Bad Weather Activities

We all get excited for the summer months.  The days are longer, the temperature is warmer, and we can spend much more time outside.  However, the reality is summer weather can be as unpredictable as winter weather.  On week we might have a heat wave that forces us to hide inside the comfort of air conditioning and another week we might be stuck in the house due to rain.  So it is important to remember there is still plenty of things to do when summer weather ruins our plans.

Cleaning Vehicles

Less than ideal weather days are a great time to prepare our vehicles for fun in the sun.  Cleaning our cars, trucks, and SUV’s should be part of our normal maintenance routine but we don’t always do a deep clean.  When the weather is warm we can spend more time outside digging into the small areas of our vehicles to get out all the dirt and grime.  So why is this a job to be done on a bad day?  The answer is simple.  We might not want to be outside when it is raining but having a garage door open allows the mild temperature air to flow while we stay dry.  The warmer summer temperatures make doing this outside work much more tolerable in the summer than in the winter and if it is a rainy day we do not miss out on the fun outdoor activities.  So next time a walk in the park is put on hold by rain, use the time to make our vehicles shine.

Organizing Garages

Speaking of garages, a rainy day or a really hot day is the best time to spend some time cleaning and organizing them.  Garages provide shade from the hot sun and cover from rain and most of our garages end up getting messed up easily.  It is easy to be in a hurry and leave something out of place and it is equally as easy to hold on to things longer than we should because our garage provides us the space to do so.  That being said, summer is the best time to reorganize our garages and purge them of items we no longer need.  It is important to get rid of things we do not use, but remember do not be so fast to trash things.  Toys our children outgrow and lawn equipment we no longer use still might have value.  We can make some extra money by selling these items on a secondary market or we can help our local neighborhoods by donating them to people in need.  So when we are cleaning make sure we make sound decisions on what to trash, what to sell, and what to donate.  There is no reason to be wasteful.

Clean out the Fridge and Freezer

How many of us have an older meal left in the freezer that we never ate?  In addition, when was the last time we looked at expiration dates on certain things in our refrigerator?  These type of chores are often forgotten about and when weather ruins our plans and forces us inside it provides the opportunity to clean things up.  So next time your ball game is rained out make it a family event.  Go through the refrigerator and freezer, with the family, and see what will never be used.  Also make sure someone checks the expiration dates on condiments.  Odds are at least some of them will be out of date.  This will allow you to know what you need to replace and what is not worth buying again in the future.  Finally, it is a great time make room for all the freshly grown fruits and vegetables that the summer months bring.

Donate Some Clothes

We should have already changed our closets for the new season, but when we do, we often do not look at what we move.  When weather forces us inside it is a great time to start going through our clothes and getting rid of things we no longer wear.  Some items might have gone out of style and others just might not fit anymore.   The reason why we no longer wear something is irrelevant, what matters is these clothing articles take up space and can be used by those in need.  This can also become a family activity as well. Involved your loved ones in the decision to keep something or give something away, especially if you are not sure.  A significant other will tell you when it is time to let go of an old favorite shirt and to move on.  Finally, it is unfortunate, but there are always children in need.  Donating old style clothing, and sizes that are too small might seem like work but the person receiving the second hand item can find joy in your donation.  So if you are not using it, let it find a new, better life elsewhere.  

Kitchen Experimenting

So once we have cleaned out our kitchens, the time is right to refill them with seasonal favorites.  That being said, having a culinary experiment, on a day when the weather is less than ideal, can be a lot of fun.  We can try that new recipe we have been wanting to experiment with and we can create some seasonal favorites.  Bad weather days are a great time to buy some fresh groceries and make something great.  Summer brings some great seasonal flavors and it is important to enjoy them while they last.  Fresh pies, homemade ice creams, fruit breads, are just some of the seasonal delights that are worth the time experimenting with.  This can also be made into a family event.  You can have competitions among family members or you can work together as a team to get the job done.  Whatever ever approach you take make sure to have some fun doing it and enjoy the delicious rewards at the end.

There are countless summer activities that can be done on bad weather days.  These are just a few examples of things to do when rain or heat ruin your plans.  Just remember, rain or shine, the most important part of summer is that we have fun.  So no matter what you are doing find a way to make it fun and exciting.