Michiana House and Home January 2022

Complimentary January 2022

Color of the Year Buy/Build/Remodel Household Appliance Trends

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www.michianahouseandhome.com PUBLISHER Ron Baumgartner rbaumgartner@the-papers.com PUBLICATION MANAGER Bill Hays bhays@the-papers.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Deb Patterson dpatterson@the-papers.com EDITOR Lauren Zeugner lzeugner@the-papers.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Karen Johnson kjohnson@the-papers.com BUSINESS MANAGER Carrie Goralczyk cgoralczyk@the-papers.com DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Steve Meadows smeadows@the-papers.com

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contents

January 2022 VOLUME 18

FEATURE WRITERS Beth Anne Brink-Cox, Dani Messick, Julie Young, Stacie Ball, Bethany Beebe, Mary Jane Bogle, Cathy Shouse

COLOR OF THE YEAR FOR 2022: October Mist

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Maymie Ankrom, Mary Lester

Buy/Build/Remodel Which Option Is Right For You?

MARKETING ASSISTANTS Darlene Eichelberger darlene@the-papers.com Taelynne Ousley tousley@the-papers.com DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION Jerry Long jlong@the-papers.com

Pets and Plants

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Year-Round Gardening: Amaryllis

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Servin’ Up Good Eats

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Copyright © Michiana House and Home All rights reserved, 2022

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Business Gallery

Childproof Your Home

MHH reserves the right to determine the suitability of all materials submitted for publication and to edit all submitted materials for clarity and space.

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Home Security System Highlights

Michiana House and Home (MHH) is a newsmagazine with emphasis on home decor, design and remodeling. MHH does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial content, nor does MHH or its staff assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial content appear in any publication.

Michiana House and Home has not independently tested any services or products advertised herein and has verified no claims made by its advertisers regarding those services or products. MHH makes no warranties or representations and assumes no liability for any claims regarding those services or products or claims made by advertisers regarding such products or services. Readers are advised to consult with the advertiser and/or other home repair and renovation professionals regarding any such claims and regarding the suitability of an advertiser’s products.

Household Appliances: What’s Trending Now?

NO. 9

Did You Know?

Around Michiana

Member of:

10 cover photo: Shutterstock.com

| Michiana House and Home | January 2022 | 3

editor’s note...

I’m writing this the holidays behind us. It seems like December went by at warp speed. In addition to all the holiday craziness, I’ve had to get a new phone, ask me about the crazy story around that later. The one I had lasted about 10 years so I got a good run out of it.

On the home side, I had to get the plumber to come by to fix a leaky bathroom faucet. It’s amazing how much water is wasted from a dripping faucet. Between the plumber’s and my schedule it was five days from the time I called him till he came to the house. In that time, I lost almost 5 gallons of water. But what really caught me off guard was his voice mail message saying he wasn’t taking any new customers. So what qualifies as a regular customer, especially when the last time I called him was about 2 years ago?

Turns out I’m a regular, if infrequent, customer.

I also had the plumber look at my kitchen faucet which due to the incredibly hard water we have, is locked in place due to lime scale build up. The faucet. So when plumber recommended a water softener, something we had discussed in the past, and a new see what they have and store hardware the to head I’ll normal, of things calm down and resume some semblance well. as faucet bathroom new a on splurge even I’ll maybe knows, Who in the way of kitchen faucets.

What better way project. g declutterin major a start to is plan the away, packed is stuff Christmas the all with So stuff. It will unneeded or unwanted of house the to spend a cold, grey Indiana evening or Saturday than purging and what donated be will what , basement) the in boxes of ton a have be interesting to see what goes to recycling (I cleaning. spring the on start head decent a have I’ll , will be tossed. Regardless And of course Turquoise will be sprawled out on her side, supervising the action.

Her recipe Be sure to try out Mary Lester’s Taco Soup recipe. Mary helps layout Michiana House and Home.

