Your male mockingbird is guarding a nest with baby birds in your crabapple tree. Mockingbirds are very territorially protective of their children.

It's hazy sun with a slight breeze, humid, dew point still above 70. It's well into the 90s right now, heading up to the low 100s again. Yesterday it hit 103 degrees on the front porch thermometer. I went to the laundromat at 7:30 pm yesterday evening after watching Jeopardy because at least it was back down into the 90s by then, albeit the upper 90s.

I'm having to take my time doing any chores because it means breaking out into a serious sweat with the saturated air. I'm drinking plenty of water, plus Gatorade, plus some fruit juice. I opted for a cotton knee length circle skirt with a tee shirt to keep cool. It's very quiet outside. Nobody walking around the neighborhood, no sounds of neighborhood children at play or seeing kids riding their bikes, or people mowing lawns with this weather. The birds and squirrels have retreated to branches in the trees and shrubs. No neighborhood dogs barking or being taken for walks. Just very still out with the occasional car driving by.

There's the chance of a stray thundershower later. If that happens hopefully it will knock back the temperatures a bit. It never went any lower than the upper 80s overnight last night. Everywhere I go in the house I am toting around my battery operated desk fan with me. It runs on two D batteries. It only cost $13 on Amazon. I ordered a second one due to be delivered on Sunday. It actually runs better at the higher speed versus my traditional plug in tabletop fan. It's such a handy thing. I am still keeping the first floor windows shut from late morning until dusk. Only some windows upstairs are open 24/7 to get cross ventilation on the second floor.