Courtesy of Nantha Aiyadurai

VOLUME 347 ISSUE 4 YOUR HOUSE

UPGRADE YOUR FRONT DOOR THIS SPRING With spring comes a season of rebirth and one way to make a statement in your home is to replace, or paint, the front door. A new door with windows or stained glass or the same door in a new colour can create a whole new vibe for you and guests entering your home. If painting or replacing the door isn’t in your budget, consider just changing the hardware (knobs and locks) for a small change. To replace your front door, head to your local home improvement store for a plethora of options and expert advice. Be sure the door you’re choosing will provide proper insulation, security and will fit in the current frame you have. When choosing to paint your current door, you’ll want to protect any hardware by covering with painter’s tape (unless of course, you’re replacing it) then sanding down the current finish on the door. After sanding, thoroughly clean the door to remove dust residue and then apply a coat, or two, of exterior-grade paint and primer. Once dry, polish or replace the hardware and you’re all done. Whether you replace or repaint your door, finish off the new look with a new doormat and plants and enjoy your new entrance.

Cell: 613-850-9931

Office: 613-288-1999 Fax: 613-288-1555 nantha@coldwellbanker.ca www.nantha.ca

Sarazen Realty Brokerage 2544 Bank Street Ottawa ON K1T 1M9

FARMHOUSE STYLE DECOR Perhaps you live in rural Canada and your home’s decor can authentically be called farmhouse chic because your home was built a certain way to be functional and utilize the supplies found locally. Or perhaps you live in urban Canada and long for the look of a modern farmhouse style as it brings back nostalgic memories or allows you to escape from the pace and style of city living. Regardless, there are a few key elements that define a farmhouse decor style that you can incorporate into your home if you so choose. The primary element in farmhouse decor is the use of natural materials like distressed wood, exposed stone and metal. Paired with neutral and warm colour palettes, the natural materials provide a stark contrast and really stand out when used accordingly. Consider incorporating or highlighting metal accents, exposed wood beams, open shelves and barn-style doors throughout the home. Furthermore, distressed or antique furniture as well as comfy, textured fabrics on sofas and linens round out the look.

George (1905 to 1983) was an American writer, radio host, screenwriter and movie producer who was best known for being a Hollywood gossip columnist.

KINDNESS IS ONE THING YOU CAN’T GIVE AWAY. IT ALWAYS COMES BACK. — George Skolsky

UNSTUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS INGREDIENTS: • 1 tbsp olive oil

DIRECTIONS: 1. Warm the oil in a large deep sided skillet or Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add the beef, chili powder, garlic, salt, and pepper. Crumble the meat as it cooks. 2. When the meat has browned, about 8 minutes, add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, vinegar, brown sugar. Stir to combine and bring to a boil. simmer, and cover with lid. Cook until the cabbage is bright green, tender, and still slightly crisp, about 4-5 minutes. 4. Add in the cooked rice and simmer just until heated through about 2 minutes. Serve warm. 3. Stir in the cabbage, reduce to

• 2 lbs ground beef • 1 tsp chili powder • 1 tsp granulated garlic or garlic powder • 1 tsp kosher salt • ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper • 24 oz crushed tomatoes • 15 oz tomato sauce • 2 tbsp white wine vinegar • ¼ cup light brown sugar • ½ head green cabbage about 4-6 cups, chopped into 1-inch pieces • 2 cups cooked rice (total amount is rice when cooked)

Courtesy of barefeetinthekitchen.com

ROLLING STORAGE SHELVES

Storage is something every home owner needs and never seems to have enough of. Creating a rolling storage system in the basement, garage or spare room can alleviate a lot of storage problems. The easiest way to create a storage system like this is to purchase bookshelves or shelving units and add casters (wheels) to the base so they can be rolled up against a wall or in a nook and then pulled out when needed. Adding labels and handles to the side of the bookcase or shelf can help make the items more accessible. Items can be placed right on the shelf or into bins or baskets to keep smaller items together. Going one step further and adding hooks or a tension rod in place of a shelf (when structurally sound) can allow for other storage options like hanging tools, clothes, pet supplies, etc. Doors or curtains can be added to the front of the bookcase if needed as well. Be aware if your shelving unit is tall, you will want to put the heavy items on the bottom to prevent it from falling over. PICKLEBALL ANYONE? At some point in the last couple of years, you’ve probably heard of the latest sport taking over the country - pickleball. A sport that required no skill and relatively no special equipment to start, anyone can head to a local gym or league to partake in the sport that is a mix of tennis, badminton and ping pong. Played on a badminton-sized court (indoors or outdoors) with a paddle and a plastic ball that has holes in it, like a whiffle ball, the sport is great for singles or doubles. If you’re looking to try out the sport, players say it is really easy to learn the rules and you can make the game as intense as you’d like. Start by finding an athletic pair of shoes that offer foot support and have good grip to prevent slips on the court. Check with your local gym or community center to see if they provide equipment for the sport or if you need to purchase your own paddle and ball. Paddles and balls can be purchased online or at most sporting goods store.

JOKES

Knock, Knock. Who's there? Rain Rain who?

Knock, knock. Who's there? Ears. Ears who? ‘Ears another knock knock joke for ya!

Knock, knock. Who’s there? Canoe. Canoe who? Canoe come out to play now?

Knock, knock. Who’s there? Howl. Howl who? Howl you know unless you open the door?

You're not going to tell me to go away and come again another day, are you?

Courtesy of funology.com

QUICK AND INEXPENSIVE WAYS TO UPDATE YOUR KITCHEN You probably spend a lot of time in your kitchen: cooking, eating, celebrating, chatting, etc. as life seems to happen around food and in the room where it’s prepared. If it’s not your favourite room in the house, give yourself a small budget and a weekend to make a few notable changes to create a happier space. Here are five ideas: 1. Paint your cabinets a trendy colour like blue or a more neutral colour like white to give your kitchen a whole new look. Note: two toned cabinets (for example white above the counters and green below) is quite trendy this year. 2. Update your light fixtures. Creating a bold focal point with a unique light fixture will give your kitchen a whole new perspective. 3. Add art to the room. Whether it’s a painting on the wall or an artful pattern on the curtains, add a bit of personality to your kitchen with art. 4. Give your feet a break with luxurious, washable runners or rugs under the table, in front of the sink and anywhere else you have to stand for long periods of time. Keep the rug neutral or go bold, but focus on comfort as you’ll be thankful for that in the long run. 5. Install a fancy (and functional) faucet. If you’re still using the basic faucet that was there when you moved in, treat yourself to a fancy new faucet with sprayers, touchless operation or even lights.

SUDOKU

Fill in the blanks so that each row, each column, and each of the nine 3x3 grids contain one instance of each of the numbers 1 through 9. Each row and column will also contain one instance of each of the number 1 through 9.

Answer:

Thinking Of Buying Or Selling Real Estate? Call Today!

Privacy Disclosure: We respect your privacy. The sponsor indicated on the front panel provides a complimentary subscription of this publication to you, a valued client. If at any time or for any reason you do not want to receive this publication, please contact the sponsor using any of the contact info on the front panel, and your personal information will be removed from the mailing list immediately. Without response to this cancellation offer, we assume your implied consent and permission to continue provision. Disclaimer: This publication is distributed for the purpose of information only. It is not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract by a real estate firm or under contract with another Broker, nor is it intended to cause or induce breach of any existing agreement. Distributed By: DMS Marketing Inc. Copyright© 2024 All Rights Reserved / Printed on recyclable material The trademarks REALTOR ® , REALTORS ® and the REALTOR ® logo are controlled by CREA and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA.