In the cool, cool, cool of the morning I watered the ornamentals around the house, then poked around in the garden, pulling weeds and looked for tomato worms. Desultory activities just perfect for a lazy summer Sunday morning.

Later Sunday morning I served as Lay Worship Leader, which meant I read the opening words and the meditation and made sure the candle basket was replenished, the candles in the candelabra lighted -- and, most important, that the air conditioning was turned on for the duration of the service and the social hour afterward.

When we opened the doors after the service was over, the blast of the heat was comparable to opening the oven door with the temperature set at 550 degrees (can you say charred?) With the humidity at 10% and the temperature midday flirting with 100 degrees Fahrenheit, it was perfect weather for sitting under the fig tree (or, in my case, the mulberry tree) with an iced tea and a good book.

Helped my husband write up his schedule for the week. His Parkinson's means he has illegible penmanship. Also helped him complete a form for re-evaluation of his disability (as if anyone watching him for 5 minutes couldn't tell!). But bureaucracy must be mollified by many offerings of papers and forms and formulas.

A quiet pleasant dinner and early evening beckon.