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As I sit down to write this month’s Editor’s Note, we’re going through a heat wave. It’s been in the 90s the last few days and temps aren’t expected to drop for a while.
So it seems odd that the September issue is dedicated to prepping our homes and yard for the cold winter months that are coming.
If you’re planning on doing a remodel or renovation of your home or considering building your dream home, be sure to take some time and check out the homes and general contractors featured in the Parade of Homes hosted by the Builders Association of North Central Indiana.
The Parade of Homes is set for Sept. 20-22 and offers a wonderful opportunity to check out what’s trending in interior design, see the type of work local contractors do and chat with their representatives.
When it comes to fall prep, we cover the inside and outside of the home. Beth Anne wrote about taming the closet and closet organization as part of our Then and Now, 20th anniversary glance back at what was popular.
I was so inspired by her article, I went home one night and literally cleaned out my closet. In 2 hours I had quite a pile of stuff that I either no longer wore or that no longer fit for the donation pile.
Beth Anne also did an article on what to do with that unfinished attic space or bonus space you may have in your home. Hint: It doesn’t have to become a dumping ground for stuff you no longer use or want anymore.
Dani continues with our fall prep theme by writing about fall yard prep as far as
cleaning up the yard so you don’t have so much work to do next spring. She also writes about getting your snow blower prepped so its ready to go when the snow flies.
For this month’s recipe, I pulled a recipe from Ina Garden. She offers a fairly easy tomato tart that sounded like a great way to use up all those tomatoes that are starting to ripen on the vine. It sounded delicious when I read it.
and now:
A glimpse at how closets have developed over the years
By BethAnne Brink-Cox House and Home Feature Writer
Sometimes a closet is not just a closet. And we didn’t always have closets, as anyone who has bought an old house will discover. For one thing, no one had all those many clothes or linens to store back in the day. The Dakota in New York City was the first known in 1880 to feature reach-in closets. In the 1950s, walk-in closets became the thing everyone wanted when designing or buying a new home.
Today’s closets, though, are a whole different thing. Alaina Hawkins, marketing and social media manager for Closet Craft, explained, “It’s our family’s business. I remember things were pretty simple. People made do with what they had, and there weren’t so many options. Today’s world is about glitz and glam. Walk-in closets: linen, pantry, Mom and Dad or children’s closets–everything has to have a certain organizational feel. And they’re getting bigger. I have designed closets that are bigger than my own kitchen!”
She’s right. I have seen designs for closets complete with a chandelier and a chaise lounge! Why are they so much bigger? Hawkins said, “There’s a lot more detail that homeowners want now, because they have so much more stuff. Things don’t last as long, but no one gets rid of anything. Same goes for shoes; now it’s a shoe for every season and every reason! Lots has to do with consumerism. I have family in Europe, and they are very minimalist, thinking “why would I get rid of that?” They have good things and not too many of them, and they use it up, so to speak. Whereas, no matter how much we have in our closets, we might think, “But I might fit
into that again someday! I can’t get rid of that!”
Closet Craft has been in business since 1995. Hawkins said, “We call ourselves a one-stop shop, and we do everything. From the first call, a client gets the same designer from start to finish. New construction is based on the architect’s blueprints, while existing work is based on space. And it’s not always as much space as you think it is. We want to know your thought process, what you want and if we can make it happen. We design on a CAD system, so you can see what each wall will look like; we generate a 3-D image that’s almost a birdseye view.”
“We invite you to come in and look it all over,” she continued. “I’m very visual and a lot of clients are too. It helps them really see what we could do, and that’s when they say okay, okay, I get it!” Construction or remodeling doesn’t begin until everyone is satisfied with the plans. Hawkins said she designs “walk in space, with drawers, organizers, all the essential items in one space.”
It’s making me rethink a lot of things about the way I organize and arrange my closets. How about you? n
The Builders Association of North Central Indiana is building the workforce of the future through the Travis McVicker Scholarship Fund. Named in honor of long-time BANCI member Travis McVicker, the program is designed to assist deserving students who are studying or plan to study career paths in the skilled trades.
