2010. Philadelphia on the 4th. It was in the upper 90s and as humid as a sauna.
I was planning to do a post on 4th of July Etsy finds for you today, but then I spent most of yesterday afternoon cuddling with a man who was not Pete.
Okay, technically, the man in question is only two months old and spent most of the day alternating between sleeping and working on loading up his diaper, but he was napping in my arms, which meant that I really just had to sit and enjoy him, right?
Anyway, once I finally got around to doing my Etsy research, my searches didn’t go quite as I expected. While I found plenty of patriotic jewelry, t-shirts, housewares, and whatnot, one type of item kept popping up and it left me somewhat baffled.
I’m talking about Independence Day themed scarves, like this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, and this. (Verily, I say unto thee, go check out those scarves, because there’s an amazing amount of variety.)
I don’t know about where you live, but here in Virginia, the 4th of July always means hot, hot, and more hot. In fact, I don’t think I have ever not sweated on this holiday. Most years, we’re in Virginia, where it’s in the 90s and humid. I’m pretty sure I’ve never, EVER shivered on the 4th of July in my entire life. The L.L. Bean summer catalogs always baffle me, what with their “summer weight sweaters” and fleece and all that, especially since the one time I was in Maine, it was July 6 and it was 99 degrees. Rumor has it that Maine can be chilly in the summer, even if it did totally disappoint me when I was there.
Anyway, just for kicks, I did a random search of other places in the U.S. to see what the weather will be like tomorrow. I made a point to choose plenty of places north of Virginia, on the off chance that since they are closer to the North Pole it might be cool enough there to merit needing a special holiday scarf for the 4th. Here’s my research:
- All of New Hampshire (it’s a small state) – high of 94/low of 74
- Grand Forks, Minnesota – 94/62
- Boise, Idaho – 91/61
- Buffalo, New York – 89/68
- Bismarck, North Dakota – 87/58
- Helena, Montana – 83/53
- Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan – 82/63
- Portland, Oregon – 77/54
- Freeport, Maine – 75/64
- Fort Yukon, Alaska – 72/55
- San Diego, CA – 67/62
- San Francisco, California - 64/35
- Anchorage, Alaska – 60/50
- Barrow, Alaska – 44/37
So… If you live in San Francisco or upper Alaska, there’s a good chance you’ll want to peruse the 4th of July themed scarves on Etsy. Otherwise, I’d suggest that you hold onto your money and instead spend it on cold drinks, sandals, and sunblock.
In other random Etsy finds, apparently the 4th of July suggests to some people the need for themed undergarments. [Insert ribald comment about seeing fireworks...]
Anyway, for any Americans reading this, I hope you have a wonderful holiday. For the rest of the world, happy Wednesday. I’ll see you all next Monday.
`
The year we lived on the Monterey peninsula, I made hot cocoa for after the fireworks. Very disorienting, I must say…
The coldest I’ve ever been on the 4th of July was in San Francisco. It was about 55 deg and we were in fleece jackets.
We are planning on spending this 4th either neck-deep in the pool or at a movie theater…maybe both.
Have a great holiday!
89 in Buffalo? That is pretty hot for them. I’ve been to a few 4th of July parties in Buffalo in which it was too cold to swim–”too cold to swim” in Buffalo means temps below 60.
It’s always horribly hot here for July 4th. Last year, we were in Eureka, CA in July, and it was wonderful –it warmed up into the 60′s each day, and cooled down into the 50′s each night. And if you wanted hot? A drive east over the mountains.
We are traveling on July 5th, so we’ll be packing, and spending time in the pool, on July 4th. We normally let off a few fireworks, but the drought has not let up, and any stray spark would mean a lawn fire this year. Today the forecast is 100, then 102 for the next two days. Woohoo.
The only thing I would be using a scarf for tomorrow would be to wipe sweat from my neck and face. It’s HOT in IA, 90+ all week. And it’s humid. I am over summer.
I do remember wearing jackets on the 4th some years but not many. Usually it’s bug spray and cold drinks
Happy 4th of July!
As someone who routinely vacations in Maine (and I do think we should plan a joint Missy-Jen multi-family, take over the resort extravaganza one of these years! [Maybe after we've met in person once or twice.]), I can promise that even in August one does routinely need summer weight sweaters, most often in the evening and early morning. Especially on the coast. If one is more inland, one’s need for layering may go down, and there are certainly times when it just plain HOT, but then that’s Maine. If you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes. Here in NY, it’s going to be hot as balls tomorrow, so yeah, I won’t be needing a festive scarf, thanks!
What, you don’t break out your red-white-and-blue Hello Kitty bra for Independence Day? I thought everybody had one.
It’s too hot to swim in my apartment complex pool. Too hot, you ask? Well, yes, because many days of high temps, scorching sun in cloudless skies, and no rain mean that the swimming pool is bath-water hot. Which breaks my water-loving heart. And yuck.
Enjoy the holiday!
Happy 4th to all of Jenworld!
I would appreciate some of that heat if you could send it this way – right now at 12:30 it’s a toasty (yeah, right) 61 degrees
I would KILL for it to be 61 degrees here. I am seriously considering moving to Oregon for the summer – to Tillamook. Apparently the high there this month is 72. THE HIGH. This is the stuff my dreams are made of.
It’s been in the high 90s here this week but being dry heat it’s not as bad. Toby is DYING – he was begging me yesterday to “make it winter! I want to go sledding and build snowmens and throw snowballs!” and I was like, oh you poor child. Give it a good 6 months and then we’ll talk. Sigh.
I’m in an area typically known for being bitter cold most of the year, in Wisconsin, and we’re at our hottest day on record in years today with a heat index over 105!! I have to agree with Lisa – I would be wiping my brow with my own scarf if I chose to wear it here tomorrow!!! I’m actually the maker of your #7 ‘this’ scarf – and strangely enough, they do sell even in July! These were made more with the US Olympics in mind (and I’m happily freaking out as they’re going to be featured in an article by the Associated Press next week). Love all the fun variety in your ‘this, this, this…’ and a fun way to list them!! I had to click on every single one!!! Fun fun! Even at 105, I’ll enjoy the heat versus our bitter winter to come….
We are East enough of San Francisco to get into the 90′s for the 4th, but the cool breezes blowing in from the City help to us take ours down overnight – that’s why we love it here. Not humid and cooler at night. Plus only occasional mosquitos.
Have a great 4th and enjoy the baby squeezing.
I have pictures of my toddler/babies wearing turtlenecks on the 4th of July (about an hour south of Seattle).
Tomorrow’s expected temps in my state:
Seattle: 69 degrees and it’s not supposed to rain!
Spokane: a high of 73 and generally perfect weather. (I love my city!) However, it will be nearing 100 by Sunday & Monday and I will be whimpering over the lack of A/C.
Coldest 4th of July I ever spent was in Duluth in the early 90′s. The high was 42, went to the fireworks wearing jeans, heavy sweater and gloves. Good times, still love Duluth though.
I am chiming in (late) only to say Hey! I actually know someone who lives in Barrow Alaska! Really! Judging by the photos he and his wife send me, it is dang cold up there. I should totally send them some of these scarves…
There be little to no opportunity for scarf wearing here in Texas beyond dead of winter. And even then it’s a roll of the dice.
Yeah, we need star-spangled tank tops. It’s even hot here at night–but slightly more comfortable.
The hello kitty in the middle of the bra disturbs me for some reason. I can imagine the reaction from the man who opens a blouse to find that!