This Weekend: Celebrate Grandparents and the Season’s Bounty
It’s also a good time to hunt for an antique treasure, plant fall flowers and spruce up the TV zone
Markets and home gardens are bursting with peak-of-the-season tomatoes; fall flowers are making an appearance in nurseries and on porches; and National Grandparents Day (Sept. 9) is coming up. It’s a good weekend to start a new tomato tradition, go antiquing (Brimfield is Sept. 4 to 9), plant a pot of flowers and make your house smell fantastic. Here are seven could-dos for your weekend.
2. Plant Fall Flowers
Chrysanthemums are classic, but there are lots of other tempting options when it comes to fall flowers. Consider adding coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, asters or Japanese anemones to perk up your container gardens and flower beds with plenty of fall color. And it’s not just flowers that offer vibrant hues — ornamental grasses, dark foliage and plants with berries make dramatic additions to the fall garden. Swing by your local nursery this weekend to find out what will grow well in your area.
9 Ways to Refresh Your Container Gardens for Fall | Find outdoor planters
Chrysanthemums are classic, but there are lots of other tempting options when it comes to fall flowers. Consider adding coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, asters or Japanese anemones to perk up your container gardens and flower beds with plenty of fall color. And it’s not just flowers that offer vibrant hues — ornamental grasses, dark foliage and plants with berries make dramatic additions to the fall garden. Swing by your local nursery this weekend to find out what will grow well in your area.
9 Ways to Refresh Your Container Gardens for Fall | Find outdoor planters
3. Honor Grandparents
National Grandparents Day is Sept. 9 this year. Honor living grandparents by spending meaningful time together chatting and sharing a meal, or make time for a long phone call if you live far away. If you want to bring a gift, make it personal: An old family photo in a frame or a favorite home-cooked dish would be just right. One of the best ways to honor grandparents who have passed away is by gathering with loved ones to share favorite stories, making sure that the younger generations know all about their awesome ancestors.
Yes, We’re Celebrating Our Awesome Grandparents
National Grandparents Day is Sept. 9 this year. Honor living grandparents by spending meaningful time together chatting and sharing a meal, or make time for a long phone call if you live far away. If you want to bring a gift, make it personal: An old family photo in a frame or a favorite home-cooked dish would be just right. One of the best ways to honor grandparents who have passed away is by gathering with loved ones to share favorite stories, making sure that the younger generations know all about their awesome ancestors.
Yes, We’re Celebrating Our Awesome Grandparents
4. Start a Tomato Tradition
For those who love tomatoes, September is a special month: It’s tomato season! If you count yourself among the ranks of tomato lovers, make time this weekend to stock up from your favorite farm stand (or your own backyard) and make something extra special.
It could be as elaborate as bottling your own tomato sauce or salsa, or as simple as savoring a perfect tomato sandwich. Whatever you choose to do, if it works out well, be sure you save the recipe for next year — it’s only a tradition if you repeat it.
Kitchen Traditions: Tomato Season Meets a Family Legacy
For those who love tomatoes, September is a special month: It’s tomato season! If you count yourself among the ranks of tomato lovers, make time this weekend to stock up from your favorite farm stand (or your own backyard) and make something extra special.
It could be as elaborate as bottling your own tomato sauce or salsa, or as simple as savoring a perfect tomato sandwich. Whatever you choose to do, if it works out well, be sure you save the recipe for next year — it’s only a tradition if you repeat it.
Kitchen Traditions: Tomato Season Meets a Family Legacy
5. Make Your House Smell Amazing
Good aromas can boost positive feelings, making us more relaxed, less anxious and even more willing to help others.
This weekend, make your house smell fantastic by simmering a pot of apple cider on the stove, plunking fresh herbs instead of flowers in a vase or picking out a new candle.
Can’t get enough of that garden-fresh tomato scent? Tomato leaf-scented candles smell delightful (more like a walk through a garden than red sauce).
9 Smells You Actually Want in Your Home
Good aromas can boost positive feelings, making us more relaxed, less anxious and even more willing to help others.
This weekend, make your house smell fantastic by simmering a pot of apple cider on the stove, plunking fresh herbs instead of flowers in a vase or picking out a new candle.
Can’t get enough of that garden-fresh tomato scent? Tomato leaf-scented candles smell delightful (more like a walk through a garden than red sauce).
9 Smells You Actually Want in Your Home
6. Sort Out the Spices
Sorting out the spice drawer doesn’t take too long to accomplish but feels really satisfying once it’s done. Here’s how to get started:
Sorting out the spice drawer doesn’t take too long to accomplish but feels really satisfying once it’s done. Here’s how to get started:
- Remove the spices and wipe down the shelf or drawer.
- Check expiration dates and toss expired spices.
- Wipe down jars with a damp microfiber cloth.
- If you’ll be accessing your jars from above, as shown, label the lids so you can see what’s what as soon as you open the drawer.
7. Tidy the TV Zone
With college football in full swing and the fall TV lineup rolling out, this is a good weekend to give your TV zone some TLC. Clear the clutter, edit your old movie collection, recycle stray papers and vacuum under the couch cushions so you’re ready to watch in comfort.
Your turn: What are you looking forward to this weekend? Let us know in the Comments.
More
Simple Pleasures: Treasuring the Gift of Grandparents
8 Knockout Flowers for a Fall Container Garden
Shop for candles and home fragrances
With college football in full swing and the fall TV lineup rolling out, this is a good weekend to give your TV zone some TLC. Clear the clutter, edit your old movie collection, recycle stray papers and vacuum under the couch cushions so you’re ready to watch in comfort.
Your turn: What are you looking forward to this weekend? Let us know in the Comments.
More
Simple Pleasures: Treasuring the Gift of Grandparents
8 Knockout Flowers for a Fall Container Garden
Shop for candles and home fragrances
Antique hunting makes for an enjoyable day, whether or not you’re planning to buy anything. Even if you’re not in the market for furniture, you may spy artwork you love or something useful — like an antique cast-iron pan or copper pot for the kitchen. Search locally for antiques shops and malls, flea markets, and fairs. Then have fun exploring.
If you live anywhere near Brimfield, Massachusetts, the major flea market that happens there several times a year is well worth a drive — and the fall event is going on Sept. 4 to 9 this year. If you want to attend, get the details on the show organizer’s website.
How to Find Great Antiques Near You