Tips on How to Cope with the Heat

Stop Lebron!

First of all, I apologize to all NBA fans.  This is not an article regarding the defensive strategies of how to keep Lebron James and Dwayne Wade off the scoreboard.  The 2011 heatwave is upon us, and here are a few tips to keep yourself and your families cool.

It may not seem like much in some parts of the world, but 36 degrees Celsius is pretty darned hot to Canadians, and that is what weathermen are forecasting for Thursday.

For those without the luxury of air conditioning, or spend much of the time outdoors I have come up with a few ways to keep comfortable despite the humidity.

Mmmmmm, now I'm thirsty!

1.  Drink water and keep some nearby.  It may be tempting to grab a soft drink or a beer, but caffeine and alcohol actually promote dehydration.  Stay away!

2.  Exercise in the early morning or at night.  Just the thought of a mid-afternoon workout makes me feel exhausted.

3.  Don't use the stove/oven.  Why add extra heat to your home?  Salads and sandwiches will do just fine, thank you.

4.  Wear light coloured clothing.  Light colours reflect light and heat while darker colours attract it.

5.  Wear cotton and linen clothing.  Synthetic blends trap the heat inside and don't allow your clothing to breathe properly.

6.  Wear sunblock.  A sunburn heats up your body, so let's avoid it by wearing a sunscreen of at least SPF 30.

Thanks, Emma for the tip!

7.  Don't wear a hat!  Huh?  You might think this one is a strange entry on this list, however we lose most of our heat through the tops of our heads and by wearing a hat we trap the heat in.  That's why we wear toques in the wintertime.  Need to protect your eyes you say?  The best compromise:  the visor.

8.  Avoid mid-day showers.  The humidity from the shower will make your home feel even hotter than it is.

9.  Stay downstairs.  Heat rises.  Spending your time in the lower levels of your home or the basement can keep things naturally cool.

10.  Avoid big meals.  Eating large meals makes your body work super hard to break it down causing you to feel sluggish and uncomfortable.  More frequent, smaller meals is the answer.

11.  Eat spicy!  Yes, really!  Some of the hottest places on Earth (India, Central America) have some of the spiciest foods on the planet.  Spicy foods (which contain capsaicin) will cause you to sweat without raising your body temerature.  The sweat that it created will cool off your body.

12.  Find some AC.  Take the opportunity to shop in a mall, see a museum, or take in a movie.  There will be plenty of time to enjoy the sunshine when the heatwave subsides.

10 Tips on How to Start a Flower Garden

Homeowners in Durham Region should be very proud of the beautiful gardens they produce each year.  As a professional real estate agent, I get the priviledge of showcasing some of these homes as they come up for sale.  Here are TEN starter tips on how to start a beautiful flower garden.

1.  The "Decision".

By reading this blog, you are likely already made the decision.  But have you?  Is a garden for you?  People are busier than ever before and gardens require at least some daily and weekly commitments.  Make sure you are committed to doing the work so you can reap the rewards.

  Bigger is not always better.

2.  Choose a Site.

Seems like a no-brainer but your flowers and plants require sunlight in order to grow.  Growing flowers in shaded areas of your property are possible, but you may limit your choices of flowers.  Also, remember that you will need to water your flowers and walking back and forth filling your watering can may be trying on your patience, and your tired feet.  Try to select a location that you will see the garden from the house.  It's difficult to neglect when you see it all the time.

3.  Start Small.

Many would-be gardeners fail because of over-ambition.  Start small.  20-25 square feet is a good start for your first year as a beginner.  At the end of the season, you can re-evaluate and add next spring.



Squirmish?



4.  Soil.



Now that you are committed, and chosen the perfect site, it's time to get down and dirty.  If the site you have chosen has sod, you will need to remove the sod.  Dig down about 18"-24" and remove and rocks that might be in the way.  Add a time-released fertilizer with the soil.  Rake until the soil is even and water.  Don't worry about earthworms.  They are great for your garden by aerating the earth and fertilizing the soil.

5.  Choose Your Flowers!

Finally, the reason you decided to start a garden, the flowers!  Take note of the decisons you made earlier regarding the size, location and your commitment level. This will determine the flowers you choose.  For smaller gardens, select three types of annuals (need to replaced every season), and one or two perennials (regrow each season).  There are thousands of types of flowers you can choose.  Too many to list here.  Go to your local nursery and ask an expert for what is best for your garden and commitment.

They WILL get bigger.  I promise.

6.  Planting/Seeding.

If you start early enough, you can seed, but for your first season I suggest you transplant your flowers from the cells they come in.  Select budding plants as opposed to already flowered.  When you get home, water your baby-buds, and head over to your garden with a trowel and a watering can.  Dig a small hole, pop out the plant from the cell, spread out their roots without breaking any, and carefully set them in the hole.  Cover and firm the soil surrounding it.  Water.  NOTE:  Make sure you give enough room between plants for them to grow without congestion.

7.  Label Your Plants/Keep Records.

As a beginner, I suggest keeping records.  You are going to make mistakes.  Some plants will die.  It is better to learn from our mistakes then to repeat them.

8.  Water Your Garden.

Make sure the soil surrounding your plants is kept moist and well-watered.  That being said, there is a fine line between well-watered and drowning. Use your own judgement.  Common sense will prevail.

9.  The FOUR letter word:  W-E-E-D.

Weeding is necessary, but let's not obsess with it.  A little bit of time each day or two is all that is usually necessary to maintain a healthy and beautiful garden.  Be careful not to get careless and pull out some of your plants or destroy their roots.

Patience for impatiens?  You don't need it.  They're tough to kill.

10.  Enjoy Your Garden.

Is this one obvious?  A garden should be something to be enjoyed on a daily basis, not feel like a chore.  Take pride in all that you have accomplished.  Share it with your loved ones.  Take time to smell the roses.  You might be surprised how simply Mother Nature can humble us.