By Julie Young House and Home Feature Writer
Supporting Students BANCI offers skilled trade SCHOLARSHIPS
“The average age of folks in the construction field is 55 and many of them are getting ready to retire with no one to take their place so there is really a need for workers in these career fields,” said BANCI board member Julia Moore.
The BANCI scholarship fund is available to both men and women who are seniors in high school or older who are enrolled in a construction related program at a college, university, or trade school/career center. They must also be in good academic standing and a legal resident of Fulton, Kosciusko or Marshall counties. Recipients are selected based on their academic achievements, prior work experience in construction technology, recommendations from
faculty and employers and their career objectives in the building industry. According to the BANCI web site, this rigorous selection process ensures that scholarships are awarded to individuals who not only excel academically but who also demonstrate a strong commitment to their future career in the skilled trades.
Moore said it’s not always easy for the organization to connect with students and encourage them to consider a trade. Although they have a “Build Your Future” program, high school schedules are packed so tightly, there isn’t a lot of time to offer a 45-minute presentation about career choices in the construction industry. They try to get the word out during job fairs and other events in hopes
students will see the trades as a viable choice of vocation.
“Let’s face it, college isn’t for everyone but students who are interested in the trades still need an education, and we want to help them get the degrees or certifications they need to start their careers off on the right path,” Moore said.
Although the scholarship program is relatively new, BANCI was able to award four $1,000 scholarships in May to Trace Stookey and Cory Hill of Trine University (studying engineering and business respectively), Dylan Barley of Ball State University (studying Architecture & Planning), and Ty Brooks of Indiana State University (studying engineering at the Baily College of Engineering.)
For high school kids looking to break into the building trades, there
are a number of programs that can help them get started including the Whitco Career Academy, Pathways — the Wawasee Area Career and Technical Cooperative, and the Warsaw Area Career Center. Moore said these programs help students explore their potential and prepare for a future in the building trades.
“It’s a great way for them to get into the field,” she said.
Since 1996, BANCI has also sponsored the Care For Kids Program which supports the needs of 24 local elementary schools through donations raised at two BANCI golf outings throughout the year. The checks are then hand-delivered to the school nurse or administrator and used as a discretionary fund as needed. For more information, visit www.buildnci.com. n
Whether you are looking to build a new home, remodel an existing space, or see some of the latest trends in home design, the Builders Association of North Central Indiana’s 2024 Homes On Parade Sept. 20-22 is the place to be. Sponsored by First Federal Savings Bank, Superior Garage Door Service, and Kosciusko Connect by REMC, BANCI’s Homes On Parade features seven homes throughout Kosciusko County ranging from new construction to remodels and even a Habitat for Humanity Project.
No place like home
BANCI’s 2024
Homes on Parade is coming September 20-22
By Julie Young House and Home Feature Writer
“We are really excited to be part of the Homes On Parade,” said Ben Logan, executive director for Habitat for Humanity of Kosciusko County. “Our Builders Association has been very generous to us, and I can’t wait for people to see the home we are building. It’s a really solid structure.”
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
Located at 405 N. Franklin St. in Mentone, the Habitat for Humanity house is a 1,350 square-foot space that will soon be home to the Boyd family, which includes mom Kimber, her mother Patty and Kimber’s four daughters ranging from 6-16. The ranch-style house features four bedrooms and two baths that are ADA adaptable so the family can age in place without worrying about another move. Logan said he expects visitors who tour the home will appreciate the throwback style of the floor plan as well as the construction quality being used throughout.
“It is a custom home, but it is customized for a different part of the population, and it is being built in an area that doesn’t get a lot of new construction,” he said.
Near the main sand bar on the south side of Lake Wawasee, T.L. Jackson’s home at 8102 E. Highland View Drive in Syracuse is a 5,400 square-foot Mediterranean style lake home with a modern flair. The two-story, open concept home includes four bedrooms, six baths, a private walkout balcony off the master suite, along with a large outdoor seating area as well as uncovered patio space.
