On the home front

Antiques at Battersea

The Battersea Foundation will host an Antiques Jamboree and its 2nd Annual Appraisal Fair on Saturday, Sept. 19 in Petersburg at Battersea, an Anglo-Palladian villa built in 1768. The event is part of the Foundation's "Leisure and Learning series Life on the Lawn."

Admission is $5. The jamboree will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a $10 "early bird" fee for admission at 8 a.m. Antique appraisals will be given from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at no charge. For additional information contact the Battersea Foundation office (804) 732-9882. Storage solutions

Whether in a kitchen corner, hallway or separate room, your home office deserves some attention.

The Work-Space Innovations chapter of "Store It! Where to Put All the Things You Need to Keep" (Filipacchi Publishing; $17.95) by Mervyn Kaufman and the editors of PointClickHome.com offers practical approaches to working and, well, living at home. Included are tips for dealing with multipurpose arrangements, such as hallways, closets and basements, and a few crafty projects. Corner Lots

How to safely use extension cords:

• Unplug cords when not in use. Extension cords continue to conduct electricity even when nothing is plugged into the outlet.

• Never use a damaged extension cord. Damaged cable jackets can expose you to an uninsulated electrical conductor.

• Buy extension cords with outlet covers whenever possible. Always use covers on any unused outlets.

• Don't modify the blade shape on extension cord connects. Some extension cords have dissimilar blades on the connectors to assure they are plugged into electrical outlets correctly.

• Don't force plugs into outlets that don't fit easily. Older model electrical outlets may not accept the plugs of new extension cords. Replace these older wall outlets.

• Don't cover extension cords with rugs. Extension cords will become hot when used beyond their rated capacity. This may create a fire hazard.

To read more on extension cords safety, visit BuyExtensionCords Web site at http://www.buyextensioncord.com. It's time to . . .

Make your first application of fall fertilizer on fescue lawns. In central Virginia, most turf experts agree that one secret to a healthy lawn is to make two or three applications of slow-release nitrogen between the end of August and the first of December. If you are planting grass seed, consider using a starter fertilizer. Richard Nunnally's
gardening Q&A, D3