Michiana House and Home - February 2023

PO Box 188 • 206 South Main St. Milford, IN 46542 800.733.4111/Fax 800.886.3796

Editorial ext. 2311 & Advertising ext. 2362 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

Annette Weaver aweaver@the-papers.com

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

Steve Meadows smeadows@the-papers.com

FEATURE WRITERS

BethAnne Brink-Cox, Dani Messick, Julie Young

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Kimberly Zellers

MARKETING ASSISTANTS

Darlene Eichelberger darlene@the-papers.com

Taelynne Ousley tousley@the-papers.com

DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION

Jerry Long jlong@the-papers.com

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

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.

No reproduction of Michiana House and Home is allowed without express written permission.

Mailed subscriptions are available, prepaid with order at $45.00 for one year; and $77.00 for two years. Mail the order form, along with your check to Michiana House and Home, P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542. Your cancelled check will serve as your receipt.

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All rights reserved, 2023

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Welcome to the February edition of Michiana House and Home. As you flip through the pages, you will see a definite theme which is “We’re ready for Spring.”

Enjoy the features about the upcoming Midwest Home and Yard Show in Shipshewana, Feb. 10-11 as well as the Builders Association of Elkhart County’s Home and Outdoor Expo which will be held Feb. 24-26. Be sure to come out to at least one if not both of these shows to get new ideas for your home or yard. Both shows will feature local vendors who can assist patrons with getting a wide variety of jobs done around the home.

The home shows provide a great opportunity to meet the vendors and get questions answered. The shows also offer chances to get ideas on how to do future home improvements you may be planning.

In addition to the home shows, there are articles on taking care of your plants when natural daylight is in short supply and central heating tends to dry plants out fairly quickly. MaryAnn Martin, Michiana Master Gardener, wrote a great article about what we can do now so our gardens and yards are ready to be enjoyed later this spring.

Got a teenager in the house? Dani Messick wrote an article about how to design a teen’s bedroom that is timeless, but still reflects the teen’s

HOW TO HELP YOUR TEEN CREATE A timeless space in their room

By Dani Messick House and Home Feature Writer

Our kids undergo many changes as they enter their teen years. They’re making new friends, learning about life and becoming the person they will be in adulthood. Their bedrooms should reflect that.

Interior designer and mother of four Krista Shoemaker explains how to create a room that reflects your child’s unique personal growth, while keeping the space timeless.

“Know where to put your money,” she said. “Rugs are not the bones of a space. That’s something that can be changed and you don’t have to invest an arm and a leg…“Almost every client I get wants to start with paint first. It is the last thing that you address in every single space. Paint is the easiest thing to select, pick, change...”

Shoemaker says high quality furniture pieces are where the bulk of your project money should go. “Be willing to invest in good quality because the pieces you invest in will be what they’ll be able to come back to for years to come in college and even when married, being able to upgrade this space to accommodate when they come back.”

Invest in a reading chair for reading or vegging out, and a desk or vanity for art, studying or makeup. If the space doesn’t have room for a desk, let it double as a nightstand. Second-hand pieces are a great option here, if you’re not in the market to spend the money on a high-quality piece so it lasts.

“There are great quality pieces that have a lot of life left in them that you can do all of this on a phenomenal budget if you have a great eye, great aesthetic and can space plan yourself. Just because your budget doesn’t necessarily afford a designer like me helping you pull it all together should not hold you back from being able to make a great space in your home.”

Collectibles are popular for teen spaces especially. “Having a cabinet with glass doors is not only on trend but is timeless. Curio cabinets have been around forever, but they have just upped their game. You can find them everywhere. They could be heirloom pieces.

In my son’s room, I have a black metal one with glass doors and drawers, an arched one in my daughter’s room that’s more sweet and feminine, but being able to give them a space to display trophies and awards and memorabilia and things that are so personal to them and reflect who they are.”

Shoemaker said her daughter’s room boasts an armoire with shelves and drawers and baskets so she can keep her massive collection of throw blankets and pillows.

“In the long run, you’re teaching them skills that they can take into life about when your space is tidy and cleaned up, I do think your mind and your brain can function better and focus on other things.” It’s also a benefit because the enclosure means you, your housekeeper or your child, won’t have to dust them regularly. Shoemaker’s kids share rooms, so there’s a lot of varied taste represented in each space.

“Having white walls, as much as I kicked against it for so long, has been really helpful in the kids’ spaces, and then we dress the walls with whatever they’re into.” In her teen boys’ room, there’s basketball design over one boy’s bed and football over another, and a giant black-and-white mural of surfers.

“It’s ginormous moments that are all kind of cohesive that balance each other out… but we’re able to address everybody’s personality but in large ways rather than having lots of tchotchke representing it.”

