Sunday, June 8, 2008

Summer Hits Vermont

92 degrees. That's what our outdoor thermometer says. In some places, 92 doesn't really phase people, but here in northern Vermont, it really affects us. We get slow -- really slow. And we don't function at our normal levels. It's like we're all taking downers. We're tired, but people don't want to take naps because it's so sticky and uncomfortable. 92 really hits us hard around here.

So what do we do to survive. Two words. "Find Water." I happen to be lucky; my family has a cottage in the Lake Champlain Islands right on the broad lake. And when it gets hot like this, there is no better place to be. Along the water, it feels ten degrees cooler, especially when the wind blows like it did today. Oscar made a bee-line for the water, and spent the better part of the afternoon in the water. The water is still icy -- although it's June -- so we got the canoe out. Oscar took his first canoe ride and didn't find it very relaxing. He wouldn't lay down or move; he half-stood, half-sat between my feet the whole time. Alison swam, wearing a wetsuit on everything but her feet, and reported numbness there after about ten minutes. It looked refreshing though.

Back in Richmond, our house is surrounded on three sides by trees and, for the most part, stays in the shade. All windows are closed and curtains drawn. Luckily, it stays pretty cool in here. It's hot, and we're not used to it, but we are doing our best to find water, drink water, and stay cool.

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