Weather Watching Summer 2013 #2

I'm pulling weeds and watering my garden and myself! The only way to stay out there is to hydrate all your skin and hair (and of course a glass of water now and then).

Week long heat wave will test all our systems. Hope the power grid is smart enough to handle the loads and we're smart enough to not do the 'mad dogs and english men" thing. BPA free water bottles chilling in my fridge...my plants though are pretty well on their own...

Take care all.

Judy

Judy, we are to have a week of over 90 deg. weather also. I was to ship plants today to MA but decided against it because I just can not guarantee a plant will survive a two day trip in this heat.

The greenhouse temperature is 100 deg. I watered early this morning but as hot as it has been, those tropicals are thriving. I just wish it would cool off so I could get the cuttings I have sitting in water into soil. It has been too long. First it was my foot, now it is the heat. Oh well, life is good otherwise.

Take care of yourselves and keep hydrated. Keep your eyes on the sky. Hugs. JB

We were 88-90*F yesterday, that was possibly our coolest day predicted for the week. Getting out of the pool and watering at dusk wasn't too bad though. After all the rain I have mowing and weeding to try and do. I may try some of that tomorrow A.M. with frequent trips to the pool and it will definitely be iced coffee tomorrow. I did some of the garden weeding in the rain last week, that wasn't too bad except having to hose off the mud at every break. Muddy or sweaty, I'm not sure which I dislike more.

93 today, and it's supposed to get even hotter as the week goes on
around 5 this evening it rained in our backyard but not the front...did I move to FL and wasn't aware of it?

it rained in our backyard but not the front..

thats funny

91 when I came home at 9 pm

It hit 95 down around here yesterday. Was at work and downed a bottle of water and then headed out to water. Figured I'd be ok, just watering the perennial and annual tables -- 8 of each. Got through the perennials just fine, moved on to the annuals... got through those ok, but once I got to the last annual table (and out from under the tree -- in the direct blazing sun) I started getting hit with dizziness. Uh oh. OK, I was all done. Rolled up the hose, sprayed myself down before I turned the water off, went back inside the air conditioning, downed another bottle of water, and STAYED there until another customer came along and needed me. Sheeeesh, that was scary!! I'd had water and gator aid and juice/tea (a concoction that I'd made myself with real fruit juice), and yet still the heat hit me hard. I'll learn better next time: don't water all the tables at once! Take a break every 2 or 3 tables. My goodness!!

Who'da thunk, just standing there holding a hose would be so dangerous!?!? < =/

gee speedie- You need a donnerville straw hat.

I need some sort of good hat. I've gotten a couple of those wide-brimmed straw hats before -- ya know, the type that you'd see a Southern Belle wear in the movies? Well, they just don't "work" at work 'cause we're on a knoll and there's always a brisk breeze blowing. Blows the darned things right off my head all the time! I need something I can tie under my chin to hold it in place. < =D

I know ! I have a nylon hat bought at the sporting store for kayaking, has a string under the chin.

speedie--

I am sure you are used to being outside in the heat--scary that you almost passed out!

I was going to mow the lawn early today--but at 8AM it was already 86 degrees.
Don't think I will go out and do anything strenuous..
I hope it cools off a bit by the weekend--as I am scheduled to work in Garden on Sunday..
HUH? Middle of July--all of a sudden--she schedules me in garden???

I have NEVER in my life worn a hat! But--was looking for one in a Thrift shop the other day.
Did not find one....
Hats are OK for people who do not "fix" their hair...I "fix" my hair every time I go out.
Somehow--sticking a hat on my head would defeat that purpose...
If you saw me "au naturel" you would think a I am sick..or something.

Gonna hunker down inside and make a lg. batch of Spaghetti sauce today.
Cleaned out my freezer yesterday and took out some things--that is how it always starts...

OK! Everyone! Stay hydrated!!! Gita

OK, I just did a google search for gardening hats, found a really "safe" looking one that's got all sorts of UV protection, an extra-long flap at the back to protect the neck, an adjustment strap at the crown to fit different head sizes, an adjustable chin strap ... all sorts of goodies! Fount it ... am I allowed to say where? Anyway, I put it on my "wish list". I've got a birfday coming up soon, and I know DH will find it when he's shopping for me; that's how we shop for each other! ;) heeheeheee
My hair is thinning so terribly, I've just gotta protect my little noggin! < =0

Haahahahaaa Gita; I wash my hair, that's how I fix it. ... OK, well, I comb it too. Then I pull it back in a pony tail. Tah-Dah, it's fixed! < =P

I wear a straw hat often when I'm out in the sun or garden. It keeps the bugs away and gives you instant shade. The woven straw let's your head breathe as well.

I just buy whatever is cheap, don't spend more than $15-$20. It usually lasts me a few years at least.

Hats HATS hats HATS I could go on and on!