The most important thing about updating your kids’ space, however, according to Shoemaker, is to get them involved. “It was hard for me to be able to involve them because their ideas for me, some of them are outlandish,” she said. “There’s a part of it that were hard no’s on lots of their ideas, but in that process there are things you can definitely do to make them feel great about their room.”

When’s the best time to begin? Well according to Shoemaker, it’s when they ask, and generally, that’s during the middle school years. “I know, being a mom, how much this season of life is changing for them,” she said. “It’s figuring out who they are, what they want to do with the rest of their lives. It also encompasses a lot of different stressors, and involving them, to me, really helps acknowledge the season that they’re in. It also is kind of a stepping stone helping them leave the house but having them acknowledge their identity.” n

It’s finally that time of year. Not quite the time to plant, but gardening catalogs are coming in, featuring a host of beautiful, extravagant and unique flowers and plants for your garden space. How to choose?

First things first. Know your hardiness zone. USDA’s Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard growers use to determine plants that are most likely to thrive, based on the average annual minimum winter temperature. Obviously, this doesn’t account for outliers such as December’s big freeze, but other protective measures can be taken to protect plants if the need arises.

Folks in Michiana reside mostly in hardiness zone 6, although some areas may be categorized as 5. The map can be broken down further as well, with Michiana residing in 6a (-10 to -5 °F) or 5b (-15 to -10 °F) according to the US Department of Agriculture. Most online and print catalogs identify hardiness zones for each plant they sell.

Any seasoned gardener will tell you mapping your plant designs is one of the most important ways to ensure your garden not only looks good, but will thrive. Aside from a brand new home, or fresh garden, most people aren’t starting from scratch when developing their annual landscaping plan.

Know exactly how much light that space gets, and how it impacts the plants in that space. If you’re planting in the shade, use plants that prefer shade. If you’re planting in direct sun, make sure the plants can handle the light and the heat.

Will you be watering your garden or will you rely on rainwater?

Know how much water each plant needs, and plan accordingly. In addition to water and sunlight, plants can compete for other resources including nutrients from the soil.

Garner information about each plant you have and hope to have and map out a plan for what location is best for each plant in your unique space. For example, as a general rule of thumb, taller plants should not soar nearby shorter ones, and pumpkins and melons can be planted together, with marigold nearby to help deter beetles.

Plant and seed distributor Burpee boasts a plant companion guide on its website geared toward vegetables to help its buyers grow plants that will benefit each other, rather than compete. Know your soil type. You can get your soil tested through a number of soil testing companies, some for as little as $20. The Purdue Extension recommends getting your soil tested every 3 -5 years.

Depending on the analysis, results may tell soil pH, phosphorous, potassium, organic matter, magnesium, and calcium, among other things, and some will even make recommendations on what to add to improve the soil quality.

Many gardeners choose to have their bulbs or even whole plants shipped from online retailers. Michigan Bulb Co. has several suggestions for how to give your plants the best chance at thriving when they arrive from a shipped location.

Pre-potted plants can be kept outside in a sheltered but bright location, avoiding freezing temperatures. Water plants when the soil on top begins to dry. Bulbs that come shipped should be opened from the bags to allow air to circulate. Store the bulbs in a cool well-ventilated location but avoid risk of freezing.

Dormant woody plants will keep for a few days in the plastic bags they’ve arrived in, however, a cool dark location, at 34° to 40°F is recommended, with roots covered in damp newspaper. If roots are too dry, soak them in a bucket of water for up to 12 hours before wrapping in newspaper. Lightly mist the roots to keep them damp during this time and protect them from direct sunlight and wind until the plants are in the ground.

Dormant perennials can have their roots kept in the original shipping bags at about 40°F for up to three weeks before planting. n

Putting together your garden and landscaping plans

By Dani Messick House and Home Feature Writer

FEB. 1-31 (SELECTED DATES) | SOUTH BEND FARMERS MARKET

Indoor market featuring home-grown produce, dairy products, meats, eggs, maple syrup, jams and jellies, handcrafts, artwork, jewelry, more.

7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday

1105 Northside Blvd., 574-282-1259 southbendfarmersmarket.com

FEB. 4-5 | WARSAW

“PRINCESS WATSERNAME”

Wagon Wheel Theater

Presented by Wagon Wheel Junior.

