ...
2. Cool off with damp sheets and a fan. ...
3. Take a cool shower or bath. ...
4. Rehydrate. ...
5. Don't drink sugary or alcoholic beverages to rehydrate.

The dot-dot-dot details: Heatstroke Lifestyle and home remedies - Mayo Clinic

That is great advise for "cooling down from exercise in the cold but not for keeping the blood from boiling out in the beyond tepid weather.

My husband's shop has 16'ceilings in a butterfly shape with clearstory windows and a shed roof over porch along the south wall. Sun does not hit the walls and the ceiling sheds heat. We are a oriented to the south winds. We stay about 10 degrees cooler than out doors as long as we have a breeze. My shop is partially dug into a hill. its ceiling is 7.5', maybe less, but I have cross vent and a breeze. The heat is messing with my oil finish. It slows it down because solvents are trapped by a quick drying above and that keeps things sticky. I had to take all the pieces up into the ACed painting studio to cure it right. When it gets really hot, I drink lots and make a lot of short trips into the ACed office. In and out , in and out.

I forgot to mention that I will run up the road in the middle of the day for a short swim to cool me down. That works miracles and gets me through the heat of the day.

No running for me.

Sometimes I tell Bob, "I'm gonna' run to HEB and get a few things."

He says, "Honey, why don't you take the car?"

... :-)

Ha

I bet Forrest Gump's claim to fame would never been realized if he had been born in Tx instead of Bama.

You're probably right. Actually I thought he was an all around nice guy! ... :-)))

And so did most other people. It was an exceptionally written script.

Roselee, how is Bob doing?

Pam, he's a good 80% or more back to his 'before heat stress' self. He's doing his daily walk around the neighborhood, but not going as many laps ... yet. He missed a couple of music programs at retirement homes where he plays his trumpet, but he'll be back to that soon. Recovery does take a little while.

I don't want to be 'out' for any time at all so I'm being very careful.

That is good news, Ragna. Sometimes we are slow learners as to what we could ONCE do and what we can NOW do. Wish it were not so, but have to stick with the facts. And Pam, thanks for your concern, but when I am on the mower (with hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and mask), I just never seem to get hot as the wind is constantly blowing as I mow, and it is so enjoyable for me. I drink G2 as it has the electrolytes in it that keep my legs from cramping. I think our rainy spell may be over and we are getting into the dog days of summer.
Stay COOL, everyone !!!!

What I'm doing right now to cool off after a few minutes outside is sitting in front of my small fan by the computer with a long narrow hot/cold jell pack, which I had almost forgotten about having in the freezer, around my neck. It is wrapped in one layer of a damp kitchen towel. I think I had it from way back when I had knee replacement surgery.

Anyway, it is worth buying one for times like these. When I'm hot I want to cool down FAST-- I don't care what Bob's Vermont gym trainer said 60 years ago! ... :-)

He said it UP IN VERMONT. Where breaking into a sweat is rare.

I also sit in front of a fan in the AC and drink cold water to cool off!

Roselee- thanks for sharing. The heat indices we've been having zap the body very quickly- quicker than I realized. I worked outside for 7 hours a week ago Thurs, then was heat sick and dehydrated for two days. I've been running sprinklers and watering for 4 hours a day just to keep plants from wilting. I know it's hot when the deer congregate to watch the sprinkler and then as soon as I turn it off, they are in the front yard licking the grass and plants for water!