Ah, summer is almost here. The heat of the summer is greeted with happiness and visits to the beach (lake or pool), playing in the water, sipping mint juleps, and having barbecues. Now we have hot days and hot nights! Here are some ways to welcome the season into your home and heart.
- Summer Home Maintenance:
- Check and replace your air filter.
- Check to make sure your air conditioner is in good working order before the really hot summer days come.
- Bring in fans; invest in fans for the major rooms in your home and the bedrooms. Place fans next to a window so the fan draws the fresh air from the outside in.
- Run your appliances in the early morning or late at night to conserve your energy bill.
- Adjust outdoor timers, the nights are shorter.
- Computer Maintenance:
- Indoor Decor:
- When it is hot out you want to keep it cool inside, start by putting away any heavy fabrics (drapes, blankets and such).
- If you have a lot of knickknacks and clutter remove it. Think open spaces.
- Bring in muted summer colors for slipcovers and throw pillows. Take your cue from the ocean: sandy brown, sea foam green and blue. Or go bright! With bright sunny yellow, true reds, navy blue and fiery oranges. Or choose the fruits of summer: watermelon red, pineapple yellow and orange mango.
- Table linens should also reflect summer with a bare table and light placemats in the summer tones you've chosen.
- Try beach towels in place of regular bath towels for fun.
- Switch to summer dishtowels.
- If you have dark wood furniture adding white lace doilies to lighten and soften the look for summer.
- Special touches:
- Place miniature silk roses in teacups.
- Set tea lights or votives into scallop or abalone shells.
- Add birdhouses.
- Put out seasonal coasters.
- Making an Entrance:
- Place potted flowers in bright summer colors on your porch.
- Create a wreath with bright yellow, red, blue and white.
- In the Garden:
- Spruce up outdoor furniture with a fresh coat of paint or new throw pillows.
- Place tea lights in mason jars, first fill with sand, add a few shells and tuck in the tea light.
- Put out citronella candles; great for keeping bugs away and creating a nice atmosphere.
- Start pulling weeds as they appear.
- Deadhead blooming plants to encourage new blooms but let spring bulbs wither to bring good flowers next year.
- Prune evergreens like boxwoods and junipers.
- Fertilizer flowering plants regularly throughout the summer to keep them healthy.
- Containers need to be watered often in the hot days as they dry out quickly.
- Water plants early in the morning so the foliage can dry off before the summer sun gets too hot. Afternoon water on plants acts as a magnifying glass and may burn your plants, evening water promotes fungi and bugs.
- Vegetables to plant include: beans, beets, broccoli, chard, endive, kale, kohlrabi, radish, rutabaga, spinach and turnips.
- Car Care:
- Replenish the supplies in your emergency road kit and first aid kit (or get one).
- Check your antifreeze.
- Check that your radiator pressure cap is in good condition.
- Check your tires monthly, best checked when they are cold (have not been driven for three hours or driven less than a couple of miles.)
- Tips on saving gas: avoid idling; don't top off the tank as the gas will expand and you'll lose it; don't floor it from a stopped position, gradually pull away.
- Pet Care:
- Do not leave your pet in the car, even with the window open a crack for any length of time. Leave him at home.
- If it is hot and your pets stay indoors leave the air conditioner on.
- Leave lots of fresh cool water every day.
- Don’t exercise your animal during the hottest time of the day (12:30-2:30).
- Don’t rush out and shave your dog. The fur protects him from the sun. Unsure, check with your vet (not the groomer).
- Brush your pet regularly to get the undercoat out.
- Be careful with fans. A bird might fly into a ceiling fan and cats are way too curious.
- After walking in the woods check your pet for ticks.
- Personal Care:
- Make sure you have sunscreen in your car and on your desk and apply it regularly.
- Wear light colored garments.
- Drink lots of water.
- Apply moisturizer at night to avoid sun-dried skin.
- Swimming will damaged your hair, so rinse it or wash it after swimming and use a "leave-in" conditioner which will also help protect it from the sun.
Summer Crafts & Activities:
- Go to the beach or lake.
- Make jams and jellies from the great pick of summer fruits.
- Take long walks in the evening.
- Grow tomatoes in a container.
- Frequent the library for summer reading. The library often has activities for children too.
- Watch the clouds and tell each other what they resemble.
- Camp out in your backyard.
- Create a treasure and hide it, then create an old time pirate map and let the kids search for it.
- Hunt bugs with your children and compare and contrast them (the bugs).
- Discuss and review fire safety and house exits.
- Make a collage of summer things.
- Let your child sort and organize the coins in your coin jar-have them count it.
- Learn about your state bird and flower.
- Observe animals in nature.
- Have your child organize his/her bookshelf. Discuss how it was organize and different way it could have been done. I.E. type of book, size, color, book read vs. need to be read.
- Teach your child how to whistle by blowing though a blade of grass.
- Get a new summer desktop images.
Summer Holidays: Fathers' Day, Midsummer's Festival, Green Corn Festival, Independence Day, Bastille Day, Garlic Festival, Lammas, Labor Day, Grandparent's Day, Moon Festival, Oktoberfest.
