The Front Porch Swing

[LeslieDJoyce]

When I lived in Egypt I was always thirsty. It took me a long time to understand it wasn't the heat, it was the stuff in the air. The color of the light was freakish during a sand storm ... It is like a different planet compared to this part of Oregon.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

Problem solving hat on here:   

First a short story.

When we lived in Las Vegas we had huge Sandstorms a couple of times per year.  The sand would come in under the bottom of the kitchen door and make miniature sand dunes on the floor.  Mom used a damp towel rolled up to cover the bottom of the door.

I was in second grade there so when the sand storms blew in you could sit and hear the sand particles hit our papers....  tick tick tick tick ....  all over the room.   when that started happening they sent us kids home.    I had a half a block to walk home.... school was at the end of the street.  By the time I got home My mouth would have a dirt ring around it and I would have to wash my hair.  The wind would blow so hard I had to lean into it to keep standing up.

We had AC in Las Vegas....  Standard buildings even the cheepo ones had them.   110-115 degree summers were the norm.

But Our cars didnt have AC....  So when we traveled we would hang wet towels over an open window IN the back seat area.  It worked.    Is there a way you could do something like that to allow the air through but stop the dust?   Believe me I would rather live with the dust than be locked in a room with no air circulation.

Also Thin Muslin or a even a layer of 50 percent shade cloth draped over an open window would stop most of the particles and let them precipitate to the floor.    Believe me I know this type of sand.....  It is as fine as talc and gets into EVERYTHING.  If you could put a damp towel on the floor so when it precipitates down It will stick and can be removed to be shaken out outside.

By the way some of our strategies in the desert during 1963,  I am sure you know them This is also for others who wonder how to survive in very very hot desert climates.

1 Cover south facing windows with tinfoil.  Just damp water and tinfoil squeegied on....  Tinfoil will stay till you remove it.  
3 Air flow is important
4 Do Work things at night when its cooler
5 Swamp coolers are cheap and Work.  But you have to have the windows open in the room you want cool
6 Wear Cotton and cover up.....  Water evaporation in the form of sweat is a natural air conditioner.
7 Leafy green veggies are a natural supplier of electrolytes
8 Keep hydrated

I have other strategies but have to go
deb

My dad was in India, Hong Kong, and Burma? I think during WW 2 and he always raised us to open windows and curtains at night, shut them up during the day, to deal with our summer heat waves. Works really well, drops the temp several degrees, but I can't get DH on side. He hates a dark house, loves the sunlight pouring in no matter how much it cooks the place.

 

[Oldmomma]

Thanks for the tips but many things I cant get here. For 42 yrs he kept many things we take for granted out of reach for common folks. Recenty since I could not find screen easily I cut up some toile and stapled it around the window frame. Im lucky mine is older most now are marble so you have to get special frames. Toile was 1 buck per meter, screen is 5 when you can find it. Muslin havent seen. Towels the only ones I have are ones I bought in the usa and brought 2 for each person. Towels here are cheaply made and rarely last a month of washings. I close the shutters thankful to have them and dont worry to much sand is part of life. There are lots of things ive learned to live without.

 

[Triple Willow]

Way to go cat!

 

[MistyMountain]

Way to go cat!

My husband just showed this to me! Awesome cat. Once the barn is fixed up we will get one. Outside only, though!

 

[Triple Willow]

My husband just showed this to me! Awesome cat. Once the barn is fixed up we will get one. Outside only, though!

I haven't had a cat in years because of my dogs. A little earlier I had a stray tomcat looking in my front door. He's been hanging around and I believe I might let him stay - as long as he doesn't mess with the chickens. One slip up and he's outa here. I could use his help on some snakes and mice.

 

[TexasLisa]

It was nice knowing you guys. I may not be around much longer. My son's girlfriend just left. She was getting her car inspected when the mechanics popped the hood on the car next to hers. There was a kitten in the engine. Guess who she brought it to? It is maybe 6-7 weeks old. My husband is due home in an hour.....oh dear.....

Lisa

 

[MistyMountain]

I haven't had a cat in years because of my dogs. A little earlier I had a stray tomcat looking in my front door. He's been hanging around and I believe I might let him stay - as long as he doesn't mess with the chickens. One slip up and he's outa here. I could use his help on some snakes and mice.

That is my motivation as well. We have been here since August with no mouse activity-- coop or house. We just saw our first snake yesterday. (knock on wood) But I would like a mouser outside the house to do some outdoor control. Funny thing, judging by the abundance of rabbits and no hits on my flock, we must not have many local hawks. I would think that would mean the mouse population would be healthy too. Watch, now that I mentioned all of that….

 

[chickenboy190]

Chickenboy, what do you do with them? My handyman catches all sorts of things, wild boar, coon possum. And he eats them. I know there is a way to get the wild taste out of boar by soaking in heavily salted water (iced) and draining and starting over for 6 days. All hearsay on my part.

Just shoot them. Oh cool!! lol oh yeah I'm hoping this will show me how to skin them so I can do that.

 

[Triple Willow]

That is my motivation as well. We have been here since August with no mouse activity-- coop or house. We just saw our first snake yesterday. (knock on wood) But I would like a mouser outside the house to do some outdoor control. Funny thing, judging by the abundance of rabbits and no hits on my flock, we must not have many local hawks. I would think that would mean the mouse population would be healthy too. Watch, now that I mentioned all of that….

Oh me, I have hawks, turkey vultures, crows, owls, squirrels, plenty of rabbits, too many snakes and some mice up around the house because of the feed. AND a dang herd of roving neighbor's dogs!! I do need a cat if it will leave the chickens alone. I believe this one is wild enough to stay out of the way of the dogs and hopefully coyotes.