Kathy Zengolewicz

Here in Philly we got 23.2 inches. Looks like we’ll have a white Christmas after all. All of this snow is not going to melt in the next couple of days, so let’s deal with it. The first thing to keep in mind is, if you are not in the best of health, do not take a shovel in hand. Find, and pay, a neighborhood kid to clean off your sidewalk and front steps.

Even if you are in good shape, and can do the shoveling yourself, pace yourself. Shoveling snow is a strenuous activity, so take it slow. If you have a snow blower, you are the lucky one. We don’t own one and I can’t see buying one now. We may not get any more snow the rest of the year, and anyway our property isn’t very big.

Try to shovel as little as possible, maybe just a two foot walkway. Getting to the pavement under all of that snow is a big job, so do a little bit of shoveling and take a break, even if you are not tired. Once you have created a pathway, throw some salt on the area and let that do the rest of the work.

You need to make your property safe for pedestrians, but follow common sense rules and keep safe yourself.

Take care. I’ll talk to you soon!

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Make sure your children understand basic fire safety.

Before teaching your children about fire pit safety you need to first make sure they understand the basics of fire and fire safety in general. Teach them to stop, drop, and roll if their clothing ever catches fire, physically demonstrate this technique and let them do it on their own as well. Instruct them to never use gasoline or oil as a fire starter, and show how to properly use a fire extinguisher in case a campfire does get out of hand. But of course most importantly, teach them never to play with matches or lighters.

Surround your fire pit with large rocks and stones, and always have a fire extinguisher nearby.

This is especially true with larger fires in wooded, dry areas as you never know when a spark or stray flame may set fire to the surrounding area. To minimize this risk even further, you should teach your children to clear away any brush and other flammable debris from the area with a rake and before starting a fire. Teach them to keep a lookout for tree branches hanging overhead also, as taller fires have been known to set fire to these low branches.

Pay attention to the type of branches, logs, or wood you are burning.

Make sure your children know what poison oak and poison ivy looks like, as burning this in a fire can release irritants into the air which can be just as harmful as touching the plant with bare skin. This is especially true if you are roasting marshmallows or cooking over the fire. Finally, make sure they understand the difference between dead wood and wood that is still living; and teach them to only collect wood that has already fallen onto the ground as opposed to chopping down fresh trees.

This guest post is provided by Geoffrey F. Moore of My Fire Pits.  My Fire Pits has a large selection of fire pits, fire pit accessories, and gas burning fire pits.

image from myfirepits.com

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After some research, I found some fall blooming flowers that will help to keep your yard looking great.  I didn’t have to look far for help.  Better Homes & Gardens always has great tips for your home.  It’s interesting that many of these flowers are not the traditional fall colors. 

You might want to try these fall blooming flowers:

• aster
• sweet autumn clematis – a beautiful, fast-growing, aggressive vine
• toad lily
• goldenrod
• russian sage
• perennial sunflower
• colchicum
• helenium
• sedum
• red spider lil
• japanese anemone
• turtlehead
• fall crocus
• monkshood
• leadplant
• mexican sage
• anise hyssop
• witch hazel

The Aster, Clematis, and Russian Sage are some of my favorites.  It was hard to pick because most of them are very beautiful.  Which of these fall blooming flowers do you like best?

For more information, as well as pictures of each plant, visit Better Homes & Gardens.  Image from BGH.

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If you’re looking for the most inexpensive firepit or if you don’t plan to use it very often, then this might be the choice for you.  These simple firepits range from $59-75.  This particular one was found at Lowe’s Home Improvement for $59.

This firepit was my husband’s favorite. He likes that it includes four benches which can mostly tuck under the pit when not in use.  This one is also found at Lowe’s Home Improvement for $199.

If you don’t like the look of a firepit, you might consider an outdoor fireplace.  This one is metal like a firepit, but has an upright design to it.  This one is available at Lowe’s Home Improvement for $179.

If you don’t like the look of the black metal or if you prefer an enclosed fireplace, then you might like the clay chimnea.  It is also available at Lowe’s Home Improvement for only $79.

So far, I have shopped at Lowe’s Home Improvement, Home Depot, Target, and Wal-Mart.  Wal-Mart and Lowe’s Home Improvement provided the best selections.  Wal-Mart only sold firepits but they did have great prices.  Most of their selection is by Better Homes & Gardens.

Have you considered an outdoor firepit or fireplace?

images from lowes home improvement

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Now that’s it’s the end of summer, stores are drastically marking down their patio furniture.  Most stores have marked their inventory down 75% percent!  I found chairs, tables, and benches, but unfortunately I could not find a matching set of anything.  Perhaps you will have better luck than I did.  I’m still hoping for an unexpected bargain somewhere.

Another low cost item to buy right now is plants.  You can find plants, trees, and shrubs at slashed prices.  Monday I purchased two blueberry bushes for less than $11 each.  I’m hoping for some yummy blueberries next summer.  It’s also a great time to plant perennials and trees.  The cooler weather doesn’t dry out plants the way that summer does and it allows plants to expand their roots.

What purchases have you considered during this fall season?

image sxc.hu

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Big Lots has their summer items on clearance for 50% off. Save on patio furniture, pools and accessories, beach towels, garden statuary, and more. If you’re needing something for your yard, now is the time to shop and save. Be on the lookout for clearance sales at other stores (such as Target) too.