Sam Bengston, marketing manager with T.L. Jackson Construction, says anytime they have the chance to be part of a show like Homes On Parade, they try to participate because it gives the public the chance to see what homes are available and at different price points.
“You also get a chance to walk through a house and see the elements up close. You can look at thousands of pictures on Pinterest, but you can’t get a true sense of a home unless you walk through it.
OLD SPACE, NEW IDEAS
JayH Construction, LLC proves even an existing space can feel brand new with an updated look. Their remodel project located at 11064 Ideal Beach Drive in Syracuse features an expanded, open concept floor plan, two master suites, new siding and stonework that Elmer Miller calls a “complete transformation.”
“We gutted the place,” he said. “I think there is only one wall standing that was part of the original home and we plan to display before and after pictures so people will get a sense of the amount of work that went into the space.”
Miller said he enjoys being part of the Homes On Parade tour and is looking forward to visitors seeing the quality of work that went into their upgrade.
“This is our third house that we have had on the tour and it’s a lot of fun,” he said. “It’s great meeting all the people and answering any questions that they have. I love it.” n
around michiana
YEAR ROUND | MIDDLEBURY TRAIL TALES
Bring the family outdoors to read a children’s book while walking a short path at Riverbend Park; book pages are placed in special kiosks along the path. New books are installed monthly. Event partners are the Middlebury Public Library and Middlebury Parks Department.
SEPT. 1-31 | SOUTH BEND SOUTH BEND FARMERS MARKET
Indoor market featuring homegrown produce, dairy products, meats, eggs, maple syrup, jams and jellies, handcrafts, artwork, jewelry and more 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Free admission 1105 Northside Blvd. (574) 282-1259 southbendfarmersmarket.com
SEPT. 5 | WAKARUSA WAKARUSA BLUE GRASS JAMBOREE
A host of local musicians and bands gather to pick, play and sing bluegrass, country and gospel in an informal jam session. Meets the first Thursday of the month.
6:30-9 p.m.
Doc Able Pavilion
116 W. Waterford St. Downtown Wakarusa, 1 block west of stop light. Free Admission, free will offering (574) 862-2200 wakarusabluegrassjam.com
SEPT. 7 | GOSHEN 11TH ANNUAL ARTS ON THE MILLRACE
Goshen Powerhouse 324 W. Washington St. 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free
SEPT. 12 | SYRACUSE SYRACUSE-WAWASEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE GOLF OUTING
Morning flight: 8:30 a.m. Afternoon flight: 1:30 p.m. Lunch served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (574) 457-5637 executivedirector@swchamber. com
SEPT. 14 | SOUTH BEND FUSION FEST 2024
Food vendors, music demos and artisans 5-11 P.M. Howard Park, 219 S. St. Louis Blvd. Free
SEPT. 14 | WARSAW FAMILY SAFETY DAY 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Municipal Park Warsaw
SEPT. 19-22 | NAPPANEE 48TH NAPPANEE APPLE FESTIVAL
Downtown Nappanee
Hours: Thurs.: 5-9 p.m.
Friday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SEPT. 19 | KOSCIUSKO COUNTY SNAPSHOT WATER MONITOR
2-6 p.m. Hosted by The Watershed Foundation watershedfoundation.org
SEPT. 20-22 | WALKERTON FALLOWEEN FEST
Friday: 4-9:30 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
John Glenn High School 201 John Glenn Drive (547) 586-3195 ext. 8216 rhensler@jgsc.k12. in.us or wmorton@jgsc.k12. in.us
SEPT. 20-22 | KOSCIUSKO COUNTY BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF NORTH CENTRAL INDIANA HOMES ON PARADE
Friday: 4-8 p.m. Saturday: noon-8 p.m. Sunday: noon-6 p.m. Admission: $5 (includes all seven homes) Visit www.buildnci.com for more information
SEPT. 23 | ELKHART HEART AND SOLE FAMILY FUN WALK
3-5p.m. Island Park
200 E. Sycamore St. Sponsored by Elkhart County Health Department Free: Registration Required (574) 338-0684 n
Fall
By Dani Messick House and Home Feature Writer
“For a neat and clean appearance we enjoy an organized landscape bed, so we encourage homeowners to clean the debris up,” said Stone Ridge Landscaping Owner Josh Welker. “Purdue University, they recommend cleaning up dead organic matter to help limit fungus and disease being bred in your landscaping areas.”
