Maxwell,
You inspired me to wash all of my windows yesterday. I used newspaper for the first time and my windows have never looked better! Thanks for the tip-

I just love the catchy music, the feel-goodness of the videos and how they, even though they take place in a completely different corner of this planet, still manage to truly speak to me as well. How do you, Maxwell, like making the videos and how do they affect you? I have a feeling you like it a lot!

During Spring Cure I had to admit that I sat those ten minutes at my kitchen table, but things have changed since then although I still eat at the computer too. I'll have to think about which spot to choose this time, as there seem to be a couple really interesting ones this time.

Please, please use proper pruners if you want to cut blooms from shrubs like that. I'm all for a bit of rogue pruning out in the wild, but you don't want to permanently harm the shrub while you're snagging your little piece of nature.

Thanks for the inspiring video again, I am a little bit tiered, still little bit sick and needed such an uplifter. This cure is something totally new to me, I did the cure before, but now I started to work in my office, the room I really disliked from the beginning.

Thanks for the video! I will seat in our guest room, which we actually use more to just throw things inside that we don't know where else to put. I deffinitely have to do something about that room.

Evajimenezbcn, that's a good idea. You've inspired to sit in my guest bedroom, as well.

Over the weekend I cleaned up my sewing room so I think I'm going to sit in there for 10 minutes. I have yet to sew even a stitch there, unfortunately!

I loved the Martha Stewart/Mr. Rogers/Bob Ross comment in the other post, too. It's so fitting! Creative, nice, and likes plants to be "happy." :)

What a fun video! At this time of year, there's still a lot of bounty out there...just a different phase. The berried shrubs and dried, but still beautiful plants to bring indoors...great suggestions. Thank you! I like the little video tutorials.

HI Everyone! We forgot to upload the second video with the Q&A. Here it is now.

Thanks, Maxwell all these small projects add to a quality home life, but please everyone if you can't drive hours out of Manhattan, don't try cutting shrubs by the West Side Highway, the Parks Dept. or Bette Middler will stop you.

Love these videos. Maxwell, are you hunting for your own TV show? Good pitch!

Whenever cutting flowers, beware of poison ivy! Trust me, I know. That junk is awful & is almost ruining my week. Remember everyone, leaves of 3, let them be.

Regardless of my current poison ivy issue that's nearly making me crazy, I did go to my backyard & cut the last few cosmos flowers & buds. Hopefully the buds will force open. And I cut some tall grasses for the bigger vases. Nice to bring a little more nature inside!

I had planned on getting some cut flowers again, but when I walked into the grocery store I saw these cute little 4" potted begonia's with beautiful bright orange blooms and just had to have one. They were only $5!

IT'S TRUE! You are a perfect mix of all three! :D I'm having a hard time finding flowers by the wayside since I live on the beach... but I'm going to try to find ANY flowers I can this time! I might have to get creative...

That was an absolutely delightful post Maxwell! I love love love the way you see the world. Totally inspiring — I hadn't even thought of going to nature this time of year for my weekly flowers ... I might even go to my own garden and pull some remnants ... our rose bush is in full bloom right now, and here in the midwest, crazy winds and (ACK) snow is predicted this week?! So ... perhaps I'll cut a few of the best blossoms and bring them inside. And, there are the most beautiful leaves, even though peak color has past.

Oh, you made me laugh laugh laugh at the Mr Rogers good-bye. Haven't seen that since my kids were little - and they're about your age.
Really fun to watch these and go through the days. Thanks for inspiration.

Since I missed last week's homeworks and am now behind, flower-wise, I was thinking of investing 2 weeks of flower money in a much-needed potted plant for my bedroom. It has no direct light. Any suggestions?

Just saw the links, thanks!

I love it that you appear to be using children's scissors to cut your flowers. : ) (Well, I see above that that apparently wasn't a good idea, but who knew?)

I'd love to have fresh flowers in my home... alas... it's not to be. One of the members of our family... Mitzi, kitty #3... shreds and eats flowers and greenery. She even eats the stems on tomatoes and the husks and silk on fresh corn.

I try to put fresh oranges in a centerpiece bowl for decoration but are there any other ideas out there?

She's very sweet, it's just that... like all of us... she has her "issues" and I wouldn't trade her for the world.

