Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Too hot

I know the weather is a pretty boring topic, but I can't think of much else right now. We are in the middle of a heatwave here in Portland. We seldom have really high temperatures and we usually brag about how pleasant Portland summers are, but this week we are sweltering.

I am staying indoors and drinking cold beverages—mostly ice water and iced tea. It really does help. I moved on this afternoon from regular iced tea to iced barley tea. Have you ever tried it? I learned about it when it was served at the opening reception for one of our High Fiber Diet Japanese Garden shows. Not really tea, it is a tisane made from roasted barley. It has a nice nutty flavor that reminds me a bit of toasted sesame seeds and is quite refreshing, non-caffeinated and not as tannic/acidic as black tea. It is common in Japan and supposedly increases the fluidity of the blood (whatever that means) and decreases stress. I drink it because it quenches my thirst and keeps me hydrated. I buy it at Uwajimaya in Beaverton.

We do not have air conditioning, so I close up the house in the early morning, then open up windows later when the outside temperature is cooler. It's pretty hot. My outside thermometer reads 110°, but it is right in the sun. I think it is only about 107° F! A bit cooler inside. I'd love to go find someplace air-conditioned to hang out, but I am trying to finish a project with a deadline. I am making birds and writing instructions and drafting a pattern. The bird pattern will be published in a magazine later this year, which is exciting! I will let you know more details, closer to its publication. Meanwhile I am writing and sewing and moving slowly and drinking cold beverages and hoping today is the peak of the wave. Here's a little bird preview.

5 comments:

  1. Bird pattern, yay! (Which reminds me, I need you to come over here and adjust Darcy's legs. You are certified in avian chiropractic, aren't you?)

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  2. Sending my sympathies for the heat and hopes for cooler days soon. At least we have ac down here in Texas where we get weeks of the 100+ stuff. I love your birds and will look forward to seeing them published.

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  3. It was over 100 here for more than a week..it's cooled down to a nice 95 today!! Hope you cool down soon...

    Yay on the bird pattern...will have to buy the mag (whichever one it is) once it comes out..those birds are very cute!

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  4. I first had barley tea served by a young person who is half Korean. We meditate together and occasionally have a potluck where we can actually speak!

    I think of you every time I pass Joseph bird, who has taken up a perch in the living room of my house.

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  5. Oh, I just hate that hot uncomfortable feeling. We didn't have AC in Maine and there were a few days when it was very uncomfortable. Of course, in TX we have the AC on from March to Nov.

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