We've had a recent break for the very high temps, but still no real rain. Saturday we had an afternoon drizzle, just enough to get the plants thinking they may survive.

Today in St. Louis it's only 95F/35C, by Wed we'll be back to 100F/38C.

Praying for rain.

Dusty

Boy you guys are having a rough summer over there in the US, hot and fires as well.
Greg
Townsville still overcast and occasional rainy stuff.

They're giving us a 91% chance of thunderstorms Thurs, but less than 1/2 inch of rain. We're probably around 6 inches short of normal. Corn prices will skyrocket his year!

Dusty

Just been up to Skye via lake district and weather up there has been brilliant so much so Talisker production is at 50% due to lack of rain.

Here's one from Skye. A900 and Sigma 12-24mm


and two from Keswick, again A900

+ 24-70 zeiss


+12-24mm Sigma

Very nice caporip.
Greg

Very nice caporip. Number 2 looks like something out of a Fairy Tale.

Today in St. Louis a blazing 108F/40C, but with the smell of rain in the air!

Last night we had lightning that killed the power for about 4 hrs, but no rain.

Dusty

Lovely pictures Caporip - I especially like the Skye picture. Loch Bracadale from Dun Beag I think? Just a couple of miles down the road from the in-laws . Let's hope with the gulf stream moving that they get some more rain up there and we get a bit drier! Did you catch sight of Highland Lady sailing around Loch Dunvegan?

Hope you get some more pleasant weather soon as well Dusty.

I'm sending some rain Dusty, it's stopped being overcast here, nice clear sky, well reasonably clear, and coolish.
Greg
A700 KM28-75

[u]Weather In Istanbul:[u]
Temperature: 31 degrees C. Feels like 33 C.
Wind: 24 km/hr
----------------------------------------------------------------

Certainly a hot day in Istanbul with a little breeze to stall the madness. : )

Dusty, we need as much rain and cool weather as possible so I'll take a portion of the rain Greg is sending towards the Northern Hemisphere. Any single cool drop counts....


I've been frying a sweet dessert during these hot and humid hours... : ) JBTaylor noticed that I wasn't uploading any photos lately and 'cutely' pointed towards the kitchen where no dust exists.

Here's the result. It's my attempt at making sweet ring dumplings that are crispy on the outside and smooth and nut-filled on the inside. It's Ramadan, the month of fasting for Muslims and it is customery to have desserts at the table when the Sun sets and eating is allowed.
This dessert is not partial to the month at all. : ) We can make it at home or buy them any time of year. My attempts at the shapes of the dumplings are awkard to put it nicely. They are supposed to be perfect circles. It's my first time and I hope I'll be excused.

I hope this fills a gap in my niche, JBTaylor. : ))

Yildiz

I bet they are still yummy, even if the shapes aren't what your expected Yildiz

(Dusty / Yildiz, please feel free to take as much UK rain as you want!)

Thank you so much for the rain offer, Birma! Joyeously welcome!!
(It's 8:39 am here and I'm already sweating here. Too much humidity that feels sticky.)

And thank you for the encouraging words on the dessert. It tastes as it should but no where up to standard for the proper circular shape. My piping bag failed in giving me the right shape. I need to buy a more professional, chef's piping bag to get the shapes right.

Greg, the bridge is almost finished. Glad to see that cranes are in action... Looking forward to you riding a bike on it and photographing where you are standing to take this photo of the construction. Must be good new vantage point.

Thanks for sharing,

Yildiz

Hi Yildiz, I sent some rain too you as well, you should receive it soon I hope.
Yes the bridge seems to have suddenly gained some momentum since the new state government took office after the election and laying off civil servants everywhere (we were overloaded with the blighters…apparently), and actually I rode my bike down to take the shot because the old truck is still having some renovations (been neglected while working on the house). I don’t know if they will make room for a bike lane on the bridge yet, it’s supposed to be a port access road for large trucks (so they don’t travel through my suburb, although the road they presently use is quite a distance away from home) full of mineral stuff to be loaded on to ships, so who knows how it will turn out for us ordinary simple folk.
When one finally gets to read the multitude of traffic signs they undoubtedly will erect I’ll probably get run over by a 200 ton truck while reading the large vehicle and restricted access hazard warning sign about not standing in front of the sign to read it.
Greg
Ps I wasn’t too sure about those Ramadan biscuits…initially, but Birma said they were great so I’ll try one or two, I'm sure they would be very nice, pretty looking plate and nicely photographed btw.

Good to know that the current administration is more seriously involved with the construction.

Life certainly will be different around those parts once the bridge is completed it seems, Greg. Minerals for load? Interesting. Will bring lots of heavy traffic for sure. : ) I hope bikes will be allowed.

The dessert is safe for your tasting, Greg. It may look strange but definitely tastes nice since it was dipped in sweet syrup after it was fried. Even I had some, considering I don't have that much of a sweet tooth. If I can eat, you can eat a huge plateful of them for sure. : ))


Thanks,

Yildiz

Thanks for the rain, guys! From the weather site it looks like we may get it tomorrow!

Yesterday, my tire blew out on the way home from work, so I was sweating by the highway in 103F/39C heat getting the donut (mini-spare) put on.

Looks a bit hotter today, and then the rain and a "cool front" bringing it down to 92F/33C for the weekend.

If I disappear from the site it will be because I have to sell all my camera gear to pay the electric bills cooling my house is creating.

Dusty

Sorry for posting an external link instead of the pictures here....
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set= ... 548&type=1