Welker says all homeowners should be cleaning leaves out of flower beds at the end of a season and pruning perennials to deter disease and pests. Welker also recommends taking note of washout areas in garden beds and landscaping that may become problematic when spring rains arrive.
In area cities, citizens are permitted to burn clean wood, paper, charcoal, and clean petroleum products but no leaf burning is permitted.
In most communities, leaf pick-ups are hosted in the fall, with limb pick-up in the spring, but residents can take yard waste to other places if the pick-ups aren’t ideal for their clean-up timeline.
is a great time to prep the yard for a new year
You’ve enjoyed your yard all summer, but now it’s time to clean it up and get ready for new year.
typical home would not be appropriate but if you’ve got a whole neighborhood association or a big group together like a church group, there’s some incentives there.”
It’s part of a countywide push to improve air quality in the fall.
Stone Ridge Landscaping has its own method of disposing of biodegradable materials, though.
But what to do with those materials after they’ve been cleaned
Those with county addresses don’t have the same restrictions but they also don’t have the same benefits. In the county, while burning laws aren’t as strict, there’s also no one to pick up plant debris. Regional governments have plans to curb unnecessary burning in the fall though.
Welker said this company has a location where they compost biodegradable waste including leaves, twigs and sod on site.
“There’s actually a leaf collection competition in Elkhart County and as part of the competition groups can be formed to collect the leaves and whoever collects over a certain threshold of leaves actually gets cash prizes in the past,” Welker said. “But you have to collect a lot to qualify, so a
“We bring it back here and let microbe and time break down the debris and in a few years’ time we can reuse that organic material as topsoil for planters or other soil needs,” Welker explained.
The process benefits his company and their customers who want to rid themselves of the materials on their property.
But residents can’t use that compost location. Municipalities though, do offer a number of resources for residents.
“For homeowners, Goshen has a recycling area here in town and different communities have local recycling facilities that often times residents in town can take their organic debris for free or reduced price recycling,” Welker said.
Goshen Environmental Center is at 20100 CR 19. It’s managed by Scott Organic Products, LLC in Columbia City. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays April 1 - Nov. 30. In the winter, it’s only open until 4 p.m. on weekdays and not on the weekend.
Goshen city residents can bring leaves and brush to the location with proof of residence by ID at no charge, and other yard waste like grass clippings, garden flowers, shrubs, and limbs for a small fee. The center also sells mulch and topsoil.
The City of Warsaw offers a similar service, as do many others including South Bend, Mishawaka and Elkhart. Contact your local environmental leaders to find out specific regulations and yard waste removal services in your area. n
Let the IMAGINATION RUN WILD when it comes to using attic or unfinished space IN YOUR HOME
By BethAnne Brink-Cox House and Home Feature Writer
When you think of attic space, what comes to mind? Dusty old trunks? Stacks of National Geographic magazines? Maybe a dressmaker’s dummy your grandma used when she was making her spring wardrobe? Well, that’s all pretty much in the movies, and while attics can definitely be used for storage, they don’t have to become a dusty, cobwebby place where you stuff things no one quite knows what to do with.
Owner and Office Manager of Classic Builders, Inc. Allison Champoux said they don’t do much by way of remodeling existing space because they have so many projects to do from the ground up. But, she explained, “it’s less likely to be an attic as much as it’s an unfinished room above a garage.” She said “it’s a bonus room for kids to hang out in, mostly, maybe an exercise room.”
