I’ve already watered – around 6:30 am – and I’m sweating. Yesterday, our heat index was 103°. Today, it will reach 105°. It’s unbearable out there. And in here, because when you have several days of this stuff, it builds up in the house. Our big window a/c unit could barely keep up with it yesterday. Same with the bedroom unit. And both are usually more than up to the task.
By early yesterday afternoon, I had painted and Don had worked up in the studio and we were resting with the a/c on. It was as if we were both drugged. We could barely keep our eyes open.
I had a strong memory flash this morning as I was filling up the watering can. When I lived in Philadelphia in grad school, I shared an apartment one year with my friend Carolyn. We didn’t have and couldn’t afford a window a/c unit. During the summers, I would do temp work in Philadelphia. Carolyn would go home to California. Philadelphia is not unlike Washington DC when it comes to crushing humidity. I would get up in the morning to get ready for work and after 5 minutes, I was already sweating. Work, of course, offered a bit of a refuge as it was air conditioned, but lord, by the time I reached home at the end of the day, I was drenched. I would take a shower and then, using the three fans that I owned, I’d sit on the bed in my underwear with one fan on my right, another on my left, and one facing me – all of them turned on full blast. And that was my station for the rest of the evening.
That’s what this feels like. It should break on Thursday, but in the meantime, my brain is mush.
This painting I’m currently working on is taking a bit of time – partly because I can only work for a short time every day, but mostly because it’s difficult. At the end of a session, I’m greatly encouraged; then after a break I look at it more critically and realize there are several elements I didn’t get right. And so it goes. It’s all a learning experience and I have much to learn!
Other than the above, there’s nothing new. We’re hanging in there. The birthday celebration has come and gone. The apple pie has been eaten. Prodigious amounts of water are being consumed.
I know it’s very hot in many places. If you are in one of them, hang in there. Stay hydrated.
Stay safe.
Happy Tuesday.
Going for a long drive on shaded country roads, our way of coping with the oppressive heat.
Stay cool
Anne
Good idea, Anne!
Stay safe!
glad if you take it easy, drink plenty of water. hope the heat and humidity break soon for you and everyone else.
i’ve done the same with fans and wet hair. also have a couple of bags of frozen peas that are dedicated to holding onto when i’m trying to sleep in such hot weather.
glad you’re painting and mostly enjoying it. i get frustrated at times, too, when what’s on the paper doesn’t match what’s in my head, but mostly i just love it … the colors, the way watercolors swirl and mix and run … sometimes seeing progress … and mostly that i feel free.
hope you have a good day, stay safe and cool.
kathy in iowa
Thank you so much, Kathy.
Stay safe.
Stay safe and stay cool! Hope the weather breaks soon.
One more day…
Stay safe, Ellen.
Hang in there! This too shall pass! The heat is something else here in B.C. Yesterday 40C/47C Humidex which in my 3rd floor ,south facing ,no AC apartment has a sauna effect. Ice cubes help. Beautiful flower image Claudia! A burst of freshness!
You guys are really being challenged right now! I hope it breaks soon, Grace.
Stay safe.
So hot. I know without a/c it’s miserable and even with it when it’s that hot a/c can’t keep up. So just do what you must until the heat breaks.
Thank goodness for some a/c. It’s keeping us sane!
Stay safe, Linda.
Steamy here, too. So far, the basement has not flooded again and the leaking roof has held. Just hoping they can fix it while I’m gone — leaving tomorrow for 12 days for the lake. Rain predicted here and there and very hot. But probably cooler there.
I can see why that vase would be a problem with the relief detail on the bottom. But it really is lovely. (Is painting your egg cups next? I could see a few of those! I confess, they are my favorites.)
Well, off to see if the primer on one side of the bird house has dried so I can paint the other. I’d like to finish that here so I can do the “real” painting at the cottage. Keep cool.
Not considering painting the egg cups yet, Jeanie.
The cottage will be a welcome respite!
Stay safe.
I live near Seattle and our heat finally broke during the night. Three days of over 90º and three days over 100º. Yesterday it was 110º in the yard, and higher in the house. Kitchen the only room with an AC. That stayed at about 100º. Today I feel like I have just staggered out of Zombie land. I have slept most of the morning and will take another nap soon. Don’t want this repeated ever again. (I would put an explanation point after that sentence, but I don’t have the strength.)
Zombie land is the perfect way to describe it, Tana!
Hang in there and stay safe.
Oh those fans can be the only saving grace! Stay cool! I’m watering our gardens like crazy. The storms go over up and around and down and have not really helped us at all since JUNE
So sorry – I hope you get rain soon, Kathy!
We’re supposed to get them later today…we’ll see if that happens.
Stay safe.
It was steamy here too, but for a different reason,,,it was raining. Yay! We are still in a drought…but every little bit helps.
My husband was wondering why our water bill was so high last month. I said…well…we did quite a bit of watering, and because it was so hot and humid, we were also taking more showers. More showers equal more laundry. It’s just a slippery slope.
Stay cool as best you can! ;)
So glad you got a little rain, Donna!
Stay safe!
I have poison ivy on hands neck and legs from pulling “weeds”. I shower, apply lotion and sit in front of the air conditioner. Husband just asked me what we will be doing this weekend. Expletive deleted.
Oh no! That’s miserable. I’m so sorry!
Hoping it eases up very soon and you have some relief.
Stay safe, Maria.
oh, too bad. maria, i hope you feel better soon and say all the expletives you want (poison ivy? i would)!
kathy in iowa