It rained earlier this evening for almost an hour. We had about .8 of an inch here. The official reporting stations (we have 2) may have different amounts but any rain is welcome as we are in the 24th month of a severe drought and are now at stage 2 water restrictions. We can water with a sprinkler once a week during certain hours and no daytime watering. I have decided we are getting a gutter on the lower roof as soon as the weather gets cooler and I find a good installer. Then I'll ask John to make a rain barrel collection system. I also want to do some plantings of native plants that will be able to withstand the kind of weather we have had for the past two years. Hopefully there was some rain in the Hill country so the lakes and rivers get some replenishment. Two of the nearby lakes are at less than 50% of capacity and so many businesses that rely on full lakes are not doing well. All of the public access points are closed to boats as the access points are all way out of the water. Canoes and kayaks can still go in because they can be carried in. People with wells are hurting. A local pool had to close part of its facility because of its wells ran dry. Another pool, which relies on a spring, is also hurting because the spring has a very low flow.

Still hot (another >100) and still dry (no rain that counts in over a month). Finished another small quilt (36 by 40 or so). Have some panels to work on, then want to try a bigger four square and strip pattern. Have lots of pieces of fabric and strips so may do a random pattern. The last four have been made by taking 4 squares (6.5 in) made into a bigger square, then cut into 4 triangles. The triangles were sorted into 2 identical stacks and then 4 triangles were sown together to make an 8 inch square. I still need to work on getting all my joining seams the same size as when I am done my squares aren't all the same size. Then when i put the sashing in the squares don't line up the way they should.

Jude's birthday was today so we drove to Bedford yesterday afternoon and back today, making good time both ways, including a stop at Black-eyed Pea on way up and at Alpine Shooting on way back. Weather here is hot already, over 20 above average days in last month and it isn't June yet. Rainfall is still low and drought persists. Weeds grow anyway though plants that are desired don't. Basil seems to be doing well and I think oregano transplant is settling. I am not sure about dwarf sage and thyme plants. Lavender and rosemary wintered well and are bushy and strong. Next step is to dig up some more of the yard where an invasive plant that kills the grass is growing and plant somethings that like sun and dry situations, maybe yucca or esparanza. Have to do some reading so plants are either native or adapted. Crape myrtle is being discouraged as it is not native and there are lots of them around. The two peach trees bore fruit this year,though not a bumper crop because of freeze late in season. Perhaps a total of 15 peaches. The birds tended to peck at them but most were edible with trimming. Need to learn how to prune the trees so they don't get too tall.