One good thing about this relentless heat -- it has turned the loft in the guest bedroom into an excellent food dehydrator. We could make jerky up there, if only we had the meat.

Instead, I have been drying lavender -- some for sachets in the drawers with sweaters and the boxes with blankets stored away, some for making lavender and lemon cookies, and some for lavender oil to rub on our mosquito bites.