We got our new utility bills, and what do you know, the difference between the amount of kilowatt hours of electricity we used this past month compared to the same month last year is huge. And what’s even better is even with running the AC units at full blast last year we still couldn’t get the indoor temperature below 78 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas this year it is almost always below 74 degrees. Those new curtains and the weather sealing really worked. Awesome.
-Geoff
The past few weeks have held a lot of change for our humble home. Although it has not been the hottest summer on record for Boston (as far as I know) it has been rather warm. Kelly and I held out for a good month and a half before finally caving in and putting in our two small window AC units and turning them on. But that is not the only thing different.
And it has been a very, very busy week for me, between the two jobs and police details.
Of course, I was asked just how hot the outfit was many times, just as I had often been asked when I was doing programs at places like Stones River National Battlefield and Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park when I did programs in the summertime there.
The short answer is yes, it is quite warm. It’s wool.
Continue reading “So my first day back doing living history was good”
OK, I have held off on commenting about the weather for several days, but now that our little heat wave is over, I feel like I need to comment.
Essentially, this is abnormal, especially for Boston in June.
For over 15 years, I have been a gardener. Specifically, an heirloom gardener and an organic gardener. Although I have always had at least a passing interest in gardening and farming because of my grandparents, I developed an intense interest in them after I started volunteering at Burritt Museum and Park (now known as Burritt on the Mountain) way back in 1995. With some very good mentors (the curator and some experienced guides from the historic park) I quickly learned how to appreciate the older varieties of vegetables that would have been recognizable to someone living in the 19th century. I also learned about herbs and their long history of cultivation.
Well, it looks like my fears of a drought this spring and/or summer may just be coming true. Most of the rivers in the state (and in Connecticut and Rhode Island) are far below normal for this time of year, and there is already talk of how this will affect fisheries and agriculture. I wonder if we will have problems with fires this year. Hopefully nothing too bad. Anyway, I need to check on the level of water in my rain barrels before I do any major planting this year. I still hope to do some herbs in pots if nothing else.
-Geoff
Our bizarre winter weather continues. Today we may just break another old record here in Boston for temperature. It’s yet another shorts day for me. It is so strange. I can’t really say that this winter is over, because Boston has been known to have snow this late in the season, even as late as April. But it is starting to feel like winter is over. We are going to have above-average temperatures for most of this week, I think. So although some colder weather might still be possible, it seems to be becoming a lot less likely.
ETA: Another record is broken. The temperature hit 71 degrees Fahrenheit today, breaking the old record of 69 degrees set in 1902.
-Geoff
So far today we have tied the record for the warmest March 8. I am wearing shorts today. In some ways I don’t mind, after all it’s a nice day outside. But I am concerned about the general weather trends, and the predictions that spring this year is going to be warmer than normal for us. In light of the fact that we had so little snow this year, and thus there is not much snowpack to melt this spring, a warmer spring could spell trouble for gardeners and farmers. We could have droughts to worry about. And it could mean increased risk of fires.
ETA: We broke the record after all. The old record for March 8th was 67 and it reached 68 degrees. Records have been kept since 1872. Right now here in Cambridge it is 66 degrees, with the wind clocking in at 20 mph from the south south-east.
I was hoping to plant some herbs this spring, if I can manage it. I do have a love for things that grow. Just like hobbits. Fresh herbs are so nice for cooking. Maybe I will try making some flavored vinegars or olive oils.
-Geoff
The weather is seriously messed up. This is just nuts. The temperature got up to at least the mid-50s today. I wore a t-shirt with a light jacket over it while I was out, and I actually had to take the jacket off because I was getting too warm. This is like an Alabama winter. It is not remotely normal.
-Geoff
The Books are Taking Over... 