The Dog Days of Summer

Yes, we had another summer of records here in Bavaria and happy to say no thunderstorm destroyed my garden so far. I spend a lot ot time tangling in the late afternoon when it is too hot to go outside. In spite of the heat I offered a „Summer Special class“ with lots of color and dried blossoms on a zendala. My students really loved this summer idea and when we look at it in winter we will always remember the summer heat ( and probably miss it!).

i grew up on the east coast, spent about an equal amount of time on the west coast, and have lived the longest in the south. weather, like kids, political scandals and rising costs are the usual topics. i didn’t associate the word sultry with the blanket-heavy humidity here in houston, but it is more like eastern weather, just reverse the amount of time … longer season of hot and heavy, but if i never have to shovel snow again, won’t be too soon. i get to tangle way more indoors than struggle with weather extremes so that’s my motivator any day, anywhere. perhaps the biggest difference i’ve made is carrying around some ice packs so my pens won’t explode…

In South Texas it’s hot and humid. We do have a steady stream of windy days so being in the shade is tolerable…if you can find some shade as the telephone poles are taller than the trees. I don’t find the weather alters my tangling or creativity as much as my mood. If I don’t feel well, irritable or hot, my drawings are darker, denser. Fortunately, I am a happy person and find tangling takes me out of those moods and my art is much happier. We have yet to hit the hottest days but they are coming this month. Thankful for air conditioning and cold water…and a little rain would help. Thanks

Molly, it has been very hot in our neck of the woods as well, 55 miles north west of Chicago in Crystal Lake, Illinois. This spring, I had a vision of turning our spare bedroom into my new Zentangle room. After moving out to a huge dresser, and emptying out a metal clothes closet and then moving dad out also, I cleared out the space. Went shopping and purchased a white desk, white bookcase, And white leather chair. All three have chrome accent. I now face a sunny window and enjoy the air conditioning while I happily Zentangle and my new surroundings comforted by my books and tools. This is had a very positive affect on me this summer! Never been happier. I’m busy preparing for Zentangle classes I will teach in the fall and keep on creating for each day in my tangle – a – day 2019 calendar book. And I am busy dreaming of attending Zen Again 2020 Andrew meeting you again, this time in Newport, Rhode Island!

Like Onna (a dear friend who led me gently but inexorably into the world of Zentangle), I live in Texas. My favorite place to tangle is sitting up in bed with the ceiling fan overhead. I don’t expect that this will change when winter comes. Pretty much everything outdoors wants to make me sneeze or snack on me. Winter in this part of Texas tends to arrive in the form of ice storms that shut everything down. If the ice storms don’t come, winter lasts about 15 minutes and the bugs don’t die. 🙄

Summers in Vermont are beautiful, although the last few years we’ve been affected by climate change and installed central air to be more comfortable on those ‘dog days’. We live close to Lake Champlain and can always jump in the lake to cool off. For many years (23 to be exact) we were in the Foreign Service and lived in very hot climates (Indonesia, Ghana, Chile) and nobody talked about the weather, except to say that there were two seasons: hot and hotter! Those of us in New England are fortunate to have 4 distinct seasons and probably that’s why we talk about the weather so much.

Love this Molly! I always love local colloquialisms and wonder where they come from. I’ve lived in many states during my lifetime thus far and it always amazes me that there are so many of these sayings that are unique to a certain area while others seem well known throughout the nation. I’ve never bought about Googling them. I’ll start trying that! 😆🥰🙇🏻‍♀️✍🏻

I’m comforted to hear that it’s not just the English who are obsessed with talking about the weather. I’ve long noted the impact it has on my tangling – and often post about how the hottest days make me tangle differently – less tiny details, less shading, more just following inky lines and see where they lead me.

Fun read from you Molly and all the comments too. Living here in Northern New Mexico at 8000 ft. elevation, my summers can have sudden thunder showers and hot days as well but cooler mornings and evenings so time for some disc golf and travel. But always an excuse with the weather any time of the year to tangle-“too hot, too cold, too windy, too rainy, too snowy.” The winter we get lots of snow, but have some warmer days and I love to ski, so get out both summer and winter for outdoor activities, but always find tangle time no mater the time of year or weather.

As of last week, we are now in a very tiny town in rural Oregon. The cool nights and right now very warm days are nagging me to tangle! There is little distracton, except for the birds bouncing around outside. They are such characters! I have a lovely table on the back patio that beckons me every time I pass the window, to come sit and tangle. Because there is a fire pit nearby I imagine that when the weather changes to be cooler, I will be out there bundled up, still with pen and paper in hand, to tangle.

Sorry I posted twice. It didn’t appear the first one posted and I hit the button again. So sorry.

Molly, loved your post about the dog days. We’re feeling the oppressive heat here in Kansas City, but not the way our friends are in France, The Netherlands and other parts of Europe! I hope they stay in the shade with a breeze! Until lately, we’ve had it pretty easy. As a matter of face I’ve been able to spend several full days outside while tangling. The beauty of the outdoors is always inspiring!

