I hate the heat, and I hate it even more so when combined with humidity. I try not to whine about it since that does make it seem even worse, but I am not always successful. Summer heat and humidity seems to sap all my energy, to the point where I'd like to just lie down with a cold washcloth on my head, but that's not very practical. Since summer's heat is a reality (and there is that "trying not to whine about it" thing I just mentioned), here's what I do to deal with it.
- Drink lots of cold beverages. Mint tea is refreshing, and even the sound of ice clinking in the glass makes me feel better.
- Try and get the hot chores done early in the morning. This means checking the garden, working in the kitchen (especially if it involves boiling water to make pasta salad or blanching vegetables to freeze), and mowing before it gets really hot.
- Wear evaporative bandanas. I'm not sure if these things actually cool me down, but they do keep the sweat out of my eyes. I wear them when I work in the garden, mow, and sometimes even when I work in the kitchen so I don't have sweat dripping all over. You don't have to tell me how lovely and fashionable I look. :-)
- Ignore John when he comes home and tells me his office was so cold that he had to wear a long-sleeved shirt and a sport jacket just to stay warm. Our house is an old one, without any existing ductwork, which means we don't have central air-conditioning. We do have a window unit in the bedroom so we can sleep, but the whole downstairs is open, so window units can't cool the space and the cost of installing central air in this house is incredibly prohibitive.
- If it's really sweltering, find a terrific book and retreat to the air-conditioned library. That's my plan this afternoon when it's supposed to be 95° again. I am taking my laptop to get some work done, but I've also got Grief Cottage and Magpie Murders packed in my bag to read as soon as I meet a couple of work deadlines.
- Swear that my next house will have central air and possibly be in Colorado where the dewpoint does not reach 75°F.
- Remember that in just a couple of months the delightfully cool air of fall will be returning and things will be better.
We used to live in an old house with no air conditioning (and, like you, no option to install air conditioning). I loved the house -- but suffered greatly during the super-hot parts of the summer. It sounds like you have come up with the best ways to beat the heat, though. (You're obviously a Pro. . .) (And I LOVE the bandana!)
ReplyDeleteI moved from upstate NY to east central Illinois 11 years ago and the extreme heat & humidity of the midwest still continues to shock me...I just can't take the heat & would rather cope with the snows of Syracuse! I try to think about Autumn, my favorite season!
ReplyDeleteI love your bandana too! And, glad you put the link in - I could sure use one when doing housework or cooking. Like you, we have no central air. We do have room AC units in the living room and bedroom...sleeping is good, but the downstairs never really gets all that cool. I read or knit under a ceiling fan and have plenty of water.
ReplyDeleteI do love your bandana! And, you are right - early morning to get work done is the best idea! I drink lots of water and I make sure the birds have lots of water too!
ReplyDeleteNo central AC for us either but we do have 3 window units and they keep things pretty comfortable most of the time. I think your idea of hanging out at the cool library is just perfect! I also think the bandana is quite stylish!
ReplyDeleteAnother old house here...a window unit in each bedroom upstairs (pitched roof) barely makes it tolerable during the really hot weather but...we survive right? And I like the bandana too. :-)
ReplyDeleteOnly 2 things to add to your almost perfect list. I open the house very early in the morning and let the "cooler" air in, let the house cool down, then close it up tight. I have AC, but I often do this just to cool down the house some. And, weird as it sounds, I like to read books that have a very cold setting in the summertime! Nordic mysteries are great for this, as well as anything set in an Alaska winter. It helps me escape the heat state of mind.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your excellent ideas! I did open the house this morning, and then remembered I gave our fan to my youngest son, so the house didn't get cooled down much. I'm working at the library this afternoon, so I'm now off to check the shelves for Cold: Adventures in the World's Frozen Places and the Extreme Ice DVD. Great idea, not weird at all! :-)
DeleteWith the heat and humidity - this week's heat index has been about 105.... I hate it hate it hate it. I would be a screaming maniac if my house didn't have central air! Our's is really old - and I'm praying that it holds up through the summer!! I went to the grocery store today - and by the time I walked from the car to the inside of the store, I could almost not get my breath!
ReplyDeleteLinda in VA
Old houses - been there too.
ReplyDeleteI'm like you with morning chores/jobs/garden duty, enjoy them early. Also, I make the evening meal in the morning, such as the couscous w/black beans cold salad I made today. Then the rest of the day is for sit-down stuff, I give in and accept the heat and allow myself to simplify. I am getting lots of reading done. Once August comes to TN I stop watering most everything in the garden, and most is done anyway except potatoes and herbs.
My latest drink includes watermelon ice cubes: purée the watermelon, strain (coffee filter), and make ice cubes of the liquid. It's a great addition to certain kinds of drinks like lemonade, it does have a particular taste but satisfies the thirst.
Sometimes the only way to cope is to make do.
It sounds like you've got the right idea and I love your watermelon ice cubes! A blogging friend also posted about that (http://mere-et-filles.blogspot.com/2017/07/think-write-thursday-staying-cool.html) and there will definitely be watermelon in my freezer tomorrow. Thanks and stay cool in TN!
DeleteLove your head band...it does the trick mentally if not physically, I'm sure. Yep, know all about going to the library to cool off - I was a librarian and always, at opening time, there was a queue waiting to get in and beat the heat...went to my local library this morning on my walk, to return a couple books and those few minutes inside were heavenly...putting CO on my list of places to retire to...I hare the humidity!
ReplyDeleteStay cool as best you can.
Cheers~
If we could do something about the humidity it would make all the difference.
ReplyDeleteI complain a lot regardless of whether it does anything! I also hibernate in the AC :)
ReplyDeleteOur mornings are usually cool and we keep the north side windows open to let in the shaded cool air. Then we close the house up tight and draw the blinds. The house stays comfortable (75) until late afternoon. We have AC but keep the house at 77 (no humidity). I love summer, except for the 100 degree days.
ReplyDeleteI love the bandana! and your idea to make your next home in Colorado ;-) When Katie lived in LA, their house didn't have air OR heat ... and it was fine all year round (kind of mind-blowing). Hope you enjoyed a cool (and quiet!) afternoon at the library. That sounds perfect!
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