Like many other animals, deer pant when they are excessively hot. That is their way of sweating. They also seem to move much slower, too. Although it's mid-September, we've been experiencing a mini heat wave (in the mid 90's) that will continue on for at least the next few days.

Because our air conditioner died the day before I shot this photo, I can really sympathize with the poor deer. No way around it. It's hot!!! Too hot. Although my husband doesn't seem to mind going without A/C, I certainly do. I'm extremely heat sensitive. Nighttime is the worst. It's NOT supposed to be over 80° with over 60% humidity inside a modern home... I grew up without air-conditioning, but since we've moved to the Midwest, I now really suffer without it. Even in normal times, Midwestern Summers have been more extreme. However, modern day weather patterns have us living in anything but normal times. Bet the deer wishes she still had her summer coat.

Hopefully, our A/C problem is something that can be simply solved by a technician just tweaking the old air conditioning unit. If not, who knows how long things might take (not even considering the high price tag) to get a new unit and then have it installed. In the past, I wouldn't be super concerned at this time of year. But this year, we're experiencing extended mid-July weather in September. Supply chain problems and a looming rail strike have me very nervous about requiring anything new that isn't in stock. Last year, we saw the 90's well into October. Hopefully, this year won't be a repeat.

FOOT NOTE:
Our Central A/C can't be repaired. It will require getting a new unit installed; which could mean having no A/C in the house for at least another 2 weeks. That is if everything goes well with the supply chain... That hasn't yet been discussed. We won't know more until next week.

Meanwhile, 4 days of actual daytime temperatures ABOVE 100 degrees (with a nighttime low of 80°) and then a continuation in the 90's outdoors are being forecast for the foreseeable future. That is after we first get through this weekend in the mid 90's. I can't even begin to imagine how hot the inside of our house is going to get if it keeps getting hotter. It's so hot now.

We live in a passive solar home. At this time of the year, the Solar Room (one step down from the master bedroom) is designed to now start collecting heat and then holding it inside. In Summertime (with 100 degree days outside), tempts in the Solar Room easily reach 120°. It gets significantly hotter than outside. However, tree cover and sun positioning luckily don't work to heat the interior of the house to its maximin in Summer. So, 120° could be even higher with a change in sun positioning and tree cover. With a change in the seasons, temperature retention now naturally goes up in the Solar Room and inside our entire house. That is how our Solar assist home was designed. I dread the next couple of weeks. By the time, the new A/C unit is eventually installed, I'll probably wish I were sleeping outdoors in the woods with the deer. I already do!!!

Instead, of Fall weather getting normally cooler here, it could continue to stay unbearable, mid-Summer hot for weeks more this year. Our house was NOT designed to handle that without air conditioning on warmer days. Days, even in the 60's and 70's outside can become uncomfortable inside in the middle of Winter when the Solar heating is at its max. At just 50 degrees outdoors in Winter (and no A/C), I have to open the screen doors & our windows to cool the house down into the 70's. Solar heated homes are great in cold weather. In warm weather, well.... A/C is 100% definitely a necessity in Summer.

It is still officially Summer here until September 22nd. The deer and I will both be "panting" until then, and probably even beyond.