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Hello all! Lou Manfredini here, Ace’s “Helpful Hardware Man.” I’m excited to share some easy tips on adding curb appeal to your home this summer. Keeping the outside of your home looking great has two purposes: you’re able to see a home you’re proud of every day and it increases your home’s overall value.

One of the most important things you’ll want to do is to keep your home’s exterior paint and caulking in tip-top shape. If you have a painted home and there are areas that could use some TLC, follow this advice:

• Scrape off any loose paint and sand the areas to feather the edges of the scraped paint to the rest of the surface.
• Spot prime the areas with a good exterior, stain-killing primer like Ace Stain Halt, which is low-VOC and easy to apply and clean up.
• Finally, repaint the siding with a satin finish exterior paint to repel moisture.

If the front door is looking a little shabby, consider repainting that as well. After all, it is the first thing people see when walking up to your home. To make your door shine, follow these simple steps:

• Start by using a sanding sponge to level off the old finish of the painted surface.
• Next, prime the entire surface with a durable primer like Ace Stain Halt. It is easy to apply, cost-effective and clean up is a breeze – all you need is soap and water.
• Once the door is fully dry, lightly sand the door before applying at least two coats of a high-quality exterior paint in a semi-gloss finish. Choose a color that complements your home and be sure to use a really good brush – it does make a difference.

Finally, finish off your entryway with new accessories. Replace door handles, doorknockers and house numbers with shiny new versions or simply paint your old ones to get that “brand-new” look. These small changes can really make a big splash!

How have you added curb appeal to your home?

image (c) Karen Weideman

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It seems as though there are four adult geese and nine goslings.

Looks like the leader said it was ok to get in.

It’s hard to see them in this picture.  They’re on the left in the water.  They’ve been hanging out at the pond all day. I think it’s interesting how they communicate with one another and stay together.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures. You may also enjoy the pictures of the llamas and donkey.

images (c) Karen Weideman

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If this is the first time this year that you are using your grill, then it’s a good idea to do a more thorough cleaning.  Turn on the burners, close the lid, and let the grill run for about 30 minutes.  It needs to cook long enough to burn off the residue.  Brush the grates with a brass bristle brush or ball of aluminum foil.

For regular use, preheat grill before cooking.  Allow it to run for about 10 minutes and scrub the hot grates with a brass bristle brush or aluminum foil.  After grilling, you can leave the grill burning for a few minutes and scrub to remove any food.  It’s also a good idea to occasionally check the drip pan.  I forgot about the pan on my grill and it overflowed onto my deck.  There is a permanent stain on the deck which would remind me. lol

Do you have any tips for cleaning the grill or for maintenance on a grill?

image sxc.hu

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Get a grill – If you already have a grill, then get it working.  Clean it up and change any needed parts.  You also might want to get a grill cover to keep the rain and weather from causing damage.  I don’t know about you, but once summer rolls around I enjoy cooking outside.  It keeps me from heating up the house and there are so many foods that taste great when cooked on the grill.  Have some friends over, grill some meats and veggies, and have fun!

Start a garden – I’ve been meaning to start a garden these past few weeks, but I just haven’t had the time.  Last year I enjoyed peppers and tomatoes and this year I plan to plant more things.  Starting a garden is on my priority list for next week.  Come summer, I’ll be enjoying fresh vegetables off the vine.  They seem to taste so much better when you’ve grown them yourself and it definitely saves on your grocery budget.

Put in a deck or patio – Decks and patios can be expensive, but you can save a lot of money if you build them yourself.  Decks and patios can be used for years to come and they make such a great hangout spot for your summer get togethers.

Plant some flowers and plants – It’s hard to enjoy your yard when it doesn’t look good.  Plants and flowers are one of the easiest ways to spruce up a yard.  Personally, I like perennials because they come back each year, don’t require a lot of fuss, and they’re a more thrifty choice.  Check with your local stores for tips on plants and flowers to plant in your area.

Image: sxc.hu

Consider the little things – Sometimes minor changes can make a difference.  Is your garden flag tattered and faded?  Does the outside light provide enough light?  Changing minor things can make your yard more appealing and comfortable for you and your guests.

Get some lawn furniture – I have always wanted some nice outdoor furniture.  Maybe one of these days I can make this purchase.  I have a big deck this year so it would be nice to sit outside under and umbrella and have lunch.  If you already have outdoor furniture, then now is the time to get it cleaned up and ready to use.  If it looks a little worn, then it may be possible to clean it with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser or perhaps you could just replace or recover the cushions.

Hang up bird feeders – Even if you don’t have much money this year, chances are you can afford a bird feeder.  There’s something very peaceful and calming about watching beautiful birds outside your windows.

Consider some outdoor storage - To put it nicely, outdoor junk is very unattractive.  I can’t stand to see things lying around the yard.  If you don’t have a shed or outbuilding, you might consider getting one.  If you can’t afford a building or if you don’t need something that large, there are other storage options such as storage benches and deck boxes.

Get the bugs under control – It is hard to enjoy the great outdoors if there are pests flying around.  You certainly don’t want your guests to be eaten up by bugs while they’re visiting.  You may want to try citronella candles or torches.  Also, keep in mind that there are also some pretty neat traps and repeller gadgets out there now.

Think about some decor – From arches and trellisis to ponds and fountains, there is something out there for everyone.  Look online or drive around different neighborhoods and look for things you like.

These are some of the things you can do to make your yard more enjoyable this summer.  What suggestions do you have to add to this list?

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