Holiday & Seasonal

Celebrating Summer...

By Getting Ready to Entertain

Summer is when we celebrate the best of life's passages: weddings, graduations, and those long-awaited family reunions. Summer also brings lots of days to gather together over a long weekend with those we love for a ball game or a barbeque on such occasions as Mother's Day, Father's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. This is the season where we move outdoors and the parties last long into the warm summer nights.

Is Your House Party-Ready?
Before you send out those invites and the guests start arriving, make yourself a checklist of all the things that need attention, repair or replacements. Are there any major repairs needed for the basic day-to-day operation of your house? Is your air conditioner in proper working order? Does the dishwasher work? How about your plumbing?

Fix any leaks, running toilets or clogged sinks. Make sure everything is in proper working order including major appliances. Check your septic tank (if you have one) and your propane tanks.

Go with the Flow
Look at the flow of your house. If you have a large outdoor space but want to make sure your guests head to a particular area, create a pathway with sandstone, gravel or flagstone. This will lead everyone in the right direction and, in case of rain the night before your big event, your guests won't be trekking through mud. Make sure your sprinklers won't kick in while your guests are still partying.

Light of the Party
Now is the time to inspect all of your outdoor lighting and make sure everything is working properly. Candles are always lovely for outdoor entertaining but often they do not provide enough light for pathways or stairs. Make sure the entire area around your house is safe for people who may not be familiar with the territory. If you don't want to install permanent pathway lights, then think about stringing white Christmas lights around dark areas. Or pick up solar garden fixtures that store sunlight during the day to recharge their batteries at night. These lights do not require any kind of electrical outlet or wiring but do need to be positioned for maximum exposure to the sun and away from any shade.

The Sound of Music
And speaking of wiring, how about hooking up outdoor speakers? A party is just not a party without music, so make sure you have a system set up whereby you can provide lots of great music for hours at a time.

Deck Delights
Your outdoor deck and furniture will probably need a good cleaning after weathering the cold weather, even if some of your furniture was stored indoors. You may want to refinish your teak table. Check out all of the deck furniture to make sure no screws have come loose and that all the chairs and tables are sturdy and safe for your guests.

Made in the Shade
You may want to think about providing some shade in your backyard in the form of a pergola or canopy. Perhaps you can add an umbrella to your outdoor table or a tent.

Pool Party
If you are lucky enough to have a backyard swimming pool or a hot tub, make sure that all its working parts are in order and that it is safe to use.

One of the great joys of owning a home is being able to entertain all the people that you love most in the world. What is the sense of having a great space if you aren't sharing it with others? A little time and effort exerted before your guests arrive will make your summertime events more fun and entertaining for everyone, including yourself.