HOW DO YOU KEEP COOL?

We're experiencing some REALLY HOT weather here in the mid-west- - -  98 degrees predicted for our high today!    Like you guys, I've been doing what I can to keep our home comfortable while not putting too much additional stress on our overworked air-conditioner.

I keep the thermostat set at 80.  It's not too bad. . . unless I have to do something that requires getting up and moving around- - - like vacuuming or cleaning bathrooms!!!  Those activities can just wait until our weather cools down!! :)

The ceiling fans, while not a decorator's delight, have been wonderful in keeping the cooled air circulating!

 I even place fans in strategic spots to help pull  air around.  Twiggy loves them!

Patty and I were talking yesterday about how our homes almost feel like "caves" because we keep our blinds closed during these extremely hot days.  The plus about that is. . . you don't see the dust!!
 
 I try to do our laundry early in the morning and  hang as much up to dry as I can - - -INSIDE the house.  We don't have a clothes lines outside. . . as we did when I was growing up.   Mom truly believed in the solar method of drying clothes!  For years, that was the only way we had to dry clothes. . . all through the year!  I remember many a frozen towel or sock hanging on the line in the winter!

 

I also try to serve meals that require little, if any, heat to prepare .  For instance, this was my lunch today.

Bonnie introduced me to these great thin bagels.  I keep the package frozen and only take out what I need .  Once the bagel thaws, I toast it a bit in the toaster (that doesn't heat the kitchen up too much), then. . . 

 today I added a small amount of mayo to each slice, some spinach leaves, avocado slices, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese and some of my very own homegrown basil!!

It was  a delicious, filling, cheap, healthy and "cool to prepare" meal!

This summer, I've also been using my electric roaster to cook chicken. When it wasn't too warm, yet, I placed it on our back patio.  Now that it's really hot out there, I put the roaster in the basement, where the temperature is really cool.  Baking that way certainly helps keep the heat out of the kitchen. . . plus I get some exercise going up and down the basement stairs, checking on it!!  :)

 

THE STONE RABBIT and I like to take advantage of the solar heat to make sun tea, too!  The iced tea we make from it has such a good flavor. . . and the power we used to heat the water was free!!!

  Of course, one of our favorite ways to keep cool is by enjoying a tasty little ice cream cone!

 

AND. . .  it appears that "the master of the house" enjoyed quite a bit of that yumminess last night after supper!!!  Guess we won't  be having much of a cool treat today!! 

Better add that to my grocery list!

 

Hope you are keeping cool where you are. . . any good suggestions to pall along?

 

DANA

 

Comments

[Darlene]

It has been miserable here so I feel your pain! We grill outside a lot. Also, we have the pool to jump into though the pool feels more like a hot tub right now. I keep saying we need to get some big blocks of ice to cool it down! The sprinkler does feel good though....much cooler!

[Terri Steffes]

You have hit my major ones! We do make watermelon lemonade... it is a true thirst quencher. We have ceiling fans and floor fans on plus we do keep it cooler than 80. I'd probably melt if our house was 80. Dang menopause.

Great ideas!

[John Deere Mom]

Phew. It is unbelievably hot! I feel your pain. We do most of the same things you are doing as well. I have a meal in the Crock Pot for dinner so that I don't have to use the oven. Lots of ice water...and staying inside! :)

[Angela]

Hey Dana!

We cheated a little last week to escape this high heat and humidity and went to Canaan Valley, WV where the weather there is just perfect! It was so nice waking up to 53 degree weather and temps in the 70's during the day. Wonderful! We hated to come back home. Took the kids school shopping yesterday and it was 105 degrees in the parking lot!

Your Master of the House does what mine does around here. Leaves just a little bite left for the next person! lol

Hope it cools down at your house and mine too!

Hugs,
Angela

[doris]

Oh gosh, we have so much in common--right down to the last teaspoon of ice cream! We have central a/c, but my electric bill will be way too high if I use it all day. I set my thermostat to go on at 80, then place fans in strategic places to keep the cool air circulating. I don't like it cold, anyway; but at least it's less humid. To save on ice cubes, I put a half inch of water in a large plastic cup and store it on the freezer door. Then I add a slice of lemon and some ice tea for a refreshing drink. To keep the drink even colder, I put the plastic cup inside a reusable foam cup while I'm drinking. Then it's back into the freezer with another half inch of cold water for the next time.
For cooking, I use my grill outside on the deck. I even grill corn in the husks after soaking them for a few hours. No steamy kitchen for me!

(Have you checked out my blog yet????)

[Keetha]

Oh my goodness!!! That sandwich with the avocado slices on it looks DELISH!!! I'm coming over tomorrow for lunch!

;-)

[nancy clifton]

The weather is wearing me out! I have been staying in the house alot and I am getting cabin fever, as in Jan. weather. The extreme weather does not agree with me. My good attitude is slipping, just like my make up sliding down my face!!! Oh, well, fall is just around the corner.

[Debra She Who Seeks]

Ha ha, I like how your Stone Rabbit horns in on your photos!

[Cathy Kizerian]

Like you, we keep our thermostat at 80, which is actually very pleasant (in the dry Utah weather, anyway). We have a ceiling fan in the master bedroom for bedtime, but most of the hot afternoon is spent down in the basement in my office and studio. It’s much cooler there. Today was VERY pleasant, though (for a change) and I even worked out in the yard for an hour. We eat sandwiches alot in the summer, and just micro-zap things from Costco or the deli. But it won’t be long until I’ll be canning. Gee, may have to turn the thermostat down for that!! Hugs, Cathy

[Cheryl@TheFarmer'sDaughter]

I love finding other Missouri bloggers and yours is very nice! I've enjoyed looking at a few of your posts and photos...the Stone Rabbit in many of them is a neat touch.

I am ready for fall, too, this Missouri heat has been just too much. I'll bookmark this site and be back to read more.

Oh, one more thing, I just took a pic of my lazy kitten on my desk in front of the monitor and your blog is in the background...it just may turn up in a post! Mind if I mention your blog name if I do?

~Cheryl

Yeppers! It is scorching hot here, too. The man in our home cools off with ice cream, and he eats it right out of the carton. I guess that's okay since he is the only one eating it.

[jeanne]

Hi Dana, thank you for your sweet comment about Andrea. We have had the best time these past three weeks. I have never seen her so content. We had some wonderful talks and I am so happy to know she is doing better emotionally. Her shoulder has been very painful but she is improving. I took her to her Dr. on Weds. in TN and he gave her permission to drive. I finally felt like she would be able to manage without me. I AM so happy to be home. I found out she was one of five nurses in the US for the Hospice nursing she does to be nominated for 'Hospice Nurse of the Year.' Her friend told me. I asked her why she didn't tell us and she said, "I didn't win." The honor was being nominated in my opinion. We are so proud of her.

Keeping cool here on the mountain is not hard. But keeping cool in TN was awful. The heat index was 106 degrees. However, we did do a makeover in her bedroom. I will post it tomorrow. It turned out so pretty. She is loving it!

Your post is very good, and I loved the almost empty ice cream carton. I have one just like it it my freezer. When we lived in FL. I remember those days where we lived in a home that was all closed up to keep the heat out. We do that in the winter here to keep the cold out! I hope your weather breaks soon. I am looking forward to fall myself. It is my favorite season.

Your computer looks fab. I am so happy for you.

Hope you have a cooler weekend my dear friend.
Love, Jeanne

[Dixie]

Dana... thanks for stopping by. I'll be here to visit from time to time... stay cool! hugs. Dixie

[Jean]

Dana,
That sandwhich looks so yummy, I feel like I can reach right out and grab it! I've tried the sandwhich things but not the bagel thins and I, like you, keep them in the fridge or freezer until I need them. Also, I enjoyed the post on beet hummus and seeing it all over your grandboys lips and hands! Cute! Hope you can stop by soon and see some of our family reunion at the Jersey shore. Jillian has some good posts on it also!

Hugs,
Jean