Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Swelter

 It's ridiculously hot here today. Dangerously hot, as a matter of fact, especially if you add in the high humidity. Walking outside is like putting a steaming hot wet towel over your face and trying to breathe through it. All of the weather sites are putting out excessive heat warnings, as the heat index (which combines the actual temperature with the humidity to get a "real feel") will go as high as 108F today and for the rest of the week. A couple of days next week the actual temperature is supposed to reach 107F so who knows how high that heat index will be! It's unbearable. We're dealing with it by keeping the blinds drawn and the a/c set around 78F during the day, which feels super cool and comfortable considering how hot it is outside. When the temperature goes up past 100F we plan to move the thermostat up to 80F or even 82F. Although our unit is less than 3 years old, it's working hard on days like this and we're trying to lessen the strain on it. And let's not forget next month's power bill! It's going to be a scorcher just like temperatures.

I'm worried about my garden. I can water frequently, but I can't imagine my tomatoes setting much fruit with temperatures this high. It's frustrating to do so much work in a garden, only to be at the mercy of whatever Mother Nature decides to send. I looked into buying some shade cloth to drape over the trellis of the raised bed, but honestly, I've been feeling too bad to go out and shop for it--and I'm not sure how much good it would do anyway. 

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow, not a minute too soon. I'm still struggling with a cough and shortness of breath and just generally feeling bad. I did have one good day when I felt normal again--this past Sunday, which happened to be our 16th wedding anniversary! I'm grateful that, for whatever reason, I felt good all day. Good enough to work outside for several hours, cook a nice meal, and drink a bottle of champagne after supper. We had fun. But I paid for it yesterday, when I woke up feeling worse than ever. I wonder if being outside for a long time (and possibly inhaling allergens) made things worse? If so, there's no danger of me repeating that mistake anytime soon. Not with temperatures this high!

 Thank goodness for my appointment tomorrow. I'm tired of feeling bad. It's not been a great start to summer vacation, and I need this break to relax from the work stress of last year before the new year begins. I also have a trip to look forward to with my girlfriends in early July, and if I'm this asthmatic I won't be able to enjoy myself. If the trip were today I wouldn't even feel like going at all. So I hope the doctor can help me.

How is the weather where you live? I saw on Cro's blog that the temperatures in France at the moment are just as bad as here, and I know that the Midwest states are experiencing a terrible heat wave, too. Every summer I find myself daydreaming about moving well north of here.


         Poppy has discovered the joy of draping herself over one of the a/c vents.

24 comments:

  1. I do not envy the heated up parts of the states- today it is 56 degrees and is very pleasant. supposed to hike up to a high of 64!!
    Sorry you are feeling below par, you will feel better soon, we insist!

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  2. I hate hot weather, I am sorry you are having to deal with it. It is currently 57 degrees here, and I love it. But our cool spring has caused problems for gardeners.

    I hope your doctor comes up with some good answers. When my allergies were really bad I found it helped to wear a face mask sometimes, just one of the cloth or lightweight ones. It's a hassle, but better than dealing with horrible allergies.

    Keep us posted.

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  3. Just checked, the temp up here in Central PA is 81 (F). The warm temps, however, are moving north and east; by Friday we should be in the mid 90's.

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  4. Our "real feel" temp is 107 right now in Chicagoland. That is super hot for us so I have got my A/C going along with some fans to keep my upstairs room cool. I should use Poppy's example and just sit on the A/C vent!! Hope your garden survives. Imagine how farmers must feel always being so dependent on the weather for their crops and livelihood!

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  5. Wow. And to think I was complaining because it was hovering around 90 here today. The cats both came in from the terrace and we closed the doors and windows. The good thing about here is that 90 during the day results in below 70 overnight. I sure hope you get good help from the doctor! I’ll be keeping a good thought for you (I always do anyway).

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  6. We are still having "spring" rain here in Portland. I am so very sorry for you and all the people suffering (animals too). Hope it's over quickly.

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  7. We had a heat advisory today. The humidity is nasty. I mowed the yard on Saturday and felt sick to my stomach by the time I finished.

    Love,
    Janie

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  8. I wouldn't be able to take those hot temperatures! Here in Alberta today it is cool and rainy, as it will be all week. We haven't really had any major hot weather yet. But there's still a lot of summer to come! I hope your doctor can help you tomorrow and ease that congestion!