In hot-n-humid weather, I tend to be indoors. For me, it is the insects — I avoid them. I find indoor activities, like zentangling, perfect escape from humidity. In the Winter, (winter whine), I’m outdoors more often than indoors … often, hiking in the Dunes State Park with my husband. I prefer winter over dog days!!! Parks are less crowded in the snow covered trails ; )

Molly, loved your post about the dog days. We’re feeling the oppressive heat here in Kansas City, but not the way our friends are in France, The Netherlands and other parts of Europe! I hope they stay in the shade with a breeze! Until lately, we’ve had it pretty easy. As a matter of face I’ve been able to spend several full days outside while tangling. The beauty of the outdoors is always inspiring!

I love the winters in Las Vegas. I get out more and am more energized. In the summer I’m inside in the cool air conditioning. That’s when I look at my Zentangle books and Google Zentangle images to get new ideas for tangling.

We finally had our first ‘dog day’ in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area just this past Monday – 97 degrees and no breeze. We have been lucky this summer for the most part. We have had freshening breezes almost everyday this summer to keep us from getting too hot even with the high temps.

Does it affect us here? You bet! We look for places to walk inside buildings instead of going outside and passing out from heat exhaustion.

Our places of employment are freezing and we need hoodies and sweaters inside. When we leave work we leave those garments behind and swelter until we get to are vehicles to blast cold air on us for the ride home. If we can afford it, our homes greet us with cool, too, and cooking does not happen inside during the summer. Those with houses and grills can go outside to cook. Those with apartment regulations banning us from cooking on our back porches resort to going out or bringing home food, or eating cold foods like sandwiches, salads, and Popsicles for dinner. We keep our apt cold (but regulated with a timer thermostat) so creativity is not stopped by the hot weather.

In fact, since Texans stay inside to avoid the heat, we are more prone to sit (or in my case, lie down) and tangle.

What is the RI weather like in November, Molly? Here in Texas it is usually still in the 60s and 70s.

sorry about posting two times, out of control fingers i guess

Yesterday i was simply “Grateful” as i sat at my little Zentangle table surrounded by a bountiful supply of pens, pencils and tiles. The temperature in the shade outside our front door read 112 degrees. Above me the fan was whirring directing cool air over me. Yes, the summer heat in the Southwest is the perfect time for Zentangle. Thank you for the inspiration.🥰

I am fortunate to live 6-8 months in Montana of the year, which has the luxury of being warm during the day and cooling off very nicely in the evening. We will return to Austin, Texas later this year, but my children are there now and sweating they are tired of the heat, 100+ all this week. So I enjoy doing my Zentangle to pass away the time, plus we have natural light until 9:30 pm, as many people do, so it is pretty awesome.

I loved the blog today, learned a great deal, thank you.

I am fortunate to live 6-8 months in Montana of the year, which has the luxury of being warm during the day and cooling off very nicely in the evening. We will return to Austin, Texas later this year, but my children are there now and sweating they are tired of the heat, 100+ all this week. So I enjoy doing my Zentangle to pass away the time, plus we have natural light until 9:30 pm, as many people do, so it is pretty awesome.

I loved the blog today, learned a great deal, thank you.

There is already a different feel outside on these hot August days—a slight hint of autumn approaching. I am feeling a contentment to be “inside” during the hot part of the day, and Zentangle is one activity that fills this particular kind of hibernation time with peace, comfort, and meditation. Thanks, Molly, for your post and for prompting this reflexion.

I live in Texas and we don’t have weather extremes to speak of. We pretty much have summer and two weeks of winter! Every now and then we will have a pleasant day or two each of spring and fall and those are my favorite days of the year because I can open the windows. I enjoy tangling at all times of the year. In the summer I have the air conditioning and fans to keep it comfortable where I sit to do my drawing. In the winter, on the odd cold day, I throw a light blanket over my lap to keep me warm and cozy while drawing.

Hello Molly, what a great story. I am in Spain for 7 weeks, on holiday and house hunting :0) With a pool that is :0) My goodness the weather is soooo hot here. Haha. But that is why we want to live here. We want more sun-hours. In Belgium people love to drag about the “bad” weather very much. On every occasion. Mostly about the rain. But I find that nature takes care of it all by itself. I find it very funny that in Belgium the meaning: the weather will be better soon means exactly the opposite of the weather will be better soon in Spain. Personally the warm weather makes me sit outside more often, in the shade of course, doing what I love most: tangling 😁 It is such a great experience to be able to tangle outside whenever I feel like it. Love from sunny and hot Hondon de Las Nieves (Alicante – Spain)

I am more creative during the summer when the days are longer. Sunlight energizes me and working in my art journal is a daily practice unlike the days of winter.

Hi Molly, Hope the weather is cooler now.

Here in the U.k we’ve been experiencing very hot weather. I like the heat, also I work nights so unlike my colleagues it’s more pleasant working conditions.
I found the history behind the dog days quote very interesting. I find things like that very fascinating.
As for the effects of the weather on my zentangling I have been very productive producing different pieces with new tangles I’ve seen here on the blog site and on pin trest plus there is a wonderful CZT who has a show once a month on one of the craft channels here. I have started to experiment with colour too.
I wonder what the power of a thunder storm could produce
Thank you for sharing.
Deb.x