Summer 2013

Warm weather is early this year giving us a taste of what to expect for the next four months. Record highs make one wonder if we are gonna get hit harder this year after the milder summers of the past few years. Most of the snowbirds have gone home, there's lots of parking everywhere and the kids are finishing up the school year and dreaming of that wonderfully imminent summer vacation. Speaking of which, things really do slow down when schools close for the summer. Vacations start, kids go to camp or the beach, etc.; however... not everyone can get away. Boredom can set in quickly when there's little to do and no money to do it with ..... which reminds me of a quote I've cited previously "If the Devil finds a man idle, he'll set him at work - J. Kelly - Scottish Proverbs 1721. or how about the old one about idle hands and the devils workshop ... anyway, you get the point. Don't be a victim - Keep Alert -watch out for strange or new activity not only at your home but your neighbor's too! ... and keep your garage door(s) closed or at least only open enough so that no one can get under it, especially a small unattended child. Anyone can slip out of a car, into a garage and snag golf clubs or something else of value, sling it into the back of a truck and be gone in less than 10 seconds ... and this includes a purse while you carry the groceries into the house. Many people think keeping the garage door open at the bottom relieves the garage of some of the heat while their car cools ... Considering that heat rises, there may be no significant benefit anyway. You'd be better off installing a vent high above the existing vent(s) in your garage to allow a flow of air, getting an attic fan or whole house fan ... or even opening the side door to the backyard if the backyard gate is locked. Watering tip to save money, save water and make your landscape drought resistant: Water once in the morning, a good soak so the water goes deep and the roots will follow. Watering 3-5 times a day, might make you think you're being nice to your landscape but a lot of water hits the sidewalk and gutter 3-5 times a day taking your money with it. There's 3-5 times as much evaporation - wasted water and money; and finally, the roots remain close to the surface where they are subject to higher temperatures and if subjected to severe conditions or a REAL drought came, they have no chance ... plus, many homes have landscapers that set the timers when they scalp and/or re-seed and never change them again. You should investigate this for yourself. Water is a precious commodity. You might also consider a smart irrigation controller from CVWD. The best thing you can do for yourself is to stay hydrated. It's a good habit always but especially important in the summer. When you wake up, have a glass of water. Do you best to continue with water throughout the day. If you drink coffee, soda or energy drinks, you should drink a glass of water for each cup of coffee or can of soda you ingest. Lastly, if you start feeling the effects of the sun, get inside immediately, keep Pedialite or Vitamin Water in the house or car, get some cold water or even just cold compresses on the hot spots (head, wrists, carotid artery and feet), run through the sprinklers with the kids, take a shower if you can or just jump in the pool. Don't have a pool? make friends with your neighbor who has one ... a 5 minute dunk will lower your body temperature and take the teeth out of the hottest day even if your in no danger of heat stroke. As always ... keep the faith !!!