Welcome to the new reality, weather forecast for Seattle, late June 2015. I'm not going to sugar coat it - it is August 1st and I'm over Summer. I love the long days, waking up to the early morning light and being able to walk the dogs late into the evening. I enjoy seeing neighbors out watering, walking, weeding and visiting with each other. What I am definitely over, along with millions of others in the Pacific Northwest is the relentless temperatures over 85 F.
I feel like I spent the whole month of July just keeping things alive - running hoses to newly installed plantings, checking on dogs, my parents and trying to stay as sane and calm as possible given that we all feel like limp rags by the late afternoon. Planning an out of town trip - two days to Orcas or four days at a conference had us cringing at the seven day forecast and writing long detailed notes to our awesome house sitters on what needed water, and when and hoping that they (the house sitters) would be willing to come back after all we put them through.
Unfortunately, this is the new reality. This shift in climate regimes means we're going to have to learn to mitigate and adapt to adjust to this new reality.
I am coping by escaping to the garden early in the day to get in a good deep watering of our vegetables. I try and get to the gym before it gets hot. I encourage and coax E to do walk early in the day as well. We try and get all the things done (errands, writing, job applications, editing and chores) before the heat of the day. Our work your butt off and through lunch culture in the United States does not lend itself well to the siesta - a chance to recharge and rest before taking on the rest of the day.
Maybe this is where we're going to have to start adapting.
Ditto for the garden, ditto for home energy efficiency and definitely to how we eat and function.
I see more watermelon for dinner and planting garden succulents in the near future.
Stay cool and pray for rain.
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