'TIS the SEASON
by Carole Schwalm

My Mom once declared a “year of the house.” She fully intended to fix things, to paint and redecorate and dedicate herself to it to make up for all of the years she ignored the ‘nest,’ closing it up and traveling. Of course her intentions lasted only until the next opportunity to go somewhere surfaced, or more realistically, a few days.

If you or someone you know is so inclined or you want to motivate them to do something around YOUR house, why not let a helpful gift say 1,000 words for you this season.

A gift for the person who loves his or her little lawn and garden riding tractor so much that they can’t get enough of it, but they only get to mow once a week: how about a tow lawn spreader or other ATV or tractor attachment.

The lawn needs edging, the hedges, shrubs and trees need pruning, and someone left their tools outside. Sad to say they are all rusted, offering somebody the excuse that they can’t do it for said reason. Yes, the gift of new tools that keep on giving!


For the Home!
For the fireplace lovers; how about a log rack? I passed three pick-up trucks selling fireplace logs by the side of the road Thursday. The log rack and some fuel to the fire, you think?

“Entranced by moonlight, the essence of a magical evening” and a couple snuggles beside their Chimenea.


FOR BIRD LOVERS
...Or bird loving wannabes…
I love the statement at the start of the bird products in the General Store: “To attract a mate you want to be looking your best, and nothing and nothing helps first impressions more than avian hygiene.”

There are lovely ceramic birdbaths. There are also heated birdbaths. “A clean bird is a warm bird.”

Someone, or you, may have a large window. Think about adding a cattail birdbath. It is taller, is picturesque and a nice addition to the view.

Birds enhance ch’i and the more the merrier as far as positive energy. You can hang a bird feeder and enhance it with a copper weather shield. It keeps the seed dry and it too, is beautiful to see out the window. As far as feng shui, it adds necessary elements – might even bring you good luck.

Winter is the time to put suet out for the birds. This also keeps them warm. “There is an app for that,” or there are suet feeders.

If you know someone who is always complaining about squirrels invading the feeders, there are feeders that attract the birds and ‘twirl’ the furry creatures off.

Want to create a bird lover, how about binoculars? Or, you know someone who closely watching global warming (as should we all) how about a weather station.

Happy holidays from our house, our LawnZenGarden, to your house and your LawnZenGarden.