2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

$15 General admission

2515 E. Center St., Warsaw

574-267-8041, 866-823-2618 wagonwheelcenter.org

FEB. 10-11 | SHIPSHEWANA

MIDWEST HOME AND YARD SHOW

Michiana Event Center

455 E. Farver, Shipshewana

1-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10

8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11

Admission is $5 at the door, children 12 and under are free

FEB. 24-26 | ELKHART

BAEC HOME & OUTDOOR EXPO

RV/MH Hall of Fame

21565 Executive Parkway, Elkhart

3-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24

9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25 Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26

Admission is free baec.com/events

FEB. 25 | WINONA LAKE “WINE ABOUT THE

around michiana

MULTI-EVENT VENUES LERNER THEATER | ELKHART

• Feb. 5, Elkhart County Symphony Legends in honor of Susan Ellington, 4 p.m. Sunday, $14 to $35.

• Feb. 17, Tracy Lawrence, country music traditionalist, 7:30 p.m. Friday, $44 to $89.

410 S. Main St. 574-293-4469 thelerner.com

GOSHEN THEATER | GOSHEN

• Feb. 7, 91.1 Globe Radio & Goshen Arts and Events Present an Evening with Lotus, 8 p.m. Tuesday, $30 general admission.

• Feb. 18, Goshen Theater Drama Club: Acting Showcase, 7 p.m. Saturday, $5 general admission.

216 S. Main St. 574-312-3701 goshentheater.com

REES THEATRE | PLYMOUTH

• Feb. 4, “Don’t Ask, I’ll Tell — The Lawrence Evans’ Show,” 8 p.m. Saturday, $15 and up

• Feb.5, “The Iron Giant” movie, 2 p.m. Sunday, $5 general admission

WINTER”

Wine tasting at participating venues in the Village at Winona: Boat House Restaurant, Cerulean Restaurant, Light Rail Cafe.

2-6 p.m. Saturday; $30/person Downtown area

574-268-9888 villageatwinona.com

MARCH 2-5 | FORT WAYNE FORT WAYNE HOME AND GARDEN SHOW

The 50th anniversary of the Home and Garden Show featuring over 650 home improvement experts, artists, crafters, service providers and exhibitors.

11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday

10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday Allen County War Memorial Coliseum 400 Parnell Avenue home-gardenshow.com

• Feb. 11, Battle of the Bands, 7 p.m. Saturday, $35 and up

• Feb. 14, UnValentine’s Day Improv Show, 6 p.m. Tuesday, $10 and up

• Feb. 19, Carol Spenser: “Dressing Barbie,” 2 p.m. Sunday, $10 and up

• Feb. 26, “Mary Poppins” movie, 2 p.m. Sunday, $5 general admission

100 N. Michigan St. 574-337-7337 reestheatre.com

MORRIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER | SOUTH BEND

• Feb. 11, “Tango Caliente,” South Bend Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, $10 to $79.

• Feb. 18, “The Princess Bride: An Inconceivable Evening with Cary Elwes,” 7:30 p.m. Saturday, $18.50 to $53.50.

• Feb. 24, Paul Taylor, 7 p.m. Friday, $23.50 to $68.50.

• Feb. 25, Joe Bonamassa, 8 p.m. Saturday, $52.50 to $152.50. 211 N. Michigan St. 574-235-9190 morriscenter.org

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY PARKS | SOUTH BEND

• Feb. 10, 17, 24, “Click and Go!” cross-country skiing lessons, 3-5 p.m. Friday, Red Barn, SP, $15/person. Please arrive 15-20 minutes before start of program.

• Feb. 10, Sweetheart Ski, 6-9 p.m. Friday, meet at Red Barn, SP, $5/person, plus $10 ski rental available. Registration and payment required by Wednesday, Feb. 8.

• Feb. 14, Valentine Ski, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, meet at Red Barn, SP, regular rental fees.

• Feb. 18, Tapping Day, volunteers needed to help tap maple trees and hang sap tubes, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, BW, free admission. Registration required by Thursday, Feb. 16.

St. Patrick’s County Park (SP), 50651 Laurel Road, South Bend; Bendix Woods County Park (BW), 56960 Timothy Road, New Carlisle; Ferrettie/Baugo Creek County Park (F/B), 57057 Ash Road, Osceola 574-654-3155 sjcparks.org

POTAWATOMI ZOO | SOUTH BEND

• Feb. 4, 5, 18, 19, “Winter Days!” Concessions and Potawatomi Express open, weather permitting, noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, $7.50/ adults, $6.50/children and seniors.

500 S. Greenlawn Ave. 574-235-9800

potawatomizoo.org

On with the show

The BAEC Home and Outdoor Expo returns Feb. 24-26

By Lauren Zeugner House and Home Editor

The only home show in Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties in 2023 is completely sold out and has a waiting list for vendors. Niki Groves, executive director of the Builders Association of Elkhart County, said she’s been receiving requests for space every day.

