Me & Mine Magazine: Spring 2012

Spring 2012

Swap & Shop The Right Dog for You What is Hypnosis?

A Little Space To Call Your Own

What is going on at the Sutter Theater?

A group of local artists and supporters got together and planned The Theater Gallery, which opened on January 1, 2012.

After the exterior renovations are completed, we will begin to make improvements to the lobby and restrooms in order to open a “black box” theater in place of the existing two small theaters. When completed, this will allow us to provide an extremely versatile space for events, receptions, classes, and entertainment. A performing arts auditorium is planned for the existing large movie theater space in the rear of the building.

How did you get involved in this project?

Two local individuals came up with the concept, then put together a group of interested individuals to form an Executive Board. I was asked to be part of that group, and being recently retired from Rideout Hospital, I was willing and able to make the necessary time commitment. I was born in Yuba City, have had a good life here, and wanted to give back to my community and make it a better place to live, work, and play. It’s kind of my way of saying “thank you” to Yuba City!

How will the community benefit from this renovation?

I believe that communities benefit from having a community center that transcends culture and economics.

I believe that everyone in a community benefits from the creativity of others. I also believe that communities derive pride from accomplishments that benefit everyone. Our vision for a Sutter Performing Arts Community Center is that it will be a place that the local citizenry can look at with pride and a sense of accomplishment. It will act to encourage our diverse cultural community arts organizations in helping all residents, regardless of cultural or economic backgrounds, to experience the arts or express their creative and artistic abilities. It will enhance our renovated downtown shopping district by acting as a focal point, and will help improve the local economy by helping to keep our entertainment dollars local. It will provide a venue for schools and private arts organizations to display and showcase educational and entertainment activities.

And finally, it will allow our town to preserve a centrally-located historical landmark for all to enjoy.

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e

3 What Is Hypnosis?

4 Sun Smart 6 The Right Dog for You 20 Plant Your Own Veggies

24 Swap & Shop

16 Let’s Play 18 Everyone Needs Room to Play 8 Nightmares 10 Monkey See, Monkey Do 12 The Wonderment and Magic of Play

2 From ME & Mine 30 ME and My Home

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on the cover Terri, photographed by Moments to Remember Phototography

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www.meandminemagazine.com Me and Mine magazine is an LLC and its information, format and designs are protected by copyright laws. Any reproduction of content, photography or arrangement is not permitted unless written permission is granted by the publisher of the magazine.

Contributing authors and photographers are responsible for content and accuracy in their submissions and Me and Mine Magazine, its founders or members assume no responsibility for errors or omissions.

Me and Mine Magazine, LLC, Š Copyright 2012

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Thank you to our contributors!

Moments To Remember Photography by Michelle Chandler mymomentstoremember.com Samantha Prather Photography samanthaprather.com Heather Smith Photography heathersmithphoto.com

Jennifer Jaeger Traynham Publisher Rona Desmond Marketing & Advertising Executive Jessica Jaeger Editor

Dreamy Capture Photography

by Lisa Lizarraga dreamycapture.com

ith warmer weather right around the corner, we’re dreaming of spring! The days get longer, the world around us reveals new life, and there’s a renewal of energy. There’s something magically refreshing about this season of the year. Spring resurrects the earth’s beauty with its multitude of colors, scents of sweetness, and warmth of sunshine.

Just like the new growth that springtime restores, our mind, body, and spirit become rested, refreshed, and renewed! This is why we’re bringing you an issue full of rediscoveries! If you’re like us, you’re always evaluating things you wish to restore or re-purpose in your lives. It might be refining your wardrobe or renovating your home, refreshing everything from your palate to your pastime, or rethinking a garden and revamping your closet.

Whatever it is, spring is a great time to rediscover what truly makes your heart smile.

The birds are singing…so get out there and rejoice! Your one-of-a-kind self deserves it!

Me and Mine

2

What is

HYPNOSIS?

By Rev. Jana Shannon, CHt

hen most people hear the word “hypnosis,” the images that immediately come to their minds are usually based on misconceptions. Quite often, our understanding of hypnosis is based upon something seen in a movie, on television, or in the performance of a stage hypnotist. Clinical hypnosis is quite different. I have yet to see a portrayal of hypnosis in a movie or on TV that is accurate… it is all theatrical! Stage hypnotism is strictly for entertainment, not self-improvement.

Hypnosis is a very normal, natural experience. Everyone goes into a hypnotic state at least once a day. It is like watching television and becoming so involved in a program that someone can talk to us, but their words just don’t register. Has that ever happened to you?

Hypnosis is similar to traveling to a place you have been before, but your mind is on something else. Without realizing it, you find yourself two or three blocks past where you wanted to go. Even though you were not paying attention to where you are geographically, you were driving safely.

Why? The answer lies in your subconscious mind. Your subconscious protects you by helping you keep a safe distance between your car and the car in front of you, and by subconsciously paying attention to the oncoming traffic. Just like this experience, hypnosis is a very natural process. When you go into hypnosis, you will notice that you have become more relaxed and comfortable. As you enter hypnosis, you will be able to breathe out any tension and simply sink deeply into the experience.

Your subconscious mind will also protect you when you are in hypnosis, for you will not do anything that is against your personal or moral convictions. If a suggestion were given that was against your personal or moral convictions, you would either not follow the suggestion or you would come out of hypnosis. The hypnotherapist is only a guide; you are always in control of yourself.

During the time just before we drop off to sleep, we enter another hypnotic state. It is most noticeable when napping; you can hear

everything that is going on, but still feel so relaxed and peaceful. That is a natural state of hypnosis, and those brainwaves of relaxation and pre-sleep are just like the brainwaves you’d have when you are an induced state of hypnosis.

During therapeutic hypnosis, your hypnotherapist will induce a state of hypnosis so you can achieve and maintain a relaxed state, but are not so relaxed that you go to sleep. If you are asleep, you are no longer in a hypnotic state. Some people believe that when you are hypnotized, you are unconscious, but this is not the case.

