Home & Family Newsletter September 2020

1. Plan a walkway. Create adistinct path through your room to give it a sense of flow, making it easy to navigate the space. If you have a long, narrow room with multiple defined areas, a curved walkway will provide an additional sense of separation between the spaces.
2. Choose furniture that makes the room feel more spacious. Look for long, tapered legs on chairs and sofas for an airy feel. Add dimension to your room by choosing circular tables or accent pieces, which will help minimize the straight lines of the space. Resist the urge to push all of your furniture against the wall for more floor space; pulling pieces a few inches off of the wall will make the room seem less narrow.
3. Utilize vertical space. Whether it’s a bookcase, floating shelves, wall sconces or an expansive photo display, make the most of the vertical space you have in your room. Statement pieces and decor will draw the eyes up, rather than allowing them to focus on the narrowness of the room.
4. Maximize storage. A dedicated place for your belongings keeps your narrow room from becoming cluttered and feeling crowded. Look for storage ottomans, decorative boxes or a sleek cabinet to store your possessions in a clean and organized way.
5. Find the perfect rug. Adding a rug to your room will keep your furniture off the floor, which can make it feel less cramped. If you are having trouble finding the right size rug for your narrow space, consider an irregular-shaped rug that defies the need for horizontal lines.

The Fire

The centerpiece of campfire is, of course, the fire. While using a wood-burning, gas or electric fireplace is the most realistic, you can still get that campfire glow with other options. Light a handful of candles and arrange them in a fire ring or encircle battery-operated candles with rocks and cover with sticks to create a faux fire. Add a campfire-scented candle to make it feel like you are enjoying the real thing.

The Seating

With an outdoor campfire, your seating options are usually limited to a camp chair or a tree stump. Moving your fire indoors allows you to create a more comfortable seating area for your guests. Set up ottomans or pillows around the fire and offer blankets for a touch of extra coziness.

The Food

While you may not be able to cook food over an indoor campfire, you can still make camp staples to eat fireside. Prepare gourmet tinfoil wrapped meals to cook in the oven for dinner and warm up s’mores in the microwave or on the grill for dessert.

The Drinks

Having quick access to your kitchen allows you to offer a wide array of drink options while enjoying your indoor campfire. In addition to hot chocolate or hot apple cider, you can also keep your guests toasty with campfire-inspired cocktails, like campfire milk punch or a s’mores martini.

The Entertainment

Campfires and good conversation go hand-in-hand. Maybe you’ll catch up with an old friend, dream about your future with your spouse or share stories of your childhood with your kids. For more formal campfire entertainment, sing a few traditional campfire songs or play games, like “Two Truths and a Lie” or “I Went to the Market.” Take turns telling ghost stories to see who can share the scariest tale.

Does your door stick in the summer and/or become drafty in the winter? Humidity can cause a door to expand and stick, while cooler weather can make the door shrink and let in a draft. Often this can be remedied with a few simple fixes. Over time, however, multiple adjustments can make the cycle of sticking and shrinking worse and necessitate the purchase of a new door.

Is the door weathered or cracked? The sun, rain and other natural elements can wreak havoc on an unprotected door. Cracks or warping can compromise your door’s structure, making it less energy efficient and less secure for your family.

Does moisture build up in between the glass panes on your door? If condensation regularly collects between the glass panes on your door, address the issue promptly to prevent the spread of mold and mildew. Balancing the indoor and outdoor temperature can help, but if the problem persists­—particularly with glass patio doors—a new door may be needed.

Are there dents or dings on your door? Doors can take a beating from the bangs of large items, dogs jumping to get out or even just an accidental kick of a boot heel. Small dents can often be fixed, but for major issues, consider replacing the door. Some door materials damage more easily than others, so do your homework when choosing your new door.

Do you like the look of your door? If you don’t like the style of your door, change it! Replacing your exterior door is one of the easiest ways to update the character of your house.

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 2 cups milk 
• 4 large eggs, separated
• ¼ cup butter, melted 

APPLE CIDER SYRUP

• ½ cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup apple cider
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons butter

Directions

Step 1: Preheat a waffle iron according to manufacturer's instructions.

Step 2: Combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, salt, and brown sugar in a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, stir together the pumpkin, milk, and egg yolks. Whip the egg whites in a clean dry bowl until soft peaks form.

Step 3: Stir the flour mixture and 1/4 cup melted butter to the pumpkin mixture, stirring just to combine. Use a whisk or rubber spatula to fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the batter, stirring gently until incorporated. Fold in the remaining egg whites. Cook waffles according to manufacturer's instructions.

Step 4: To make the syrup, stir together the sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon in a saucepan. Stir in the apple cider and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until mixture begins to boil; boil until the syrup thickens. Remove from heat and stir in the 2 tablespoons of butter until melted. Serve warm.