Dog days of summer

Here in Winnipeg, we get the extreme temperatures from both ends of the thermometer – from minus 33C (or lower) in the winter to plus 33C (or higher) in the summer. I think this is the hottest day this summer, so far. We reached a high of plus 32C with a humidex factor of 7. So it really felt like it was plus 40C. We had the aircon on for the last two days. This is one more reason I enjoy working at home. I don’t have to go out there under the heat of the sun. I did go out this noon in the sweltering heat to water my flowers. They looked so thirsty. My white petunias are thriving but the red pansies are struggling against the heat. We’ve had quite a few really hot days that we had melted chocolate bars and we had to put them in the fridge. We had steamed rice as well that had been spoiled. And I was sunburnt when I went to the baseball game. Well, I guess I can’t complain too much. This is a lot better than the summer we had last year.

Summer trivia:

Why are hot days referred to as dog days?

The phrase dog days is said to have originated in Roman times as canicularis dies, 'days of the dog,' referring to the dog star Sirius or Procyon. The Romans thought the rising of the most brilliant star of the constellation Canis Major contributed to the heat of summer.

Source of trivia: http://dictionary.reference.com/features/summer.html