Maurice and Karen Irwin named November Lincoln Home of the Month
 

[November 15, 2017] 

LINCOLN

On Friday afternoon the city of Lincoln awarded the November Home of the Month to Maurice and Karen Irwin. The Irwin’s live on Allison Street in the Mayfair edition, which is located in Ward 4 in Lincoln. Last week during the city council meeting, Mayor Seth Goodman noted that this month, the idea behind the home of the month was to award a home that best represents the fall season in the landscape of their home.

He said there had been several nominations from aldermen, and he had driven to each address and looked at the homes, before determining that he would give the award to the Irwin’s.

On Friday afternoon, it was easy to see, why the home was nominated. The brick ranch sits on a corner lot. The lawn was well groomed, and the decorations about the lawn were a reflection of fall, harvest, thanksgiving, and just a hint of Halloween past. In addition, the everyday décor, items that are always present, were tasteful, and reflected the personality of the Irwin’s.

The couple purchased the home just 11 months ago, and have settled in nicely. Marvin said decorating the lawn is a “monthly” occurrence, but Karen chided teasingly that she doesn’t redo the decorations every month, but she certainly observes the season and the holidays.

One of the sweetest draws in the yard is the antique bicycle with a basket of fall flowers, ornamental corn, and gourds.

The ornamental corn is also a key feature at the mailbox, and gourds, pumpkins and sunflowers carry over into the attractive arrangement on the birdbath. Pumpkins are also prevalent in the yard with real as well as some lovely artificial pumpkins scattered about, such as the wooden painted pumpkin adorning the large antique wheel leaning at the front of the house. Pumpkins can also be found around the corner, with a real one sitting on a bright yellow stool, while another flat metal pumpkin decoration accompanies it.

On the front porch there are real and artificial pumpkins along with a sweet looking ghost, straw, and bittersweet berries. A wooden birdhouse holds a rustic sign that says “Happy Harvest” with an adorable pumpkin luminary at the foot of the birdhouse stand.

A garland of fall leaves adorns the snow white picket fence section that carries a black ‘I’ for Irwin. There is also a birdhouse gourd hanging from a tree in the front yard with a straw bow-tie and a happy little pumpkin face painted on it.

The front porch also offers a large ‘welcome’ sign with a not so scary little ghost sitting at its base.

Friday, Goodman and Ward 4 Aldermen Jeff Hoinacki and Rick Hoefle were present to award the Home of the Month to the Irwin’s. The couple received a gift card from the city and will have the Lincoln Home of the Month sign in their front lawn throughout the rest of November.

Maurice and Karen are enjoying their new home, and enjoy getting out in the yard and making things look nice. For Mayor Goodman, the goal of the Home of the Month program is to find those people who take pride and pleasure in their home, and do more than their fair share to make their neighborhood look nice for everyone. The Irwin’s certainly fit that bill!

[Nila Smith]