Spring has come and Summer is approaching. Our friend Linda tells me the temps in Florida are already in the 90s and humidity through the roof. But days are growing longer for everyone. How does it affect you?
Thanks, Annie, for the shout out! Wow blew my mind, smiles.
1. Daylight is getting longer... what do you do with the extra daylight? Well, I leave the house at 5:30 am and I see a glorious sunrise everyday while walking on the prison compound by 6:15. And I leave work by 3 pm, and I don't do much to see the sunset as I am in bed by 8 pm. That is rather sad, really. Not even on the weekends do I see the sunset, I guess I take it for granted. Is it useful, productive or not? Well, honestly, it's rather hot and humid. I rather not be out in the afternoon / evenings. Right now, as I write this on Sunday afternoon at 3:30, it is 97*.
2. If you live where its more moderate do you spend more time outdoors? If you live in the tropical climate, does it keep you inside? Yes, it keeps me inside. I try to be outside, but honestly, the humidity is just something to behold here.
Does the extra day light cause more heat and more use of utilities for you? We have a 1, 200 sq. ft. house/mobile home. We put in new windows and doors a couple of years ago. Our electric bill stays at or between $100-140 even in the summer. The sun stays on the front of the house all day and I/we have insulated drapes on the living room and the 2 bedrooms that face it that keep the heat out/off the windows:
The front door also has window tint. Plus, all the rooms have ceiling fans, which we replaced as well. After spending 9 years living up north without ac, I know how to make a room cooler.
3. How do you cool your home? We have central air and ceiling fans. How do you cool yourself off in the heat of the day? Well, luckily, the portable where I teach has ac, unfortunately, it's a long walk to clock out and get through security and it's in the direct sunlight and heat, so I use my umbrella. People might laugh and point, but my mom didn't raise no fool, I'll keep at that.
4. Do you enjoy a good barbeque outside in the warmer months or do you cook outside and eat inside? I like a good BBQ, and hubby prefers that as he doesn't like to heat the house up. He / the hubby also has a few areas that he has laid pavers and has tables and a gazebo etc., but I don't go out there, again, the humidity. We are looking into putting a pool in (an above ground one). However, with it being so dry right now, he is concerned about our well as it/the pool will take about 1,000 gallons of water. So, we have to wait until we get substantial rain. Here is what we are looking at for $89:
I'm not embarrassed to show it (a friend said, "What you can't afford a real pool?"), inground pools cost anywhere $50,000 +. No thanks...plus we have a small yard. My folks have a huge house and med. size inground pool and it costs them over $400 month in electricity.
What foods do you enjoy on the barbeque? I like chicken breast and hubby likes whatever mainly ribs or a steak. If you don't barbeque, what foods and drinks do you enjoy in the warmer months? When the days are hot and neither of feel like cooking, usually a sandwich will do.
I am not complaining, seriously...we live in Florida and the weather is pretty good for 11 months out of the year (well, not counting hurricanes, lol). Have a great day all.
Enjoyed your responses, Linda! I am definitely not a fan of the humidity, so tend to stay inside. We have central A/C and ceiling fans as well and they are used a lot. Hope you have a good day with minimal bumps in it.
ReplyDeleteHi there, my friend! I loved the peek into your lovely home! Stay cool down there!
ReplyDeleteYou make me LOL! That pool would be all I needed to cool off as well. We had an above ground pool and they are a lot of work keeping clean. We are having storms and lots of rain here in Missouri. I am looking forward to some nice warm weather without the severe storms. I hope you have a great day and stay cool! :)
ReplyDeleteWe don't see sunsets either, there are trees in the way!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy that Florida warmth, it's only 45 degrees here right now. Brrr!
My goodness your electric bill is low. My home is 1305 square feet and during the height of summer we’re shelling out $300-400 a month. I keep the house at 77 and use fans. Here though, it may be well over 100 during the day but the mornings drop down to the 70’s so I can open windows and cool the house down before we “button up.”!
ReplyDeleteGrowing up on the coast, no one has ac - you just wait for the cool summer fog to roll in. Natural air conditioning and I do miss that.
Our temps on the Texas Coast are the same so I understand staying in and staying cool. Hope you get that pool, a great way to cool off.
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of Daylight savings time. When it gets dark early, I feel depressed. But...I will say it is difficult with the TEXAS heat. Our pool has become our social place. We are in it quiet a bit and so are our kiddos. Mylee was in the pool just a bit ago. Pools are expensive and I always dread my electric bill during the summer months. But, once again it is our social venue and we spend less going out to eat or doing other things. Hope you have a very pleasant day.
ReplyDeleteI could never survive living in Florida, Linda, nor could my husband. Too hot and humid by far. I really enjoyed your Maxine cartoons here, too. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteLove Maxine! She's always right on! Hey, that pool looks great! I wouldn't mind having one, but we have to pay for our water here, and that would cost a bundle to fill and maintain for us, but it would be fun to go sit in the pool in the evenings if the bugs weren't so bad. There's always something, isn't there? LOL. But like you said, most of the year it's nice here , except for summer/hurricane season. Everything else is great! No ice storms, blizzards, and even though we could get them, tornadoes are rare. And we live in the right area for the hurricanes...not too close, thank the Lord.
ReplyDeleteGosh, but I'd like to have your electric bill! No doubt we could benefit from replacing our windows, but that's needs to wait for more pressing improvements. (It's always something!) One of the happiest days of our lives was when we sold our Arizona pool home, aka the money pit.
ReplyDeleteWe had a pool at our first house (lived there for 28 years). It was fun at first, but the last few years, we didn't use it at all unless company came and wanted to swim. It was 15' x 30' and was 8 feet deep at one end. It took about 17,000 gallons of water. It only cost us about $50 a month more on our electric bill (we only ran to motor for about 4 hours a day), but the chemicals were a weekly chore and cost. I don't miss it at all. Our community here has a beautiful pool. I've been in it twice in the 8 years I've lived here. I'm an old lady now - you are still young!! I enjoyed your answers, Linda, and feel the same way about our weather here in FL. xo
ReplyDeleteLove the graphics. All you say about our weather is true. We don't BBQ outside any more. Those days are over for us. It sounds like you have done an excellent job of dealing with the climate here.
ReplyDeleteOh I forgot all about ribs on the bbq. Yum. Hey, nothing wrong with that pool...lol. I once bought a floatie and used it in a blow up kids pool. Whatever works. Enjoyed your answers.
ReplyDelete