Most of you have never seen my hair and don't know if I have any (I do ) because almost every day I wear a cotton bandana. Over the years it's become standard work attire for me. Keeps my head protected from the sun and. my hair protected from dust and dirt, and most important for me, keeps my hair off my face. Can't stand little hair blowing on my face. Feels like bugs crawling on me. Yikes.
(Plus, I always have a recommended camping/emergency/ survival tool with me...Girl Scouts will remember how to use a bandana to support a sprained ankle or make a toourniquet)

It has taken many years of trial and error to settle upon a hat I like for sun protection while working out in the field with wind and rain and dirty hands and the need to see more than most hats allow (like that customer browsing the next table while I am intent on quality plant watering!) I dislike the tunnel vision of most hats (I used to have one with a flip up brim!) Instead of having multiple hats, I have searched for one hat that could be used in multiple ways even with muddy fingers.

Below are some pics of a hat that meets my needs. It is a crocheted hat made in Nepal out of hemp that has wire in the brim. Crochet means it stays on with out that chin strap and stays put on my head.
Hemp and weave is very breatheable and rain shedding, too. It can be wetted to create evaporative head cooling. The wire in the rim allows for any and all adjustments sun angle and visibility with just a touch and stays that way until next adjustment. Can be rolled up, flattened and infinitely reshaped and doesn't take up space! I have one stashed in my car and one at home. Fits a generous quart of berries that you can use the wire brim to close up!

http://www.amazon.com/Gypsy-Rose-Rainbow-Crochet-Adjustable/dp/B00ACTMIY0
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_apparel?_encoding=UTF8&field-brandtextbin=Gypsy%20Rose&node=1036592

This message was edited Jul 16, 2013 10:57 AM

I have to run out to the Grocery store---will "run" a couple blocks further and see what the
Good Will store has in hats...

Doubt if I can find one I could live with....G.

Those look neat Judy, just not sure about how they'd stay on my head when a wind kicks up at work. When I use the word "brisk" when I talk about the constant breezes there, I ain't just wistlin' Dixie! ;)

I see that you provided links to your hats, so I guess that means I am allowed to as well. Here's the one that I liked, at the same place: http://www.amazon.com/Sunday-Afternoons-Derma-Medium-Black/dp/B0087A7MYM/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=KZGZ1E8SPZO5&coliid=IK26ZWB3DO1KO&psc=1
I don't have all the hair that you've got Judy, but I have the same need for keeping my hair out of my face, just for a different reason. (the tickling of hair on my face can trigger that nasty Trigeminal Neuralgia pain any time, but I just never know when. It's never convenient!) Maybe I could start trying to do the bandana thing too... why not, it looks cool! I could try it like the Kount wears his on Counting Cars! =D

I look horrible in a hat, I do have a visor I use when I have the top down on the car

Hey Jen, I wear big straw hats so that people cannot even see me. Then it doesn't matter if I do not look good in a hat. LOL!

donner--
and the whole time I thought you just wanted to protect that ivory
complexion of yours from the sun!

Went to the Goodwill--I had a choice of 3 hats--one was mwns and way too big for my head.
The other one was like you were--a very wide brimmed straw hat. No!
Just for the h...of it I picked up a smaller straw hat that had a bit of character.
it was $3.50--a bit steep for a Thrift Shop.
Now--I will have to see if I wear it on the Sunday they have me watering all day...

G.

Lol Maybe we can have a Hat Show at the Fall Swap!

Speedie, maybe my hair is stickier than yours, but a chin strap would be easy enough to install on a hat of choice. Hands down, you have the best method of getting exactly what you want and I bet your DH is a winner in many ways. Does he do weather?

Yep, here I am awake in the cool of the night, now if I could sleep under a rock during the day!



This message was edited Jul 17, 2013 8:14 AM

Gosh Donner, and here I thought you wore hats because you DO look so good in them!

Hahahahaaaa Judy, there's BUGS under rocks, don't sleep under there!! Eeeewww!! < =P
I don't trust my sewing skills, I'd rather just let the professionals attach the chin straps for me. ;) Heeheeheee, or maybe I just need a stickier head. ;)

DH has been going around singing "I know something you don't know, and I'm not gonna tell yooouuuu"... I think he's been BD shopping! =)

I think it's gonna be HOT again today, so I think I'll stay indoors.

speedie--

Get a tie of your choice--a ribbon of some sort would work--,maybe one that matches your hat..

Thread it through the woven material from underneath--just above your ears on both sides.
Pull the ribbon to the outside and:
1--tie a big knot in it that won't go back through the weave
2--OR--thread it through a wood/plastic bead or a button and tie off as above.

Vola! You have tie off ribbons/straps on your hat. WHY pay someone to do something this simple?

Hmmmmm.... I have 1 wide-brimmed straw hat that I could try this on... and I have a button collection.... now all I need to do is find some ribbon... Thank you Gita, I hadn't thought of doing it like this!! < =D

A great tool to pull this ribbon through the straw hat is (if you own one) a Hemostat.
I could not live without these! It is so good for reaching through tight stuff and grabbing
something to pull through. I have several--and could not do w/o them.
Maybe you have one from your nursing days?

Need to retrieve something that fell into a crack? The hemostat works good here as well...
Need to pull out staples from a wall? Same thing...

