Rake Leaves in the Fall? That's One Option...

Back in late October, I spent the waning daylight hours after work one evening raking leaves. My neighbour was kind enough to lend me his leaf blower, making the job significantly easier, but after over an hour and 10 bags, I was out of light and bags.

Over the next two weeks, we had nasty, rainy and windy weather. The rest of my leaves fell and there was not a nice evening or day when I was home to finish raking. So, I didn't.

Another couple of windy days and some travel out of town, and I came home to this.

It doesn't look like much, but there was nearly 1 foot of leaves in front of my side door. 

A tiny part of me felt a little guilty. All my neighbours, who had so nicely tidied their lawns for fall were being subjected to the migrant leaves from my lawn. Only a tiny bit, though. I wasn't going to rake them in the rain, after all.

Fast forward 6 more weeks. After a deep-freeze, snow, unseasonably warm weather, rain and then cold again, I finally got back out there on Monday and raked these suckers up. There is something wrong about raking leaves in January, in your winter coat and toque. I'm sure my neighbours had a good laugh, but nevertheless, the leaves are gone!

Savvy Homegirl = Selling Homegirl?

Much to my surprise, my recent interest in all things exterior seems to have raised some eyebrows around my neighbourhood. It did occur to me when I was sanding, scraping and painting, there were probably a few neighbours peering from behind their curtains with curiousity. At that point though, I thought they were probably gawking studying quizzically at my odd colour choice, which has absolutely grown on me, but is still very similar to the siding.

This past weekend, the weather finally cooperated (somewhat), I had some free time and bf's pressure washer to wash the siding. A few of you suggested waiting until spring, and I seriously considered. Afterall, this fall seems to be busier than any (note the lack of blogging as of late), but the grimy siding and bug guts were getting to me. Another winter of grimy siding would no doubt mean an even tougher cleaning job in the spring.

Mid-way through the task, my neighbour came over to ask if I was selling my house. Apparently, the painting and washing seemed out-of-ordinary. Despite what it seemed, I really just wanted things to look tidy again. Which, they do. Especially by the side door. Remember all those bugs? After a quick scrub, the siding looks white as snow. The neighbours might not notice, but I sure feel better coming home each night!

Can you tell the difference? Before:

After: Pay especially close attention to the top of the wall, near the overhang. That is not a shadow in top photo.

"That Was Easy"

I recently received a Staples "easy button' as a gift. I find myself quoting it regularly. Not regularly enough unfortunately, but when it came time to complete my fall to-do list, here we go:










That was easy.

Almost, all done! A warm Sunday morning, a committed Sunday evening, and a sunny Saturday afternoon was all it took to knock most of these babies off the list.

• Tidy front flowerbed, plant 1-2 mums
• Paint exterior window frames and untreated wood
• Clean behind stove
• Wash kitchen floor
• Wash siding

The only chore outstanding? Washing the siding. I don't know if I'll do this or not. For 2 reasons:

1) I think this would be WAY easier with a pressure washer, than a garden hose. I don't own a pressure washer and I don't plan to rent or buy one.

2) Does it make sense to do this now or should I just wait until spring.

Ultimately, one more good weekend and I could get this job done. By then, I'll also be raking leaves and cleaning out eaves troughs, so logically that would be a better time to wash my siding anyway. I have yet to clean out my eaves without getting yuck leaves all over the side of my house. It just hasn't happened. So, I guess I just added to my list, huh?


Here we go:

• Wash siding
• Clean eaves troughs 
• Rake leaves
• Pull up dahlia bulbs
• Plant & mulch mums

Now, for that nice weekend..... 

Colour Me... Matching?

One of the chores on my fall to-do list was painting the window trim outside my house. For some of my windows, this was a long-overdue task. It seems like the spare bedroom window frame has been peeling almost since the day I moved in.

We have had so much rain this fall, I was certain this was not going to get done. So, when the forecast looked to turn warm and sunny and Home Depot put a $7 rebate on gallons of paint, I skipped my way down to the store and picked up the paint. I eagerly awaited all week, brush in hand, for both the weather and my schedule to clear. Friday evening, I set to work with the scraper and sandpaper and Saturday, bf and I tackled the windows.

Here are a couple of 'before' pictures of the front of the house.

This first picture is from fall 2008. 