This year’s show boasts 77 vendors with 32 BAEC members participating. The BAEC Home and Outdoor Expo is now in its 48th year. The show will be held at the Northern Indiana Event Center, 21565 Executive Parkway Elkhart, Feb. 24-26.

“If I could have two buildings (for the show) that would be great,” she said. In the very near future, she just may get her wish. The RV/MH Hall of Fame, home to the Northern Indiana Event Center, is building a new pavilion on the site and Groves is already looking into seeing if she can book it as well for next year’s show.

Groves said she is expecting a good turn out and she encourages people to come out and check out the many vendors who will be displaying their wares. Vendors include landscapers, pools, windows and door installation, remodeling, window treatments, heating and air conditioning people, guttering, flooring, bathroom remodeling, interior decorators and cabinets. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes will also have a booth space. There will also be a couple of realtors as well as a winery.

For those looking for a fun evening out, Friday,

Feb. 24, is Date Night with wine tastings and roses for the first 50 women in attendance from 4-8 p.m.

T-Mobile phone service will have a booth and Monteith Tire will have its mobile unit out at the show as well. Groves explained she tries to provide a lot of diversity in the show so there is something for everyone.

Back by popular demand will be the Sweazy Q BBQ food truck offering some tasty treats for lunch or if visitors just need a snack.

While supply chain issues are still being a problem, with some products taking a little

longer for delivery and installation, the professionals at the Home and Outdoor Expo are very knowledgeable and can help homeowners know what to expect.

“Our vendors love a show like ours because it gives them a chance to really connect with guests. Visitors can ask questions and vendors get a sense of what they are looking to do rather than merely taking a name, email and number like at some of the bigger events,” Groves said.

They also like the fact the event is curated so visitors aren’t inundated with dozens of companies that specialize in the same area of home improvement.

“We strive to limit that kind of thing so we can offer guests a good variety of professionals in a wide range of industries,” Groves said. “Three years ago, our show was one of the last events that was held before everything shut down. ... We are looking forward to seeing everyone!

Show hours will be 3-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25; and Noon - 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26. Admission and parking is free. n

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Awakening your garden and yard for spring

(and other February gardening chores)

By Mary Ann Martin, Michiana Master Gardener

February is an enigma. It can be frigidly cold or “shirt and jacket” warm. Those warm spells lure us outdoors to begin those “waking up our garden” tasks.

I chose this topic as last fall I wrote a column entitled “Putting Your Garden to Bed for Winter.” It seemed only fitting this article should be on getting it up and going again. It can be a difficult task. If you try to work the soil too soon – as in while it is still too wetyou will do more harm than good. (Hint: When squeezed, if the soil in your hand crumbles it is ready. If it stays in your hand as a ball it is still too wet.)

So, what can you do in February? If you haven’t had a chance to do so, yet, look over the gardening catalogs that have been coming in. If you are relatively new to gardening and the companies don’t have you on their mailing lists, ask one or two of your gardening friends if you can borrow theirs.

Most of the catalogs have online websites, which can be easily accessed. A variety of catalogs are available – just flowers, flowers and veggies, heirlooms. New cultivars are usually mentioned. You can begin to generate what you want to plant and where you want to plant it.

This is a great time to get on paper your thoughts and ideas. This is your plot plan so it can be as detailed - or not – as you want. It will be an invaluable resource to you when your seeds have germinated or plants have arrived or help you know what you want to purchase when you go to the garden center.

I like to leave room on my plan to jot notes over the course of the gardening season –what is doing well, what needs more (or less) sun, etc. As the ground thaws, if you haven’t done a soil test for a couple years, this would be a great

time to do so.

February is the month to prune fruit trees and most summer flowering shrubs such as hydrangea, hibiscus, buddleia among others. (Another hint: Do not prune spring flowering shrubs until after they have flowered.)

The goal of pruning is to give your shrubs and trees the shape and size you want and to cut out dead, damaged and diseased limbs. Limbs that rub against each other should also be eliminated. Purdue has an excellent publication on pruning, “Pruning Ornamental Trees and Shrubs” (HO-4-W), which can be viewed online. Pruning is often viewed with fear, but with a little education, it need not be so.

Speaking of pruning shears, another task is readying your garden tools. Sharpen, clean and repair those pruners, hoes, rakes, trowels. On a warmish day take that rake to your yard. Leaves, having laid on the grass all winter long, can damage your grass as it begins to grow. This also helps keep snow mold at bay.

Seeds for the cool-weather crops, such as brocolli, cauliflower, cabbage, etc. can be started indoors towards the end of the month – approximately 5-7 weeks before setting them in the ground. If you have seeds left over from last year you can test their viability by placing 10 or so between damp paper towels and keep warm. If half don’t grow, toss them and purchase new ones.

