We are having a two week vacation at the Manse, now converted to the Lake House, a vacation cabin where we are keeping cool the old fashioned way.
Paper fans are a welcome quiet method of cooling you personally. In the olden days people would try to sit between women who used fans, to get the maximum coolness. This one is made from some of the endless supply of construction paper, two of them together. We are going all out with the different style fans, from the instructions in an old book.
One of the grandchildren has made these cute "tags" on laurel leaves, with wild chamomile, buttercups and other wildflowers. They are such a delightfully creative addition to the table settings. He picks huge leaves to use for fans.
One of the girls is reading an old copy of Beautiful Girlhood and practicing penmanship from an old penmanship instruction book.
We venture outside in shady areas, and add
cold fizz to fresh fruit drinks.
The stock tank, which we use as a swimming pool is the lake, and the floaties are giant lily pads. We wait until the pool is completely shaded before we jump in.
Inside during the highest temperatures we read old books left in the cabin. That is the way it is in lake cabins, isn't it? Old magazines, maps, books become interesting again.
I hope you are all finding old fashioned ways to keep cool.
We ran water underneath the garden bridge so the younger children could pretend it was a bridge over a creek.
This is a DIY and self serve vacation. They have to get their own cots out and make their own beds, and fold it all up the next day. We do have bedrooms but need 4 more rooms to accommodate everyone. A few of them actually like sleeping here with the door open and the screen door allowing more cool night breezes in. We allow residents to forage around the kitchen for their own food needs, and a huge salad is kept in the fridge for everyone. Other than that, everyone is on their own for occupation and recreation, and so far, have made very good use of the time.
Before the guests had time to fold up all the cots and bedding, someone dropped by. When we all excused the mess, she said she liked the way the blankets and sheets all matched the decor.
Other than these things, we try to be quiet, move slowly, sit, and not converse about stressful things. It eliminates added degrees of heat, we think.
When I invited Texas and Florida to colonize Oregon with their families, ranching and businesses, churches and culture, I didn’t expect to first get 115 F. Temperature. Maybe the heat is supposed to put us in the frame of mind to be part of those two great states.
