Suddenly it’s gotten quite hot and sticky these last couple of weeks and there’s no denying summer is here. Well I think it officially doesn’t begin for a few weeks, but close enough. So like many people we’ve been thinking about getting a pool for our yard for the kids to enjoy - and the adults too. While having a pool can be a bit of work and maintenance, you just can’t beat the hours of fun and relaxation it gives you. No lugging towels and toys off to a community pool, just step out back day or night for a nice cooling off in the privacy of your yard.
Of course, the trickiest part of setting up a pool is not the pool itself, but getting the ground level to support the pool properly. When they advertise those wonderful, affordable “easy set-up” pools in the store circulars, its probably the furthest thing from most minds that their yard might not be flat enough. Getting it level can be very tricky, but if you don’t take the time to do it right, you’ll surely shorten the lifetime of your pool.
While I was channel surfing recently I got pulled into an infomercial for a leaf blower/mulcher combo tool that looked like something I suddenly had to have - I guess they know what they’re doing with those half hour advertisements. Up until that point I had no desire for a leaf blower preferring the healthy workout I get from raking. But watching it turn the leaves into mulch was quite appealing. Then again, the thought of traipsing from one side of the yard to the other trying not to get tangled up in a long electric extension cord is a little less appealing. I went on the web to check the reviews and discovered that a less expensive Toro model had much better reviews, so if we do decide to buy on it would likely be the Toro.
There are a lot of other great yard tools that would surely make yard work go much faster. We are in dire need of a new edger and there are some good ones to be found that don’t cost very much. While we’re at it we’ll probably splurge for a new lawn mower since we’re long overdue. I’d like to get a good mulching mower and one that offers he option of a rechargeable battery.
It seems that as soon as the lovely spring flowers and trees start to show their first blooms the rabbits show up in our yard and start munching on the new buds. We have a beautiful patch of lilac flowers that the rabbits seem to enjoy the most. As cute as rabbits are, I would really like to keep my flowers! I tried a few different tricks and found that Deer Off spray (bought from my local home supply store) really works. Okay, it doesn’t smell very nice when you first apply it, but it keeps the critters away. You just have to remember to spray again after it rains.
While I was outside spraying I couldn’t help but notice all of the yard work that needs to be done (again!) And along with the spring flowers come the weeds of course. Maybe I should learn to love the weeds? Even if I could I don’t think my hubby would. He’s already started his first round of yard care and attacking the weeds in the lawn was top on his list. And to be honest, I don’t like it when they try to take over my flower beds either.
The weather has been so cold I don’t think I’ve stepped out in to my backyard in weeks. And when it’s not cold, it’s raining, so the ground is saturated. When I look out the back windows, everything looks so gray and bare compared to lush colors of the spring and summer. I see that the squirrels have knocked over the bird bath again in their attempt to jump up to the bird feeder. As a matter of fact I’m overdue to refill the feeder, so I guess I’ll have to get myself into the backyard soon to take care of it and have a good look at the rest of the yard while I’m at it.
When I look at the winter yard, it makes me miss spending warm evenings on the back porch, though it doesn’t make me miss the mosquitos which come uninvited every year. We’ll need to spruce up some plants this spring, and trim back a few overgrown bushes. Our vegetable patch was pretty sad last year, so we’re going to have the soil tested this year before we do any planting. Yes, I’m looking forward to a beautiful warm spring.
Okay, I’m kidding, mostly. I don’t want to rush time and it is only January 6th, but I am already a bit tired of this cold weather. And we still have some of the coldest months to get through yet! I don’t know if you saw this news earlier today, but there is a town in upstate New York that has had snow on and off for the last nine days with a total accumulation of over four feet and still counting. Some snow can be a lot of fun for most of us, but I think most would also agree that 50+ inches of snow is too much. Imagine all of the shoveling. And trying to warm up your car, cleaning your windshield every morning before work. It makes me crave a tropical island.
There is a pretty cold snap across the US right now, and looks like they are having crop concerns as far south as Florida. It’s tough times when that happens. Part of the reason many people move down South is to escape the brutal winters of the North. But right now there’s not many places untouched by this frigid weather. So I guess I can’t help but think about spring!
