Despite easing of pandemic restrictions, the record-breaking summer heat kept us largely homebound over the past few weeks. We ordered kurapia plugs to fill in the bald patches of our backyard lawn, but found the auger bit I used to be both a blessing and a curse, as it damaged some of the irrigation lines that we had to fix. We also learned to use diluted white vinegar to unclog our showerheads, although the same DIY trick damaged the finished to our kitchen faucet. At least we knew better and hired professionals to replace our garage door springs, which appeared to have snapped while we were both at work, fortunately. At the same time, we had to coordinate both plumbing and drywall repairs after discovering a leak from our 2nd floor tub overflow which led to water damage to our 1st floor bathroom ceiling. Between all the home repairs, we treated ourselves to Localis at Home, where we enjoyed a 7-course tasting menu at the chef’s home in the Placer County Foothills as his restaurant underwent renovations. We had to wait until sunset to cool down and enjoy the outdoor patio, where we chatted with some friends we ran into until late evening. Over the July 4th weekend, we tried our hands at smoking some country-style ribs with Traeger pellets and a Brinkmann electric smoker that we got for free off Craigslist. Our new wireless thermometer worked well for monitoring the cook of the meat, but the rub recipe that we tried was too salty, requiring us to balance out with some stone fruit salad and smoothies made with our new Vitamix blender. In preparation for our outdoor kitchen remodel, we ordered a sink, faucet, access doors, trash bins, and refrigerator. We also drove to Rancho Cordova to browse countertop materials, settling on a handsome honed marble called Dorian Grey. Now, we just need to find a contractor to get the job done!