Most of the country is suffering a serious heat wave. The temperatures are up–though not searing. The issue is this new measure, the “heat index” that combines heat and humidity for a new measure of miserable. This, they say, is the weather of the future.
In addition to gardening, beekeeping and our other regular outdoor duties, Rick and I are working to finish the exterior of the barn. We have a crew (who seem to show up when it’s convenient for them). So, in their frequent absences, we soldier on, on our own. Right now we are staining the exterior materials. Two coats of Sikkens.
It’s easier to apply the stain before the siding and trim materials are installed. You can do it inside the barn, away from the sun and the bugs. You don’t have to work 30 feet up, on a ladder. And you get a better finish. I’m doing the trim materials downstairs and Rick is doing the siding upstairs. We listen to the radio.
We’re tuned into a station that plays oldies-rock n’ roll. About every twenty minutes they do an update on the weather. Given the high heat index numbers, the weather report comes with health advisories–warnings to keep hydrated and minimize exertion. We just keep going. Our goal is to finish all exterior work by the end of the month so we can be free of the hassle and expense of the crew.
Yesterday, after the umpteenth warning regarding the special dangers of a high heat index number to “vulnerable populations,” I had a flash of insight. These warnings are for folks who work outdoors, or small children… or the elderly. Rick and I are both in our sixties.
“Hell,” I called up to him, “You know, they mean us!”
tworockchronicles 
Oh yeah, Sikkens rocks! We’ve been using it for decades!: ) What colour are you using (it’s hard to tell for sure with you being inside, but looks maybe like Light Oak?)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Natural Oak. Same as on the house (which is cedar) but it looks much lighter and brighter on the white pine. We’re hoping it’ll mellow. (The cedar did.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, that’s the same thing. Names and ‘types’ have changed over the years… Used to be done as two step applications called Sikkens 1 & 23. There’s far less choice of colour now, but the Natural is a classic; ). I could send you a pic of what it looks like after 30+ years, if you like (and lol, if I had an addy to send it to; ) oops better as, ‘to which it could be sent’😜)
LikeLike
I don’t know if I’ll even make it another 30+ years! And they’ve just renamed the whole Sikkens line (they did it to my cat food, too.) I wonder at all this renaming. Thank you for correcting that dangling preposition. I fancy a tidy sentence structure–but that’s what you’d expect from somebody who paints their house before it’s up. Feel free to send the pics to avwlaw@gmail.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t think they meant us 60ish people, I think they meant those in their 80’s or 90’s! It was 97 here at 9am this morning, much to hot for me to go out, although I did venture out to put some clothes on the line which dried instantly. Yesterday I saw an older man out pruning the bottom of his evergreen tree – hardly a job for the hottest day of the summer, but some people like the heat. It is certainly deliciously cool when you go back inside.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, even if they did mean us, we’re just going to keep plugging away at it. And yes, it remains cool inside, and that’s a reward when the work is done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You seem to be doing well. I’ve had to change my hours and get up and going earlier although it does not always fit in if you have appointments and commitments during the day. I get grumpy too if I cannot get out as much as I want too. Amelia
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, we’re getting old–but I dare the young’uns to try to keep up with us.
LikeLike