Simple Pleasures
Very simple pleasures can make me quite happy. A good book. A walk in nature. A super yummy dessert now and then.
On hot days, however, it takes a little more to make me happy. I don’t like hot. My acceptable temperature variation is about 5 degrees: from 70 to 75 Fahrenheit would be my daily preference.
While we did have hot days in Orange County, CA where we moved from; here, in Yosemite Lakes Parks, we have HOT days. H.O.T. As in 102 degrees Fahrenheit today. We have an air conditioner, of course. The first hot month we experienced here, we used it frequently. As often as we needed or wanted to. And then we got our electric bill. Yikes. It was 5 times what it normally was. So we learned discretion. We learned to open all of the windows in the early morning to capture any cool air we could, and then to close the windows when the temperature inside and outside were equal.
My office is long and narrow. It has one window in it. I love the view from the window, but the view doesn’t keep me cool. I have one glass door, which leads to the covered porch surrounding the house. I love the view from the door too; but if I leave the door open to capture cold air, I also capture bees, flies, lizards, and even frogs.
I have wanted a retractable screen in my office for quite a while, and this week I finally had one installed. We had several installed throughout the house, actually; but the one, in my office, is my favorite.
I open it first thing in the morning, which for me is around 5:30 am. I capture wonderfully cool air! The temperature in my office immediately drops by several degrees, and the open glass door provides a lovely cross-breeze with the window throughout the morning – and the screen keeps out critters.
The screen keeps IN critters too. Riley though, doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, I think he rather enjoys laying spread-eagle on the cool floor, looking outside, keeping guard on the house. You never know when some strange animal might try to trespass in his territory.
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I hate heat too! We keep our air on 68 in the daytime and 67 at night. My electric is pretty affordable and worth it to keep comfortable. My best place to be to relax is on my deck in the am drinking coffee and watching the critters move about. Of course, my view is nothing compared to yours. You might look into how a whole house fan would help you. I hear they are great for keeping a house cool!
Riley is so cute. And you should feel secure, knowing that no killer frogs are going to sneak by him!
LOL. Yes, so true! 🙂 Those frogs are killing me! We’ve had at least 6 in the house.. tiny baby ones. I have NO idea how they get in!!
I agree, the view is wonderful, but is it worth broiling?
On hot days, I open all of my windows in the late evening, to get a cross breeze, (or use a large fan), and cool the house for more comfortable sleep. On my south and west side windows, I have heavy insulated drapes. I close those drapes as soon as the sunbeams hit the windows on hot days, to keep out the heat. They keep the heat in during the winter too.
When there is a long heat wave expected, it is cheaper to run the AC a few times during the day to keep it bearably cool rather than let it get scorching hot then try to make it cold.
Oh, yes, we do the “keep the drapes/blinds closed” thing too. You’re right about running the a/c a few times a day. We usually just turn it on once in the 4 – 7 PM hours… but we’ll try running it before it gets so hot that we HAVE to. Good suggestion! Thanks!
Wish you could send some heat my way. I live in Portland and we are having a lot of overcast days. You could come and visit.
I’ve got a new simple drink for when it gets warm: lemonade (store bought is fine), cut up strawberries and had them to your lemonade. Let sit in the fridge and stir to mix flavors.
My favorite is to take a cool shower just before bed. It is so refreshing and helps me sleep.
Boy, I wish I could send some of the hot weather your way too! Your suggested drink sounds wonderful! I will have to try that! Yes, I do the cool shower trick too. Thanks for your input!
Karen, Here in SW Florida, we’re into our rainy season, daytime temps of 95F and heavy rainstorms (with lightening…computer must be turned off…Waaa) almost every afternoon. We get those tiny tiny frogs too. Since half the year it’s dry here, it seems that the pregnant mama frog lays her eggs in the soil (or in convenient flower pots). When the rainy season begins, those eggs hatch, and eventually turn into frogs. (I’m supposing there is a tadpole stage, but they must need very little water). Perhaps your tiny frogs have a similar life cycle?
I would not like having to turn off my computer every day either! It’s really interesting about the tadpoles, water, etc… because it is sooo dry here, I have no idea where the little tadpoles would live…But obviously they are somewhere, because we keep getting these little critters in the house! 🙂