My husband and I both grew up in humble beach houses, in Massachusetts. For us, summer time always felt like a vacation. We can have this same feeling, even if we don't live near a beach.
Here in the mountains of Vermont, the summer days are short. The use of air conditioning is rare. We tend to rely on ceiling fans and window fans.
In the early morning, I open the blinds just a little bit. The windows are open so we can feel the fresh air. Then I close the sheer burgundy curtains to help block more of the heat from the sun. This helps keep the rooms cool and pleasant.
Housework and cooking are done in the early morning hours. If I work quickly, I can have most of my work done, and a load of laundry on the clothesline by 9 a.m. This leaves me plenty of free time to enjoy the vacation - atmosphere that summer tends to bring.
It is the most fun when all of us are home together. We often have company over most days. People tend to spend much more leisure time in the warm months than they do during the bitter winter season.
As strange as this may sound, I enjoy cleaning and organizing on hot summer mornings, more than any other time of year. This is probably because it is an excellent form of exercise, and brings great results in the form of a neat and tidy house. There is nothing like hanging clothes on the line on a warm summer day. Washing dishes throughout the day to make sure the family can enjoy bbq's, watermelon and ice cream makes me happy. I also love to see the fans blowing, and a bit of warm sunlight sneaking through the window, making my clean house look like a humble vacation spot.
One of the most relaxing things to do, after my morning work is finished, is to sit outside in the heat of the day, with a cool drink, and watch the children laugh and play.
When night falls, I do some last minute housework. The house is dim, the family is quiet, and we are all resting. We think about all the exciting things we've done during the day, and look forward to the next set of adventures.
Being home, as a permanent fixture as a housewife, has many benefits. I have so much freedom to manage this place and our finances in a way that we can all appreciate. Because, really, if you think about it, being home all summer is a vacation for many people. I am just grateful I can be home all year long.
Blessings
Mrs. White
From the Archives -
Keeping Busy with - Domestic Occupations.
A Living History - Homemaking Links the Generations.
Good Propaganda in the Home - Kitchen Sermons.
Sweet Summer Blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteSounds wonderful,
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It IS a true blessing to be home all year, I am thankful for that too. I live in the suburbs of Phoenix, so it feels like a furnace here in the summer. But I still enjoy the summer feel of vacation like you said.
ReplyDeleteMy children are all grown with kids of their own now, but when they were little we lived in the foot hills of east county of San Diego, Ca.
ReplyDeleteIt was hot and muggy during the summer and I did like you, getting up early in the morning and allowing the cool refreshing breezes to cool the house down and then closing it up to keep the heat out.
I too enjoyed getting the laundry, and housework done early.
When the kids were very little they had a kiddie wading pool that kept them happy, but when they got older and more adventuresome we headed to a park in the mountains one day a week for them to play in the creek, picnic and sight see.
Sometimes in the evening we would do a BBQ in the backyard and have watermelon or ice cream and a sleepover with the neighbor kids.
I too loved being home with my children all year. Most of the neighbor children also enjoyed our home while their folks worked. It gave our children someone to play with and kept them all under supervision.
We have since moved to Southern Oregon and feel we are on vacation all year long. One of the kids has moved up near us and the other brings their family here for a few days during the summer. Its ice cream and watermelon every night and soon to be a fire pit and ring in the backyard. Still making memories.
Mrs. J.
My housekeeping has gone downhill. I've spent too much energy in the garden. I need to work harder at finding a proper balance between growing some food and keeping the house in decent shape.
ReplyDeleteSummer here in India is quite hot too
ReplyDeleteWe do not have central air conditioning but do have ceiling fans and ac which we use for an hour or two at night
I never like working in the kitchen during the summer months but your post has inspired me to change my thinking