March 2002
Newsletter
- About Us & $300
Winner
- Forcing Flowers
- Monthly Money Saving
Tip
- Deck and Patio Planning
- Affiliate Program and
Our Sponsors
- The Monthly Funny! :)
1. About Us &
$300 Winner
We are a reliable and easy way to find SCREENED, LICENSED,
and INSURED professionals for any Home or Business
improvement need. We do your homework for you. We would
like to congratulate Carol (BeanFace). She was our $300 Home
Show winner. Carol will receive $300 towards her renovation
project.
2. Forcing Flowers
TheForcing Made Easy
Springtime comes early when you force bulbs into bloom indoors.
During the frigid, dreary months of winter, you'll enjoy the powerful
fragrance of hyacinths, the sweet scent of paperwhite narcissus,
and the cheerful color of tulips, as well as other spring-flowering
bulbs, if you plan ahead.
Chill potted and bulk bulbs in closed paper bags. First
step is to
chill a large enough pot for the bulbs you want it to hold. Place as
many bulbs as possible in the pot, without letting them touch.
When chilling bulbs in the refrigerator, store them away from fresh
fruits and vegetables that can emit ethylene gas and damage the
flowers developing inside the bulbs. Cover the bulbs with soil-less
mix, leaving their tips showing. Water the bulbs thoroughly. Label
with name and date; loosely cover pot with a paper bag. Place in
cool (35 to 45 degree F), dark storage for chilling. Check moisture
in pot periodically. Keep soil damp but not wet. When chilling is
complete, you'll see roots poking out of the bottom of the pot and
green sprouts emerging at the bulb tips. It's time to move the
potted bulbs into a warm room. When flower buds form, move
potted bulbs into a sunny spot. Keep the soil damp. When flowers
appear, move the pot out of direct sun to make the blooms last
longer. After the blooms fade and wither, toss them (bulbs and all)
into the compost. Most forced bulbs have used up their energy and
won't bloom again. (BHG)
3. Monthly Money
Saving Tip
Local company is offering Calgarians savings on long distance
phone calling. Rates within Canada is $17.95/month for 800
minutes evening and weekends and calls to the United States
anytime for $20/month for 600 minutes. Call 1-877-684-4291 for
more details.
4. Deck and Patio Planning
The path to a comfortable new patio or
deck begins right outside
your door. Many people regard a patio or deck as a simple
rectangle off the back door. But why not consider a succession of
patios and level changes connected by steps, or a secluded
"getaway" deck to make use of an attractive corner of your
property?
Your site's exposure to sun, wind, rain, and snow can limit its
potential as an enjoyable outdoor room. Microclimates (weather
pockets created by very localized conditions) can also make a big
difference. You may be able to moderate the impact of the weather
with the addition of an overhead structure, walls, screens, or
plantings. In general, a site that faces north is cold because it
receives little sun. A south-facing patio is usually warm because it
gets daylong sun. An east-facing patio is likely to be cool,
receiving only morning sun. A west-facing patio can be unbearably
hot because it gets the full force of the afternoon sun; in late
afternoon, it may also fill with harsh glare. The sun's rays strike
your property at predictable angles, depending on the time of year
and where you live. A south-facing patio gets maximum sun and
heat; a northern site is coldest. If, in assessing your climate,
you
learn that winter storms generally blow out of the northeast, you
may want to locate your patio or deck where it will take less of a
beating from the weather-perhaps on the south side of the house,
where it will be partially protected by trees or a roof overhang. If
you
live in an area where brief summer cloudbursts frequently occur,
you can extend your patio's usefulness by adding a solid roof so
you can sit outdoors during warm-weather rains. Understanding
wind having too much wind blowing across your patio on a cool day
can be just as unpleasant as having no breeze at all on a hot day.
Check your lot in relation to three types of air movement: annual
prevailing winds, localized seasonal breezes (daily, late-afternoon,
or summer), and high-velocity blasts generated by stormy weather.
