Cooling Off On a Hot Summer Day
May 28, 2008 by Deborah Ng
Filed under Around the House, Simple Pleasures
Growing up without air conditioning proved to toughen me up as an adult. In fact, I didn’t have air conditioning in any of my homes or apartments until my husband and I bought this house six years ago. And my husband never had it in his house either. So you can see why we’re not one of those families who have to have the a/c on as soon as the outside temps hit 70’s.
Now don’t get me wrong, we do get hot and we do like to cool off. Sometimes though, air conditioning seems so cold. Here are some of the things we do to keep cool before flipping the switch:
- Eat watermelon – I really love ice cold watermelon and it’s very cooling on a hot day.
- Ceiling fans – This house came with ceiling fans in every room. We open the windows to create a cross breeze and turn on the fans.
- Sit under the old maple – We have a huge maple tree in our backyard. I can’t believe how much cooler it is in the shade! My husband sets up a hammock and I get out the soccer mom chairs and we sit under there and read and chill.
- Drink lots of water – I won’t lecture you on the importance of keeping hydrated, but I will mention how an ice cold glass of water truly does hit the spot.
- Swim in the pool – We were fortunate to have bought a house with a pool. Every afternoon when my son comes home from camp, and most of the weekends we’re out in the water.
What are some of the ways you like to cool off?
Image: Buy at AllPosters.com
A cool shower always helps me. When I can’t have a shower, I’ll wash my hands in very cold water, especially my wrists.
I drink boatloads of iced tea in the summer, too.
Amy @ http://prettybabies.blogspot.com
I have to admit our family is thoroughly spoiled by the AC, and it costs us big time in the summer months! Unfortunately, the summer heat in the south typically reaches a muggy 95-100 degrees, making it difficult to cool down with some help from the air conditioner. I do like your ideas, and will definitely implement them when we can.
Ditto on the taking a cool shower, but I’ve discovered that sometimes just bathing my feet will do the same thing. Works better than hands. And to maximize the shower, dry off in front of your fan instead of toweling off.
I grew up down south and we never had ac. We do not have it now because someone stole our central ac unit right after we moved into our new house! Too expensive to buy another.
We have enough room for one of those pools that you buy with a frame, but when we had a small apartment I’d put my little one into the bathtub with cool water. She’d splash around like it was a pool. When it gets really hot here, we take cold showers. Also, we have fans placed strategically to maximize airflow.
hi it hot sometimes i got ways to take walks at 12 and 1 drink ice cold ice cream and grape juice
its beming hot in the south or hawaii i drink grala grala and pinaple in hawaii and fruits lots and no money fuit filds way in spain