Gearing up the home for summer

KAREN WIGHT

We’re getting that summer feeling around the Wight house. The

barbecue is tuned up, the outdoor furniture is clean, and the pool is

heated and ready to go.

I’m ready to move dinners outside and simplify the menu. There are

a few things you can do to make summer less complicated. Preparation

is the name of the game, and if you do a little homework now, you’ll

be ready for the lazy, crazy and hazy days.

First, load up on beach towels. In our house, towels have legs.

The supply we begin with is never the same supply we end up with.

Some of our towels find new homes, and we adopt some wayward towels

along the way. It’s an interesting phenomenon.

If you don’t have any paper plates, get some. There’s something

wrong about serving hot dogs on a ceramic plate. Same goes for

plastic utensils; you need some on hand to make life easy when an

impromptu barbecue happens. Smart &Final; has a great assortment of

colors.

Next, get the patio furniture cushions out of storage and get

comfortable. If the old cushions look tired, check out your local

nursery, Patio Outlet, Target or Costco for replacements.

Buy bamboo skewers so you can spear everything in your kitchen.

Skewer meats and vegetables for the grill. Skewer fruits for dessert.

Skewer olives, peppers, cheese and salami for antipasto appetizers.

Stock up on votive candles. Candlelight helps the evening linger a

little longer. Mix in a few citronella-scented candles to help with

bug control.

Get an outdoor shower setup if you don’t already have a place to

wash the sand off your feet. Target has a great-looking model that

plugs into a garden hose. It’s cleanliness at a fraction of the cost.

Consider an outdoor heater if the evening chill cuts short the

hours to linger. If you want to get really fancy, think about

installing ceiling-mounted infrared heat in your covered exterior

space.

Also, collect some lawn games. Croquet, horseshoes and bocce come

to mind. If you have the freezer space, get a bag or two of ice so

you can chill drinks at a moment’s notice. Keep an extra case of

bottled water in the garage so you can be ready to take a gang to the

beach and keep everyone hydrated.

If you want your garden to “pop” in the moonlight, plant white

flowers or variegated leaf plants. Did you know that rubbing talcum

powder on your feet cleans sand off instantly? Keep some in the car

and avoid the gritty residue.

Chinese take-out containers are great for packing snacks and

infinitely more fun than foil or plastic wrap. You can buy them in

bulk at Cost Plus. If you have younger kids, get the tent out of the

attic and have an end-of-year “camp out.” Don’t forget the s’mores.

* KAREN WIGHT is a Newport Beach resident. Her column runs

Thursdays.