October Day in a Small Park

 

It's a beautiful day to go for a walk in a local park. Lakeland is filled with lakes. With blue skies and water, it's perfect to visit to relax. Let's take a stroll.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Ensuring Home Security: Essential Garage Door Maintenance Tips

 

Photo:  John Paulsen via Unsplash

For several years when I lived in my house in Pasco County, I attempted to find someone to fix my garage door. The bottom of the door did not touch the ground. There was a space space between the door and the concrete floor which allowed mowed grass, dirt, pollen, and insects into the garage. The brand of garage parts was NOT availabe in any hardware store. Only a brand certified repairman could order parts from the company. I lived with so much dirt and insects until I found a local repair company willing to try to engineer a solution without a whole new door.

A well-maintained garage door helps protect your home, vehicles, and stored belongings while reducing the chance of sudden breakdowns. Since the door may move several times each day, small problems can quickly place extra strain on its moving parts. A regular inspection takes only a few minutes and can reveal wear before the door becomes noisy, unreliable, or unsafe. These practical garage door safety tips provide a useful starting point for homeowners.

Start with a monthly visual inspection

Stand inside the garage with the door closed and look over the main components. Check the tracks for bends, loose fasteners, or debris. Examine the rollers for cracks and inspect cables for fraying, rust or uneven tension. You should also look at the panels and weather seals for gaps that could allow moisture, insects or outdoor air inside.

Next, open and close the door while staying a safe distance away. Movement should be smooth and consistent. Scraping, popping, or grinding sounds often point to worn rollers, track problems, or loose hardware. Avoid touching cables or tightly wound springs during your inspection since these parts remain under high tension.

Know when to call a professional

Some maintenance tasks are suitable for homeowners, but repairs involving springs, cables, openers and damaged tracks require specialized tools and training. A door that hangs unevenly, drops unexpectedly or refuses to remain open should stay out of use until a technician examines it. Repeated opener problems also deserve professional attention because the opener may be compensating for an unbalanced door.

Local Garage Doors service providers can inspect the full system and handle repair, installation, or maintenance work when a problem goes beyond basic upkeep. Calling early may prevent one worn component from damaging nearby parts, which can reduce repair time and restore dependable operation sooner.

 

 

Photo:  John Paulsen via Unsplash

Test the safety features

Modern openers commonly include photoelectric sensors near the bottom of each track. To test them, open the door and place a cardboard box in the path between the sensors. Press the control to close the door. It should stop and reverse without touching the box. If it continues downward, clean the sensor lenses with a soft cloth and check that both units point directly at each other.

You should also test the automatic reverse function according to the opener manufacturer’s instructions. The Consumer Product Safety Commission guidance explains why properly working entrapment protection matters. If either test fails after basic cleaning and alignment, disconnect the opener and arrange service.

Keep moving parts clean and lubricated

Dirt and dried lubricant can make a garage door louder while increasing friction. Wipe dust from the tracks with a dry cloth, but don’t apply grease inside them because sticky residue collects grit. Tighten visible nuts and bolts that have worked loose, taking care not to adjust brackets connected to springs or cables.

Use a garage-door lubricant on hinges, steel rollers and approved spring surfaces once or twice a year. Apply a light coating instead of soaking each part, then operate the door several times to distribute it. Avoid lubricating nylon rollers unless they contain metal bearings. If the manufacturer’s manual gives different directions, follow those instructions for your specific model.

Protect the garage from weather and unwanted access

Inspect the rubber seal along the bottom edge of the door. A brittle, flattened, or torn seal can let rainwater and cold air enter, especially when the driveway slopes toward the garage. Replacement seals are usually sold by door size and track style, so bring a small sample of the old material when shopping.

Check the exterior trim and seals around the sides and top as well. Daylight visible through a closed door often shows where air or water can pass. For security, keep remote controls out of vehicles parked outside and change an opener’s access code after moving into a home. If your opener supports temporary codes, use them for service visits instead of sharing the household code.

Build maintenance into your calendar

A simple schedule makes garage door maintenance easier to remember. Perform a visual check and safety test every month, clean the area around the sensors when needed, and inspect weather seals at the start of each season. Professional maintenance once a year may be sensible for heavily used doors or systems that already show signs of wear.

Keep a short record of unusual sounds, repairs, and replacement dates in your home maintenance notes. That history can help a technician identify a recurring issue and may clarify when an aging opener or damaged door has reached the end of its practical service life. Most importantly, stop using the system if its movement changes suddenly. A door that starts shaking, tilting, or reversing unpredictably deserves prompt attention.

