Home Is My Happy Spot

For those of us living in cooler climates, lawn mowing season is nearly over. There are a few tricks you can do in the Fall, however, that will improve the appearance of your lawn come Spring. 1.  Lawn Aeration August and September can be very dry, leaving your lawn brown and your soil tightly compacted.  Aerating the soil pokes holes into your lawn, helping air, water, and nutrients to reach grass roots.  This makes the roots stronger and causes them to plunge deeper, not only enabling them to withstand longer periods without rain but making your lawn thicker and more robust. If you are enrolled in a lawn care service program, a fall aeration may be included in your plan.  If it's not, call to check on pricing. In addition to fall aeration, many companies also offer slice seeding where grass seed is dropped into the furrows created by the slicer, placing it in direct contact with soil instead of laying on top of the ground. Aerating might leave pl...

Image courtesy of MadeleinWolf at FreeDigitalPhotos.net Are you inundated with squirrels where you live? Here in the suburbs, it's a squirrel invasion.  Squirrels stage takeovers of our neighborhoods, knowing full well we can't risk firing at them and inadvertently picking off the people next door who emerge at the wrong time. Plant grass seed, flowers, or spread  mulch, and these furry jihadists dig when you're not looking and displace your perfectly manicured sections of nature.  They are like kids who rumple a neatly made bed, or the spouse who leaves footprints on your freshly swept carpet.  It's irksome! Fall is the time to plant flower bulbs that will be your first harbingers of Spring.  Squirrels consider this a game of hide and seek.  Hide a bulb underground, and they will bring it to the surface to let you know they found it.  They never tire of this game, no matter how many times you replant the bulb.  Placing rocks on top of y...

Lattes--A Celebration in a Cup Image courtesy of amenic181 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net Lattes are my kryptonite--a secret pleasure I indulge in when no one's watching. Who's with me? Judging from the endless drive-thru line at Starbucks, I'm not the only one failing to resist temptation. A pumpkin spice latte in the Fall is a tiny piece of heaven captured in a cup--a cup that costs dearly.  Ranging from $3-$5 for a small, lattes can break the bank if you aren't careful.  When you consider a 42.5-ounce can of Maxwell House is less than $8 and produces up to 325 six-ounce cups, it's hard to justify more than the occasional latte. Everyone needs a little pampering from time to time, we reason.  Here's a helpful tip--put gift cards on your wish list to eliminate the guilt when you absolutely  need a latte. Where Do You Go for a Pumpkin Spice Latte? For those times when you're having a bad day and need a pick-me-up or you're just enjoying some...