If you left foliage on asparagus or rhubarb plants, this is a good time to remove it. I don’t cut back the leaves of plants with seed pods or winter interest and if you do the same this is a good time to remove them, too.

On your plot plan or a gardening calendar write the dates you want to have certain tasks done. As you think things through you may want to include the date for your lawn pre emergent weed killer to be applied (March 1) and the date fetilizer to go on (about the time forsythia blooms). If you have the dates and the chemicals ready to go, you will be ready when the time arrives.

So, a lot of the “awakening process” has to do with being knowledgeable regarding what you want to do, what needs to be done and when those things need to happen. Planning ahead can be crucial to truly enjoying this amazing season! And as winter turns into spring and gardening turns into full swing, your plot plan or calendar will help keep you organized so you can truly enjoy it. Spring is a beautiful time of year! n

photos: shutterstock.com

Midwest Home &Yard Show

By BethAnne Brink-Cox House and Home Feature Writer

It’s time for the Midwest Home and Yard Show again! Karen Flanhardt, director of the Michiana Event Center (affectionately called “The MEC”) in Shipshewana said this is the 11th year for the show, which grows more popular every time. “We have all the same vendors, which means they’re popular!” Just when it seems winter might never end (admittedly, this year is strangely out of the norm) this show makes you feel like spring is just around the corner, leading you to think of barbecues and landscaping and many other projects to plan.

Flanhardt said she’s been directing “just over three years. The show used to be held in Howe, and is now in this location for the fifth year.” There is over 150,000 square feet under one roof; there is 100,000 square feet of trade show and expo area for conventions. When asked what her favorite part of it all might be, she laughed and said, “When I get to go home at the end! But really, I like to see how the vendors come back consistently, and I think they do that because we do have a good location. It’s conveniently located, easy to get in and out. I love to see how well the vendors do with their businesses.

It’s important they have a good experience here. Typically 90% of the vendors come for the other shows we do–fall craft shows, Christmas, I could name you 50 or 60 events. We have a whole year’s calendar–it fills up fast–that ranges from a car show to a musical. There’s horse sales, go-karts, we offer things like grills and freeze dried foods, people like to see demonstrations and taste things, there’s really just a whole variety of things here, and our vendors can diversify. Lots of people come for the home and yard/outdoor show.”

More than 60 local vendors are expected to be in attendance at the show, and they’ll encompass such things as home design, outdoor gardening, and landscaping experts. Love to barbecue (as who does not?) You’ll want to check out the latest grills. You can look at cutlery and cookware, cabinets and carpeting, and a name that’ll make you do a double-take: Bawling Acres, which is a Middlebury woodworking business! What about It Works? DoTerra/Lemongrass, Discovery Toys, Evolve Chiropractic, Miller’s Sewing Machine, Thirty One, Tupperware, Juice Plus and Heritage Bookstore–there really is something for everyone!

As always, there will be giveaways of approximately $20,000. Last year some of the prizes were a swing-and-slide set, a grill, lawn and garden tools, curbing and a deck! Walk around with a Coke (the official drink provider!) and enjoy a feast for every sense. The show will take place from 1-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11. Admission is $5 at the door, and children 12 and under get in free. n

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Heritage

Ideal

J&S

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Princess

Pro

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Quillen

Renewal

Simply

Sisel

Slabaugh’s

Spott

Stoney

Superior Hardscapes

Supreme Coatings

Norwex

Tupperware

Unlimited

W&L Nutrition

Wana Acres Fencing

Finding your (re)purpose

UPSCALE your items into something new

By Julie Young House and Home Feature Writer

Who doesn’t love the results of a good makeover? We all know that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, so why not upscale your humble “befores” into amazing “afters?” With a little imagination, some ingenuity, and a whole lot of elbow grease, you can refurbish and renew your old, unwanted household items into something that you can enjoy for years to come!

Upscaled ideas to try

· A shabby windowpane can be repaint- ed and the glass covered with chalkboard paint to create a fun, family hub.

· Dusty shutters can be refashioned into a cute cabinet with lots of personality.

· Two ladders and some scrap wood can become a fashionable clothing/shoe rack.

· Exterior paint and metal wheels can turn a pallet into an outdoor coffee table.

BECOME A VISIONARY

In order to upscale or update an item or a piece of furniture, one must first look at it in a new way and consider its possibilities. Sometimes, a change of room, a different angle or a coat of paint is enough of a transformation, but sometimes a touch of whimsy can give your design scheme a new look.

Debbie Hochstetler ASID at Sweet Water Interiors is no stranger to upscaling and updating items based on her clients’ needs and preferences. Over the years, she has transformed silver butter dishes into shimmering soap dishes and has taken a variety of boat oars to accent a day bed. However, one makeover was especially “moo”ving for her.