In your hypnotic state, you will hear everything the hypnotherapist says. You will

consciously remember much of what is said and your subconscious mind will remember any and all positive suggestions.

People experience hypnosis in very different ways. Some people will drift into a deeply relaxed state quickly. Others enter into a lighter trance with a heightened state of awareness. Clients often remark that the hypnotic state is a more fully relaxing and enjoyable experience than having a full body massage—and you get to keep your clothes on!

How does it work? Our mind is made up of two parts. We have a conscious part of our mind, which consists of about 12% of our thinking power, and a subconscious part of our mind, which consists of about 88% of our thinking power. Like an iceberg, only a small portion is above the water (conscious) while the great majority of the iceberg is below the surface of the water (subconscious).

The conscious mind is the more logical part of our mind. The subconscious mind, on the other hand, has two purposes.

It controls our breathing, pulse rate, blood pressure, and heartbeat, and it seeks to meet our deepest needs, expectations and desires.

For instance, if a person wants to stop smoking, the conscious mind says “stop smoking,” but the subconscious mind says, “How are you going to make it through the day without a cigarette?” If 12% of your mind is telling you to stop and 88% is telling you to pick up another cigarette, you will light a cigarette. Any behavior that has developed into a habit has done so because the subconscious mind believes we need to continue that behavior for our well-being.

That is why it is so hard to stop smoking or overcome other problems by conscious decision alone. With hypnosis, you can reprogram your subconscious mind so that it assists you instead of blocking change in your life.

In the hypnosis process, tensions and pressures of the day will start to disappear.

As you relax, many thoughts may pass through your mind, but that is okay. You will be aware of being very relaxed and comfortable, so that you are more likely to follow suggestion than at other times. The mind has what is called a “critical faculty,” which is a kind of filter that helps us cope with the constant bombardment of information we process every day. When under hypnosis, the “critical faculty” is bypassed and instead of evaluating the suggestion, the mind lets it go directly into the subconscious. When the subconscious accepts the suggestion, it begins to work to make it a reality. Working on issues in such a fully relaxed state allows for a deeper focus—a focus for healing and making positive changes in your life.

Rev. Jana Shannon, CHt is a certified Hypnotherapist and Life Celebration Minister.

At Life Flow Center (lifeflowcenter.com), she strives to assist clients to achieve balance in their lives, learn to relax and de-stress, change unwanted habits, and bring more peace and joy in their lives. Through complementary and alternative healing modalities such as hypnotherapy and focused self-healing, she empowers her clients to take an active part in their mind-body connection and care.

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Sun Smart

By Dr. Robert Peppercorn, M.D.

You probably already wear sunscreen when you are at the beach, lounging by a pool, attending an outdoor event, or just walking around on a hot summer day. But the sun’s rays affect our skin every day. In fact, most sun damage occurs as a result of incidental exposure during day-to-day activities, not at the beach.

Even on cloudy, cool, or overcast days, 80% of harmful UV rays travel through the clouds and reflect off sand, water, and even concrete. Clouds and pollution don’t filter out UV rays, and they can give a false sense of protection. This “invisible sun” can cause unexpected sunburns and skin damage.

Unprotected sun exposure is even more dangerous for children with: • Moles on their skin (or whose parents have a tendency to develop moles) • Very fair skin and red or blonde hair • A family history of skin cancer, including melanoma The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that all children, regardless of their skin tone, wear sunscreen. Although dark skin has more protective melanin and tans more easily than it burns, remember that tanning is also a sign of sun damage. Dark-skinned children can also develop painful sunburns.

Parents should know that even one or two blistering sunburns can significantly increase a child’s risk for developing melanoma/skin cancer later in life.

Here are some helpful tips to protect your family from sun damage: • Avoid being in the sun for prolonged times when it’s highest overhead and therefore the strongest, which is normally from 10 a.m. - 4p.m.

• One of the best ways to protect your family from the sun is to cover up and shield skin from UV rays.

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•E nsure that clothes will screen out harmful UV rays by placing your hand inside the garments and making sure you can’t see your hand through them.

Hats and UV-blocking sunglasses should be worn when outside.

•C hoose a sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher and one that has broad spectrum coverage (for UVA and UVB rays). For sunscreen to be effective, it needs to be applied generously 30 minutes prior to going outside. Reapply sunscreen often, approximately every 2 to 3 hours and after you sweat or swim.

• Babies under six months old should not use sunscreen and should be kept out of direct sun.

• Seek out shade when possible. When at the park, take a break and sit under a shade tree. When you go to the beach, take an umbrella with you.

• Being a good role model by wearing sunscreen and limiting your time in the sun not only reduces your risk of sun damage, but teaches your kids good sun sense.

Dr. Robert Peppercorn has practiced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery in the Yuba-Sutter area for more than 30 years.

Dr. Peppercorn attended Harvard College and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He received his dermatology training at Stanford University.

He has devoted the last three decades to establishing Sutter’s Advanced Dermatology and Laser Center as a widely respected, full service, state-ofthe-art university-quality department.

He enjoys spending time with his family, photography, and

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The

Right Dog For

You!

By Lynda Piercy

Photography by Heather Smith Photography

After much careful thought, you have decided to make a dog part of your family.

You realize the lifetime commitment, as well as the cost and time involved.

You have made your home dog-friendly and made sure you have a securely fenced yard for your new dog to have periodic exercise.

Now comes the next step...selecting

“the right dog for you!�

Here are some things to consider before you select your new life-long companion.

Activity Level Would a good fit for your family be an active breed that can keep up with athletic people, such as a Border Collie, or a calm lap companion with a low activity level, like a Maltese? Would it be better to have a dog that is outgoing and friendly with strangers, like a Boston Terrier, or one that is loyal to the family members and aloof with strangers, like a German Shepherd? Do you want a dog that barks, spins and jumps with excitement when you come home (and may bark or whine when

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you leave it alone), like a Jack Russell Terrier, or maybe one that is more independent and content when left alone, like a Pug? Different breeds of dogs have different energy and activity levels, as well as different exercise needs, so be sure to research the breed you’re interested in carefully before making any decisions.

higher costs involved with large dogs. The larger the dog, the more it costs to feed. In addition to more food, you will also need a bigger dog bed, bigger crate, bigger collar, and possibly even a bigger car to transport a larger dog. The size of a dog does not affect its temperament, so do your research to find kid-friendly dog breeds.

