Stinkin' Hot Friday

It was a balmy 106 degrees here in Tucson today.  At least, when we were outside, and these pictures were taken, it was 106.  Yes, you read that correctly, east coast/northwest people.  ONE HUNDRED SIX.

So, since it was such a nice day and all, we took a trip to Lowe's and then thought we'd do some yard work.  

Yeah.  I know.  We are SO SMART.

First we set up the pool for the kiddos.  Behold pure joy.

Then, since another plant died last year that I'd had in this big black pot, we bought another plant.  I think it's called "Pincushion Flower" or something like that.  I dunno...but it's PURPLE and it SMELLS PRETTY.  So that's all I cared about.  Oh, and it's supposed to be "hardy" for the desert heat.  Also a huge plus.

Part of my planter and also my vincas, which I confess I tried to kill last year, but they just. wouldn't. die.  So now I'm embracing them.  Yay, pink vincas!

The whole reason we even ended up at Lowe's in the first place, was to buy a little cilantro plant.  Because, well, remember the HUGE cilantro plant I had earlier this year?  I attempted to trim it down a bit a few months ago, and...well, I pretty much killed it.  All that's left of it is that tiny vine-y thing you see in the middle.

The lush plant on the far end is my mint, which is providing us with much-needed minty iced tea right now.  Then there's the poor little cilantro vine.  (Would you believe that both Home Depot AND Lowe's were out of cilantro plants?  I guess Arizonans love their cilantro.  I don't blame them.  'Cause it's yummy and we love it too.)

The plant nearest to the camera is our new tomato plant!  Bryan decided we should try to grow our own tomatoes.  We bought the Roma type, since that's what we like to use in our guacamole and salsa.  And pasta salads, and regular salads.  Pretty much everything.  Let's see if I can keep this one alive.

Bryan is building a new planter for my new bougainvillea bushes...he wanted to buy them for me; I'd been wanting them for some years now, and I thought it was the sweetest thing that he remembered.

This is true love, people.  Remember the 106-degree heat.  I told him he could wait to do it when it cooled off this evening, but no...he wanted to do it right then.  I love that man.  

And below are my new bougainvillea bushes!  Bryan bought three of them for me.  "Royal Purple", of course.  Everyone has pink around here - we had to be different!  

After planting my new Pincushion flowers and Roma tomato plants, Mama had to take a break:

This is one HOT Mama.  And I mean that lit-ra-lee.  HOT.  Note my red face.  Dirty fingers from potting plants.  Purple water bottle.  The wooden rocking dinosaur in the back agrees.  It was STINKIN' HOT.

We are enjoying our patio so much.  Bryan built it last year.  Yeah, he's pretty much amazing.  He laid the tiles, built the planters, built the shade...no, he will not build one for you.  He does have a day job.  ;)   But he'll be very kind and gracious about turning you down.  

Thanks for sticking with such a long post!  I put up my latest stitching project on the Cottage Stitch-a-Long blog too, if you're interested.  

Happy Weekend!  Happy June!