How To Keep Your Cool

DEBORAH CROMBIE: So we are in the dog days of July, and surprise, surprise, it's really HOT in north Texas. How weird is it that we always know it's coming but somehow we are never prepared for it?

I shouldn't be complaining--we are not into triple digits, just upper 90s, although the 100 degree weather is coming the first of August.

And as I may have mentioned (once or twice) the downside of living in our charming turn of the (last) century Craftsman house is that is a SIEVE. This house was energy efficient in 1905, when the temperatures were lower, the breezes blew across the prairie (not the concrete), and those deep eaves and myriad (open) windows kept things relatively cool. (Of course, this is me fantasizing, since I didn't actually live in north Texas in 1905. Maybe they thought it was hot as blazes, too.)

Our more than twenty-year-old compressors struggle valiantly, but once we hit 95, it is, honestly, hell. We limp through every summer, dreading the day when we will have to replace the whole heat/air system, because we will certainly never make up the cost in utility savings. Unless we live to be about 110.

SO, how to stay cool? Sunday, we went to a friend's pool party, and it was glorious!!! Sitting outside all afternoon and evening, comfortably, dipping in the lovely cool water every so often and then letting the moisture evaporate in the breeze. Heaven! But no pool for us, because the digging of would kill our huge hundred-year-old elms and pecans in the back yard. Then what?

Not our friend's pool, but very cool!

I tried the newly cleaned and refilled inflatable hot tub (that's another story) set at 100 degrees, and literally had to come in and take a half-hour cold bath to lower my body temperature enough to go to sleep.

Here are my better suggestions:

As few clothes as won't get you arrested if you walk out the front door.

Ice. Ice. Lots of ice. And I confess there are moments when I stand in front of the open refrigerator door.

A wet dishtowel, held in front of the fan, then draped around one's sweaty neck.

Fizzy coconut water. We had that at the pool party. With lots of ICE. And lime. Great way to stay hydrated.

Unsweetened ice tea is good, too, even though I know it's a British no-no.

And here's a strawberry cucumber margarita recipe that made me feel cooler just looking at it. Going to try this, as soon as I get strawberries. (This week, overloaded with blueberries, blackberries, peaches, and plums.)

Afternoon naps. There is a reason siestas were invented.

Fans. Lots of fans. In every room in the house. And if you sprinkle yourself with water, they work even better.

Slow cooker. And grill. Although when it's over 95, standing in front of a blazing hot grill in the west sun is not very appealing. The main thing is DO NOT USE OVEN.

Lots of salads.

As many cucumbers and as much watermelon as is humanly possible to eat.

Cold baths. Literally. 

And my last fun thing. Here is the sno cone stand a block from our house. I see it from my kitchen windows. I don't actually like sno cones, but that's not the point. It's the ambiance. It says

SUMMER. 

JUST CHILL.

And one of these days, I'm going to just go buy a cup of shave ice, without the syrup, and maybe dump it over my head.

REDS AND READERS, how do you keep your cool?