I learned from my mother to bring flowers and greens in weekly from the garden, but I haven't lived anywhere with a yard for the past 6 years. Cut flowers always seemed like an extravagance on the budget - thank you for changing my mind. The flowers last week made a world of difference. I would take time just to sit in one of the rooms with the flowers and since they've wilted I've been looking forward to new flower day. I think this will make so much difference in my winter restlessness in the apartment - this is a weekly ritual I hadn't realized I really needed. Thank you, thank you!

Since I have 2 cats, I always check the ASPCA toxic plant database before I bring home plants or flowers. http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/

One thing that shocked me was that almost all lilies are toxic to cats. (stargazer lilies, calla lilies, peace lilies, etc.)

If I receive flower arrangements with flowers that are toxic to cats, I put them in my bedroom, which is off limits to the kitties. It is kind of a nice excuse to have fresh cut flowers in my bedroom!

Today I harvested the last blooms of Indian cress from the garden, we're expecting the first night frost, so in a way they'll last a bit longer now. And their orange goes so well with the Halloween decoration... But last weeks dahlias are still on the kitchens counter-top.

@burrda2000...I had a sweet cat named Mitzi. She lived to be 16...a very lovable little kitty. At times, she could be a handful. :D

This Cure is something really special. Each day I feel like a kid who can't wait to unwrap a beautiful gift. The videos are so sweet, your assignments so very do-able and satisfying, this is the best therapy possible for frazzled hearts and minds.You have really hit the jackpot with this 20/20 Cure, due largely to your truly charming personal style and a good "amateur" camera person. Thank you for these little gems, I am so dreading day 21.

Maxwell,
Seeing these daily videos makes me miss seeing you on HGTV. Wouldn't it be nice (for your fans) if you had "Apartment Therapy" on
HGTV? I would watch it!

Is anyone out there? Have mentioned the sound problem for the last 2 videos and this one has the same issue...the voice is inaudible and only the music can be heard. I could only hear you talking on the part about sitting in a different place for ten minutes (loved that idea by the way)....please please fix the sound!

The sound is fine on my part, so it can't be the video itself...

I second the vote for an Apartment Therapy TV show. Someone make Maxwell an offer!

The sound could be browser compatibility.

AP, are there any browser preferences that your site and video are better designed for?

I bought a mini-flowering plant today. Hope I don't forget to water it. Also, the flowers from last week still have a couple days in them.

Regarding the new format:
It seems that there is significantly less activity from the followers. Maybe because there are less visually impactful tasks to post pictures of?

I do like this format because it is more relaxing. The 20 minutes are very in-the-moment and allow me to unwind from my day vs. 'having more to do.' As a follower, I like this format for fall and a more active format for the spring.

Nice that you cut something other than flowers -- I love bringing branches and leaves inside.

THANK YOU so much for the sitting assignment. I realized how disgusting things were on the wall behind my sofa. The solution was really simple though, simple switching the position of 2 shelves. I also took that time to stack my books by color and create little vignettes on the shelves. Cleaned lots of dust bunnies too. The Chi is feeling awesome! I CAN"T WAIT for tomorrow's task.

Whoa!!! only week two and I'm behind, I missed the flower buying or cutting, if I had only known I was driving out in the countryside and could have picked some awesome berries and leaves. Who knew, now I have to catch up tomorrow. Must remember to take pruners, don't want the plant police after me. :)

Sound is fine on my puter.

Thanks for all the feedback folks. We making these daily - one day ahead usually - so your feedback is helpful.

Unfortunately, the sound is fine on Vimeo, so it must be browser issues as someone said. If you have trouble, it can help to turn off the HD option on the video. These things are heavy and you can lighten them up by doing that.

HEY, if you're just joining us now, don't worry, just jump in. Each day is a whole new adventure and every bit you do your home will love you for.

xo M

The sound issue someone mentioned above — I have found that when I listen on headphones, I can hear Maxwell in one ear and music in the other ... so, if I put the wrong headphone in ... no Maxwell, just music. I like both!! But, it took me a few minutes to figure out that there were apparently two layers/tracks of audio.

Maybe that little suggestion will help?

Maxwell, I love the videos and watch them all. I have a room cure for you though, move that pot rack!