“I had a client who loved Holstein cows and we found an antique chest and painted it to resemble one of those black and white cows and she loved it!” She said. “It was really whimsical, but it totally went with the décor in her room!”

JUST A LITTLE CHANGE

In addition to upcycling wood pieces and household objects, folks can also transform upholstered furniture to give them an updated look. Robin Gillam at Tepe Furniture said her clients often have well made, quality furniture that they want to keep so she suggests making a change in the fabric, reconfiguring an arm, or cutting the legs to create a new style.

“I recently found an abandoned love seat and sofa in our basement that someone never claimed, and I am working on them to mimic something I saw in a showroom,” she said. “If the item is a quality piece, then refurbishing it is really an investment.”

Above all, don’t be afraid to think outside the box when it comes to upcycling. Jan Robinson has been on the Elkhart County Fair Board and has seen a number of unique creations during the fair’s upscale/recycle contest each year. She’s seen TV consoles transformed into a children’s playset, pallets refurbished into a charming lemonade stand, blue jeans reimagined into a wreath or quilt and has even seen a dress crocheted out of old VHS tapes.

“You are really only limited by your imagination,” she said. “There are so many ideas out there on Pinterest that you can take and make your own.” n

Photo by Adam Albright

Photo: spoonflower.com

Photo: hudsonfarmhouse.com

Photo: homebnc.com

Natural cleaning products are trending...

how good are they?

By BethAnne Brink-Cox House and Home Feature Writer

Do you remember your grandmother or great-grandmother cleaning with simple things like salt, baking soda, vinegar or cut lemons? Do you remember her polishing window panes or light fixtures with newspaper, swearing the ink does the trick for spot-free, lint-free finished results?

It’s amazing what you can do with those non-toxic, relatively inexpensive items, whether you want something to degrease a surface or something with a little bit of grit to scrub off stubborn spots. Everything old is new again, and natural cleaning products are trending. Are they safe? effective? safe around pets? Well, it might depend on your location and planned usage.

If you were cleaning hundreds of surfaces in large commercial areas, you would want products that work as fast as possible. Some settings require hospital-grade disinfectant cleaners, but there’s also the question about what they might do to the environment. There’s also the thought about too much cleaning cutting down on immunities; it’s definitely a topic to discuss.

Chances are you’re cleaning your house, so you might want to look into natural cleaning products. There are good reasons for that: you don’t want toxic chemicals and/or fumes in homes with children and pets, especially during winter months when homes are closed up tightly. And there are certain health issues that can be exacerbated by those same chemicals; for example, as an asthmatic, oven cleaning is forbidden for me.

their cleaning–especially food and water bowls, and litter pans, with Dawn dish soap.

“If you do have to use bleach, it must be diluted 20/1 with water, and then the items should be followed up with a dish soap wash,” she explained. “Anything you use around pets, including shampoos, should be checked–it’s very important to read labels!” This is important to remember when mopping floors or wiping down furniture, as well. “You have to remember that animals lick things!” she said.

Kenneth Steve, who has owned K’s Cleaning in South Bend since 2017, said “Plant based cleaners are just as effective as the old chemical solutions. I switched over during the COVID pandemic when everyone was being so careful about cleaning, and I now use only Melaleuca (think tea tree) products. My business has actually improved. I have more now than before, since I started promoting these products, explaining why I think they’re better. People who have allergies, parents of babies, pet owners – they’re all relieved to find out what I use.”

What if you’re dealing with a really tough stain? Carey Larson at the Granite Shop in Elkhart said, “We recommend just dish

rect to a supreme surface cleaner if there’s a serious stain, but we pretty much encourage things like baking soda and dish soap. Those things do very well for ordinary cleaning.”

The Granite Shop installs countertops of marble, granite, quartz or other exotic stone, and Larson and his staff stand behind these recommendations for proper care of the surfaces.

Another thing to consider with natural cleaning products is the cost, especially if you make them yourself, as many are doing these days. The basic items are much less expensive. And while it can be deadly to mix ammonia and bleach products, things like vinegar and soda or salt, even a bit of hydrogen peroxide can be blended safely.

Don’t forget, though, they still need to be stored carefully where children can’t get to them and drink them, especially if you have used good smelling essential oils for the nice fragrance.

It’ll be time for spring cleaning before you know it, so do a little research and decide what you’d feel best about bringing into your home then move forward with confidence. n

Margaret Kahn, working side by side with husband Dr. David Kahn at Animal Medical

By Julie Young House and Home Feature Writer

Like the pantry, a linen closet serves as a storage space for everyday provisions such as spare bedsheets, pillowcases, towels, washcloths, personal products, paper goods and so much more. A vital hub of every household, the linen closet is a must and there are a number of ways to carve out space for a new one or to expand on one you already have.

