the heat, that is.
It’s outrageously hot here.
And we are soooo not used to it.
We have no A/C, you see. Because the average temperature, even in the heat of the summer, is around 83 degrees in our neck of the woods.
For this day of year, the average is 72 degrees.
The record? Is 91.
And today, it’s 92.
Which, no matter how many fans we have running, means it’s ridiculously hot inside.
We can’t seem to drink enough,
or undress enough,
to get comfortable.
The heat makes everyone crabby.
And tired.
Anyone have tips for how to bear the heat when you’re living on the surface of the sun?
We’d all sure appreciate it.
Popsicles! Lots of 'em!
A Popsicle for everyone!
Water play outside.
Put a box fan in a window with the breeze blowing outside….this pulls air in the rest of the open windows. (Block off all the window that has the fan, except for where the fan is…..do I confuse, I'm not always good at explaining)
Put a big tub of ice in front of a fan and sit in its breeze.
Sit outside in a shade
Get some hand held misting fans. Do they have those where you live? Do you even usually need those where you live? They are readily available here in TX so if you don't have access to some let me know and I'll send you a few.
I would make a run to Walmart and get one of those blow up pools….ours is a life saver down here in south MS (where 91 seems a little cool…LOL)….me and Macie get in everyday!
good luck!
Jill 🙂
Combine 1 cup crushed ice and enough Coffee Mate Coffee Creamer (Vanilla is our favorite)
to make a delicious slushie. Insert plastic spoon and give one cup to each sweaty child. Now you have 20-30 minutes to scrub a bathroom, or just sit down with a good magazine.
= )
I second the window fan. These are much better at helping to cool the air.
Also, if you have uncarpeted floors, lying on the floor instead of sitting on a couch or bed keeps one cooler. Textiles are huge heat monsters.
Surprisingly, one often feels much cooler if they are outdoors, provided they are in the shade. I know its difficult to keep an eye on the kids when they are all outside, but maybe giving them an art project to work with on the breeziest part of the porch will keep them calm and in one area so you are able to get your own work done.
Pillows or a large, heavier type of cloth in the freezer. Then lay them out on the floor. Instant cool down and stays cool for a relatively long while. This is also a good way to cool the body down before bed. It can be uncomfortable if you are using the pillow for just the head, especially for small children, but just having it somewhere on or near the body is sufficient.
We are having a major heat wave here as well. I am not used to this kind of weather. I feel for you, I really do.
A simple garden sprinkler works great! My kids run through it and you don't have to worry about the dog popping a hole in it. Homemade popsicle are great to make and to eat! Or how those cheap squirt bottles in the travel section. My kids love those!
Cheri~
http://loveandlaughterenrichthesoul.blogspot.com/
I agree with the others about popsicles, otter pops keep my husband from whining in the summer :0)
Put a rung out, but wet dish cloth over the front of the fan..it will blow much cooler air that way…..
Popsicles…waterballoons, sprinklers, all wonderful ideas….
Good luck.
We had ONE hot day when we were up in Rhode Island and I ran out and bought a window AC…but that's probably not the solution you are looking for. I can't believe the temperature up there!!! It's only 91 degrees here in the Dallas area!!!
Put your jammies in the freezer – that way they'll feel sooooo nice and refreshing when you put them on at night!
Do you have blinds? Open them at night, and fully open your windows, then early morning before the heat comes, close the windows and shut the blinds (at least half way, and fully in those windows the sun shines through), that way the heat stays outside and it's nice and cool inside. It's essential to leave the windows (and doors) CLOSED as much as possible, because once you open them the heat will crawl in! Repeat the same procedure every day, that's the way we do it in Germany where virtually noone has AC in their homes.
A sprinkler, a kiddie pool, popsicles, ice cold water, how bout a basement, do you have one? It's always cooler in the basement.
We use most of the ideas already mentioned: popsicles by the boatload, kiddie pool, sprinkler, laying on the tile floor, eating on the patio. Our house is currently 85 degrees inside (ugh!), but we've decided to conserve and not turn on the AC ~ but it makes everyone tired and grumpy!
I agree with Jag ar jag above – cool the house down at night as much as possible and keep the windows closed and blinds/drapes drawn during the day. Lived in Buffalo, NY for 12 years – we stayed downstairs as much as possible (cooler)during the day. Finally broke down and bought a window unit AC to use only at night, as our bedroom was upstairs and it was too hot to sleep up there without it. Hopefully the heat wave will pass soon!
