Keeping Cool

We've had some serious heat waves here recently and with February just now arriving it doesn't look like things will be cooling off any time soon.  We're living a traditional Perth life style--which is say that our place doesn't have air conditioning.  This is actually more common here than you might think.  We go to the beach and the pool a lot, but here are some of the other things we've been doing to keep cool.

Spray bottles.  The boys like to spray the plants, and each other.  On the really hot nights I go into their room, after they're asleep, and mist them with water or wipe a damp rag on their arms and legs.  With the fan blowing on them it really cools them off.

Balloon animals.  It doesn't really cool you off, per se, but it does help keep your mind off the heat.

We tried a pony tail for Peter's hair, which he appreciated.

Eliot was not to be outdone, though I suspect it did little to cool him off.

One of the best ways to cool off before going to bed is a nice cold shower.  Not cool, cold.  The trick, I find, is to get yourself so cold that stepping out into the hot air feels really nice.

The boys aren't totally on board with my cold shower logic.  They prefer their shower water nice and warm.  But they seem to enjoy it anyway.  :)

In the late afternoon there's a pretty regular breeze that kicks up off of the Indian Ocean.  The locals call it the Fremantle Doctor because it's a nice, cooling breeze.  That's the best time to take a walk in the reserve, and leave all of the windows open.  And, after all is said and done, I prefer breezes to air conditioning anyway.