Size If you have small children, you might want a gentle, medium-sized dog.

Small dogs picked up by children can easily get hurt when they are dropped, while big dogs can accidentally hurt children by knocking them down. There are also

Coat If any family members have allergies to dogs, you will want to go with a breed that has little to no shedding, such as a Poodle or a wire-haired breed. If you want a dog with a long coat, like a Golden Retriever or Shih Tzu, it will require

frequent brushing. If you cannot properly groom the dog yourself, you will need to budget the cost of professional grooming into your dog’s care. Not all long-coated dogs should be shaved down for your convenience, as double-coated breeds have an undercoat that they naturally shed during hot weather, leaving the top coat as insulation protection from the heat. When a double coated dog, such as a Sheltie or Siberian Husky, is shaved, the insulation coat is removed and they can actually suffer from heat stroke or get sunburned. Labrador Retrievers, although not considered to have a long coat, are a doublecoated breed as well and require brushing to remove all the loose undercoat that they naturally shed. If you want little to no grooming, go with a short-haired dog.

Age If you choose a puppy, a lot of training will be involved. Getting involved in a puppy obedience training class in your area is a good idea. If you cannot always have your eyes on them, make sure they are in a safe place and not destroying your personal belongings or eating something that may have you rushing to the vet for expensive exploratory surgery.

Although the puppy stage really is a small portion of the average dog’s life span, it is time consuming and it takes devotion by all family members to bring the puppy up to be a good canine citizen. If you choose to take an adult into your home, remember that everything is new to the dog when the dog walks through your door. Think of a new adult dog as a puppy and you will be able to get them quickly adjusted to their new home.

Do not bring young children with you the first time you meet the dog.

Children live in the moment and find it hard to wait to make a decision about the best dog for your family and home.

The next step after you have chosen a dog is to check into training classes.

Observe them if you can before you bring your dog home so that you can enroll your dog in class for some great bonding time. Making good choices will make sharing your life with “the right dog for you” a wonderful experience!

Buy or Rescue If you choose a purebred dog from a breeder, only support responsible breeders who breed to preserve the breed—not to make a living. Each breed has health clearances that should be done to lower the risk of your purchasing a dog with health problems. Make yourself aware of what the breed’s health issues are and what testing is available to eliminate these problems. Make sure the breeder requires that the dogs pass these clearances before being bred. If you are looking to do competitions with your dog, look for a breeder that is experienced in this type of training with their dogs. Do not buy a purebred dog to show from a breeder that does not show. Good breeders are worth the time spent researching. Do not purchase a dog just to get one NOW. If you’re more interested in adopting a dog, Petfinder.com has many wonderful rescue dogs that are looking for forever homes. With rescue dogs, you’re not just getting a dog—you may be saving a life. Just remember—ALL puppies are cute.

Lynda Piercy has been raising and training dogs as well as educating the public on responsible dog ownership for over 20 years. She has accomplished 42 Championships and 237 performance titles on dogs owned and/or bred by her. She is very active with Boston Terrier and Small Breed Rescue. She is a Dog Obedience Instructor at Pawformance Pet Specialties in Yuba City.

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By Dr. Len Marks

Photography by Dreamy Capture Photography

s screams come over the intercom, I rush into my son’s room.

It is 4:30 AM, and Thaddeus is asleep in his bed, moving about and screaming. I shake him. He wakes up, crying and scared. “Mommy, I had a bad dream.”

Welcome to a nightmare: a frightening dream from which a toddler or child can be easily roused and which he may or may not remember having.

Nightmares are different from “night terrors,” which occur during the deepest sleep cycles where the child cannot be easily woken and which he/she cannot remember.

Good ol’ Sigmund Freud popularized the dream theory, which says that our dreams represent a subconscious, symbolic expression of feelings which are too frightening or threatening for the individual to deal with in real form. Nightmares represent dreams that get out of control and that the child cannot deal with. Most children will have an occasional nightmare; however, when they frequently occur they can be very disruptive and create major sleep problems.

For the child with the occasional nightmare, nothing other than hugs and love need to be given. But when they happen several times a month, something needs to be done other than avoiding all exposure to violence and horror (arguing at home, scary books, video games, movies and TV): giving the child a dreamcatcher.

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There are a few different philosophies regarding the dreamcatcher.

Some give the child an object and merely state, “This will catch your dreams and will prevent anything from scaring you.” This approach rarely works. Instead, you have to “sell” the object to the child and actually teach him how to incorporate it into the dream. When something frightening happens in a dream, he can call on the dreamcatcher, which will appear and chase the scary stuff away. Many psychologists feel the dreamcatcher actually represents the parents in a symbolic form that the child can utilize to protect him while asleep. This child now has a means to conquer his fears.

The dreamcatcher can be anything – a blanket, stuffed animal, toy, or something else. I recommend telling the child a story about how when the parent was a child, he/she had scary dreams and would call on the dreamcatcher, which would appear and chase the fiends away. At bedtime, the parent sits with the child and has him close his eyes, pretending to be asleep. Then the child thinks of what scares him. As he starts to get frightened, he can call on the dreamcatcher, which appears and—poof!—the scary stuff goes away. He is safe.

It is a powerful technique that might take a few nights to work, but will almost always be successful.

Dr. Len Marks is a Pediatrician at Sutter North Medical Group. He is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at UC Davis Medical Center and is an active local soccer coach. Dr. Marks’ office is located in Yuba City.

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Monkey See, MonkeyDo! e all know that children imitate others from an early age. A toddler pretending to talk on a cell phone is adorable, no doubt. But what happens when our little ones pick up and imitate our less obvious cues, such as our choices and attitudes about food?