Just when I thought I could put off thoughts of Christmas and Christmas shopping, family members who live out-of-state have started asking about gift ideas for the children. While I love that they care enough to want to give our kids a gift for the holidays, the very thought of thinking of the holidays starts my head spinning. I mean, I’m still adjusting to the fact it’s already November and that I’ll have to start planning a Thanksgiving menu soon. But I guess there’s no escaping it, is there?
I have some friends who do a really good job of keeping the gift-giving to a minimum. They feel that their children are always well-provided for and do not need to be inundated with gifts like that in one day. Plus it takes a way from the meaning of the holiday. I admire that they’ve been able to keep it to one special gift for each person since I have a hard time not wanting to load the tree with loads of beautifully wrapped boxes. But if you were to ask me what we got each other last Christmas I would have a hard time remembering. So I guess the trick is to not go so overboard but still make it special.
I know I’m dating myself by saying this, but when I went trick or treating as a child we were given things like candy apples, homemade candy, and loose candy packaged in a small paper Halloween bag. Now of course it’s all pre-packaged candy for safety reasons. If you’re having a small get together at home for the kids or friends you can still have some fun making homemade goodies. The Food Network has some great ideas for treat recipes that would be a lot of fun to try, and they don’t look too difficult to try to make either.
I love their ghouly cupcakes, covered in a froth of icing with floating eyes on top - cute idea! Then there are other goodies like a witch’s hat cake and a delicious looking creamy pumpkin cake roll. You’ll find everything from cheese ball ideas and pumpkin seed roasting tricks that you might want to try. There’s something for everyone at every level of cooking. A little homemade fun can make any holiday special, especially for the kids. It makes for great memories too! So while they can’t get candy apples going door-to-door anymore, they can still enjoy them right at home. And they can even help make them.
If your kitchen is starting to show it’s age a bit, it might be time to start thinking some updates to your cabinets, appliances, and counter tops. Not only will you enjoy the look and convenience of having a more modern kitchen, but you’ll also increase the value of your home. Plus the newer appliances have become much more energy efficient and will offer you substantial savings on your monthly utility bills over the years. You can visit home supply stores such as Home Depot and find everything you need to create your new perfect kitchen.
Stores such as these often offer free in-store services and tools that can help you carefully plan out your new design. You can choose to do-it-yourself or hire someone from the store or elsewhere to complete the job. Some things to consider include what kind of flooring you’d like to have- there are a lot of excellent choices including wood flooring, wood-style flooring, ceramic tiling, bamboo, and more. Since there is an abundace of great appliances to choose from, you might want to research their repair history and ratings online before buying. Cabinets and counter tops are another personal choice to consider. Whatever you decide, take your time to choose something you and your family can enjoy for years.
Backyard barbecues and patios have come a long way over the years. In the years past a nice backyard might have had a simple wooden picnic table set on a concrete or brick patio. Dad would cook dinner on a simple charcoal grill filled with a bag of coals and lit with some lighter fluid. Now, years later, the backyard has become a festive outdoor living space, often treated as another extended room in the house, an oasisi lavishly furnished and decorated with comfortable cushioned seating and full outdoor kitchens with huge grill tops and refrigerators too. When it comes to decorating, no one does it quite like Martha Stewart .
If you visit her site you’ll find she has some wonderful examples of great outdoor living spaces along with fabulous decorating ideas in the outdoor living section. Her section on creative outdoor spaces has some great tips, descriptions, and photos full of fun and colorful ways to add pizzaz to your backyard areas. From canopies and handmade lanterns, to unique lighting fixtures and lovely grapevine covered arbors. You’re sure to find a theme that you and your family will love.
While the first day of summer doesn’t officially begin until June 21st, the arrival of Memorial Day weekend has traditionally ushered in the beginning for summer for many of us. It’s a weekend planning around family, barbecues, beach trips, and vacations. A lot of people hit the road to visit friends and family in other areas while many decide to stay home and relax, by the pool if they’re lucky. Time to set up the outdoor games and make sure the barbecue fuel tank is full for a weekend of grilled burgers and hotdogs.
For those of us that don’t already own a pool, it might be a good time to splurge for one of the neat inflatable pools that so many of the stores offer now. They come in some pretty decent sizes at surprising low budget rates. Set up is supposed to be pretty straight-forward and as long as you fill the pool up with a day to spare, the water should be warm enough to swim in over the weekend. You can just float around in the pool in the privacy of your own backyard. Sounds like a perfectly lovely way to spend a long holiday weekend in the sun.