Chip Cake Chocolate Ryan’s Grandma my try dessert, For myself. out sounds really yummy and I can’t wait to try it chips and chocolate with stuffed is cake dense This family. the of side mom’s my on recipe. This is a family favorite dried dates and topped with a vanilla butter cream. and energizing. n So I hope your holidays were filled with family, food and fun and that 2022 is looking hopeful

Lauren

Lauren Zeugner, Editor

Email: Lzeugner@the-papers.com

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Colorof the Year

FOR

2022

OctoberMist

by BethAnne Brink-Cox, House & Home feature writer

Humans have been painting since the Stone Age! But ‘The Color of the Year’ phenomenon began with the first choice in 1999 and grew as different paint companies got on board.

There is a lot of preparatory work that goes into choosing the ultimate shade, predicting what consumers will want for the following year as they design and decorate their homes.

It’s about analyzing lifestyle trends and search engine data.

Color trends are much more than a simple coat of paint in a room. They’re about general collective mood and encompass such elements

as political climate, economic health, even travel, fashion, food and drinks, among others.

It’s why the decision you make is important, poring over paint chips, brushing test patches on a wall to get a better feel for how the perfect color will look, because you’re going to live with that chosen shade for a while.

Good paint is an investment, one of the easier ways to freshen your home, and you don’t want to make a mistake choosing what will be the final result.

So maybe part of your decision includes a look at the ‘Color of the Year.’ Now that 2022 is here, that means Benjamin Moore’s October Mist. The very name undoubtedly brings a color to your mind. But what color would that be?

Something opaque, nearly translucent? Silvery, like sunlight through fog? Or with a slight touch of warmth, as October leaves? I must admit that “October” makes me think of brilliant colors, red and gold blazing from the trees….although what’s left when they have all fallen away?

October mist.

But was I right? Nope. Not even close.

All the major paint brands have a palette of shades for 2022, and October Mist is actually described as a gently shaded sage, inspired by the silver-green of a flower stem. Can’t you envision that? And you can see how peaceful and beautiful a room painted with such a soft shade

would be, a place to meditate or to read, to sleep, or to rock your baby.

It would lend itself well anywhere, though; a dining room could look casual or formal based solely on your choices with October Mist in the background. And a kitchen could be fresh and spring-like, depending on your other choices of color and decor.

This year, and for the first time ever, nearly every paint company’s color of the year is remarkably close to October Mist, surprising designers and paint experts everywhere. The colors, whatever the name, have been compared to the elements of sea glass, pebbles, grasses and succulent plants.

It seems to have been influenced by the major changes our lives went through since the pandemic quarantined so many of us. We spent so much time at home, far more than might be the norm in previous times. We were working inside, eating outside, and becoming aware of our mental health and what was required to restore and shore it up.

Nature definitely has a way of helping with that; think of a long walk through the woods or along the beaches, surrounded by leaves or sunlight on the water. If you can’t go outside among nature, you want to bring it wherever you have to be.

So if you’re thinking this new year leaves you wanting a facelift for your living space…. consider October Mist, and soothe your soul. n | Michiana House and Home | January 2022 | 5

| BRICK-BY-BRICK |

Buy/Build/Remodel or you?

Which option is right f

By Julie Young, House & Home feature writer

The decision to buy an existing home, invest in new construction or remodel the place you already have can be a daunting one. Between bidding wars permeating a seller’s market and supply chain issues impacting every other aspect of the industry, consumers are understandably overwhelmed, but they don’t have to be.

By examining each option and answering a few simple questions, consumers can move forward confident that they are getting the biggest bang for their buck.

AFFORDABILITY IS THERE According to Ryan Woodruff, vice-president of mortgage lending at Teachers Credit Union, it is never a bad time to buy a home. Although consumers will pay more for a home than they would have a few years ago, interest rates remain low, so the affordability is still there.

“It’s far better to pay more for your first home than your last,” he said. “Demand is high, but it is better to build that investment than to pay a premium for a second or final home.”

When purchasing a home, it is also important to think about where you will be 10 years from now. While an existing home may be a great option for a first-time homebuyer, others may be looking to build a new home to get all of the features they want and need. Woodruff says many things can change over the course of a decade and it is important to consider what

6 | Michiana House and Home | January 2022 |

changes you might experience. If you are just starting out, is a family in your future? Will you have teenagers who require additional space?

Do you work from home and need a dedicated office space? Will you be an empty nester looking to downsize? All these things can impact the kind of house you plan to buy or build.

