I remember reading a murder mystery where the victim was stabbed to death with an icicle. The weapon melted and therefore the murderer was never caught. Sounds like a good plot right?
This winter , I’m enjoying the beautiful sight of abundant icicles glistening in the sun. But with that sight, I have this irresistible child-like urge to knock them all down, have a sword fight, lick them, write messages in the snow with them. Anyone else have fond memories of playing with icicles?
Have you wondered if they may be causing harm to your home? Or are they a sign of maintenance that needs to be done?
They are a sign that heat is escaping from your attic That along with the sun’s heat on the roof, causes the icicles to form.
The best solution to prevent the formation of icicles is to properly insulate your attic. Winter is actually an ideal time to add insulation. Wouldn’t you rather be working in a small, dark enclosed space in the winter than with the hot sun beating down in summer?
The icicles may be forwarning you of an ice damn forming in your gutters which could cause damage if not resolved. When the sun melts the snow, and it flows into your gutters, then freezes overnight, this could impede the proper flow of the water away from your home causing damage to your gutters and possibly water pooling around the foundation
And while we are on the subject of winter hazards:
With the record-breaking amount of snow we are seeing this winter, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace are clear of snow build-up to avoid carbon monoxide build up.
Lastly, while you are shoveling your driveway and sidewalks – make sure there is clear access to fire hydrants in your neighborhood. Just this morning, local news had a story about a delay in fighting a fire because the fireman had to first dig out the hydrant.
This is the 2oth year that Pantone Color Instutute has announced a Color of the Year. For the year 2020, the color is 19-4052, Classic blue. Laurie Pressman (Vice-President of the Pantone Color Institute) “It’s a reassuring blue, full of calm and confidence. It builds connection.” It is described as the color of sky at dusk. It is a return to a very classic, color, timeless and organic. Classic Blue will go great with the popular Farm House style. It’s like blue jeans for your home – it will go with anything you currently have in your decor. It will work as an accent wall color, a good anchor color for your kitchen cupboards. Or use it as accent in fabric, bedspread in your bedroom, or patterned pillows on your couch. The accent could be delft china pieces or indigo/white china or serving pieces around the home. 
As an appropriate contrast, Benjamin Moore’s color for 2020 is the First Light, as soft shade of pink. They release a whole palette of coordinating colors to go with the chosen color of the year. “The First Light is seen as a neurtral, subtle enough to go with anything, including beige.” I don’t think these two entities coordinate, but think about the walls of a room being the first-light-of-day pink with furniture the color of dusk – Striking! 
Another Color of the Year, is PPG’s Chinese Porcelain. They describe it as “a blend of cobalt and moody, ink blue that imparts calmness and restful sleep while also offering the spirit of hopefulness- a rare commodity in a restless world” If you are considering re-painting any room in your home – the paint company websites are a great resource. They show colors that mesh together to help with coordination. They each have amazing tools that allow you to take a photos of your room, then see it in a freshly repainted hue! Check out a few. Benjamin Moore, Pittsburgh Paints, Sherwin Williams, Martha Stewart And while you’ve got the paint brush out – Paint your front door a fun contrasting color. And if you’re prepping your home for a sale – Call Bob Eisenlauer 515-979-2883.
We have all heard that good is the enemy of great, but is it always true? Are we causing ourselves and our families stress by having unrealistic expectations? I’ve often used the saying – “good enough for who it’s for” . Have you gotten to this point in any area of your life? Sometimes perfection just doesn’t matter. Often, we just need to call it – Enough! Does “good enough” mean you are sacrificing excellence? I think there are areas that perfection is a waste of our time and energy and there are other times when it is absolutely the only choice. Another saying I’ve heard and used – “It’s more important to do all the right things than to do all things right.” Some things just don’t require perfection. Some examples of good enough: The frosting on the cake is tasty, but looks messy. Your child’s favorite shirt has a stain on it. The house didn’t get dusted today. You are 3 minutes late to a meeting. These things don’t compromise your safety or well-being. Now, where I do expect precision is in math. Numbers are finite. Close enough is not good enough when it comes to correct change from a store purchase, the guarantee on your car, or the proceeds check on the sale of your home. Maybe the continual quest for “The Best” is actually our enemy. What’s your ‘good enough’ task? And what’s your ‘100% needed’ task? I’d love to hear if you battle this Good vs. Best in your personal and professional life. 
The coldest weather in the last 20 years coming our way, tonight into tomorrow. Have you been to the grocery store? Forget the milk and bread, make sure you have enough toilet paper and batteries! Here’s a few more survival tips.
For 2019 – the color is Living Coral. If you visit the Pantone site, you can actually shop for fun items in the Color of the Year, like a key chain, a journal, a coffee mug. Consider how your front door might look – changing it annually to the chosen hue. Or throw pillows on the couch, or a beautiful glass vase.
New this year – a Christmas edition of the 
Do you have one? Is it a matter of simply asking – Do you see your life as a half full or half empty glass? November is definately a month were we tend to focus on expressing our gratitude. But, we should not limit the emotion to one month our of 12, or one day out of 365. I have a few favorite quotes regarding this topic “O Lord who lends me life, Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness!” William Shakespeare in his timeless wisdom. “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it” by William Arthur Ward. And which of us would do that? And one I just read today by David Rast, “It is not joy that makes us grateful. It is gratitude that makes us joyful. Autumn is such a beautiful season. I love the smell of fall, the crunch of leaves as you walk, the array of colors in the trees. As we begin the month of November, I intend to practice giving thanks. will you join me?
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