Increasingly, children and even toddlers are becoming aware of the relationship between food and their bodies. One environment where this comes to light is the classroom.

Carrie Hogan, an early childhood educator in Plumas Lake, California, has observed this first-hand. She recounts a time when her class was sharing birthday cupcakes and a 4 year-old girl commented the food was “going straight to her thighs.” The child identified the relationship between the sugary treat and weight gain, and modeled the attitude shared by her caregivers. Hogan has also observed parents packing lunches for their preschool children that drive home poor food choices, such as packaged donuts, candy, and chips. As an educator, part of her responsibility is to teach healthy habits to the developing children in her classroom. In the past, her school has sent a blanket letter home to parents to address lunch box crimes.

They suggest healthier choices, like raw fruit or vegetable slices, whole grain bread, and low-sugar fruit juice or low-fat milk in hopes that the children begin to gain awareness of healthy eating from a young age.

By Susan Butler

The benefits of good maternal nutrition to a baby in the womb and infants are well-known because the primary source of the food comes directly from the mother. But as children begin to develop more independence in toddlerhood and onward, the direct benefit from the mother’s diet becomes less significant.

It’s then that the impression the child takes away from the caregivers starts playing a larger role in the child’s attitudes and choices about food. According to the Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development, “by the end of the first year of life, children are learning to feed themselves, and are making the transition to the family diet and meal patterns.” In essence, the parents are “endorsing” the foods and beverages offered to the child. The Encyclopedia also comments that the less healthy eating patterns modeled by caregivers are likely to establish eating behaviors that include excess amounts of fat and sugar in the child (Black and Hurley).

We know that our children not only see and hear what we do, but also copy habits that can affect their life span. Parents that make the effort to provide balanced nutrition, as well as healthy opportunities for exercise and play, are setting their children up for a lifetime of health and well-being. Whether you set the example by eating fresh, local, whole foods or participate in a form of exercise that includes your child, the influence of actions versus words is immeasurable. So get out there with your kids and lead the way to healthy habits!

Citations: Black MM, Hurley KM. Helping children develop healthy eating habits. Rev. ed. In: Tremblay RE, Barr RG, Peters RDeV, Boivin M, eds. Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development [online]. Montreal, Quebec: Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development; 2007:1-10. Available at: http://www.child-encyclopedia.com/documents/Black-HurleyANGxp_rev-Nutrition. pdf. Accessed August 30, 2011.

Susan Butler is owner of Baby Boot Camp, which serves Sutter and Yuba County. She is mom to Mason (4) and Evan Nicole (10m.). She is an AFAA Group Fitness Instructor and a physical therapist assistant. Susan has lived in Plumas Lake since 2004 and enjoys biking, reading, and trying new recipes out on her husband.

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The

Wonderment and Magicof Play

By Michele Blake, MA Photography by Moments to Remember Photography

Once upon a time when I was a little girl, I often played ballet teacher. I lined up my teddy bears, dolls, and even baby sister to act as my ballet students. I pretended to be their fabulous ballet teacher. I provided instruction on a plié and often reprimanded them for not standing in proper first position. I pretended that my bedroom was a grand dance studio, that my treasury of Golden Books was a state-of-the-art record player (remember those?!), and that my umbrella was a beautifully-carved instruction stick. This nostalgic memory of my childhood always puts a smile on my face because I remember having so much fun in my own imaginative, playful world.

Now that I am a parent, I encourage my own young children to visit their own imaginative, playful worlds. I love watching my two-year old daughter press her hairbrush to her ear and pretend it is a telephone where she carries on a conversation with her friend Max. It makes me happy to walk into my living room only to find that my six-year old son has used every cushion and pillow in the house to construct his castle, where he is engaged in dynamic acts of bravery like defending his castle from dragons! Not only are my children having fun, I know they are honing skills like language development, symbolic generalization, memory, and positive self-imagery through play.

I do understand that for some parents, walking into a living room that looks a mess due to cushions and pillows everywhere is just plain difficult. Initially it was for me, as well. But I now recognize that my son’s “mess” is his creative artistic expression. It is rich in role play, which means it’s also rich in learning.

Children delight in play. Play isn’t just fun, it is essential to the successful development of their brain, body, and intellect. Through play, our young children (especially those 0-5 years of age) create, explore, and interact in the world around them. Furthermore, play builds active, strong, and healthy little bodies – a proven strategy in the national battle against the obesity epidemic. As parents, we have the power to facilitate good health and healthy development for our children through play.

continued on page 14

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Try these play strategies today‌.

During Your Baby’s First Year (0-12 months): Babies grow and change so much during the first year.

Your baby learns through movement. Babies will play with their hands, show interest in toys, take pleasure in banging or biting or shaking items, and enjoy playing games such as peek-a-boo or pat-a-cake. Encourage your baby to kick that mobile; it truly delights them to see it move or change because of their own action. Provide safe toys for them to manipulate. Take them out for a stroll or walk, hunt for animal shapes in the clouds above, or listen to nature together.

Your 1-3 year old (Toddler): Your toddler has a lot of energy and will walk, run, push, pull, grab, and climb now.

Encourage your toddler to practice moving his or her body in different ways, such as walking backwards or sideways. Go outside every day, regardless of the weather, because they need the stimulation of nature and a chance to burn all of that wonderful energy.

Most toddlers really enjoy the company of other children, but will mostly play side-by-side. Give your toddler a chance to do puzzles, string beads, and scribble.

Your 3-5 year old (Preschooler): Your preschooler loves to dance, run, skip, tell jokes, jump with both feet, catch a ball, and be active. At this age, they begin to really enjoy more group activities and develop friendships. Your preschooler will also role play more elaborately because of their understanding of the relationship between things. Help your preschooler act out various roles and allow their imaginative world to safely come to fruition; in other words, do allow the cushion and pillow mess to happen every now and again.

Create wonderful and magical moments for your amazing children through play today, tomorrow, always.