“Of course, if you are planning to build right now, it is important to have a lot of patience,” Woodruff said. “Builders are working hard to get the materials they need to complete houses, but the supply chain issues have a lot of people stuck between their first home and their next home.”

LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT While today’s housing market does not require homeowners to update their homes in order to attract offers from motivated buyers, a remodel may pay off in the long run. For homeowners not looking to sell soon, a remodel may allow your home to retain its value as the seller’s market runs its course. It largely depends on what you plan to do and how long you plan to be in the home.

“Finishing out a basement or updating a kitchen/bathroom is not as extensive as adding on a room, but if you are planning to be in the home for a while, it can be a great time to make those changes while the rates for a home equity loan are reasonable,” Woodruff said.

By evaluating your needs and speaking with knowledgeable professionals who can help you make the decision you feel comfortable with, homebuyers and homeowners will find that there are a lot of options open to them no matter if they plan to buy, build or reimagine their Photos: Shutterstock.com existing property. n

RESOURCES: First Federal Savings Bank,

574.453.1096 Teacher’s Credit Union, 574.850.3569

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Pets & Plants

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If home is where the heart is, pets are often right next to our hearts for the companionship they provide. Just as parents will child-proof a home, pet owners should consider how their plants will mix with their pets.

The information about pets and plants can be confusing.

Humans may react differently to exposure to various materials, and it’s the same with pets.

The most important tips are to know your pet and to supervise them. Some pets will chew and ingest anything, especially when they are young.

Although poinsettias and snake plants, or mother-in-law’s tongue, are not good for pets, they are typically not fatal under normal circumstances, unless an animal consumed a massive quantity.

Indiana author Sheri Ann Richerson wrote “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Seed Saving and Starting”, as well as “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Year-Round Gardening” and is also a homesteader.

“I would never ban a plant altogether because of pets,” Richerson said. “Toxic plants are best kept up high, out of reach and positioned so falling leaves and petals do not fall low enough for a pet to reach. It is best to immediately pick up all plant debris and dispose of it someplace a pet cannot get to.”

She described an experience where her dog got into a plant that wasn’t good for him. “When Precious Angel was a couple months old he managed to get a Brugmansia leaf (an angel’s trumpet flower) that fell on the floor and escaped my watchful eye,” she said. “I knew the plant was toxic and dangerous to humans as well as pets. I called my vet suspecting I was going to lose my puppy.

He asked how long ago this happened. I said it just happened and I removed all plant debris from his mouth. He said get hydrogen peroxide and give him one capful at a time until he throws up. It took a couple capfuls. He threw up plant material but he was fine. I always keep hydrogen peroxide on hand now. It saved my puppy.”

“The ASPCA has a great list of toxic and non-toxic plants,” Richerson said.

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxicand-non-toxic-plants

The following website has a discussion on the subject, as well as a way to get a printed booklet. https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/ yardandgarden/some-plants-are-poisonous/ n Photos: Shutterstock.com

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HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES

What’s Trending Now?

By BethAnne Brink-Cox, House & Home feature writer

There is something about a new year that makes you want fresh beginnings everywhere. It’s the reason so many people join a gym or start a diet.

But maybe what you’d rather do is treat yourself by fixing up the heart of the home: your kitchen. And you don’t have to do a remodel to achieve that. You can buy new appliances, get that stove you’ve always wanted, or a different style of refrigerator than you’ve ever had before. Or is it time for a dishwasher?

photo courtesy of Mid-City Supply Company, Inc.

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Joyce Watkins, of Mid-City Supply Company, Inc. in Warsaw is ready to help you do just that. We’ve seen so many looks and styles through the years–from the avocado and gold of bygone days to stainless steel and granite, or everything white, or all-black appliances. What’s new?

Watkins said it’s all about the colors and finish these days.”Our Cafe Line has been very popular, due to the finishes they offer.” Watkins added that one of the best ways to refresh your kitchen is to install new countertops, a new sink and faucet–maybe a kitchen island with your sink or cook surface in it? and replace existing hardware on your cabinetry. Those, too, can be curated to your taste–bronze, copper, brushed stainless or matte black, depending on your desire to have them stand out or blend in.”

photo courtesy of Mid-City Supply Company, Inc.