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  9. It was supposed to be 101 here in Camden today, with a Feels Like Temp of 110-degrees. And no rain.
    Well, it rained, and the temps never got above 90.
    Tomorrow, however, is another day!

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  10. Same here with the weather although we just got a beautiful storm with rain and the temperature has dropped dramatically. It will be back up tomorrow and soon into the 100's.
    I so much want you to feel better, Jennifer. This is your vacation time and as you said- it's the time for you to relax from the stress of the last school year. I'm so glad you're going to the doctor. Keep us updated.
    As for our gardens- we may just have to give up as a good effort that was impossible to maintain this year and hope that next year is better.

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  11. Poppy looks like a cat in winter in front of a heat register! It's that hot here, too. I hope your doctor has some relief for you.

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  12. I hope you can get some answers and relief. I always hated the feeling of summer vacation speeding by when I didn't feel good enough to enjoy it. That weather is miserable! It's 60s and low 70s here right now which is very pleasant. We could use a little more sun although I don't mind a mix of blue and clouds. Clouds are so beautiful! I'm sure glad I had that expensive heat pump put in last summer when it was much hotter. (sarcasm)

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  13. I wouldn't worry too much about your Tomatoes, they prefer a really good soaking every few days. They'll survive.

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  14. At the mercy of Mother Nature - every gardener and farmer feels that, I am sure! As for your garden, I believe your plants are resilient enough to handle the heat - after all, you have not planted anything completely out of character for the zone where you live.
    It's forecast to get really hot here this weekend, too, but right now, we still enjoy warm sunny days with nights cool enough to let fresh air in. Nobody I know around here has a/c in their private homes, and only the newer office buildings have it (not the one where I sometimes work).
    All the best for your doctor's appointment! As you say, you really need this summer break to relax, not to feel miserable!

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    Replies
    1. Oh, and a belated Happy Anniversary to you and Gregg!!

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  15. I'm so glad you finally have your doctor's appointment and I hope he can help you to feel better soon. Between the pollen, heat, and humidity I imagine it is difficult for you to be outside for long. I know South Carolina does get some high humidity which makes those high temps feel even worse. I'm in the Midwest (Missouri) and we have temps in the upper 90's all week and predicted for next week too. I can't take that kind of heat and just stay in as much as possible.
    I love that picture of Poppy! She knows how to stay cool. Our two cats do the same thing. Poppy sure is growing fast!

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  16. Here in SE England we are predicted the hottest June temps.....31c ( 87 F) on Friday! I shall be hiding in our coolest north facing room I think.....no A/C here! It is not the norm to have air con as we rarely would need it of course.
    I hope that you can get some help at your doc appointment and will feel better soon.

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  17. I hope the Dr. can set you right; you need to heal from this last year of work, for sure. When I read about the toxic folks with whom you work, it makes my gut just clench. I would not be able to keep my mouth shut, Oye. Our weather station (which is on our roof, possibly not the best spot) said yesterday the actual temp was 97, and the "feels like" was 143! WTH?! Probably way off due to the heat rising off of the roof I think! I long to move North as well, and where I live in Illinois is considered the "cold North." Hardly!!

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  18. In Iowa - yesterday and today it's hot & humid, then a few days break (if upper 80s is a break) and Sunday through at least Tuesday it's back to the sauna, but hotter. The only good I can find is at least this time we didn't go from 65 to 95 degrees in one day like we did in May. As long as they've got water, the tomatoes will survive but you are correct that pollination will suffer at high temperatures. Shade cloth would benefit greens, but tomatoes, peppers, and such would benefit more by a good mulch covering to keep the soil cooler & conserve water.
    Poppy's a smart dog, and cute as a button.

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  19. Happy belated anniversary. I hope your doctor appointment yields some answers. Feel better soon.

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  20. Please let us know how you are, dear friend, and what the doctor said.

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  21. Animals are funny, how they are drawn to warmth or cold (as appropriate). They know what feels good! I'm glad you got to celebrate your anniversary in a relatively carefree state of mind. We had one day of pretty severe heat (not as bad as yours!) but now we're back down in the 70s.

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  22. next week will get up to 105 with heat index up to 3,93

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  23. Oh typical June < highs about 110-113. By now it is too hot for anything to put out flowers for fruit. People with tomatoes (which act as perennials) will rebloom in October when the temperatures drop again. Meanwhile they must be watered sometimes 2x a day to survive.

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