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Summer! It’s a fantastic time of year. The gardens are booming, the garlic scapes are growing and the cows are munching on the growing grass. But….sometimes it is just too hot! We love summer, but we also need to find ways to beat the summer heat.
The very best place for us to be on a really hot summer afternoon is at the lake. At least you can wade in the water or go for a swim when you get so hot, you really need to cool off.
Right now, we seem to be in the middle of a heat wave. Temperatures where we live can get quite extreme, from 5C in the morning to over 30C by mid afternoon. That’s extreme!
We did have a good thunderstorm come through here about 10 days ago. The day had started out nice, but by late afternoon, the thunderclouds rolled in and the thunder and lightning started.
The clouds opened up and it absolutely poured. We even had some hail about 10 ten days ago!
The gardens and yard got a really good watering that day.
While the garden loves the heat of summer, we don’t really like it when it gets too hot. This past week has been hot and sunny, with the temperatures reaching 34C in the afternoons! Too hot to even be outside working in the afternoon.
So hot that the evening temperatures aren’t even dropping very much. Not only is it too hot outside, it’s too hot inside the house as well. I love a cool room for sleeping as I have a real problem trying to fall asleep (and stay asleep) in a hot room.
When there isn’t an evening breeze, the upstairs of our house is far too hot.
That’s why we bought a portable air conditioner. Love it! I turn it on upstairs in our bedroom in the early evening and by the time I am ready to head to bed, our room is nice and cool. It’s nice and quiet so we can leave it on all night if we like.
If you get one that is on wheels, it can be easily moved around from room to room, making it far more versatile.
In many parts of the country, having an air conditioner is almost a must – back East, people struggle not only with the summer heat, but also the high humidity.
Add to that the high temperatures at night time, and a comfortable sleep can be almost impossible. It can make for cranky kids and cranky parents, with no one getting a proper sleep.
So, if you’re struggling with the heat this summer, think about getting a portable air conditioner – it’s worth every penny!
Here are 5 ways to help beat that summer heat:
Keep your curtains and blinds closed during the day –
Only open your curtains when the sun isn’t hitting the windows. Depending on how your house is sited on your lot, you may be able to have them open for the morning, then closed in the afternoon and early evenings.
Handheld fans –
Who remembers these? These handheld fans used to be popular and perhaps still are in areas of the country that are high heat. I have several of these in different spots so I can grab one easily when it’s needed. Seriously, these are inexpensive and can make a big difference. Better than paying a high air conditioning bill.
A Wet Towel for Your Neck –
Yup, this really works and it’s free! Soak a hand towel or tea towel well in cool water and wring it out really well. Wrap it around your neck and feel the difference!
I even use this sometimes if I simply have to get something done outside. I’ve also just safety pinned one around my next so it hangs free down my back. It keeps me cool (and I look like a wonky Supergirl! but that’s OK)
A Dish of Ice Cubes Set in Front of a Small Fan –
Yup, another one that works! If you have a tabletop fan, give this a try. You will notice a marked difference in the temperature. You may have to fight for position with other family, but set the fan to oscillating, so you can all win a little bit.
A Tub of Cool Water with Ice Cubes for Your Feet –
Grandmas of the past used this one a lot. If you can keep your extremities cooler, you can keep your body cooler. A dishpan or even a small cooler with cool water set in front of your chair can be a big help. Sit down, enjoy and stop moving for awhile!
When the temperature is climbing and you just can’t seem to cool down, give these ideas a try to beat the summer heat! If these aren’t working for you, it’s time to get yourself to the lake. Grab your blanket, a good book, some cool drinks and forget about work for the afternoon.
Plan to do your outside work either early in the morning or in the evening, when it is cooler. This may mean that we are outside by 6 am in the middle of summer, but that’s OK. Getting as much of our chores done this early in the day means we can just stay inside during these hot afternoons!
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