What in the world did the early settlers do?
For starters, they sweated because it beat starving all winter! Yes, they were tough folks- the ones who survived.
They also used the time honored tradition of the siesta- got up VERY early in the morning and worked before the sun was up. There's usually a good hour of "early dawn" light where you can see well enough for most chores, but the heat isn't building up yet.
Then they'd do their morning animal and livestock chores, and do what they could during the hottest part of the day- often napping (to make up for the very early rising) for an hour or two after dinner.
When the hottest sun started passing, they'd start working again.
Of course, some jobs, like putting in hay, simply had to be done, heat or not. Folks who really couldn't handle it moved someplace else.
But I'd like to see SOME heat. It's been in the low forties, and even down to the thirties nearly every night for the past 2 weeks. We've only had 2 days so far that got above 80 degrees, and it's been hell trying to get the hay dry enough to bale. It is wonderful weather for the pastures, and the cows love it. And I'm surprised and gratified to see that my garden is growing very well despite the lack of heat. Even the heat lovers- tomatoes and melon plants- are growing like crazy. I'm not sure how well they'll fruit if we don't get some warmth, though.
There is a reason why folks in California and other hot spots build out of adobe and brick and even sod.... without AC, anything that blocked the heat of the sun and helped hold the "cool" in was valuable. Our stick built houses, even with insulation, are very poor substitutes.
Summerthyme
