“Unheard Of – Disgusting Heat Advisory”

The unheard of, disgusting heat advisory is here! Day one, exessive heat advisory. The next day, exessive heat advisory. Then the next day, exessive heat advisory. And the next……..minimize your time outside and avoid direct exposure to the sun. Heat stroke. Hot weather cramps. Heat exhaustion. The maximum heat index is over one hundred degrees. The unheard of – disgusting heat advisory continues for days on end!

Extreme Warmth Destroys Motivation

What a beautiful day. I look outside and the sun is shining. A breeze appears to be blowing as the leaves on the trees sway back and forth. My jeans pull on and my muck boots slip onto my feet as I grab the baby bottles full of lamb milk replacer. I step outside. Immediately my skin sizzles. My T-shirt is already damp. Moisture forms on my brow and a drop of sweat trickles past my nose. Hence, there must be another unheard of, exessive heat advisory out for today. I want to return to the house. To be comfortable again.

After two seconds both of my arms glisten with sweat. Already my fine, copper-colored hair plasters to my head. A sticky feeling feeling overtakes my body and I struggle to breath in the oppressive air. Notably, the humidity is enough to kill me, but being a shephard, it is my obligation to suck it up and look after my flock. Onward I travel.

Windows wide open on the ATV, I cruise rapidly through the dusty fields to the sheep barn. Little relief comes from the the breeze blasting against my skin. After that, to prevent heatstroke and dehydration, I chug tons of water from my pink Hydro Flask as I arrive at the barn. All I think of is what I chores I must complete before I can return to the air conditioning. I don’t want to endure the “unheard of – disgusting heat advisory.”

Sickening Heat Affects Animals

Upon my arrival I see that the animals got drift of the exessive heat advisory too. Due to the intense temperature, some ewes lounge under the shade trees with their lambs nearby while others huddle in the limited shade thrown by the sun shining down on the barn. Unike wool sheep, we don’t sheer our Katahdins. Our purebred Katahdins are hair sheep so they shed. Since not all of their hair has shed off some pant uncontrolably. Whenever a sheding ewe wanders close to me I pull off any hair that I can grab as they pass by. Hard and heavy breathing endures.

As I observe the flock I feel helpless. I do what I can to help the sweltering sheep. I fill up the stock tanks with cool, fresh water in hopes that the animals ultimately drink a lot and don’t get heat stroke. Then my bottle lamb, Ella, rushes over to me and sucks furiously on her bottles getting enough liquid to keep her safe and hydrated for the morning. Extra tarps hang on the fences to provide additional shade. Some of my favorites, Panda, Minnie and Sniffles nibble some grain out of my hands. This might not help them, but I feel better giving them treats during this “unheard of – disgusting heat advisory.”

Guard Dogs Dodge Nasty Heat As Advisory Is Ongoing

I observe that each one of my guard dogs has found a unique place to lay. First, Shira curls up in some tall grass by a trickling stream. Next, I spot Max spread out under some shade trees. Then, Laine sprawls out under the oak trees while Boo yawns lazily in her spot by the front gate. She does a good job avoiding the fiery heat as the advisory continues until eleven o’clock tonight.

Finally, with his tongue hanging out, Sullivan leaps and bounds in circles. In other words, he did not get the excessive heat advisory notification or he is just a nonsensical puppy. Hopefully he will learn not to play so energetically during a heatwave. I don’t want to treat him for heat stroke any time soon. I greet him with a hug and he settles down into a shady spot to watch over his sheep. For now everybody is safe from the heat for the rest of the day. I gulp down large amounts of water before I return to the house.

Later in the evening, in the air conditioning, I watch the late night newscast. Special attention focuses on the upcoming week’s weather. Day five, exessive heat advisory. Not again. Take note that I immediately turn the T.V. switch off. I can’t stand thinking any more about oppressive heat, hot weather, high temperatures and exessive heat advisories. Without a doubt, the “unheard of – disgusting heat advisory” continues throughout the week.