Tag Archives: hot weather

Time-Sharing Pets: A New Trend?

Yesterday on our evening walk, Murph and I ran into his gal pals Sophie and Lady. Sophie is a white shepherd/husky mix and Lady is a beagle. (We’ve written about them before in articles such as Murphy’s Fan Club, Tabby’s a One Cat Kind of Dog Lover, and The Fox in the Woods: A Lesson in Rabies.) Last night it was a bit warm. Like mid-70s. Most of the time Sophie’s a high energy dog who loves to run and wrestle with her pals. She gets very mellow, however, when the temps start creeping up past 70. So while she … Continue reading →

Fur Coats and No Air Conditioning

We haven’t really needed air conditioning in the new apartment — things have been pretty mild this summer in the Portland, Oregon area. I’m not trying to gloat; I know things have been hot and humid around the rest of the country. All in all, we haven’t needed to worry about air conditioning. There have been a few days here and there that have passed 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Today feels like it’s going to be a hot one. So how do we deal with the heat without having an air conditioner? Plenty of cool, fresh water. The drinking bowl is … Continue reading →

Hot Weather Tips

Whew! Yesterday it was 107 degrees and that was the actual temperature, not the heat index! I didn’t even bother to check the heat index, because I really didn’t want to know. I’m not checking either today, but it’s hot. We have occasional August heat waves here, but wow. I really wasn’t ready for all this. I’ve had to get a little more creative to deal with the heat, so I thought I’d share some tips and ideas, that you may find helpful if you are experiencing high temperatures. I’ve had to adjust my routine and I’m doing more things … Continue reading →

Home Week in Review: August 6 – 12

If you missed anything this week, don’t feel bad. I missed a couple days myself, and had to backtrack to catch up. My area has been experiencing one of the worst heat waves in years and we had to conserve energy during the day to avoid power outages. There were days I had nothing on but air conditioners and fans (and sometimes the lights would still blink, making my heart race). With the heat index topping 115, I did not want my family to be without air conditioning. At that extreme, it goes beyond simple comfort and is more about … Continue reading →

Help Keep Others Safe in Hot Weather

It looks like Chicago is experiencing another heat wave. I know it’s very hot in other places, but being from Chicago, I remember the nightmare of the last heat wave. However, I have deep concerns for people everywhere who may not be able to properly care for themselves. Please, take the time to check on the elderly, the sick, and the less fortunate in their homes. It is so sad to see people die when it is completely preventable. I saw an older woman on the news last night, sitting in her hot apartment with the windows closed, no fans … Continue reading →

Protect Yourself and Others in Hot Weather

If you don’t have air conditioning, or know someone that doesn’t, please follow the guidelines below to protect against heat when temperatures rise. The heat can be very dangerous. 1. Anyone that does not have air conditioning should get out of the house and into a cooled area for at least a couple of hours each day. Ask a friend to take you to the mall or go to a courthouse or another public building. If you don’t have anyone to call or anywhere nearby to go, call a local church. Many have hospitality areas that they will open to … Continue reading →