These days, appliance collections offer beautiful shades of color– green and blue, to name just two–and they are customizable, so you can create exactly what you’ve always wanted. Instead of bright walls and white appliances, you can reverse that style, order a bright yellow stove,and make yourself smile every time you walk into the room.

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While you can buy or order a single appliance, you can also get a complete package–refrigerator, stove, dishwasher and over the range microwave–by KitchenAid, Whirlpool, Bosch, and many other manufacturers. Bob Miller’s Appliances and Mattress Showroom, South Bend, offers such packages.

www.bosch-home.com/us

Steam ovens are on the rise, and are a great method for healthier cooking. Refrigerators are offering glass panels for doors and drawers, as well as multiple temperature zones for optimum food storage.

And Bluetooth and WiFi options are very popular, all of which go hand in hand with a smartphone.

Want to rid your house of disposable water bottles? Consider a built-in water filtered dispenser. Speaking of built-ins, how about a food sealer? Just a few months ago, we acquired a refrigerator/freezer that is unlike any before–you can flip a switch so it’s entirely a refrigerator, OR a freezer. It has come in very handy at certain times of the year, depending on food storage needs!

Maybe the space age kitchens we saw in the old cartoons are more a part of our daily lives than we had realized?

Of course, as we’ve been seeing for some time now, there are delays in delivery, due to the manufacturers, material shortages, and lead times.

Be sure you’re prepared for that when you’re planning your new look, and allow that extra time. Most places are short handed, as well, so be realistic when determining installations.

Watkins said, “Mid-City Supply Co. does stock quite a few plumbing fixtures, along with the most popular finishes and styles.” Ordering from catalogs and suppliers is always an option, but Bob Miller’s cautions that you should call for availability of the items(s) you want. So start your planning early! n

203 Wayne St., Middlebury, IN (574) 825-8824

RESOURCES: Bob Miller’s Appliances and Mattress Showroom, South Bend, www.bobmillers.com Mid-City Supply Company, Inc., Multiple Locations, www.mid-city.com | Michiana House and Home | January 2022 | 9

HOME SECURITY SYSTEM

By Mary Jane Bogle

Highlights

Thinking of buying a home security system this year? You’re not alone. With security systems improving in both quality and affordability, many homeowners are discovering that a good home security system can be a great investment, now more than ever before.

Reasons to Invest in Home Security Not only can a home security system help you monitor your home remotely (think checking on package deliveries or making sure the kids get home safely); but you can also deter would-be burglars from targeting your home, simply by posting window stickers and a yard sign advertising your protection.

Security footage can even help in apprehending a perpetrator should a break-in occur.

Add in the fact that many insurance companies offer impressive discounts to homeowners who install monitored home security systems, and now might be a great time to invest in your own safety.

Basic Components of a Security System Most home security systems contain five basic components: • • • • •

A control panel Cameras for real-time viewing Entry sensors A high-decibel siren or alarm Yard sign and window stickers

10 | Michiana House and Home | January 2022 |

An optional component is professional monitoring, which links your security system to local police or fire departments when alarms are triggered. (Homeowners on a budget can opt to self-monitor the system and call emergency services themselves.)

Home Security System Costs Obviously, these components come with multiple options, quality considerations and price tags.

Consider the cameras, for instance. Do you want night vision and low-light performance, a wide field of vision, motion detection and audio? You also need to consider what kind of image resolution you prefer. (Options range from a grainy 480p to a much sharper 1080p.)

Be prepared to spend a little more for each type of upgrade.

Storage space for the image recordings is also a factor. How long do you want to keep recordings? Will you need additional storage on a cloud-based

system? If so, how much? (You can purchase a plan that might range from a few gigabytes to over 100 gigabytes of memory, with varying prices to match.)

Finally, you need to decide if you want to purchase a Do-It-Yourself kit, which can cost as low as $300 (not including monitoring), or have a professional create and install a custom solution for you and your home, which can cost up to $1200 in equipment alone.

