Break Out the Fans

Crunchy Chicken is hosting a "Keep Yer Cool" challenge over at her site.

Considering that we don't have air conditioning, I think we're up for this one.

As this summer has gotten progressively hotter, we've become skilled at the old-fashioned way to keep a house cool. We leave the windows open during the night, and then by mid-morning when it's getting warmer outside, we close the house up. It stays closed up until late evening, when the temperatures are cooler again.

It really does keep the house about 10-15 degrees cooler than it is outside. And we're talking about a house with 90 year-old windows and absolutely no insulation. Last summer we had many, many days over 90 degrees, and we never once pulled the window a/c unit down from the attic. So this method really works, amazingly enough!

Sure, there will be THOSE nights. The dreaded nights when it never cools down and the stickiness keeps us awake.

And there will be THOSE days when I'll wonder why, why, why didn't I choose a traditional career that takes place in a nicely air-conditioned office building?

But there's something to be said for the strength you feel for surviving those days.

And the realization, once they're over, that they weren't THAT bad.

You, too, can sign up for this cool (hah!) challenge by clicking on the box above or by clicking here.