Thanks Maxwell. Tried turning off HD to no avail. I got a computer savvy person to have a look at it for me..he said it is not my system, it is the way the video is made, so the voice is only coming through the left headphone and the music on the right, as WriterSarah also mentioned above. The first couple of videos were not like this, perhaps because there was no music, lol!

I have a tiny apartment, so have already sat in all available chairs and on the sofa! However, it is nice to just sit still for ten minutes.

I actually bought flowers for the first time in a long while. Thank you. and also thank you for the idea last week of braking the bouquet up into smaller vases throughout the house. I had never thought of that but tried it yesterday and absolutely love it. The make every room that much more special.

Maxwell, forget HGTV, how about LXTV you'd be on NBC and in cabs all over town. If it worked for Cat Greenleaf and Stoop Talk, it could work for you and AT.

I really like the videos. But as your teachers told you on field trips, "Take only pictures, so that others my enjoy the flowers." I spent quite a bit of time tending my garden across the street on my property, only to have cars of people picking the plants I planted. When I asked them to refrain, The got angry and said "We are just picking these wild plant." While I love the idea of finding beauty everywhere, I don't think picking plants off the side of the road is a good suggestion. I look forward to more video!

Finally bought some flowers last night :-) A bouquet of mixed poms ... gorgeous autumn colors. Now, tonight I'll do the distribution — I'm thinking the weekly "buy flowers" might be a good prompt to water any living plants, too ... (note to self to take pity on the poor dying plants in our basement!!)

Loved the out-of-city flower foraging trip! I hope you didn't pick sumac!!! I did that once - it looked SO lovely - and is quite plentiful by the side of the road - take a field guide please...

BTW, whenever I wash the windows with newspaper (so green and no lint) I try to wear rubber gloves so washing up is super quick

LOVE the tip about getting flowers off the road ... and thank u for reminding me to squish thick branches so they can suck up the water better.

Aren't you just the sweetest person ever!

I know I'm wayyyyyy overdue, but it seems like I skipped the second video when we did this cure. So, better late than never, thank you so much for the links ! I actually used them and thought they were useful, without watching the video.
I still haven't got a plant for my son's room, but it's because I'm still researching cat-friendly plants (I have discovered my cat to be an avid plant-eater).

I'm doing the cure all over again, it's as much fun as the first time !

Totally going outside to get some branches.

I'm looking at the beautiful don't-remember-its-name plant in our bedroom, and I'm thinking about all the good habits I still have from last year's cure. Tuesday is a national holiday here in France, so I bought my flowers yesterday.

Still thinking about where I'm going to sit for ten minutes. Kitchen ?

Maxwell, you are just the sweetest. I love the daily videos and how you bring such joy and gentleness to what you do. Such an inspiration! Thank you for being you.

This video might have worked last year, unfortunately, we here in northern New England got over a foot of snow this weekend, so there will be no freshly picked flowers here!

I still have my lovely flowers from last week - instead I will finish up my little painting project that I kept putting off until thie 20/20 series prompted me to pick up my paint brush.

I returned last week's pothos to the garden and replaced it with a well watered leafy little exotic in the first :10. I sat in my favorite chair, which has been ignored for too long in the guest room, for the last :10. I confirmed that with a bit more tweaking the guest room will be an even better backup bedroom for nights when my husband's CPAP keeps me awake.

Lovely Max, such a simple act of borrowing flowers and branches bringing them inside your space can change the entire atmosphere of your home. Surrounded by beauty and being in the moment the peace settled over me and refueled my spirit. Using found "art" the warmth in the welcome makes me proud of my place in the world.

These are so sweet. Thank you for making every day a little happier.

although the idea of getting flowers from the country is fun, be wary of poisonous berries and flowers, for pets and toddlers. the red berries looked suspiciously like viburnum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viburnum) which I had in my yard as a kid, and was always told they were poisonous. also, I'm not sure about NY, but in the midwest, there are laws against picking protected wildflowers, like the trillium in some states(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trillium) but not all.

Thanks, I love The Cure, especially the part about bringing nature indoors! However, I second @jptwigg's suggestion to "leave no trace." Leaving roadside plants in their natural habitat just makes good ecological sense and allows others to enjoy them! Your site inspired me, a voracious reader, to weed an overstuffed bookcase after work this evening.