August Celebrations

August begins tomorrow. What do you celebrate in August? Here are some ideas:

Watermelon. Locally grown watermelons are ripe in many areas. Check out your farmers market. I’ve always thought that the large and long ones with black seeds had the best flavor but they’re hard to find any more. August is the month to enjoy watermelon in whatever form you choose to buy it.

End of Summer Vacation. August is the time that many people take vacations before the busy fall activities (school and increased work schedules) start. Even if you don’t take off a whole week - plan a mini-vacation/day trip to someplace that helps you glory in the warmth of summer - usually someplace with water like a beach, a lake, a river.

Start of the School Year. Yes - the start of the school is in August for some people and the reason I have it on the celebration list is that some actually do like the beginning of the school year…and the new clothes/supplies that go with it.

Two full moons. This is special to this particular August. It turns out there are two full moons: on the 2nd and 31st of this August. Take your binoculars out if the night is clear and enjoy the summer night. 

Summer Living

July is the middle of summer. The top 10 things I like in summer are: 

1. Watermelon
2. Cherries
3. Grilled corn on the cob
4. Gardening on the deck - basil, sweet potato, stevia, mint, parsley, rosemary
5. Walks around Brookside Gardens
6. Reading a good book in the cool indoors on a hot afternoon
7. Going barefoot
8. Waking up at dawn
9. Meeting a longtime friend for lunch
10. Photographing flowers

Many of these depend upon being about to stay comfortable even when it is very hot. By July - we all have implemented strategies to stay cool. Here are a few of mine (over and above being in an air conditioned house/building): 

• Do any outdoor activity as early in the day as possible. I like to get out and about and done by 9. Yes - this means getting up at dawn or maybe a little before. Being a morning person is quite an advantage in the summer.
• Drink plenty and lots of cold drinks. Lemon water with chia seeds (almost always my first breakfast), herbal tea, and smoothies made with frozen fruit.
• Close drapes and blinds to keep the sun from shining into a room. Outside light is wonderful but there is a down side if the sun is actually shining through the glass - wonderful as it may be in winter, it is thwarting the air conditioning in the summer.
• Minimize heat sources such as lamps and computers. Even relatively cool fluorescent bulbs put out some heat. Put the computer into sleep mode when not in use and turn off printers and other equipment except when they are needed.
• Cook on the grill rather than using an indoor broiler or skillet. If you do cook indoors, minimize the heat added to the kitchen:
  • Select foods with minimal cook time like stir fry
  • Use the microwave to heat veggies
  • Use a crock pot rather than the stove top to make soup or chili
• Turn off the dry cycle of the dishwasher and run the dishwasher at a time when you will not be in the kitchen (maybe as you are on your way to bed if it isn’t too noisy) 

So - the overarching strategy is to stay indoors during the hottest part of the day and be conscious of actions that minimize what the air conditioning has to overcome. With these strategies in place - I can enjoy all my top 10 activities…and more!