Around Thanksgiving Dean decided it would be a good idea to straighten the garage. If you knew Dean you would know that the garage was already in good order, but he started going through every cabinet, draw, tool and everything else. He tossed some things, gave some to his buddy, and donated other items to the local charity shop. The garage looks amazing, and we know exactly where everything is located.
Next we were going through our utility storage and went through the bins and did the same process, trash, donate and giveaway. This does lead me to ask how many wreaths does one home need? Dean tried to put the number of wreaths we have solely onto me, but then I reminded him he purchased the 4th of July and one of the summer wreaths. OK, so he purchased two and the rest is on me – who can go to etsy and not buy a wreath for every possible occassion?
Then one day, while I was at work, he said he was going to take on the pantry. This shouldn’t have been a large task as it was orderly, but then he decided to line the shelves, add more storage, additional lighting and a spice rack that makes my heart so happy. One can’t stop in the pantry when there are other cabinets, drawers and the refrigerator to be cleaned out too.
Here we are a few weeks later and every closet and drawer has been cleaned out, organized and are so orderly. We have made multiple runs to the charity shop, gave away more items and had to toss some.
The house feels wonderful in its newly organized state – we can now relax and enjoy being inside through these cooler days and cold nights as winter continues. Come spring we’ll do it all again.
The weather isn’t screaming Fall here in the Piedmont of North Carolina. We have had unseasonably warm days in the 70s and 80s. I’m hopeful for some cooler days in the near future that will peak in the low 50s, aka sweater weather.
Even though it’s warm outside there are fun fall activities to be done and enjoyed with family and friends. Here are some I think would be great – share what you like to do in the comments below.
Take a Hayride
As part of the pumpkin-picking experience, many farms offer hayrides that take you to their respective pumpkin patches. Many also have their own corn maze, which makes for great fun during your visit.
Visit an Apple Orchard
Many apple farms provide not only apple picking but also a variety of other activities. Some also have markets that sell jams, cider donuts, and other homemade baked goods. To finish off your day of fun, set aside some apples from your adventure and make caramel apples when you get home.
Hike or Bike with a Picnic
Autumn weather is ideal for outdoor activities, so connect with nature by hiking or biking through a park—ideally where foliage is in full bloom. Pack a picnic lunch, and just enjoy the beauty around you.
Stargazing
Bundle up with your favorite sweater and blanket, head to an open space to take in the beauty of the stars, and enjoy the peace and quiet that surrounds you. Take a bottle of wine and some charcuterie and make it a date night.
Scenic Drive
Hop in the car and take a ride to behold the wonders of the fall foliage. Turn on your favorite playlist, put the windows down to breathe in the fresh, cool air, and enjoy the view.
Outdoor Games
Gather your friends for a variety of games that everyone can enjoy: a relay race, cornhole, Frisbee, a scavenger hunt, or flag football. You could even organize a pumpkin-carving contest. Top off the night with an outing to your local ice-cream store.
Game Night
A game night is an excellent way to spend quality time. Cozy up with cups of hot cider or hot chocolate, play card games, board games, or charades, or extend the definition of “game” by starting a puzzle that everyone can then work on each day thereafter.
Deliver Treats
Make some pumpkin muffins or candy apples, and deliver them to your local police officers, firefighters, nurses, doctors, teachers or whoever to thank them.
Donate Time
If you’re looking for ways to give back to your community, volunteer at an animal shelter, a local food bank, soup kitchen, or any other local charity. It’s a meaningful way to spend a fall afternoon.
You’ve just gotten the keys to your new home. You already know when you’ll have your first dinner party, what you’ll do for flowers in the garden, and where you’re going to hang that perfect picture.
However, you should also take some time to meet your new home home and find out how it all works. Your ability to learn about your home will keep you from getting caught off guard should a problem come up. The quicker you can solve an issue can be the difference between an oops moment and an insurance claim.
Water Shut Off Valve In a plumbing emergency, you’ll want to know how to quickly find this valve and turn it off; burst pipes and major leaks will require a speedy response to prevent damage to your house. Check for it in the basement first or near your hot water tank if you don’t have a basement.
Gas Shut Off Valve If your appliances are supplied by natural gas, it’s crucial that you know where your main gas supply is located. In a single-family house, you can usually find it on the side or back of the house, by the gas meter.
Electrical Panel Take a bit of time and label your circuits according to the room they are attached to in your home. This will save you energy and frustration should an outlet in your home stop working, you can go to the panel and try to reset that breaker before calling an electrician.
Appliances Look over your various appliances and their manuals to make sure they’re in good shape and you know how to use them, especially if you are inheriting appliances as they may need servicing sooner. For your refrigerator, ensure the condenser coils are clean and free of dust. Dishwashers often have a filter at the bottom that should be cleaned regularly. You should also empty your dryer lint trap after every load. You should also have the vent from the dryer to the outside of your home cleaned out annually, for safety.
Light Fixtures Whether it is recessed lighting, an entry hall chandelier, oven light or your sconces – having extra bulbs on hand is always a great idea. Take a minute and look around and make a list of bulbs you need. Have a place in your home to store the bulbs and replace as needed.
Smoke Detectors The National Fire Protection Association suggests placing a smoke alarm inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on each level of your home. Make sure to install them at least ten feet from a cooking appliance to reduce the possibility of a false alarm when you get a little overzealous with your cooking. If smoke alarms are already installed in your home, check their expiration dates and test them to confirm they are working properly. Do they have a battery? Make sure you have these on hand, nothing is more annoying that that beep every 20 seconds when the battery needs replaced.
Fireplace When the temperature drops and the nights get chilly, there is nothing like a cozy fire to snuggle up in front of. But cozy can quickly turn to a smoke fest if proper precautions are not taken. If it’s been over a year since your fireplace’s last inspection, schedule one to check that everything is in working order. Also, learn how to open and close the flue to make sure the smoke goes up and out the chimney properly.
Buried Utilities Whether it is water lines, electricity, cable or something else – it is important to know where you can dig and cannot dig. There is a service, in most states, that will come out and mark these utilities for you, at no charge, simply by calling 811.
Property Lines Do not think that your local GIS will show you the accurate property lines. They have a disclaimer on their site stating it isn’t 100% accurate. The truly know where your property ends and your neighbors yard begins is by getting a survey. Having a survey done during your purchase also gives an additional layer to your title insurance.
Lora Knows Home 