 

I hope these ideas help you with your home garage door maintenance.

 

 

 This is a collaborative post.

 

 

 

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Halloween Treat: Halloween Spider Deviled Eggs

 

Halloween is a fun holiday for everyone. The drawback to me is that it is a time of great excess sugar.  No, I don't think children or adults even should entirely give up treats and desserts. I do think that besides the sweet treats, there should be some that are cute and more healthy.

In my family, that starts with deviled eggs.  No matter the holiday, we look for a plate of deviled eggs that disappear rapidly.  We love them in all seasons. I also personally love food art. This Halloween appetizer is cute, appropriate to the season, and lower in sugar. 

 

 

 

 

Halloween Spider Deviled Eggs

Use organic when available. Makes 12 spiders

 

Ingredients

• 6 peeled hard boiled eggs
• 1 tbsp mayonnaise
• ¼ tsp Dijon mustard
• 12 black olives
• salt & pepper to taste
• optional a pinch of paprika

 

 

 

Instructions

• Cut each egg in half lengthwise, remove yolks
• Place yolks in a bowl with mayonnaise, mustard, salt, and pepper 
• Mash yolks and stir mixture until smooth and thoroughly combined
• Fill each egg half with deviled yolk mixture using spoon, piping bag, or sturdy plastic bag with a corner cut off
• Cut olives in half and place 1/2 on each filled egg  
• Cut other olive half into 4 strips & then cut each strip in half 
• Use 8 thin olive pieces for the legs with 4 olive legs on each side of the spider & sprinkle with paprika (optional)    

  

  
  
  

 

 

 

 

 

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A Beautiful Morning To Be Alive

 

Some mornings I'm outside early in the morning. 7:30 am is often a great time to walk the grounds of the complex. Blue skies and a slight breeze make it wonderful. This particular morning felt perfect, and I was just glad to be alive and enjoying it.

 

 

 

 I had gotten a bouquet of flowers, which made me smile. Then the early morning made it really perfect. By afternoon, we can be up in the 90'sF for a high. Matt Devitt, weatherman, shared the graphic below on Tuesday afternoon.

 

 

Photo: Matt Devitt, weather, Facebook

  

 

 

 

 

 

All Things Emerald Coast

 

 

 

                                         

 

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Decorating My October Home

 

 

 

 When I decorate for fall, I start with my front door. I have several inexpensive Temu signs for fall and Halloween that I enjoy. Above is September's door, Hello Fall. Below is October's door, Home Sweet Spooky Home.

 

 

 

 

 By the front door is a coat closet and my House Blessing which I've had for almost 30 years. I've had it by the front door of each home since its purchase.

 

 

 

 

 A House Blessing

 

Bless the corners of this house.

And be the lintel blest; 

And bless the hearth, and bless the board,

And bless each place of rest; 

And bless the door that opens wide

To strangers as to kin;

And bless each crystal windowpane

That lets the starlight in;

And bless the rooftree overhead

And every sturdy wall;

The peace of God, and the peace of man,

The peace of love on all.

      Arthur Guiterman (1871-1943), American writer & poet

 

By the House Blessing is my painted small chest.  I've shopped my home and rotated art. Instead of my father's painting of a landscape scene, I brought out of the bedroom a hand-painted treasure from my late friend, Mary.  It is sunset on the Florida keys, and the colors are perfect for autumn. On top of the chest are faux flowers and 2 wooden rabbits.

 

 

 

 Across from the chest is my TV area.  In September, I continued with my summer pillow on the loveseat in my TV area by the front door.

 

 

 

 

 For October and November, I'm adding more vibrant fall color with a fox pillow cover.

 

 

 

 In the area by the dining table, is my grandmother's old wooden side table. Again, I rotated art from the bedroom and placed a wall art of a fall fox. A small wooden framed photo on the table is of my sister's family with a small pumpkin. 

 

 

Now for the dining room.

 

 

 

Living in Florida, I don't really get to see colorful fall leaves in autumn. but I still like to decorate for October & November with some warm colored faux leaves. Several years ago, I crafted  rings of faux fall leaves for autumn decorations. The rings are sized for Dollar Tree chargers to enhance my place settings as well as centerpieces or other decorations.