Here is a close up of the window and door frames.

I had fretted only briefly over the paint colour. Almost a tint of the green, mossy colour on my doors, I was certain Lexington Park would look fabulous. We started to paint, and soon after, I stepped back to admire our work....

Fall 2010: After painting all the window and door frames.

'Oh... Gasp!' Were I think the words out of my mouth. The paint was almost the exact same colour as my siding. Although the colour above looks unfortunately close to the 'before' photo, I can assure you the paint is much lighter.

Bf likes it and thinks the house looks cleaner. I'm undecided. I love bright, bold colours, so I'm mildly taken aback by how much this colour blends into the siding. At the same time, I was tired of the sandy-brown colour that was there and just like the change.

What do you think?

When it stops raining (yes, it's raining again), I'll snap another from the same angle as the first and post it as well for a better comparison.

Buggy Anyone?

Oh my bugs!! They are everywhere! And there are so many of them!!

Has anyone else noticed there to be significantly more bugs around this year? Is this just me? Perhaps, my house is abnormally attracting them this year?

I just can not believe the spider webs and bugs outside my door. I've swept these down nearly once a week now, and it seems like they are back the next day! I know they're not harming anything, and I'm not one of those 'ew, yuck, bugs' people, but honestly, they're starting to annoy me. Just. because. they're. there.

This is leading me to wonder if washing my siding is even worth the effort?

There's my bug rant.

Summer Turns to Fall

It seems incredibly wrong I am blogging my bucket list wrap up, followed by my fall "to-do" list, yet absolutely appropriate for the first day of fall tomorrow. What happened to summer? 


Anyway, I don't think I fared too poorly with my bucket list. I'm a little disappointed I didn't make it to the Elora Gorge, but I didn't drive by there near as often as in past summers either.

• Go tubing down the Grand River and the Elora Gorge  Next year maybe!

• Get a hammock and put it in my backyard. Also didn't happen, but I'm ok with the money in my pocket, rather than my back yard. Nevertheless, I think bf did some secret hunting for one....

• Go antiquing with my girlfriends

• Lay on the beach for a day  We spent a good half-day laying in Lincoln Park when we were Chicago a few weeks ago. I'm taking that for the beach. There was one, close by, but the park was far warmer!
• Go camping (in a tent  Brownie Camp counts, right?

Fall isn't the only season that crept up on me. Fall fair season was in full-gear, before I'd even realized I needed to at least find a prize list if I was to enter.

• Enter crafts, baking and/or flowers in a local fall fair Next year, for sure!

• Jet boat in the Niagara River
• Stop at Grasshopper Imports on Hwy #6.

Knocked the next 2 off also while we were on holidays a few weeks ago; we hit up the Lincoln Park Zoo, then Duff's on the way home from the airport!

• Go to the zoo
• Go to Duff's for wings

• Run a 10km race  Maybe next year!

Bonus points:

• Went to Ribfest and the Greek Festival. Both events I've wanted to attend since moving to the area, and I finally got the chance!

8/11 - Not bad, but I have always tried to aim for 80%, so I'll have to do better next year! 

Next order of business, the fall "TO DO" list.

• Tidy front flowerbed, plant 1-2 mums
• Paint exterior window frames and untreated wood
• Clean behind stove
• Wash kitchen floor
• Wash siding

It's not a big list, but let's keep in mind I am planning to have my craft room done by Christmas also! If I can get this all done, I'll feel more prepared for winter than I have since I moved into my home 3 years ago. 

That Fall To-Do List.. Not Making Much Progress

I started with very good intentions! You'll remember way back in September, I made my "to do" list for the fall, and I was keen to get everything done the next available weekend. Not surprisingly, I haven't had an available weekend since then!

Yet I have still managed to stroke a few off the original list:

· Make a fall wreathe

· Change the weather stripping on the side door - I can SEE the light from outside, that can't be good for the heating bill!

· Clean the eaves - still some shingles to be removed

· Bring in my geranium and pull up my dahlias

· Pull up the rest of my carrots

· Paint my porch lights (the hose chipped some paint off them)

· Touch up paint and seal around windows where its needed

· Put away the patio furniture

• Lacquer crab apples - is this even possible???!