Don’t throw in the towel get the most from your LINEN CLOSET

TAKE INVENTORY

According to Todd Meier of Team Remodeling in Goshen, when creating a linen closet or expanding an existing one, it is important to reach out to a contractor who can help you determine what can (and can’t) be done based on your home’s construction and can help you locate the perfect place for your new storage space.

“In order to create a linen closet to give you space, you must take that space from somewhere else, which may be a bedroom, a bathroom, or another closet. It’s also possible that the available space may not be deep but may be wide so you must evaluate everything. It’s really done on a case-by-case basis,” he said.

One of the most popular ways to create a new linen closet is to incorporate it into a bathroom remodel. A narrow shower stall is often the perfect place for a new linen closet, especially if removing a bathtub to make way for a larger shower space. Plumbing can be reconfigured, and drywall installed to make way for an additional closet within the existing square footage of the home.

“No matter how you go about it, you’ll want to talk to a reputable contractor who can help you get the whole thing sorted out,” Meier said.

FITTING OUT THE SPACE

Once you have created or expanded your closet, it’s time to fit out the space. As a family owned and operated company, Closet Craft in Goshen strives to create truly customized solutions for their clients. From clothing bars to drawers and open shelving they can maximize the square footage of your linen closet for all of your storage needs!

“We all have those closets with fixed shelving that can’t be moved and don’t always work for our needs. I advise clients to consider adjustability and depth, so that when their needs change, their closet can change with them,” said Alania Hawkins, designer, and marketing specialist for Closet Craft.

When it comes to getting creative with your space, Trish Stopczynski of Innovative Spaces, Inc. says her go to spot is Amazon.

“There are so many solutions for storage and organization, and everyone has a different budget that they want to spend,” she said. “We find that some people need a whole closet redone to help utilize more of it because they do need actual shelving and they just don’t have it. Other times it isn’t the space, but ‘how’ they are using it that needs to be reorganized.”

Hawkins agreed. “Behind the door is valuable real estate when it comes to closets and cannot be overlooked, especially when it comes to the quasi-cleaning/linen closet.”

Linen closets are a unique transitional space that are always evolving throughout the years and as homeowners, we evolve with them.

“We are all human and we all have closets and we all wish they functioned better than they do,” Hawkins said. “Luckily, Closet Craft is here to help.”

photo: neat by meg

photo: Jen Woodhouse

photo: organizedinteriors.com shutterstock.com

photo: neat by meg

photo: organizedinteriors.com

Natural cleaning products

Animal Medical Center Warsaw • (574) 269-6464

mywarsawvet.com

K’s Cleaning (574) 298-0905

kscleaning.net

Granite Shop

Elkhart • (574) 296-1113

graniteshop.biz

Sweet Water Interiors

(574) 534-3989

RESOURCE GUIDE

Don’t throw in the towel

Closet Craft

Goshen • (574) 533-1114

closetcraft.com

Team Remodeling

Goshen • (574) 534-3501

teamremodeling.com

Innovative Spaces, Inc.

Granger • (574) 247-1999

reclaimmyspace.com

Finding your (re)purpose

Tepe Furniture (574) 288-7311

tepefurniture.com

How to help your teen create a timeless space in their room

Krista Lynn Design

Krista Shoemaker 102 E. Pearl St., Syracuse

Putting together your garden and landscaping plans

sweetwaterinteriors. com

Green Committee Elkhart County Fair Board (574) 533-3247

m4hfair.org

Burpee Seed Co. burpee.com

Michigan Bulb Co. (812) 260-2148

michiganbulb.com

BREAKFAST SAUSAGE CASSEROLE

Ingredients:

Butter, for greasing

1/2 loaf of sliced white loaf bread

1 lb. fresh bulk pork sausage with sage

10 oz. sharp Cheddar, grated

2 c. half-and-half

1 tsp. dry mustard

1 tsp. salt

5 large eggs, lightly beaten

Potter 2008 Courtesy of Foodnetwork.com.

Directions:

1. Cut the bread into 1-inch cubes and spread in the bottom of a greased 9- by 13- by 2- inch casserole dish.

2. In a medium skillet, brown the sausage over medium heat until fully cooked and no longer pink. Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon to drain the fat. Spread the cooked sausage over the bread and top with the cheese. Then stir together the halfand-half, dry mustard, salt and eggs. Pour this mixture over the cheese. Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.

3. The next day, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

4. Bake the covered casserole until set and slightly golden, about 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the casserole to set for 15 minutes before serving.