Michele Blake,

A New Leader for Sutter County Children and Families Commission

Michele Blake, MA is the Executive Director for the Sutter County Children and Families Commission. Michele is committed and passionate to see all of our children reach their greatest potential in school and in life!

Michele lives in Yuba City with her husband and their two adorable children.

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Let’s a little space to call your own.

What is more captivating than the perfect hideaway? Your own mini-destination, designed & created with its own purpose, just for you? Children LOVE the small, special places that are all their own, where they are safe from the real world around them and free to imagine that anything is possible!

Many kids dream of having their very own hideaway. We’ve found these two fantastic tree houses we had to share with you! The Ehrke and Charter families have designed and built these amazing spaces for their kids to play.

“Our tree house sits between the rows of a walnut orchard behind our house, so our kids feel as if they are hidden away. Emily and Jack enjoy sleeping in their tree house. They have flashlights and walkie-talkies for late night missions to the main house. They like listening to music, reading, and just hanging out in the tree house. As a mom, I enjoy places where they can play and use their imagination. The tree house gives them a place to call their own, where they can enjoy time with friends and each other. Our kids are very lucky to have such a cool tree house and we hope they will one day look back on it fondly.” ~ Jody Ehrke “For my kids, the tree house is like their clubhouse. They like staying the night out there when they have a friend over, but most of the time they like going out there with each other. It gives them a sense of independence. They get to stay up as late as they want, talk, and play games. I think sometimes kids just need to be kids; all their time doesn’t need to be scheduled with organized activities and practices. Between school, sports, and all the other activities kids do these days, it’s important that they still have time for hanging out with their siblings and friends for “unorganized” play.

It is nice for them to have a space that isn’t centered around some kind of electronic device as well...although I’m sure a few electronic devices have made it into the fort!” ~ Amy Charter

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Imagine the possibilities of what you and your family could create in your own backyard.

You don’t need the perfect tree, just a great imagination!

Through the years, whether the space you help them create is a tree house, an ark, a spaceship, or an underground cave, it will always be their place--somewhere they can go to reset their chemistry under the stars and see where life leads them!

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Everyone Needs a Place to

y craft room began emerging in the early 1970s. It started as a bare room with a washer, dryer, sink, a huge freezer, and no cabinets! We soon added upper and lower cabinets—nothing fancy, just painted cabinets and long Formica counters. Over the years, this design has remained the same, but the purpose of the room has changed.

Early into the room’s use, it was where I sewed for the home and crafted for bazaars. It served as a mud room for three boys, a toy collection center, my office, and a daily laundry center.

The best thing about the room is that it has a huge window overlooking the back yard, which was refreshing to look out while folding the never-ending laundry. The shelves of the cabinets were filled with jars of canned goods, John Deere toy tractors, and hobby books.

The cabinets and drawers were filled with ice cream makers, pasta machines, an apple peeler contraption, large canning pots, wrapping paper, ribbon, greeting cards, pool-side dishes, spray paints, checkbooks, and carpenter tools.

My office had a Selectric typewriter and phone.

I was in business!

“Creating a serene place that is off-limits to worries, distractions and noise is not just beneficial for kids— it’s great for adults, too! Even if you don’t have an entire room of your own like Melinda, small nooks and spaces in your home can become special hideaways. It is essential to our sense of health and spiritual balance to find our own space, where we can retreat from the world or experience an intentional adventure! Even on a cold winter day, we can go here and feel like the sun must be shining somewhere in the world!”

After I resumed teaching, the room became a center for lesson plans, correcting papers, and my first computer. School preparation projects filled the counters, and the drawers filled with my collection of construction paper and markers. I was too busy to do many hobbies, but I enjoyed crafting for school. The room still remained a collection center for things that needed to be thrown out or put away, so it was always cluttered and chaotic.

Later, I was introduced to stamping and card-making by a friend at school.

We made Hawaiian-themed menus for my son’s rehearsal dinner.

Short-term paper projects provided quick gratification, so I became

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hooked on stamping and paper crafting. When I retired, my shelves became filled with stamp sets, drawers became full of ribbons, individual stamps, and metal baskets containing 30-plus paper punches. I also found room for a Cricut Machine, Accucut Machine, Singer Sewing Machine, several years of paper craft magazines, an updated printer, and a laptop. I now belong to a stamping club, attend card classes at Paper Garden Boutique in Sacramento, and shop online for paper and envelope deals. Three years ago, my friend and I began selling our cards at the Yuba City Farmers Market. This feeds our passion to make more cards. Fortunately, many people seem to enjoy them, and we always sell out by the end of the season.

For almost forty years, this room has been ‘my space’ for reflecting, writing, relaxing with enjoyable activities, and communicating with friends. I am usually in this space daily, whether it’s unloading groceries from the car, answering emails, phoning, planning schedules, or doing that never-ending laundry. As my age increases, sleep patterns are interrupted, and when I’m awake, I go to my ‘room’ and make a card or get on the internet. It has become the cat and dog room too. I’m still delighted by the big window view, still enjoying the flora and local birds, and still so thankful to live where I do. As my life continues to evolve, I’m sure this room will change its purpose again! ~ Melinda Nevis

Whether you have an entire room, a perfect corner, or even just a shelf or chair to yourself, make it special! Be inspired to transform a special place just for YOU. It should be a place where you can work, play, create, dream, take a deep breath, and best of all....just simply be. Surround yourself with whatever speaks to you, lovely things that make you smile and remind you how special and unique you are…not only to your family, but to the entire world.

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19

Plant Your Own

Veggies

By Jennifer Miner Photography by Samantha Prather Photography

feel that everybody should…and can…plant a vegetable garden. Growing your own veggies is truly the first step toward a healthy lifestyle.

Not only is gardening a good way to burn calories, but growing your own veggies means you get to enjoy vegetables that are fresher, riper, healthier, and cheaper!! If you have never planted one before, then you should really do yourself a favor and give it a try. You will eat healthier, more nutritious veggies and save money too.