If all this sounds overwhelming, it might be worth a call to a professional security company. Many offer free estimates and are willing to work with homeowners on a budget, offering the option to add extra components later. Whatever you choose, know that an investment in your security can reap dividends in recovered goods, deterred crime and — maybe most important — peace of mind. n Photos: Shutterstock.com RESOURCE: Simplx Security, simplxsecurity.com

Childproof

Your Home

By Stacie Ball

Keeping children safe is a top priority and source of worry for many new parents. According to the CDC, over 12,000 children die from an accidental injury each year, and close to 9 million children visit the emergency room for a non-fatal injury. Up to one-third of these unfortunate mishaps occur at home. It is impossible to prevent every accident, but many of these accidents can be avoided by using the devices and tips below.

Safety Gates and Guards Position gates at the tops and bottoms of stairs and in the doorway of any room with potential danger to a child. There are also gates and guards for windows, because a screen will not keep a child from falling out of a window. Just be sure it can be removed easily in case of a fire.

Safety Latches and Locks Affix safety latches or locks to all cabinets and drawers within a child’s reach. Install locks on the toilet, oven and other appliances.

Corner and Edge Bumpers

Anti-Scalding Devices These attachments can be installed on faucets and showerheads to prevent scalding and burning from hot water. Even without an anti-scalding device, the water heater thermostat can be set to 120 degrees to prevent burns.

These can be placed on tables, chairs, fireplace corners, etc. to prevent cuts, scrapes, or gashes. Attach large furniture like dressers and bookcases to the wall, so they cannot fall over onto a child.

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors Smoke detectors should be in working order and near bedrooms on each level of the home. Carbon monoxide detectors should be located near sleeping areas and should especially be used in homes with attached garages and gas or oil heat.

Change Habits

Doorknob Covers Put these gadgets on doorknobs to prevent children from opening the door. Ensure that older children and adults can operate them in case of a fire or other emergency.

It is important to create a habit of putting potentially dangerous things away. Unplug and safely store curling irons and hair dryers after using them.

Check floors regularly for small items, such as Legos, magnets or anything small enough for a child to choke on. As always, store knives in their holsters and place guns and knives in a locked safe or other secure place.

Stove Guard Outlet Protectors and GFCIs Cover all unused outlets with protectors.

Update the outlets near a sink or water source with GFCIs (Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter).

These can turn off electricity if appliances fall into water.

Whether it’s a mat that covers the stove or an attachment, these guards prevent a child from touching a hot stove.

Covers for stove knobs can also be purchased to prevent the stove from accidentally being turned on.

www.safety1st.com

Using the tools above and keeping an eye out for potential hazards can hopefully decrease the risk of injury and help parents sleep at night.

Use the list to childproof your home and make 2022 your safest year yet. n Photos: Shutterstock.com

| Michiana House and Home | January 2022 | 11

By Mary Lester

If you are like me, the holiday season wore you out; so simple, flavorful meals rule dinnertime this month. When it is cold and blustery outside, this dish will keep you warm and cozy. Make it often throughout the winter months.

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Taco Soup Ingredients: • 2 lbs. hamburger • 1 medium onion •4 Tbls. Homemade Taco Seasoning mix* or 2 pkg of store bought taco seasoning mix • 2 packets dry Ranch dip mix • 2 10 oz. cans Rotel tomatoes & green chiles • 1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes • 1 15 oz. can tomato sauce • 2 16 oz. cans pinto beans • 1 can dark red kidney beans • 1 can light red kidney beans • 2 15 oz. cans corn • 1 box beef broth - 2lb Directions: Brown hamburger and chopped onion in a large dutch oven pan. Drain. Add taco seasoning and ranch mix to meat mixture and stir. Add in remaining ingredients, stir and heat through.

Shutterstock.com

By Lauren Zeugner

This is my Grandma Ryan’s recipe and it is a favorite among the family. One tip- seriously grease the tube pan or bundt pan with butter or shortening, not cooking spray. Otherwise, the cake may not come out in one piece.

A simple vanilla butter cream goes great with this.

Grandma Ryan’s Chocolate Chip Cake Ingredients:

Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix

*

Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups chili powder 1/4 cup garlic powder 1/4 cup onion powder 1/4 cup red pepper flakes 1/4 cup paprika 1/4 cup oregano 1/2 cup black pepper 1/2 cup cumin 1/8 cup salt Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight glass container.

