Daily Happenings, Holidays, Style

6 Tips for Carving Pumpkins

Lora Knows...

While most have their Halloween traditions, none seems more iconic, to me, than pumpkin carving. This annual ritual began in Europe and made its way to the United States in the late 1800s, and am I ever glad it did!

Handling pumpkins can be quite messy and pose maintenance challenges. So go ahead and indulge and use the five tips below to make your pumpkin carving adventure smoother, and maybe less messy.

Tip #1: Instead of carving from the top, try cutting an opening in the pumpkin’s bottom. This unconventional method yields a cleaner pumpkin design and simplifies the process of lighting it up. Just lift the pumpkin, place a battery operated push light on the ground and carefully replace the pumpkin over it.

Tip #2: Upgrade Your Scoop: If you’ve ever wrestled with stubborn pumpkin seeds and stringy innards, and complained there has to be a better way, there is! Use a sturdy metal ice cream scoop – it is much stronger than the flimsy plastic scoopers found in carving kits, making the task much easier.

Tip #3: Sketch with Finesse: Use a dry-erase marker when outlining your design. These markers are much easier to use than their permanent counterparts. Plus, when you are done cutting any of the residue can be wiped away with a baby wipe.

Tip #4: Reinforce with Toothpicks: Accidentally severing a piece of your pumpkin might make you give up, or feel like you ruined the design. Fear not! Use toothpicks to discreetly reconnect the sections.

Tip #5: Add a Dash of Spice: Spice up your pumpkin carving by dusting the interior with ground cinnamon. This not only infuses your creation with the delightful scents of autumn, but also keeps those little animals like squirrels from nibbling on your Halloween masterpiece.

Tip #6: To find templates you can search online for printable pumpkin templates.

Now you’re ready to kick-up your Halloween festitivities with some fun pumpkin carving. Be sure to share the outcome with me.

Daily Happenings

Mmm… Smells Like Fall

Lora Knows...

Fall is filled with many pleasant scents you can use to make your home cozier, such as pumpkin spice, apple pie, and cider. Try simmering slices of apples and oranges with cinnamon in a pot on the stove, burning fall-scented candles, or decorating your home with bowls of potpourri made with cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, and dehydrated oranges.

On the Stove:

Take a pot and fill it about 3/4 of the way up with water. Then add all ingredients:

  • 2 apples – sliced
  • 1 orange – sliced
  • 3-5 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 t. ground nutmeg
  • 1 t. whole allspice

Bring the pot to a boil on the stove, then simmer for as long as you want! You’ll have to put more water in as it evaporates, and when you do you can throw in a few fresh ingredients as well. I promise your entire home will be smelling like fall in no time. 

You can also do this in a crockpot, leave the lid off so the aroma can fill the air.

Real Estate

Fall Home Projects

Lora Knows...

Soon the days will grow shoter, the leaves will start to change colors, and the temperatures will cool down – all this will mean fall has arrived. Fall is a great time to do some home maintenance projects, here are a few to consider:

Prep Fireplace
A good rule of thumb is to have your wood-burning fireplace checked by a professional chimney sweep once a year. A professional can clean the inside of your chimney to remove materials, such as soot and creosote, that are common causes of house fires. They’ll also check to make sure the chimney cap and damper are working correctly, as well as point out any masonry damage. If you have a gas or electric fireplace, this is a great time to clean it and make sure everything is good.

Clean Gutters
Your gutters have the significant job of channeling thousands of gallons of water away from your home each year, but they can become clogged with everything from leaves to dirt, which may lead to water backing up onto your roof or inside your home. So, take time to inspect and clean your home’s gutters. You may want to wait until later in the season to perform this task to avoid leaves ruining your hard work, or you can install a mesh guard that will prevent leaves, twigs, and other large debris from creating blockages.

Prep Furnace
With winter on the way, autumn is the perfect time to get your furnace ready for the colder months ahead. Make sure to change your furnace filter, as debris caught in the filter may reduce airflow and cause an energy deficiency. Fall is also a great time to have your heating system checked by a professional to ensure it’s prepared to run efficiently throughout winter.

Organize Garage
Your garage may become a catchall space for various outdoor items, including bikes, patio furniture, and lawn care equipment. However, you can avoid this clutter by organizing your garage. Make use of the wall space with cabinets and shelves to open up floor space. However, ensure any storage you install can sufficiently hold the weight of the items you’re adding. You can also use ceiling hooks to keep items like bikes out of the way.