Maid in Windsor Welcomes Summer
“Let us dance in the sun, wearing wildflowers in our hair.” Susan Polis Schutz
Thanks for stopping by.
June 21 marked the longest day of the year, as we celebrated the summer solstice, and enjoyed a warm and sultry Essex County day. The children are finishing their school year and those lazy, hazy days of summer are finally upon us.
Routines change and life becomes slower during the months of July and August. Families begin their holidays; plans are made to go to the cottage or spend days at the lake swimming and picnicking. Some of us prefer to stay around the house for a week and change the pace of daily living, puttering in the garden or relaxing with a day off here and there.
If you completed your spring cleaning and maintenance around your home, that means you have scrubbed, cleaned, and organized both indoors and outdoors. Windows have been washed, closets have been transitioned, outdoor decks have been repaired and the roof has been checked after a long cold winter. Your cooling system has been serviced and filters have been changed. It’s time to greet the summer season!
Summer Tips:
When you sweat too much during the hot sultry days, it’s time to come out of the heat or sun. Remember to drink plenty of water to hydrate your system. It’s important to replenish the fluids you lose to avoid heat stroke.
When outdoors, remember to wear sunscreen to protect your skin from the damaging rays of the sun. And, remember to protect your eyes from ultraviolet rays by wearing sunglasses, which also prevents wrinkles. As a safety precaution, wearing protective eye wear when mowing the lawn or playing sports will protect your vision.
Water /Pool Safety:
It is always important to know the body of water you are swimming in and to respect it. When there are children around the pool or lake, never, ever leave them unattended. Ensure that there’s an adult who knows how to swim, or a qualified lifeguard on site for safety sake.
Pet Safety:
Pets love the summer time as much as their owners do! Spending more time outside, they need to have their shots up-to-date and remember to also check them carefully for fleas and ticks.
Hot pavement can make your pets hotter and their paws can burn. Keep the time they are out on sidewalks limited when it is excessively hot outdoors.
You may want to trim your pet during the summer months to keep them cooler and more comfortable. Never leave a pet inside a parked car in the heat. In some areas, it is against the law.
Animals can get dehydrated quickly too, so always have fresh, cool water available for them. Keep them indoors when it’s excessively hot and keep their walking time limited until it cools down in the evening hours.
Travel Tips:
Summer travel involves trips to visit family, friends and vacation destinations. Always service your automobile before you leave home. Check your oil, tire pressure, coolant levels and motor before your travel date to make certain your vehicle is operating safely and that it is at its optimum level for traveling.
Food Tips:
Summer barbecues and picnics are a big part of summer socializing. Ensure that foods are kept cold and refrigerated until they are put out doors on tables for your guests. Foods with mayonnaise should not be left out more than fifteen minutes on a hot sunny day to avoid food poisoning, which can be life threatening.
Bugs:
We all want to enjoy our time outdoors after being cloistered indoors during the inclement winter months. Bees and wasps can cause bad allergic reactions that can be very serious. People who have allergies carry Epi-Pens to prevent a severe reaction. Those who don’t know they have the potential for reaction should know the symptoms, which can be life-threatening- signs are dizziness, drop in blood pressure and problem breathing due to swelling. Normal stings require getting the stinger out of the bite site as fast as possible to remove the insect’s venom. Ice on the bite and a topical cream will reduce the swelling quickly.
Summer Fun, Diet and Exercise:
Summer living provides us with a chance to be outdoors for more daytime hours. One can exercise by walking or playing sports like baseball or volley ball, bike riding, roller skating, swimming or golfing. It is a glorious time of the year to change our daily routine and get fit at the same time.
With the advent of warmer weather, diets can be loaded with fresh local fruits and vegetables that are healthy and grown by local farmers. Seasonal bounty in Windsor/Essex County is exceptional, loaded with antioxidants and high in fiber, all good for you and your family while being light and easy to digest.
Gardening:
For stress-relief, there is nothing better than getting your hands dirty in the garden and reaping the efforts of your work. A small garden is satisfying to the soul, provides you with food and can delivers beautiful flowers and foliage.
- Common Summer Chores:
- Repairing/painting wicker furniture
- Washing down patio furniture regularly
- Keeping up with cleaning the grill on the BBQ
- Washing the garbage cans and recycle bins
- Checking for bee or hornet nests
- Painting the exterior of your home
- Repairing sidewalks or walkways
A common summer problem
*Grass Stain Remover*
Mix baking soda and vinegar into a paste. Gently work from the back side of the fabric. Let it sit for 15 minutes. Wash from the back with cold water; repeat if necessary, then wash as usual.
Summer time is a great time to stop and smell the roses and enjoy the warm weather.
Everyone at Maid In Windsor joins in wishing you a safe and healthy season doing the things that you love to do.
