Going to the Spa--Farmgirl Style!

Enjoy your own spa!

I spent several hours in the sauna yesterday, and, although I wasn't swatted with cold birch twigs afterward, I feel better for it.  And, best of all it was free!  Do you want to know how you can receive your own free sauna?

Despite the humidity, we're suffering from a drought

Just walk out the door.  At least, around here, just walk out the door.  We're at what I call the 90- square portion of the summer:  90+ temperatures coupled with 90+ humidity.  Actually, the humidity cannot be that high at 90+ degrees, but it's high enough that you feel like you've walked into a blanket of boiling cotton when you step out of the door.  It just surrounds you; it's stifling.  I could wax poetic, but I'll save that effort for a cooler day and a more pleasant topic.

Back to the point:  yesterday was like a sauna.  I was soaked within 15 minutes of walking out the door.  But, I stayed out, although my spa fashion statement was long pants, and long-sleeved shirt, ear protection and a hat--which leads me to the second spa treatment: the tanning bed.

The tanning tractor

Actually, it wasn't a tanning bed; it was a tanning tractor.  At least it would be if I were trying to tan.  At my age, with my family's history of skin cancer, SPF 40+ is a necessity at every sun exposure.  Sunshine is an important source of vitamin D, so I slather on the sunblock on my face and neck.  Neutrogena Spray sunblock goes on the outside of my long clothing along with Repel 100 Insect Repellent to ward off this year's bumper crop of ticks.  While this does not sound particularly pleasant, I grant you, the gentle breeze (surprisingly cool), the chorus of birds, and the butterfly confetti provided a lovely spa-like atmosphere.  The freshly-mown lawn was icing on the cake.

Four hours later--with cooling stops for our ancient air-cooled Yanmar tractor, and for its driver-- I stepped into a tepid shower and treated my skin and hair to moisturizers.  My next stop was a ceiling fan--set to hurricane category two, at least--and a comfortable chair, a good book, and a glass of ice-cold lemonade.

Garden aerobics

Barring a thunderstorm, I'll be returning to the spa this evening for garden aerobics.  The routine includes picking cucumbers, purple-hull peas, okra, and tomatoes from my father-in-law's and peppers and tomatoes from my garden.  No funny workout wear required--just the gear mentioned above.

A little weight training may be in order, too, as I need to move a compost tumbler to its permanent location.  A few plants need repotting so a mud treatment for my hands could be a possibility, as well.  The list goes on and on.

By now you're convinced I've lost my mind (which is a distinct possibility).  Every one of the things I've described could be labeled as "chores."  As "chores," they could be tiresome, and unpleasant.  But it's more fun to play this little game with myself.

So, I'm having a "spa" summer.  Won't you join me?

What's happening at your spa?

Nancy