Courtesy of Mary-Ann Kennedy

PARKSVILLE QUALICUM BEACH REALTY

Mary-Ann Kennedy Real Estate Agent, REALTOR ® Office 250.248.4321 | Cell 250.616.2332 maryann@maryannkennedy.ca maryannkennedy.ca

173 Island W Hwy Parksville, BC V9P 2H1

YOUR HOME GUIDE

2025 | ISSUE 7

At the start of every year, paint producers eagerly release their hottest colours for the upcoming season; designers and homeowners alike flock to stores to incorporate the new shade into their décor. Now, over halfway through the year, the lesser known hues are being reported to breathe new life into overlooked colour palettes. Radiant Lilac , for instance, is a classic purple by Sherwin-Williams touted as The Loneliest Colour of 2025 . While purple is on the rise as bold and buzzworthy to use in bedrooms, bathrooms and secondary spaces, this particular shade may be a bit too classic for design innovators. However, for those willing to take a creative risk, this paint colour is a lovely option for reviving an otherwise dull space. Paired with deeper purples or greys, a lilac shade can make a room feel more contemporary whereas when paired with contrasting colours like oranges, yellows and greens, it can give a more modern look. If you’re looking to change up your décor this summer, consider the lesser used colours to stand out above the crowd. UNIQUE PAINT COLOURS

Bourbon & Orange Ribs SLOW COOKER

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 tsp fresh thyme • 1 tbsp garlic powder • 2 tsp seasoning salt • Salt and pepper to taste

• 3 lbs baby back pork ribs, cut into pieces

• ½ cup bourbon • 4-5 orange slices • The juice of 2 large navel oranges • 2 cups your favourite barbecue sauce

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a medium bowl, combine barbecue sauce, bourbon, orange juice, orange slices and thyme. Set aside. 2. Season the ribs with garlic powder, seasoning salt and salt/pepper. Place ribs in the slow cooker and cover in sauce. 3. Cover and cook on high for four hours. You can rotate the ribs after two hours and re-distribute sauce over the ribs. 4. Once cooking is complete, transfer to a serving platter and serve hot.

VINCE LOMBARDI (NFL COACH, MOST NOTABLY FOR THE GREEN BAY PACKERS, FROM 1959–1967.)

THE ONLY PLACE SUCCESS COMES BEFORE WORK IS IN THE DICTIONARY.”

USING EDIBLE FLOWERS Beautiful floral blossoms can enhance the look and taste of your favourite dessert, salad, main dish or even cocktail. Before adding any flower you find attractive, follow these rules to keep you safe. • Do be sure to wash the flowers gently to remove dust, dirt and critters. Also remove any visible pollen, along with the stamens and styles. • Confirm the flower you use is an edible bloom, as not all are. Avoid picking flowers found on the roadside or from unknown locations as you want to ensure they haven’t been exposed to pollutants or harmful chemicals before consuming them. • Do look for blooms specifically grown for consumption or grow your own to ensure they are organic and safe. Check your local farmers market, florist or grocery store. Some edible flower options include nasturtium, pansy, rose, honeysuckle and squash flowers (e.g. zucchini). Don’t be shy when incorporating blooms into your cooking. Add them as garnishes to drinks and salads, sauté some in pasta dishes or use fresh or candied flowers to decorate cakes and desserts.

JULY

AGING IN PLACE

JOKE

A man was driving down the road when a policeman stopped him. The officer looked in the back of the man’s truck and said, “Why are these penguins in your truck?” The man replied, “These are my penguins. They belong to me.” “You need to take them to the zoo,” the policeman said. The next day, the officer saw the same guy driving down the road. He pulled him over again. He saw the penguins were still in the truck, but they were wearing sunglasses this time. “I thought I told you to take these penguins to the zoo!”, the officer said. “I did,” the man replied. “And today I’m taking them to the beach.” ANAGRAMS Unscramble the letters below to make words related to summer!

If you, like a number of Canadians, decide aging in place is how you want to spend your golden years, take the time to plan early so when the need arises, you’ll be set. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, aging in place is the idea that as you grow older, instead of moving to a senior living residence, you add amenities to your current living space that allow you to comfortably stay in your home and community. To start your plan, decide if your current home is suitable for the transition. Look at things like the layout, number of stairs, proximity to stores you would want to visit and decide if it’s a place you can modify or if you would be better off purchasing a new property with the appropriate features. Once you’ve decided on the property, think about modifications that will allow you to easily move around your home, as falls are a leading cause of injury for seniors. Look into common areas where footing may be an issue: living spaces, floor transitions and bathrooms all may have hidden risks that could cause you to slip, trip or fall. • Start with simple modifications like securing the edges of your area rugs (or removing them entirely) to limit tripping hazards in your walking space. Add a solid hand railing along the stairs (this is useful at any age). • With flooring, have a look at the transitions as you move from room to room. If these transitions are different heights, the next time you make a flooring update, consider levelling each area so there are no ‘lips’ to step over. • In the bathroom, items like grab bars will help you navigate entry into and around the shower; or on your staircase, there may come a time when you want to install a chair lift. Even if you’re not ready to install these items now, you can plan any renovations to be strong enough to support the installation in future years. • Lastly, consider your furniture. Height, firmness, stability are all items to think about when purchasing new pieces as you want to ensure you can easily get up off the couch or climb in and out of bed. When positioning your furniture in your space, keep in mind the path you take to get to your favourite chair and place accessories out of the way – that way, you won’t trip over the magazine rack on your way to sit down. The more planning and adjusting you can do now while you’re healthy and spry will help you age in place comfortably in the future.

RANGENDIG _________

SWOLFER _______

YLJU ____

MIMWINGS ________ NCIICP ______ UNHISSEN _______ CIREMACE ________ TAGUSU ______ LOYDIHA _______

Picnic, Sunshine, Ice Cream, August, Holiday

Solution: Gardening, Flowers, July, Swimming,

HOUSING MARKET WEATHERING UNCERTAINTY AS SUMMER UNFOLDS

PARKSVILLE-QUALICUM

$505,300 apartment DOWN 1.7% year-to-year

$906,200 detached UP 1.0% year-to-year

$658,300 townhouse UP 2.8% year-to-year

BENCHMARK PRICES

58 TOTAL SOLD LISTINGS

Nanaimo, July 2, 2025 -The Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) recorded 858 unit sales (all property types) in June 2025, up 18 per cent from one year ago. Year-over-year active listings (all property types) were 4,542, up one per cent from the previous year. Active listings of single-family homes were 1,527 last month compared to 1,566 in June 2024. VIREB’s inventory of condo apartments was 394 in June, down from the 440 listings posted one year ago. There were 365 row/townhouses for sale last month compared to 364 in June 2024. VIREB Chair Olivier Naud notes that VIREB’s housing market remains balanced, with approximately six months of inventory, an optimal situation for buyers and sellers.

“The continued economic uncertainty caused by the Trump administration’s tariff threats makes it difficult to forecast any long-term trends in the housing market,” says Naud. “However, despite some oddities and anomalies in local markets, the Vancouver Island housing market is proving to be remarkably resilient. It continues to buck the trend of declining home sales experienced on the Lower Mainland.” The Parksville-Qualicum area saw its benchmark price increase by one per cent to $906,200. Stats Reflective of June 2025 | Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board | Market values stated are of the benchmark of Parksville-Qualicum. 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.

Call me with all your real estate needs and questions.

Mary-Ann Kennedy Real Estate Agent, REALTOR ® Office 250.248.4321 | Cell 250.616.2332 maryann@maryannkennedy.ca maryannkennedy.ca

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