We go to the mall, or a movie, or bowling….anything in the A/C. If you have a basement…make it a playroom!!
Take them somewhere that has air conditioning, like a movie!
jag ar jag has the winning comment. That's what my mom would do when I was growing up to keep our house cool (no AC.) Now, I use that trick to conserve energy.
Another vote for a window a/c – maybe put it in the playroom and have everyone camp out in there? (eeek – it is only May!!)
Also agree with Jag ar jag's comment. I was a teacher in the upper Midwest for many years, and was the only one that kept my classroom windows CLOSED during the muggiest days near the end of the school year, or at the beginning. My room was ALWAYS the coolest in the building, no A/C.
I still do this in my current home in Southern CA. We also sleep on the opposite side of the house from the sun in the summer, and sleep on the sunniest side in the winter. Makes sense! 🙂
As for your kiddos, my mother would always tell my siblings (6 of us total) and I to sit as still as possible, and read a book with a cool drink.
It will pass, although if you are living near Northern VA, be prepared for one HOT & HUMID summer.
Do you have a garden sprinkler?
We had the same heat this week and by Wednesday I thought I might die. I took my girl to the water park (down the street) to cool off, it was great, she was shivering and I kinda wished I could get in there with her. Thank goodness I didn't though, the tv crews arrived and Lilah even made it onto the 6 o'clock news that evening! Haha!
Jill
I grew up in Worcester, MA and learned a lot from my dad on this. We would close blinds/curtains on the windows where the sun was coming in and put the box fans in the windows on the shaded side of the house to pull in the cooler air. You would be suprised how great this works. Remember as the earth moves and the sun is shining on the other side of the house to reverse it.
My mom helped us kids make a necklace of large plastic beads on a plastic rope. Then you buy ice cube trays. You put one bead into each of the cubes on the tray and fill with water…let them freeze and TADA, you have a cool necklace to wear. It is amazing how much it takes your body temp down!! (when making the necklaces, try to space the beads with knots so that they will go all the way around your neck and not all slide to the front or back)
OK, I see I need to clarify something with my post about the fans in the windows…..You can either
1. put the fan in the window of the sunny side of the house and have it blowing out, which ends up pulling cooler air in the shady side of the house or
2. put the fan in the window on the shady side of the house with it blowing air into the house, which also pulls the cooler air in
Depending on where your windows are and what you prefer, it works either way. Youre just trying to pull that cooler air in 🙂
I live in the desert of Nevada and we have 120 degrees in the summer. Anonymous' idea above about the ice cube necklace is a good one but instead of ice cubes, you would be amazed at what a wet rag around the neck can do to cool you off. Your shirt will still get wet, but no melting ice cubes…which face it, would melt pretty darn fast on a hot summer day here. I often wonder how the pioneers did it. One of their tricks was also mentioned above…they would wet cloth, sometimes burlap, and hang that at the openings in their homes…doors and windows. Then pray for a breeze! Hoping you don't melt and that the rest of your summer won't be unbearable.
Snoopy Snow Cone Machine! Make homemade popsicles…that should boost some spirits! We're feeling the heat, too, down here in sunny FL!
when cooling down, don't forget the dog! a cold wet bandanna or rag as a collar will help him cool down. My dog loves ice cubes, from the tray or as a toy. Try using plastic water bottles or an empty 2 liter bottle. Fill with water. Freeze. Poke holes in the bottle. As he plays with the cold bottle, cold water will come out. Keeps him occupied so he too isn't hyperventilating from the heat.
Must say that the windows open in the evening (close at night for security) get up early, 4:30 or 5:00 open all windows, at 7:00 or so start closing the windows works best. Siesta from 11:00 – 2:00 or 4:00 depending. Grew up in the So.Cal desert – no air conditioning. Husbands answer – Go to Costco and get room airconditioners.
Oh my, I feel for you all!! I do NOT like to be hot and I DO get crabby!! In our area, you have got to have AC and I think that is what was so hard about June in China! That Civil Affairs office was HOT and had no AC!!! What about those litle hand held water bottles that have fans on the tops????
Water water water!! Get buckets, hoses, funnels, spoons, anything that will hold water and let them have a huge water fight.
Just a comment from a random fan. I *adore* your pictures. You have talent. In taking pictures, but also in putting them together to illustrate with impact. May I one day do half as well.