 

 

Photo taken 2023 in my home

  

 

 

I used Dollar Tree leaves and a needle and thread. You could also make the ring using a hot glue gun.  With my arthritis, I do better with a needle and don't get burned.  You can buy a pack of individual leaves or use left over bunches of leaves on stems.  I had leaves from previous years I used.

 

 

 

I used a wire cutter to remove each leaf from the stem. It's much easier to just buy packs of individual leaves, but I was trying to not buy anything and just make do.

 1. Collect individual faux maple leaves

2. Measure diameter of plate or charger to determine size of ring needed 

3. Lay leaves in circle around plate or charger 

4. Add 2 leaves together on the edges using needle & thread or hot glue gun

5. Add a 3rd and then a 4th leaf adjusting leaves to form a circle

6. Periodical check the growing ring to be sure of leaf placement and flatness of ring

7. Continue adding leaves until circle is complete

8. Repeat for number needed if desiring to encircle your dinner plates

 

I made mine large enough to edge Dollar Tree chargers  or a centerpiece on the table. If food is spilled on a leaf, you can easily wipe it with a wet sponge.  I can pack it away with fall linen in my chest of drawers.  Easy Peasy. I really shouldn't call it crafting as it is so simple.

When I started to decorate for October in late September, I immediately reached for rings of fall leaves. I started with a slice of wood on the dining table. I added a faux leaf ring on top of the wood. I bought a new ceramic off -white pumpkin which I love and added a small faux flower arrangement to the vignette.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 Thanks for the visit!

 

 

 

 

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Spooky Halloween Appetizer: Pepper Spider on Spinach Artichoke Hummus

 

For Halloween fun, make a spooky platter of a spider on green dip using pepper for the spider and spinach artichoke hummus for the dip. It looks great and is so tasty too!

 

 

Choose an orange pepper that looks like a body of a spider (with a little help).  I cut the bottom off and deseeded the pepper. 

 

 

 

  I cut a spidery body shape (maybe) and added 2 holes filled with half a dried cranberry for eyes. You could also just use edible black paint. 

 

 

 

I used the rest of the pepper to cut lengths of legs to surround the body. I placed the pepper parts on a bowl of spinach artchoke hummus. Golly, it tastes so good and has a nice green color. 

I placed the white bowl of dip & spider on a black plate and surrounded it with cut veggies. This appetizer is cute, tasty, and healthy.

 

 

I put the plate on a charger with a vintage thrift store doily in orange trim on top.  I like the look for my party.

 

  

 

 

 Now if you want to get creative, homemade dip always tastes better to me than commercial brands. I also like knowing exactly what's in my food. This hummus recipe makes a great thick dip which holds the pepper spider perfectly.

  

Spinach Artichoke Hummus

Use organic when available. Makes 1 1/2 cups or about 4 Servings 

 

Ingredients

• 1 can of cooked chickpeas drained (reserve fluid) or about 1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas
• 2 tbsp tahini (sesame paste)
• 1 cup fresh spinach sauteed in a little olive oil
• 1 cup marinated artichoke hearts drained & chopped
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 small garlic clove
• salt & pepper to taste
• a drizzle of really good extra virgin olive oil or about 2 tsp

 

Instructions

• Place chickepeas in a blender or food processor with tahini, spinach, artichokes, lemon juice, garlic, salt & pepper 
• Blend at high speed until smooth; add 2 tsp reserved liquid if too dry
• Add 2 tsp of olive oil and blend again
• Chill in the refrigerator until served
• Serve with fresh vegetables, flatbread, toasted crostini, or pretzels 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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October in the Garden

 

 

My condo building is built like a square with a garden in the center. Each of the 3 floors has 4 sides. My front door opens to a walkway on the 4 sides with 2 points of access to the stairs down or up, and one elevator door. I can look sideways at the trees and sky beside the building. 

 

 

 

 

I enjoy having a small garden to greet me every day. Year-round, one of the loyal members of the garden is a peace lily. Remember, I live in central Florida with a semi-tropical climate. For most of my life I lived in south Florida, which is a zone 10, tropical climate.  Peace lilies are often planted in zone 10 shade. Full sun burns peace lilies' leaves.  Here in zone 9, I see them less often as we are exposed to times of freezing temperatures occasionally. I believe being surrounded by the 4 sides of the building helps to protect the plants. Of course, last winter's night of 28 degrees F did kill a tropical plant in this garden. Luckily, the peace lily lost some leaves but survived to come back beautifully.

 

 

 

 I hope you're enjoying October wherever you are.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                     

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