• 2 cups sifted flour • 3 teaspoons baking powder • Dash of salt • ½ cup shortening • 1 and 1/8 cup sugar • 2/3 cup milk

• 3 eggs well beaten • ¾ cup chocolate chips • 2/3 cup nuts • ½ cup dates

Directions: • Mix sifted flour, baking powder and salt • Cream shortening • Add sugar and eggs then chocolate chips, nuts and dates • Add flour mixture and milk alternately Use “greased” tube cake pan Bake at 350° for about 1 hr. n

Add 2-3 tablespoons to whatever you’re making.

| Michiana House and Home | January 2022 | 13

Did You Know?

Beans and Bells and Fire

NEW YEARS TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD

By Dani Messick, House & Home feature writer

It’s not all ball drops, kisses and champagne. It’s also not always December. Around the world, peoples from various countries have their own unique age-old traditions and superstitions about the New Year and how to ring it in properly.

Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the new year as early as September for the Jewish. The tradition features candle lighting, blowing into a ram’s horn, throwing bread into a river, and of course, food. Apples dipped in honey, and bread in the same, represent sweet wishes for the year ahead and a full year.

Food, especially fruit, is a staple for many New Year’s celebrations around the world. The Philippines celebrates with 12 different round fruits symbolizing wealth, corresponding to each of the 12 months. They’re displayed on the dining table on New Year’s Eve to grant prosperity to all who attend.

14 | Michiana House and Home | January 2022 |

Spain and Mexico also celebrate with 12 fruits: grapes. In this tradition, the grapes symbolize each strike of the clock before the new year begins.

The living aren’t the only ones who enjoy the feasts during the New Year. Estonians leave extra food out for the spirits of their ancestors.

The dead are involved in New Year’s celebrations for many countries. In Chili, New Year’s Day mass is held in cemeteries so as to include them in the celebrations.

Bells, fire, parades, feasts, and parties are staples for much of the world on New Year’s Eve, but how their festivities are laid out may vary

... and

greatly from the United States’ celebrations.

There’s a Buddhist tradition where bells are rung 108 times to banish evils. Joyanokane, as the tradition is called in Japan, banishes all 108 defilements of the Buddhist religion for those who participate. They include contempt, wrath, envy, greed and hatred.

On the other side of the world, Scotland’s Hogmanay celebrations go all out, much like New York City’s, only bigger. For many Scots, the event is an even bigger celebration than Christmas.

There’s a massive bonfire, a torchlight processional, fireworks, and street performers with fireballs, in general, lots of fire all throughout the country for several days on end.

In Brazil and Columbia wearing colorful clothing is supposed to help bring a specific fortune: yellow for wealth, green for luck, red or pink for romance, blue for health, or white for peace. Columbians are also known to keep lentils in their pockets as a symbol of prosperity.

There’s the ever-popular Chinese New Year’s tradition, which is based on the lunar cycle. It’s actually Feb. 1 this year. One popular tradition includes giving money in red envelopes. The color is associated with good fortune in Chinese culture.

Nearby, in Nepal, several dozen ethnic groups celebrate a total of nine different New Year’s Days, but Nepal Sambat is the nationally recognized one. Nepal Sambat falls in the second week of April and is calculated using the official calendar of Nepal, the Bikram Sambat, of the ancient Hindu culture. This calendar is 56 years and 8 months ahead of the western Gregorian calendar, due to a variation in month length that prevents the need for a leap year.

The celebration is religious in nature, with the morning dedicated to prayer and worship, and the afternoon full of performances, parades and games.

The Russians write their New Year’s wishes on a piece of paper then burn the paper and drink the ashes down with the glass of champagne. In Denmark, broken plates outside your home on New Year’s Day is a sign of good luck. Friends and family traverse the city throwing old plates at friends’ homes- the more the merrier.

Bleigiessen, or lead pouring, is a German tradition of seeing the new year’s fortune. Families or individuals use the flame from a candle to melt a small piece of lead (or tin in the modern era) into a container of cold water. The shape formed in the water predicts their fate for the coming year.

