I know that many parts of the country are having unusually high temperatures, and even parts of the UK are experiencing an unusual heat wave, but it's downright miserable here. Not only are temperatures in the upper 90s every single day, but the humidity is so bad (especially after it rains) that walking outside is like walking into a steam bath. It gets hard to breathe.
Another issue this year in this area are the pests. Thanks to a mild (almost non-existent) winter and a whole lot of rain, mosquitoes, ticks, and snakes are having a bonanza year. On the way to grandma's last week I listened to a local NPR segment about how this is the worst year for ticks we've ever had. Not only that, but they're carrying a new disease that's as bad as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme, and all three diseases are being reported in high numbers all up and down the East coast. Our veterinarian has been warning the community about the number of snake bites that he's seen in dogs lately, and how frequent poisonous snake sightings have become. I can't stand the thought of a snake--I screamed like a child the last time I saw one--and I dare not take our dogs anywhere where they might be lurking. Copperheads are particularly bad in this area.
The weeds and poison ivy and quick-growing vines that have sharp thorns are taking over our fences and the sides of the house. The more evil the plant, the more it seems to love this awful summer heat and humidity. Our yard looks like crap. And who wants to do more than mow the grass in weather like this? Not us. We're considering hiring a yard crew to come for the rest of the summer just for the sake of comfort. It's probably not a bad way to blow some money.
How do you feel about summertime? I hope that for most of my readers it's a better experience than what I've described here!
We've been having warm (80s mostly) beautiful weather here in Southern Spain. But I'm guessing the heat and humidity will soon find us. Still, we're on the Mediterranean Sea and, if there's a breeze, it will find us. The only things I complain about right now are the tourists!
ReplyDeleteI want to move to Spain. You make it seem so wonderful!
DeleteBad early summer here. Besides my fountains and two ponds I have been using the outside sprinklers at early morning and late afternoon. The bunnies, quail, birds, javelinas and critters are all using the extra water. It was 118 here the other day. Plus wildfires (30) all over Arizona. It will be a long summer here.
ReplyDeleteLove the Satan sign !
cheers, parsnip and thehamish
I feel bad for the animals having to deal with such weather extremes. It's very kind of you to think of them and supply water!
DeleteI am so miserable in North Florida. All that you report- the bugs, the heat, the humidity. I was just outside for maybe forty-five minutes and had to come in, leaving so many beans left to pick. I just can't do it.
ReplyDeleteWe're very similar to North Florida in terms of climate and temperature. My brother in law lives in Jacksonville. This heat is just awful.
DeleteWe are just now starting to warm up after the worst winter in about 40 years. We also had a pretty wet spring so the folks around here are excited about the hot weather. And fortunately we live in an area where we don't get the type of humidity that you guys do out on the East coast. Hope things cool down for you and those nasty snakes stay away. Take care.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the summer!
DeleteThis week we've had a Canicule in France - a prolonged period of very high temperatures. Very unpleasant to be outside. Thankfully today has been cooler.
ReplyDeleteWe've been very lax about taking our dogs for walks because it feels awful outside, even at night. I hope Rick is getting enough exercise and isn't as bored as our dogs!
DeleteRelentless heat wears you down and although it gets very hot here, it is mostly dry heat and does not last for more than a day or so.
ReplyDeleteI think of Australia as being terribly hot, and the killer creatures you have are certainly worse than ours!
DeleteI hate summer. Detest, despise, and loathe it. From June to October, I can hardly stand to go outside. My son has been mowing for me, but the yard looks terrible now because it's rained so much that he can't mow. Heat. Rain. Humidity. Give me a break. I want to go someplace cool, like the North Pole.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Detest, despise and loathe....YES!
DeleteI am in Georgia so it is the same for me! Summer! BAH, you can keep it!
ReplyDeleteI am ready for early November! September and October are too hot for me! LOL!
I feel you, my sister. :)
DeleteIn my beloved California I have come to envy Humpty Dumpty. He at least had a great fall.
ReplyDeleteHumpty Dumpty would fry on the sidewalk here.
DeleteTwo days ago we had 36 C (97 F) with high humidity. Yesterday we awoke to light drizzle all day long, but still hot. I've just looked at the forecast for next week and I see we have several days of rain on the way. Nothing seems'normal'.
ReplyDelete36 C was the temperature here yesterday afternoon at 5pm. The humidity was 65%. Hellish.
DeleteSeems I am the only one who really enjoys summer. I love being able to go outside without needing tights, a coat, scarf, boots and so on; just slip a little dress on and step in a pair of lightweight shoes, and you're ready to go. Long hours of daylight make me feel as if I have more energy than usual, even though I am sleeping less.
ReplyDeleteWe've had very similar temperatures to Cro's here all this week, and surprisingly very few flying things coming into the flat to pester me. The only downside is that some nights my neighbours sit out on their patio or their balcony, talking until 2:00 am, and smoking. I can put in ear plugs against their voices (they are not noisy, just talking, therefore I can't really say anything to them), but the smoke gets in and I really can NOT sleep with the windows shut when it is like this.
Meike, I love the long days.....but the heat and humidity is just awful. I'm sorry to hear about your smoking neighbors. Cigarette smoke smells disgusting.
DeleteAnd I thought we had a bad week with temps of 32c ( 89 F ) one day and near that for about 4 days! No snakes, ticks, poison ivy etc etc that you have to put up with! We are back to a more comfortable 21c which is apparently 70F. Cloud cover too, which means I can open the curtains otherwise the steel draining board and leather chairs heat up like radiators! We are soon off on hols to NE England ( we live just 25 miles North of London) where it will be even cooler....hooray.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your cool summer holiday! And thanks for stopping by my blog!
DeleteAs we don't get hot weather very often like we had this week I must say I enjoy it while it is here. As we are an island the weather always soon changes and cool breezes off the sea are never far away. I feel quite lucky after reading your post and what you are experiencing. I hope it soon changes for you.
ReplyDeleteWe've talked about moving closer to the coast but I'm not sure how we would afford it. The summer would be much more bearable by the sea.
DeleteI feel ok about Summertime, but I don't think I would want to live in your chosen part of South Carolina...
ReplyDeleteI never chose it. I was born here. Ha.
DeleteOur summer is almost like yours to my suprise,3 month and it is over...
ReplyDeleteStay cool, Yael! :)
DeleteIt is steamy down here in Orlando. I dread the next couple months.
ReplyDeleteFloridians probably have it worse than us.
DeleteI love summery weather but when I worked in Thailand the heat could be very oppressive. Thank heavens I had aircon in my little apartment and in my classroom. Without it I'd have frazzled. When I got back to England I really appreciated fresh, chilly days.
ReplyDeleteThe heat is terribly oppressive here. It seems to get worse and worse, too. We won't have any relief until at least mid September.
DeleteSummer is my least favorite season...going all the way back to my Virginia childhood.
ReplyDeleteI can just about imagine the heat and humidity in SC right now... xo