Chances are that air currents around your house are slightly
different from those generally prevailing in your neighborhood. Wind
flows like water-after blowing through the trees, it may spill over
the house and drop onto your patio. Post small flags or ribbons
where you want wind protection and note their movements during
windy periods. You'll soon see where you need shelter. Deciduous
plantings provide shade in summer, allow sun to penetrate in
winter. Remember that cold air flows downhill like water,
"puddles"
in basins, and can be dammed by walls or fences. If you build a
sunken patio or one enclosed by your house and a retaining wall,
you may find yourself shivering while higher surroundings are less
cold. Keep in mind, too, that certain materials reflect sun
and/or
heat better than others. Light-colored masonry paving and walls are
great for spreading sun and heat (though they can be
uncomfortably bright) and dark masonry materials retain heat
longer, making evenings on the patio a little warmer. Strategically
placed barrier plantings can help block wind, while allowing some
breezes through. Your design should be able to accommodate
your family's favorite activities, from relaxation and casual
gatherings to children's games, barbecues, and entertaining. As
an extension of your indoor living space, your patio should offer the
same feeling of privacy as interior rooms do, but with no sense of
confinement. Building an elevated deck, for example, can open as
many unpleasant views as attractive ones-and expose you to view
as well. Do you need to add screens, arbors, or plantings to
remedy the problem? Could an ivy-draped wall and a trickling
fountain help buffer unwanted noise? Patio paving materials have
different properties. For example, some become slippery when wet;
others are too sharp or uneven for children's games. Passage from
house to patio and from deck to garden must be safe and
unobstructed. Adequate lighting should be provided at steps and
along garden paths. As in a beautiful indoor room, colors should be
placed in a coordinated relationship to one another. Brick, adobe,
wood, and stone have distinctive, generally earthy colors. Concrete
has more industrial overtones, but can be softened with aggregate,
stamping and staining, or integral color. Even plants on or around
your patio or deck should contribute harmonious tones. Use
complementary colors sparingly, as accents. Remember that all
foliage is not simply "green"; the range of shades is really
very
large. A patio or deck should entice people outdoors. So be sure to
consider the transition from the inside of your house to the outside.
Wide French or sliding glass doors make the outdoors look inviting
and also make the interior space expand psychologically. To
create your plan, place a sheet of tracing paper over your base
map. Draw carefully and label all features clearly. Most designers
create a "plan" view and one or more "elevations."
(A plan view is
the classic bird's-eye view of the layout as if seen from above; an
elevation, or straight-on view, shows how the scene would look to a
person standing in one spot nearby.) If you have a knack for
design, there's no reason why you can't develop a working plan,
though it's wise to have at least an hour's consultation with a
professional landscape architect or designer.
5. Affiliate Program & Our Sponsors
We currently also have quality, reliable companies that help
promote our service. Please find out more about them at:
http://www.homeworkcanada.com/sponsors.htm
Pillar to Post Home Inspection,Re/Max First, Remax House of
Real Estate, AmeriSpec Home Inspection Services, Keaco
Services, Chesney's Home Hardware, Gunther's Building Supply,
Verda Tech Inc.,High Security Lock Co., Home Alyze, Chesney's
Home Hardware, Revy Home & Garden, Homelife Realty, Banbury
Lane, Calgary Seniors Society, Coldwell Banker, Gunthers Building
Supply, Royal LePage, BenchMark Real Estate, Diamond
Fireplaces, Maxwell South Star Realty, Century 21, Smith
Insurance, Century 21 The Professionals, WeList.Com, Accesible
Housing Society.
6. The Monthly Funny :)
It was snowing heavily and blowing to the point that
visibility
was almost zero when the little blonde got off work. She made
her way to her car and wondered how she was going to make it
home. She sat in her car while it warmed up and thought about
her
situation. She finally remembered her daddy's advice that
if she got caught in a blizzard, she should wait for a snow plow
to come by and follow it. That way she would not get stuck in
a snow drift. This made her feel much better, and sure enough in
a little while snow plow went by and she started to follow it.
As she followed the plow she was feeling very smug as they
continued, and she was not having any problems at all with
the blizzard conditions. After quite some time had passed
she was somewhat surprised when the snow plow stopped.
The driver got out, came back to her car and signaled for her
to roll down her window. The snow plow driver just wanted to
know
if she was all right, as she had been following him for a long
time. She said that she was fine, and told him of her daddy's
advice.
The driver replied that it was OK with him and she could
continue if she wanted, but that he was now finished plowing
the WalMart parking lot, and was going over to Zeller's next!
* If you enjoy this newsletter please forward it to friends!
They can
then e-mail us to receive it each month and be entered for the
draw. Thank You!