And a few I've added since:

• Rake leaves (I've collected 4 bags so far, there's probably 14 left...)
• Heating ducts completed for bathroom
• Final roof caps

The crab apples... I have collected a few to lacquer, but I didn't get them off the tree in time to try making crab apple jelly. I have heard you have to get the apples before they are too ripe and/or fall off the tree, because that's when the worms get them. Had I done that, it also would've saved my back. I picked up 2 bins full of apples on the weekend, and that was only from one side of the tree! Besides looking pretty for 2 weeks of the spring, I can not see any other value in ever planting a crab apple tree in your yard. Of course, my crab apple tree is owned by the City, so I can not cut it down or do anything with it, except clean up the mess it makes, of course. I'm terrified someone is going to slip on a rotten, mushy apple on the sidewalk and break their neck!

The goal for this weekend? Stroke the remaining items off the list. It's a big goal... but not unthinkable. Like every farmer in Ontario, I'm wishing for good weather this weekend!

A Very Productive Last Weekend of Summer

After two days lying around the house, making a serious dent in The Time Traveler's Wife (I'm reading the book AFTER seeing the movie. Recommendation - both are good, book is long!) and completing another season of SATC, I was ready to take on the world again today.

Take it on was exactly what I did too, completing an exhausting list of petty tasks that had been nagging away at my self-conscious to be completed for weeks now. Among them, were some additional "to do's" that were the result of my roof replacement. This included scouring the ground for loose nails that did not make it into the dumpster (and are surely waiting to lodge themselves in my tires). My brother gave me a great suggestion to get the last of the nails.

Attach magnets to a leaf rake and run it along the ground. You need super strong magnets, and while I'm sure you can get something suitable at Home Depot (they were out when I looked), I got Veterinarian Magnets from TSC store. They're compact, but strong enough to stay attached to the rake while I combed the ground for nails. Worked like a charm!

I still have not finished the capping at the top of the roof, and while I know it's something I could likely tackle on my own, I am planning to bride one of my brothers to visit and help me.

I also washed my siding today... blah, I know, what a menial job! Truthfully, I only washed the front of my house and the side I enter thru. A pressure washer likely would've done a better job, and saved me some scrubbing on the really grimy spots, but all I was armed with was my garden hose. It does look one hundred times better - just in time for fall!

Here is my remaining "to do" list for fall:

• Make a fall wreathe
• Change the weather stripping on the side door - I can SEE the light from outside, that can't be good for the heating bill!
• Clean the eaves - still some shingles to be removed
• Bring in my geranium and pull up my dahlias
• Pull up the rest of my carrots
• Paint my porch lights (the hose chipped some paint off them)
• Touch up paint and seal around windows where its needed
• Put away the patio furniture
• Laquer crab apples - is this even possible???!

Prepare Your Home for Winter

While some of us are still waiting for the leaves to fall, other areas of Ontario have already been hit by the white stuff. With winter creeping closer, getting your home ready with this simple checklist will save you winter headaches and money!

• Have your furnace serviced before the heating season begins and change the filter. Then change it regularly (monthly even). A clean filter alone would've saved me hundreds of dollars last winter.
  
• If you don't already have a programmable thermostat, consider buying one. It will save on your heating bills and many energy companies are offering rebates right now for buying one.
  
• Look for drafts around all windows and doors. One way to do this is to run a feather along the edges. Seal with cauk or replace weatherstripping where needed. You may also want to staple heavy plastic over basement windows if you suspect heat loss.
  
• If you don't already have them, consider putting up heavy curtains. Open them during the day to let in the sun's warmth and close them at night to keep the heat from escaping.
  
• Clean out your eavestroughs and gutters. Replace any missing or worn shingles.
  
• If you have a fireplace, call a chimney sweep to clean it. Make sure caps or screens are installed properly to prevent animals from moving in.
  
• Inspect for and seal cracks in foundation, chimneys bricks and mortor and driveways.
  
• Shut off valves for outdoor water taps and drain pipe and hoses.
  
• Drain AC pipes, and shut off any valves, if your unit has them. Consider covering for the winter.
  
• Ensure your fire extinguishers, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are all functioning properly.
  
• Not digging your 2007-era boots and coat? Give someone else a warm winter and donate gently-used coats to charity. Many stores are even offering discounts on winter clothing with the donation of a jacket.

For more energy-saving offers, shop for your home – from your home at homedepot.ca