Valerie Bertinelli Posts a Swimsuit Selfie to Mark the 'Last Dog Day of Summer'

The former Food Network star shared a poolside photo and celestial thoughts on Aug. 11

Valerie Bertinelli is all smiles and swimsuits.

The Indulge author, 64, shared a poolside selfie on Instagram to talk about her excitement over the end of the summer.

“August 11. The last dog day of summer. I have spent 64 years not knowing what that actually meant, so I looked it up,” Bertinelli wrote in the caption.

Her research revealed that the dog days are 40 days around the rise of the star constellation, Sirius (known as the dog star). "The dog days of summer are the 20 days before and the 20 days after Sirius has become visible in the east when the sky is still dark right before sunrise," said Bertinelli.

“And it’s hot as f---,” she added. “Anyway, this is me waiting patiently for the fall equinox. 😜”

Despite her disdain for summer, the Valerie’s Home Cooking alum looked happy on her towel while wearing a polka dot swimsuit, straw hat, tortoiseshell glasses and a blingy Apple Watch.

Bertinelli recently commemorated an exciting occasion: being six months alcohol-free.

The celebrity chef posted about the milestone on her Instagram on July 1. Plus, she filled PEOPLE in on how her life has changed since going sober.

Related: Valerie Bertinelli Says Her Honesty Touches 'a Nerve with People' but She Won't 'Pretend to Be Happy When I'm Not'

“Even with life struggles and how life can be challenging, I find that it is easier to get myself clearer faster, about what I need to do and taking care of my life,” she told PEOPLE in July. “I feel good when I wake up in the morning. I'm not groggy. I'm not tired. I'm not: ‘What did I do last night?’”

In her April cover story with PEOPLE, Bertinelli said she had cut back on alcohol because she didn't "need anything to amplify my happiness right now."

"I feel high just on life," she said at the time. "I recently went out to dinner with a friend, and I had ginger ale in a wine glass. And it felt like I was celebrating.”

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