Veggie Pakoras with Spicy Cilantro Chutney

INGREDIENTS:

Pakoras:

Canola oil, for frying

1 cup (120 grams) chickpea flour, plus more as needed

1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon ground turmeric

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 cup (125 milliliters) water, plus more as needed

3 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro stems, leaves reserved for the chutney and serving

4 green onions, sliced

1 large potato or sweet

Directions:

potato, grated

1 handful spinach, chopped

1/4 head cauliflower, finely chopped

Chutney:

1 handful cilantro leaves

1 handful mint leaves

2 tablespoons finely grated ginger

1/2 jalapeño or serrano pepper, roughly chopped

2 tablespoons yogurt

1 clove garlic, roughly chopped

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1 lemon, zested and juiced

Kosher salt

Tamarind chutney, optional

1. For the pakoras: Place a rack-lined sheet pan in the oven and heat it to 200 degrees F. Heat about 1 inch of oil in a high-sided sauté pan or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat.

2. Whisk together the chickpea flour, garam masala, salt, turmeric, baking powder and garlic powder in a large bowl. Whisk in the water until a thick batter forms.

3. Add the cilantro stems, green onions, potato, spinach and cauliflower and stir to combine. If the batter is a little thick, add

a tablespoon or two more water. If thin, add a little more chick pea flour. You want it to hold together and be easily scoopable.

4. Using two tablespoons, drop six small mounds of the batter into the oil and cook until deeply golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Remove to a piece of paper towel to absorb excess oil, then transfer to the oven to keep warm while you cook the remaining batter.

5. For the chutney: Add the cilantro, mint, ginger, jalapeño or serrano, yogurt and garlic to a small food processor and pulse to chop together. Add the sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice. Season with salt and process into a sauce, adding a splash of water if needed to reach a dippable consistency. Scatter the hot pakoras with cilantro and serve with the herby chutney and tamarind chutney, if desired. n

Recipe by Mary Berg: Mary Makes It Easy. Courtesy of Foodnetwork.com

Recipe adapted from Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen with Trisha Yearwood © Clarkson

photo: parade.com

photo: foodnetwork.com

2023

Elkhart County Garden Expo

’Think Spring’ set for Feb. 25

The Michiana Master Gardeners’ Association will host its fourth annual garden expo “Think Spring” from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Northern Indiana Event Center, 21565 Executive Parkway, Elkhart.

Tickets are $10 at the door or on the association’s website, michianamastergardeners.com.

The day will feature speakers, workshops, food, vendors, door prizes and a silent auction. This year’s keynote speaker will be David L. Culp of Brandywine Cottage in Pennsylvania. He will be talking about year round beauty in the garden.

Culp is the creator of the gardens at Brandywine Cottage in Downingtown, Pa. Culp has been lecturing about gar-

dens nationwide for more than 25 years. Articles on Culp have appeared in Gardens Illustrated, Horticulture Magazine, and numerous other publications. He is the principle of David L. Culp Designs and Owner of Brandywine Snowdrops.

Culp is a former contributing editor to Horticulture magazine and served as chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Hardy Plant Society. Culp is vice president for Sunny Border Nurseries in Connecticut. He is author of the book “The Layered

Garden” published by Timber Press. Culp is a herbaceous perennials instructor at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA.

The Michiana Master Gardeners’ Association holds this event in cooperation with Purdue Extension.

Anyone in need of accommodation to attend this event is asked to send an email to nborkhol@purdue.edu or call Purdue Extension-Elkhart County at (574) 5330554 by Feb. 10.

Did You Know?

What happened 75 years ago in

Singer and musician Rick James was born on Feb. 1 in Buffalo, NY. He died in 2004.

The closing ceremonies of the 1948 Winter Olympics were held in St. Moritz, Switzerland on Feb. 8. Norway and Sweden tied for first place in the final medal count with 4 gold medals, 3 silvers and 3 bronzes each.

The ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were cast upon the sacred Ganges River at Allahabad on Feb. 12. The crowd that packed the banks of the river and the ancient city was estimated at 2 to 3 million.

At McDonald Observatory in Texas, astronomer Gerard Kuiper discovered the smallest moon of the planet Uranus on Feb. 16. He named it Miranda after the character from Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

February 1948?

The Hostages Trial ended in Nuremberg, on Feb. 19, in which German generals of the Balkan Campaign stood trial for war crimes. Eight defendants received prison sentences ranging from seven years to life, while two were acquitted.

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) was founded by Bill France, Sr. with the help of several other drivers on Feb. 21.

Czechoslovakia became a communist country on Feb. 25, 1948 triggering more than 40 years of totalitarian rule. Until then it was the last democracy in Eastern Europe.