October Newsletter

”In October, a maple tree before your window lights up your room like a great lamp. Even on cloudy days, its presence helps to dispel the gloom.” John Burroughs

We’re fully into fall now when trees show off their leaves before sleeping for the winter. If you didn’t do it last month, cleaning out your gutters this month is highly recommended. You can also get your yard furniture covered or put away, as well as covering your grill. Shut off the water supply to outdoor faucets, if possible. At least disconnect hoses and get them put away.

Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 5-11. If you don’t have one, this would be a good time to create a fire safety plan for your home. It is also a good time to check fire and carbon monoxide detectors. Change the batteries so they aren’t waking you up in the wee hours to let you know they’re wearing down.

For some quiet time indoors, organize your junk drawer (or cupboard). Get rid of old papers, plastic bags (these can be recycled) plastic containers that have lost their lids and old batteries (these can also be recycled). Tidy up your mudroom or drop zone to get ready for the shift in outer wear that will be coming. Put away summer items, clean the floor and wash or replace the rug.

If holiday giving is one of your to-dos, start your gift list now to get a jumpstart. Create a budget so things don’t get out of hand and keep stress low. Maybe you want to make gifts this year, these usually take longer than expected. Get your materials gathered and make a plan.

If you see any deer this month, pay attention to their coat. Folklore says when deer have a grey coat in October we should expect a hard winter. Plan accordingly.

Featured Project – Wyndam Place Kitchen & Dining

Design Corner

Texture in a room prevents it from feeling flat. This can be accomplished through tactile and visual means. To add texture to a room, mix rough materials (like brick, coarse knits or fabrics, or wood) with smooth surfaces (like glass, or polished metal).

Fun Fact

Jack-O-Lanterns originated in Ireland in the 1600s with the story of Stingy Jack, who tricked the Devil. As his punishment, Jack was sentenced to roaming the earth with nothing but an ember to light his way. Originally Jack was carved from root vegetables, but when the Great Potato Famine brought waves of immigrants to America in the 1840’s, they found pumpkins to be much easier to carve than the turnips or potatoes they used back home.