A dfferent kind of hot

Seattle ranks last in the nation in its percentage of air-conditioned households.  Only something like one in three homes has central cooling.  Actually that number seems high, at least in our neighborhood of old houses.  Instead of hunkering inside like a sensible desert rats, we open all the windows early in the morning to try and cool off the house.  We're on the crest of a hill that leads down to Alki Beach, so there's often a breeze coming up from the water. Not necessarily a cool breeze, but the air circulation and lack of humidity makes a big difference.

So very wet in other parts of the country, but Seattle is dry as a bone right now.  We'll get our due when fall rolls around.  It feels like the season has already turned, as the days grow perceptively shorter.

Anyway, coming from a Las Vegas record heatwave puts it in perspective. Our high yesterday was about 88 degrees, and that was the lowest temperature all last week in Las Vegas.

Years ago, it was challenge growing tomatoes at all in the short, cool Seattle summers. Not anymore!  We have another bumper crop of Roma and cherry tomatoes and and a peck of peppers.

I picked most of the peppers yesterday. They have to be charred to peel off the thin skin, which is a bother, but worth it. We ate a few with steak last night-- my, they were mild and good. Last year I waited longer to pick them and they were so hot.  Peppers get really hot when they are stressed by drying out.



This is Sea Fair week in Seattle, so the Blue Angels arrive at Boeing Field today. They'll be screaming around town all week causing all sorts of traffic havoc.  Fortunately, I don't think I need to leave The Peninsula for the next few days.

I had a nice visit in Las Vegas!  Thanks, Dad and Marji for sharing your wonderful home.