Keeping cool

I grew up in houses with no AC. Of course, we never had weather as hot as it is now getting. Luckily our house today had AC already in place when we bought it. Before then, I made do with more traditional methods of keeping cool. 

I bought this rather large fan when visiting my sister who lived in San Francisco. It didn't fit in my suitcase so it sat on the empty seat next me to me on the plane ride home. Those were the days. 

This one is from Africa though I no longer remember which country or tribal group. 

This is another large fan but I have the same style and pattern in a small size as well. 

Too bad I'm not into the Barbie hoopla as this would be perfect for a pink party. 

I have folding paper and fabric fans and tiny Chinese paper fans encased in metal that open up and the metal pieces are a sturdy handle. Fans like these were available everywhere when I first moved to Madison. Over the years I've downsized my collection but I still have enough fans that I've put them out for guests to use at summer parties.

The sky was dark when I began writing with thunder rolling through. But the sun has come out and another chance for rain has passed us by.

Comments

[Elizabeth]

That's a very nice collection of fans you have there! I can just see a midsummer garden party at your house -- twinkle lights and lumenarias everywhere, people casually dressed up, cold cocktails and yummy appetizers, a full moon (totally required), the fresh smell of your garden, interesting conversation, and the women gently fanning themselves with your beautiful fans. Sigh. Okay. Back to earth. Time to get ready for work!

[Linda Brazill]

ELIZABETH — Ha! I think we actually did have one party like that for one of Mark's birthdays, maybe 65th or 70th. But mostly it's been brunch on the deck. And some of the guys used the fans as well. I always used to take one to parties and art openings. Rather drama queen of me.

[Kris P]

An impressive and artistic collection, Linda. Fans seem so genteel, although I can't imagine making it through even our current modest heatwave relying upon them.

Best wishes for a cool-down and some rain!

[danger garden]

I love the idea of fans out for your guests, like the blankets some put out, only in reverse. Back in the day I worked at Pier One Imports (when it really was imports) and we had a huge selection of fans. Fond memoires.

[Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening]

Our 1885 house does not have a/c, although we do have a window unit in our bedroom. As long as the nights dip into the 60s (50s if you're really lucky) you just open all the windows at night and shut everything up in the morning. For those really hot days you put a big box fan at the bottom of the basement stairs and blow the cool air up to the first floor. For a prolonged heat wave with warm nights we are basically screwed, but we know a few local swimming holes and keep a generous supply of ice cream on hand.

[Linda Brazill]

KATHY - Even with AC we open windows at night at those temps and keep them open in the morning until the outside temp meets the inside temp, then they get closed. Curtains closed on south and west windows. All the things we did growing up.

[Linda Brazill]

DANGER — I am sure I got some of my fans at Pier One. Loved that store back when.

[Linda Brazill]

KRIS — We did get some rain and the temps will drop down into the 80s starting this weekend.

[Barbara H.]

Beautiful fans, Linda, and I see them making a lovely bouquet in a vase. When I lived in Portland the local mythology was that AC wasn't needed - and it was a myth. Growing up in mid-Michigan with no AC was okay most of the time but I remember those hot nights in the 80s with 80% humidity and no breeze. So how did I end up in NE Alabama with hot, hot summers and fairly cold winters?

[Linda Brazill]

BARBARA — ​I remember being in Vancouver, BC and there were no screens on the windows and no AC. It was disconcerting to me to sleep in a room with an open window which could let anything fly into the room. Nothing did but it sure was a different attitude and climate.