For some reason the first thing most people think is, “I can’t grow anything…I kill everything!” However, you will be surprised at how easy growing a veggie garden can actually be. You don’t have to be a farmer or have a huge backyard to grow tasty vegetables. You can grow veggies even if you live in an apartment!

The first and most important step in building your veggie garden is the soil. If you are planting right in the ground, then you need to add lots of organic material (like compost, steer manure, or humus). You should measure out an area in your yard and then begin to turn the soil, mixing in your compost or other organic material. However, one of the best ways to grow a veggie garden is in a raised bed. You don’t have to have a huge raised bed to grow lots of yummy veggies; even a bed that is 4’x4’ will produce a decent amount of your favorite vegetables. I prefer raised beds because they make it much easier to grow your vegetables in great, nutrient-rich soil. Once your bed is built, fill it with a good planting mix.

Then, before every planting season, add a new layer of compost.

The second step is deciding what to plant in your new vegetable bed. Tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, and melons are some of the easiest produce to grow and usually are very prolific. If this is the first time you have planted a garden, then it is wise to start small and just try a few of your favorites. Don’t try and grow one of every vegetable that you see at the nursery. Start small and expand your garden as your success allows.

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n

e

The third step is going to be maintenance. Throughout the growing season you will need to watch for bugs and other pests. The good news is that there are many organic pest controls you can use in your veggie beds. Most veggies are heavy feeders, which means they will do better and grow bigger with fertilizer. Again, there are many great organic fertilizers that can be applied during the growing season that will help make your plants healthier and more vigorous. Avoid over-watering your plants; allow them to dry out between waterings. Don’t wait to water until the plants are drooping, but don’t water when the soil is wet to the touch. The best way to tell if you need to water is to dig down about 6” and if the soil is wet…don’t water.

Growing your own veggies is so much fun and truly can be rewarding. Once you get the hang of it, try canning or preserving some of the veggies you grew so you can enjoy garden-grown veggies all year long. Also, if you feel like being adventurous, try composting. You can put all your green waste in your compost pile then use that compost in your veggie bed the next season to help enrich the soil. It’s a win-win! Happy growing!!

Jennifer Miner is a wife to a loving husband and a mother of two beautiful young children. She is also the owner of Flower Hut Nursery, and looks forward to going to work every day!

how does your garden grow?

The Flower Hut Nursery has everything you need to grow a small or large veggie bed in a typical backyard. Our full service nursery is passionate about teaching you the importance of growing your own produce. It can have a huge impact on our environment and the health of our families. We focus on the "garden to pantry" approach. Preserve your own produce and enjoy the treats from your garden all year long.

530-633-4526

Attend a free classe at The Flower Hut Nursery!

We look forward to helping your garden grow!

Visit us on our website, and Facebook.

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Hours 9am - 5pm Wednesday - Monday (closed Tues)

603 4TH ST. WHEATLAND, CALIFORNIA

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10 Ways

Top

to Tackle a Closet

Cleaning and organizing a closet is a daunting task that everyone faces, but is the backbone of any “spring cleaning” project. Here are 10 ways to finally get your closet in shape and keep it that way!

Purge, Purge, Purge: Odds are, you have too much stuff. Open your closet doors and take a really hard look at what is there. Most of us are holding on to clothes that we haven’t worn in at least ten years which, let’s face it, will most likely never fit our current hips again. Decide to take action and get rid of all your unworn and unused items. This is the hardest part for most people, because they think that they may wear or use things again.

The reality is that the items you are holding on to probably won’t be what you choose to wear once you’ve lost that extra 20 pounds.

Make a commitment to simplify and rid yourselves of all excess NOW! Take out everything in your closet: You need to start with a clean slate, and most

By Karen Bourland-Bailey Photography by Moments To Remember Photography

closets would benefit from a good scrub down as well. Use your entire room to organize all your clothing, and keep like items grouped together. By taking out everything you are forced to touch every item in your closet, which causes our brains to see how much STUFF we really have.

Don’t get overwhelmed; remember you have made a commitment and that the end result may be life-changing.

Use the same hangers: You might think this is a ridiculous task, but uniformity is pleasing to the eye and brain. You may not be able to purchase all new hangers at one time, but discount stores sell hangers for decent prices. Set a goal to buy 10 or 20 hangers each month until all your hangers are the same. My personal favorites are the slim, non-slip hangers.

Hang in one direction: While this also may seem silly, the uniformity of your hangers will help you stay organized. Do what is comfortable for you. I am right-handed, so all of my closets have clothes facing left. This allows me to easily flip through my garments as if I were reading a book.

Hang your hangers backwards: Begin this project by placing all of your garments with the hanger in a backwards position. Every time you wear a garment, turn the hanger to the correct direction. After six months, look at all of your “un-flipped” hangers. This will make it easy to see what items you are not wearing. And if you’re not wearing some of your clothes, they should not be taking up space in your closet!

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Group your clothes by color: This is another trick that makes finding items easier in the end. Group all your items by color, just like a rainbow. Patterned clothes can either be placed in a section of their own or incorporated into the background colors section. This process may take some time now, but will make keeping your closet organized easier on a day-to-day basis.

This will also allow you to see how many items of a particular color you already have.

Change out seasonal items: There is no reason to be looking at your favorite Christmas sweater in June. If you are lucky enough to have a separate closet, seasonal items can be placed there. I live in a home built in 1954 and people didn’t have as many clothes as we do today, so I store my seasonal items in empty suitcases and large storage bags under beds. This can be done with handbags and shoes as well. Twice a year I switch out my seasonal items, which allows more room in my closets for my other clothes.

Only keep the shoes you have room for: Most people keep their shoes on the bottom of the closet. This is fine as long as you can line them up and see what you have. I suggest keeping out your top 5 pairs of shoes—the shoes that you wear on a daily basis. Use clear containers to house specialty shoes. These containers will stack nicely and can be used again and again. Take pictures of the shoes and make labels for each box.

