Courtesy of Lori Loewen

Volume 17 | Number 09

CHOOSING A TABLE Life happens around food and food is often served around a table which makes purchasing the right table important. Before heading to the store or looking online, consider the size and shape of table you'll need. Round, rectangular, square or adjustable- which one will fit best in your space? And speaking of fit, how much room do you have for a table? Don't forget to include the space needed to pull chairs out and sit in them. Next consider the functionality of the table. Would a glass table, for instance, be a magnet for children's fingerprints? Would a high table be too awkward for older friends and family to sit around? Would a bench look fantastic but be really hard for your guests to move across your lush dining room carpet?

Once you have a general idea of what will fit in your space and how it will function, the next step is to test drive some tables. Sit in the chairs and determine if you like the way they feel; see if there is a table leg that you will constantly bump your knee into when sitting down and such. Once you find a table or dining set that you know will function as you need it to, find one that will fit the aesthetic of your room and your budget. If you can’t find what you’re looking for in a furniture store, go ahead and shop online, test your luck at a thrift store or the local buy and sell listings or even garage sales.

TIRAMISU BROWNIES

INGREDIENTS • 6 oz dark chocolate, chopped • ½ cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes • 3 large eggs

DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper that extends an inch over each side. Set aside. 2. Melt together the chocolate and butter. Use a heat-proof bowl and melt mixture in the microwave at half power, stirring every minute. 3. In a separate bowl, vigorously whisk together the eggs and 1 cup sugar until pale and frothy. Whisking slowly, pour melted chocolate mixture into the eggs and sugar. Stir until combined. Sprinkle in flour and stir together until smooth. 4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, bake for 25 to 30 minutes. When ready, a toothpick inserted into the center should come out moist, top will be thin with a few cracks. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes. Prepare the other ingredients.

5. Combine the espresso or coffee with ½ cup sugar. Dip the ladyfingers into the coffee soak then arrange them into a single layer on top of the cooled brownies. Trim the ladyfingers as needed. 6. In a large mixing bowl, combine the mascarpone, heavy cream, and remaining ½ cup sugar. Using an electric whisk, whip the mixture together until it thickens and holds medium peaks. Add the vanilla and whisk to combine. 7. Spread mixture over the top of the ladyfingers with a spatula, or use a piping bag to pipe dollops over a thin layer of cream. Chill brownies in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight. 8. Dust the top with cocoa powder before serving.

• 2 cups sugar, divided • ½ cup all-purpose flour • 12 to 15 ladyfingers

• 1 cup espresso or strong coffee • 1 cup mascarpone, softened • 2 cups heavy cream • 2 tsp vanilla extract • Cocoa powder, for dusting

Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867 – 1957) Laura Ingalls Wilder is known for writing the Little House on the Prairi e series which was based off her life as a settler and pioneer in Wisconsin.

SOME OLD-FASHIONED THINGS LIKE FRESH AIR AND SUNSHINE

ARE HARD TO BEAT. - Laura Ingalls Wilder

TANKLESS WATER HEATER Also known as on-demand hot water, a tankless water heater can provide relatively instant hot water that won't run out as long as you need it. They work by heating cold water as it runs through the unit with either an electric element or a gas burner. Therefore, as long as your hot water tap is on, the water will come out heated so you don't have to worry about running out of water mid shower, for example.

Water is also not stored in the tank so it's smaller than a traditional hot water tank and some homeowners opt to install more than one tank in their home depending on their needs. While the water is always hot, if too much is being demanded at once, the flow rate can be lower, so having multiple tanks could be useful.

A bit more of an initial investment, over the average lifespan of 15 years, the lower cost of energy bills can add up to make it worth it.

HOME LIBRARY BOOK STORAGE Reading has been a hobby for many for as long as books have been around. Recently though, the trend of home libraries has been growing thanks in part to social media influencers showing off their collections. If you want to gather your books into a home library, there are a few tips from the experts to ensure your books last and don't gather dust and grow mould. You should dust your books, shelves and trinkets on a regular basis. Use a brush attachment on your vacuum to clean dust and debris from on top of your books and a dry cloth to dust the spines. And yes, experts encourage you to stand your books up as opposed to stacking them. Stacking can lead to pages and covers warping if all books in the stack aren't the exact same size. Another pro tip - instead of tilting your books out to remove them from the shelf, slide them out by gripping on either side of the spine. This will also help preserve their structure. To prevent books from leaning, use book ends to hold them upright but not too close together so the inks from the covers don't stick or transfer.

• The missing numbers are integers between 0 and 8. • The numbers in each row add up to totals to the right. • The numbers in each column add up to the totals along the bottom. • The diagonal lines also add up the totals to the right. NUMBER BLOCK Try to fill in the missing numbers.

SOLUTION

Courtesy of thinkablepuzzles.com/ numberblocks/numberblock15.shtml

Q: You’re a bus driver on a fall leaf tour. At the first stop 4 people get on. At the second stop 8 people get on, at the third stop 2 people get off and, at the fourth stop everyone got off. The question is what colour are the bus driver’s eyes? A: The same as yours: you’re the bus driver. Q: There is a bush, a pine tree and an oak tree and it is the fall season. If the wind is blowing towards the west, which way does the leaves on the pine tree fall? A: A pine tree doesn’t have leaves.

Calgary housing market sees shifts

$346,500 apartment UP 15.8% year-to-year

$762,600 detached UP 9.5% year-to-year

BENCHMARK PRICES

$461,700 rowhouse UP 12.5% year-to-year

2,186 SOLD LISTINGS 3,536 NEW LISTINGS

detached 1,026 604 apartment

detached 1,595

1,001 apartment

2.0 MONTHS OF INVENTORY

4,487 ACTIVE LISTINGS

61.8% SALES TO NEW LISTING RATIO

27 DAYS ON MARKET

Inventory levels in August reached 4,487 units, 37 per cent higher than last August but nearly 25 per cent lower than long-term trends for the month. Higher-priced properties mostly drove the supply gains, as the most affordable homes in each property type continued to report supply declines. The supply gains were made possible by both an increase in new listings in August and a pullback in sales activity. There were 2,186 sales in August, representing a 20 per cent decline from last year's record high, but still 17 per cent higher than long-term averages for the month. The sales declines were driven by homes priced below $600,000. Statistics reflect market activity in August 2024 | Source: CREB ® Calgary Real Estate Board. Market values stated are of the benchmark of the city of Calgary. Individual home market values will vary and are affected by factors such as location, size, interior and exterior condition. Please call to get an up-to-date evaluation of your home.

City of Calgary, September 3, 2024 — Housing activity continues to move away from the extreme sellers’ market conditions experienced throughout the spring. Easing sales, combined with gains in supply, pushed the months of supply above two months in August, a level not seen since the end of 2022. “As expected, rising new home construction and gains in new listings are starting to support a better-supplied housing market,” said Ann-Marie Lurie, Chief Economist at CREB ® . “This trend is expected to continue throughout the remainder of the year, but it’s important to note that supply levels remain low, especially for lower-priced properties. It will take time for supply levels to return to those that support more balanced conditions.”

Real Estate is not just about selling or buying a home. It’s about representing YOUR greatest asset! The referral of your family and friends is the greatest compliment you can give me . . . Thank you for Your Trust and Confidence!

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