Many of the interpretations are predictably cheeky - for example, the shape of an owl means you need glasses. The custom is so prevalent in Germany, Austria and Switzerland that citizens can buy lead pouring kits at the grocery store complete with a wooden spoon and random tin figure. n Photos: Shutterstock.com

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• Dec. 31, MJ Live, The #1 Michael Jackson Tribute Concert in the World, 8 p.m. Friday, $39.95 to $74.95 410 S. Main St. 574-293-4469 www.thelerner.com

• Dec. 31, “A Musical Christmas Carol,” 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, call for pricing • Dec. 31-Jan. 1, New Year’s Eve dinner and theater, midnight fireworks, 5:30 p.m. Friday through 12:05 a.m. Saturday, $119 1600 W. Market St. 574-773-4188 www.thebarnsatnappanee.com

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• Jan. 15, Jacquees, 8 p.m., Saturday, $18.50 to $603.50 211 N. Michigan St., South Bend, 574-235-9190 www.morriscenter.org

• Jan. 9, Wellfield’s Winter Bird Walk with Audubon Society member and Indiana Master Naturalist Mary Kauffmann-Kennel, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, register online 1011 N. Main St. 574-266-2006 www.wellfieldgardens.org

POTAWATOMI ZOO | SOUTH BEND • Jan. 8, 23, Winter Days, noon to 3 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 8, and Sunday, Jan. 23. Visit zoo during off-season, weather-dependent train rides. $6.50/adults 15 or older; $5.50 children 3-14; free for members and children 2 and under.

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| Michiana House and Home | January 2022 | 17

| YEAR-ROUND GARDENING |

a pop of warm color

Amaryllis

By Bethany Beebe

At the height of the winter season, we tire of snow, cold and grey skies. One way we can bring a pop of warm color to our heated indoors is growing amaryllises. Often given as a present, with some care, these winter workhorses can offer a multi-season gift of blooms.

18 | Michiana House and Home | January 2022 |

According to Missouri Extension, the Hippeastrum hybrid we call amaryllis is native to Central America, while the true, from a botanical perspective, amaryllis is from Africa. Minnesota Extension reports the genus Amaryllis is derived from amarysso, a Greek term meaning “to sparkle.” Colors include scarlet, lavender, crimson, white, rose or a combination. There are usually two to four of the up-to eight-inch blossoms on a flower stalk of about two feet.

According to Purdue Extension, two stages of the lifecycle are common in the retail setting: potted, already growing and as a bulb ready to plant.

A plant already in bloom will last longest in a cooler rather than warmer environment.

A room of approximately 65 degrees will help prevent the stalk from becoming weak. A weak stalk can lead to flower droop which then necessitates staking.

Starting with a bulb, the home grower could see blooms like those of the already-flowering in six to eight weeks. The bulb should be full and firm to the touch, and, assuming it came from a retail grower as a store-bought kit, will be ready to plant. You do not need to worry about cooling or resting the bulbs. A pot only a bit larger in diameter than the bulb itself with water drainage holes on the bottom is an ideal container for a good-quality potting medium.

Once the potting mix is included, the bulb goes in, pointy side facing up, with the shoulders of the bulb above the soil line. A thorough watering and then placement in a cool but sunny window, ideally 55 to 65 degrees, will start the mentioned six-to-eight week wait for blooms.

Until active growth begins, water should be shared sparingly. Once active growth starts to

happen, a diluted fertilizer solution should be applied weekly.

After you have enjoyed the fruits of your labor, you can look to future growing seasons with the same bulb and a little preparation.

Amaryllises dislike being repotted too frequently, and this task should be attempted only every three or four years. Simply cut off the flower stalk when blooming is complete and continue to care for the leaves as you might any other houseplant. In the spring, an east- or west-facing location will be ideal for a summer home. Place the whole plant, pot and all, into the soil for a summer’s dormant rest. In late summer, the leaves should start turning yellow.

Withhold water until the leaves fade completely, at which point they can be trimmed off and removed from the ground, ready for the process to begin again.

For more information on this plant and many others, check out the resources below or the many other trusted Purdue Extension learning opportunities online. n Photos: Shutterstock.com RESOURCES: https://extension.umn.edu/houseplants/amaryllis https://ipm.missouri.edu/MEG/2018/1/amaryllis/ https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/yardandgarden/howto-care-for-your-amaryllis/ https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/yardandgarden/amaryllis-hippeastrum-hybrids/

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