This is a little time-consuming, but makes life a lot easier.

Put accessories in containers: Most closets do not allow enough space for our handbags, belts, scarves, or other accessories. I suggest using the same procedure as above. Put like items in clear storage containers and take pictures of the items inside. This will keep

your things dust-free and organized. Having containers also helps limit how many items you have. Just like your clothes, you should only keep what you use.

For Every 1 New, Get Rid of 2: This is my motto for keeping any space organized. If you purchase one new shirt, get rid of two old shirts. This will allow a constant purging system to continue. Make room in your space to have a permanent “Donation/Give-Away” bag. My entire family contributes to this system. Every month I take the bag to donate or have it ready for the charity truck to pick up.

Karen Bourland-Bailey is a Yuba City resident and is currently a stay-at-home mom and wife of a local rice farmer. She holds a BA in Broadcast Journalism, is the Chairperson for the St. Isidore Catholic School Dinner/Auction, and Vice President of the Team JDE Booster Club. Her former business, “Simply Organize,” helped organize homes and businesses in the Yuba-Sutter area.

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23

Swap & Shop Photography by Moments To Remember Photography

Swapping is the new global fashion phenomenon. The latest craze sweeping the country is a chic alternative to shopping for a “new-to-you” wardrobe.

It is a fun, savvy, and eco-friendly way to clean out your closet, get together with good friends, and swap-out your unwanted clothes.

What may be one woman’s forgotten fashion is another woman’s fab find! At a swap party, guests bring their once-loved fashionable clothing, shoes, and accessories to swap for new-to-you items that other guests bring.

Julie Stevenson, owner of Cosmic Bebe, hosted a fun event like this in her home. Friends were invited to mingle, sip wine, and enjoy delicious appetizers created by Alka Kumar, owner of Sutter Buttes Olive Oil, while they shopped! Items for swapping included everything from books to jewelry to party dresses to scarves to belts. There were plenty of fantastic treasures for everyone!

A stylish fashion boutique atmosphere was created in a separate room with clothing racks, mirrors and an area for handbags and accessories to be displayed. Items of a higher value were sold in a silent auction, with all proceeds from the auction going to benefit the Geweke Caring for Women Foundation.

As guests entered the house, they were given an envelope, and inside the envelope was a number which let them know when it was their turn to swap and to be used as their silent auction number. There was only one rule: swap and shop in an orderly fashion. When the swapping began, guests entered the boutique to select one item during round one, and increased the number of items selected with each round.

Any leftover items were donated to Goodwill. Julie gave everyone a great re-usable shopping bag, perfect for shopping trips to the market and to fill with their fabulous finds!

The menu for the party was absolutely stunning and so delicious.

Enjoy the fantastic menu and food ideas on pg. 26!

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Swapping is HOT!!

Cookie Swap: Bake several dozen of your favorite cookie & swap with others to create the perfect assortment.

Casserole Swap: Everyone brings 3-4 portions of their favorite casserole, swap, & fill your freezer with a variety of delicious food!

Soup Swap: Guests bring six portions of their signature soup & swap with six others!

Harvest Produce Swap: Gardeners share their produce!

Magazine Swap: Save your favorite subscription & swap with a friend before it heads to the blue cart!

Book Swap: Is your bookcase full? Why not share with your friends? Swap books at your next coffee date!

Recipe Swap: Do you have a crowd-pleasing recipe?

Share it with friends by holding a swap party, or better yet – bring your favorite dish to share that day!

Using the freshest ingredients for an old world dining experience 6241 Highway 99, Live Oak, CA | Phone 530.695.3384

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Sutter Buttes Olive Oil Co. Herb Marinated Olive Medley Ingredients • 1 pound assorted Sicilian Green and Orchard Blend olives • 1 1/2 cups Sutter Buttes Extra Virgin Olive Oil • 4 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced • 4 bay leaves, torn into pieces • 1 teaspoon each of coriander seeds, dried basil, rosemary, and thyme • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (or more, to taste) • Sun-Dried Tomatoes – Julienned • 1 /4 cup of white wine or Sutter Buttes white balsamic vinegar • Shaved Fennel to decorate Directions In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and stir well.

Add shaved fennel and fresh herbs at will. Serve.

Note: Don’t discard the remaining olive oil after the olives are gone – it is delicious served as a dipping oil for crusty French bread or drizzled over pasta or grilled vegetables.

Herb-marinated olives are available in Fresh Pack containers at Sutter Buttes Olive Oil Co. Tasting Room and New Earth Market.

Artichoke Dip 1 1/2 cups chopped marinated artichokes 1/4 cup sour cream 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1/2 cup grated parmesan 1/2 cup grated Asiago (save some to sprinkle on top) 2 cloves garlic, chopped and sauteed until golden in olive oil Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Stir to combine.

Pour into a small oven-proof dish. Sprinkle the top with Asiago. Bake at 350-375 for 10-15 minutes or until golden and bubbly.

Yield: about 3 cups (6-8 servings)

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Time to find your mojo, girl!

Désiré Lebrêne

Kitchen Manager

What is your favorite thing about the market?

At New Earth, it’s a one stop shopping experience. We offer gluten free products, organic products, a large selection of organic produce, a variety of gourmet cheese, assorted wines and beer, and a vitamin and supplement department.

It’s back to the basics of eating good, healthy food like it should be at the market!!

Let’s talk about food to go, what are your favorites?

A beautiful salad and hot food bar, homemade soups… all ready for you!

What’s a MUST try?

Our Southwestern turkey Grilled Foccacia panini with fresh organic avocado.

What are the Top 10 items in your cart? ❶ A fresh Salad from the Salad Bar ❷ Purple Cauliflower ❸ Immune Building Vitamin ❹ Organic Milk ❺ Free Range Chicken

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27

Ginger Glazed Salmon Salmon is loaded with Omega-3 fatty acid, which has numerous health benefits. Choosing wild salmon is always best. Ginger is also very healthy, and this sweet ginger glaze tastes great on the salmon.