If you do not own one--you can get these in Fishing-supplies stores as they are used to
remove the hook from the mouth of a fish.
Like vinegar--ir has a 100 uses!!!
G.
http://www.pjtool.com/hemostats.aspx?gclid=CJDP-4nPtrgCFUOi4Aod9yUABw

Being a nurse in my previous life (heh heh), I have 2 hemostats, but that wasn't an issue... the problem was thinking of what to use as the "ribbon".. so I started sifting through dresser drawers, trying to get creative. ... Hmmm... cargo shorts with draw-string pant-legs, size... SIXTEEN!?!?! I'm not a size 16!!! Whipped out the ol' seem ripper, pulled out the draw strings.. found matching buttons in my button collection, and TAH DAH, I now have a hat with a tie!!

GOD BLESS YOU GITA!!

great job! looks good

I like it too! I look pretty silly in mine, you look good!

Cheers to shade, ventilation, and wind straps. Hahahaha.

Looks just as good as the one I over paid for!!! I do wear mine, but it's just too darn hot out there after 10 o'clock and it doesn't cool down until quite late.

good goin Suze!

Another Smart Energy Day!! We earned 19$ last time...going for $20 today. . The house is really quiet with no elec motors humming in the background. Mark is super-managing the power this afternoon. GOing to the river to let the dog swim, we can wade, maybe also the health club later for pool. Heat? What heat??

Egads, what do you mean "what heat"!? Took a quick run out to the dump and darn near melted! Ugh, I am so glad I'm not working today, though they have been running the a/c at work lately. 84 feels pretty darned good compared to the ICK outside.

Thanks guys, I know I look like a complete buffoon in my hat, but I don't care, it'll protect my little coconut and surrounding sensitive skin and that's all that matters. Can't go around bein' a redneck now, can I? HAA!! < =D

Speedie, you've earned your name! You were done within an hour of Gita's post! ;)

Sally--could you expand on saving all that $$$ on "Smart Energy days"???

$20 a day???? Doing (Or NOT doing) WHAT? We could all learn a bit here........
SO--GIVE!!!
Gita

all we know is. We have a Smart Meter. And we are enrolled since 2010 in the Peak Rewards AC cycling
BGE called us about two weeks ago, before the last super hot day, and the recording told us we would be paid $1.25 (I think) for each kWh less than our normal usage between 1 pm and 7 pm. So we turned up the AC setting and got of the computer and tv.. The next day after that Smart day, we got an automated call telling us we saved like 15 KWh and earned $19.25 or something. And we looked at our account and sure enough it showed a credit.
It seems to me you have to have a smart meter for them to see your hourly usage. How many houses now have them?
Tried to find a link but I can't find a link showing this particular program.
http://www.bgesmartenergy.com/smart-energy-savers-program/faqs/bge-smart-energy-savers-program-faqs

oh I found this page
http://www.bge.com/smartenergy/smart-energy-rewards/pages/default.aspx

Sally=--
Donner works for BG&E and she id in downtown Baltimore because she is on the team working on the
Smart Meter. That is her job--and that is why they pay for an apartment for her in downtown Baltimore...

I don't have a Smart Meter yet--I do not know the status of IF and WHERE they have been--or will be
installed soon. As with anything new--there is a lot of opposition to this...invasion of privacy, etc...

I am already with the "Peak Rewards" system. If you sign up--it allows BG&E to cut your AC off by
different percentages. 10%--25%--50%....They can do this on need based times and you would
never even miss it with the lower percentages. The fan keeps running--just the cooling is shut off
for a 15 minute interval. I get a credit if $12.50 off each of my bills for being on this.
If someone chooses the 50% cut off--they would get more...
I am also on their "Budget Billing" plan. I pay the same amount each month--no matter what has
been used. Most of the time--I develop a "credit" which they even out once a year--in August.
I have even gotten a whole month free--because I am careful with my heat and AC use...

Good idea to look into all this! Gita

Today will be an AC cycling day.

We went to the indoor pool yesterday at 7 pm, then I came home and sat on the deck at 8; it was so lovely once I was all cooled off and hydrated, to sit and listen to cicadas roaring and do a crossword puzzle.

Sally, My work is more on the radio network side of the Smart Grid deployment at BGE, and I have not been closely involved in the billing side of the business although I was aware of the plan. How interesting to know that you are benefiting from BGE's energy saving plan! This is so encouraging :o).

One of the biggest challenges facing utility companies is provide enough electricity during the peak hours when people are turning up the AC, cooking, washing dishes, and doing laundry. Power plants have to generate enough energy to meet the demand. During the day when people are all at work, very little energy is used at home, but the power plants continue to produce the same amount of power because they cannot be shut down. That is why consumers are encouraged to modify their usage patterns and shift some usage (laundry, dish washing) to non-peak hours. If we can reduce the energy demand during peak hours, we can reduce energy production, save energy, save money, and it is good for the environment.

Cute hat, speedie! In this kind of heat, I wish I could wear a beach umbrella on my head :-)

I like Judy's idea of having a hat show at the fall swap. It will be fun.