Time To Say Goodbye To Summer

Each year when I take down my sukkah and store it away for the next year, I need to come to terms with the realization that I’m also saying goodbye to the vestiges of summer and the warm weather.

Most of you will tell me that this should not come as a surprise since it happens like clockwork each year, and we’re already in fall, not summer. But for those of you like me who try to squeeze in a little extra summer each year, with long days, beautiful flowers, and its relaxing atmosphere, you have to admit that trying to stretch it well into autumn has its merits.

Last year we were very fortunate to have a mild winter. So mild, in fact, that we had beautiful weather way into December and it felt like we were living in Georgia rather than in New York. Whether we will be so lucky this year remains to be seen, although many of those forecasters are saying we are in for a very snowy, cumbersome winter.

Now, they’ve been wrong many times, but in the interest of playing it safe, I guess we must all bite the bullet and at least prepare for the winter while at the same time hoping our preparations will be for naught.

That being said, folks, here I come again with some suggestions for getting your property and snow equipment ready for the winter. Better be like the ant and plan for a snow event rather than the grasshopper and finding ourselves in trouble, so here goes!

Take a slow walk around the perimeter of your house and property with pen in hand, and make a list of all the things you need to put away, repair, or winterize before the bad weather sets in.

Check all windows, doorways, and even decorative pillars in front of your house to see if they need fresh caulking to close up any openings that have developed since the previous years.

Put away all lawn and patio furniture until next year or cover it to protect it from winter’s weather so it will be in good shape for next year. Any cushions or pillows or small accessories should be stored in the garage or put into a storage container or shed.

Close up any outdoor water sources, like faucets, showers, or sinks and drain any remaining water so it will not be subject to freezing during the winter.

Shut all in-ground sprinkler systems and drain any remaining water to prevent freezing of pipes which leads to expensive breaks in the system.

Put away all hoses, pool toys, and outdoor toys and store them indoors. It wouldn’t hurt to check any loose gates and make sure the latches are fixed so you don’t hear banging all winter as well.

Pack away or tie down any small flower pots and small decorative items that could become projectiles on cold windy days.

Weigh down your barbecue so it won’t shift in the winter wind, and make sure you have a good cover to protect it during the winter weather.

We hardly had any snow last year so you’d better go through your snow equipment and make sure everything is ready “just in case.” Somehow, when we’re ready ahead of time, it never snows, so it’s always a good idea to be ready.

Last but not least, if we have to go out and shovel the snow, make sure you have some warm clothes available for all your helpers, including long underwear, sweaters, gloves, caps, etc. I still can’t get the picture out of my mind of my neighbor a few years ago shoveling snow in flip flops—it boggles the mind!

Just thinking about getting all of this ready is making me thirsty. I think I’ll go into the kitchen and make a nice cup of hot chocolate. Oh, did I remind you to stock up on plenty of hot chocolate too? n

Anessa Cohen lives in Cedarhurst and is a Licensed Real Estate Broker (Anessa V Cohen Realty) with over 20 years of experience offering full service residential, management and commercial real estate services in the Five Towns of Long Island as well as the tri-state area. She can be reached at 516-569-5007. Readers are encouraged to send any questions or scenarios by email to [email protected].