If you like a little heat, add a few chili flakes to the glaze when cooking. During the summer, this dish can also be grilled.

Ingredients • 1/4 cup soy sauce • 3-4 tablespoons of Sutter Buttes Ginger Jam

Sutter Buttes Basil Pesto From late spring through fall, fresh bunches of basil are easily found at our Farmer’s Markets. Get it while it’s fresh and buy extra to make and freeze your pesto for future use.

Ingredients

• 4 fresh garlic cloves

• 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves

• 2 tablespoons Sutter Buttes extra-virgin olive oil

• 2 cloves garlic

• 1 teaspoon of Sutter Buttes Fish & Seafood Rub

• 1/4 cup pine nuts

• 4 six-ounce skinless salmon fillets

• 2 /3 cup Sutter Buttes extra-virgin olive oil, divided

• Freshly ground pepper

•K osher or sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

• Scallions, for garnish Preheat the oven to 350°. Finely mince, then mash, the garlic cloves.

In a small saucepan, whisk the soy sauce, ginger jam, and garlic, bringing to a simmer. Remove from heat when glaze is slightly reduced.

Rub the salmon with extra virgin olive oil, then season it with the seafood rub and pepper. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Spoon the ginger-soy glaze on top and bake the salmon for another 5 minutes, or until cooked through. Using a slotted spatula, transfer the salmon fillets to plates, garnish with the scallions, and serve.

Notes: One Serving 348 cal, 21 gm fat, 4 gm saturated fat, 2 gm carb, 0 gm fiber.

• 1 /4 cup each of freshly grated Pecorino cheese and Parmesan cheese Directions Combine the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add Pecorino and Parmesan cheeses. Add 1/2 cup of the olive oil in a stream and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

If using immediately, add all the remaining oil and pulse until smooth. Transfer the pesto to a large serving bowl and mix in the cheese.

If freezing, transfer to an air-tight container and drizzle remaining oil over the top. Freeze for up to 3 months.

28

Blood Orange Brownies

Mix flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar together in a separate bowl. Melt butter and add olive oil. Add eggs one at a time to the butter and olive oil mixture, combining after each egg. Add vanilla and melted chocolate.

Mix thoroughly. Fold dry ingredients and nuts into chocolate mixture until just mixed.

Do not overmix. Pour brownie mixture into an 8 x 8 greased and floured pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla bean ice cream.

• 4 oz. unsweetened chocolate • 1 cup of flour • 3/4 tsp. salt • 1/2 cup butter • 1 oz. bittersweet chocolate • 1/2 cup chocolate chips • 1 tsp. baking powder • 4 eggs • 2 cups sugar • 1/2 cup Sutter Buttes Blood Orange Olive Oil For a quick and easy alternative: • 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional) Follow the directions of your favorite store bought brownie mix. Replace the vegetable Preheat oven to 350°. Melt unsweetened and oil in the recipe with Sutter Buttes Blood bittersweet chocolate in a double boiler.

Orange Olive Oil.

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and my home

By Rona Desmond Photography by Moments To Remember Photography

This old home bares its soul. ure serendipity led Anthony & Melissa Laney to a timeless architectural beauty, built in harmony with its surrounding environment. This very private home was believed to have been built by the famous architect William Wurster in 1939 and became known as the Sullivan Ranch. While the Laneys refer to the house as a farmhouse, it’s really a house that is straight from the pages of The Great Gatsby. It is a piece of modern architecture, also referred to as “Style Moderne,” which is characterized by the coexistence of ‘traditionalism and modernism.” The open floor plan, soaring ceilings, wide hallways, and massive windows and doors all open onto a generous sunroom and a grand foyer that once announced visitors, clearly symbolizing an entire era. With equal parts enthusiasm and the Laneys’ forward vision, this magnificent masterpiece has undergone a meticulous renovation, reviving a perfectly seamless integration of timeless architectural integrity with a contemporary lifestyle.

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When your whole life has been one day, you want it to be a very good day.

At Fremont-Rideout’s Women & Infants Center in Yuba City, you’ll find everything to make your baby’s first day a good one.

Things like spacious, private bedrooms. As much time as you like with your baby in your room. And the same helpful nurse for mother and child, there to answer all the questions you will have on the first day.

Fremont Medical Center has been awarded with Healthgrades® 2010/2011 Maternity Care Specialty Excellence AwardTM. This award places FMC within the top 5% of hospitals nationwide for maternity services.

To learn more, visit us online www.FRHG.org.

Or, to sign up for our free childbirth classes, call 751-4165.

WWW.FRHG.ORG • WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/FREMONTRIDEOUT

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Was it love at first sight?

After viewing the property, we immediately knew it was the house we had been waiting for. It certainly needed some work, so we embraced our “labor of love” from the beginning, knowing this would be the house we’d live in for the rest of our lives.

How did you restore the interior to its original grandeur?

Great lengths were taken to make the house appear as though it was original rather than “remodeled.” We painted the interior walls and refinished the hardwood floors throughout. New vanities, tile, and fixtures went in two of the bathrooms. Subway tiles were used in the showers and as accent tile in the bathrooms. Polished nickel hardware and fixtures added an old world glamour that is perfect for the house. The master bed and bath was reconfigured into a master suite with a sitting room, bedroom, beverage center, walk-in closet, and bath. I designed an interior that would honor the 1930’s vintage style of the home while using other accessories and furniture to add personality.

W hat are some of your restored treasures?

During the renovations, we preserved the original doors that separated the rooms. Separations were typical in homes a century ago, as were carved marble mantels like the one which adorns the master suite sitting room.

Marble countertops were also removed and repurposed into other areas of the home.

W hat’s next?

The future holds more remodeling. Phase two will consist of a kitchen and laundry room remodel. While we are comfortable settling into our “new” home, we feel these rooms need to be addressed to bring them up to speed with the rest of the house. This house will be a labor of love for us. While everything is in great condition considering its age, we plan on sprucing it up and hopefully bringing back the splendor it once had.

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