What could you do with such a space? You could make an office space, especially nice if you want or need a quiet workplace that you can’t find anywhere else in your house.
There are all kinds of creative cabinetry that can be fitted into corners, and you might consider adding skylights! (If you do that, you might find yourself with the perfect studio to try your hand at painting.)
Or maybe an attic bedroom, especially if you could fit in a small bathroom too.This kind of space could easily be rented to college students or other singles, if you were trying to think of a way to bring in some extra income. Bunk beds can be designed to fit in along and under eaves, making great use of sometimes oddly shaped space. You could take the
whole idea farther and create an entire efficiency apartment. In our own home, I’d love to turn the attic into a library, since we have books stacked and shelved and piled everywhere you look. Bookshelves can be fitted in almost anywhere, if you need them to be, and a cozy reading nook would be the perfect finishing touch. For others, it might become a sewing room, or at least a craft room–you can close the door on the mess at the end of the day, knowing you can come back to it the next day and finish whatever project you were working on. If you’re someone
who specializes in handmade things you can sell, or if you’re someone who likes to make all the gifts you give over the course of the year, this could be just right for you.
Champoux said a game room is an idea. “It’s a place for teenagers and kids to be out of the way, and you can’t hear them! If you don’t have a basement, it’s the next best thing.” As the kids grow, this could be ideal for their friends to gather in.
A meditation room? A place to practice yoga? The possibilities are endless. Start making some notes about how you’d like to use that space! n
Prep your
for the season before the snow flies
By Dani Messick House and Home Feature Writer
Dana Stauffer, president/owner of Gardners Outdoor Power Equipment of Goshen, said now’s the time to think about snow blower servicing.
“Don’t wait until it snows four inches and then go out and your snow blower has gas that’s four years old in it and your carburetor is completely plugged up and you’re sitting there with a blower that’s absolutely useless,” he said.
Your snow blower requires regular servicing to maintain proper working order, but how frequently and what repairs are needed varies from year to year.
“If you have a couple winters like we’ve had, you don’t use it very much, it’s probably not as important to do this every year,” Stauffer said. “The thing is, I would probably do it every two years because the freezing and thawing gets moisture in your crankcase and that goes into your oil. The other thing is, if it’s sat around for two years, it’s probably not going to run right, then you’re going to have to have the carburetor cleaned.”
A standard service at Gardners is about $150 for a single-stage snowblower, but
can increase depending on what needs done. Spark plugs, oil, and filters are changed, carburetors are cleaned using an ultrasonic cleaner or sometimes replaced, scrapper bars and paddles are checked for wear and tear and replaced if needed.
Stauffer said most of his customers will consider replacing if maintenance costs are between $50-$100 of the price of a new one. With proper maintenance, Stauffer said a blower can be expected to last 10-15 years.
“Servicing is a maintenance cost,” Stauffer said. “Like with the paddles, if you don’t change them before they get into your reel and ruin your reel, or with the scraper bars you ruin your own main frame… now you’re at the price of a new one.”
Stauffer said at Gardners, they begin snowblower servicing near the beginning of September. In August, they’re still swamped with lawnmower repairs, but once the snow begins falling, the shop gets busy.
“When they bring it in and we’re two weeks out, there’s not much we can do when there’s 30 snow blowers here.”
Snowblowers don’t have a lot of parts, and so repairs and servicings are a pretty standard procedure. Most scheduled ap-
pointments are expected to take about an hour and a half.
“If you get it scheduled in for a day, it’s only going to be in here, if you drop it off the day before, you usually can pick it up the day we do it. It’s not that big of a deal on a snow blower. Even the paddles and everything, that’s only going to add another half hour to an hour depending on whether it’s a single-stage or a twostage blower.”
Don’t want to take a snowblower in for annual or biannual servicing? Don’t waste your money on a gas-powered machine.
“For some older people, what we’ve been getting them into is the battery-powered, because now they don’t have to start them and you just keep your batteries charged. Now you don’t have an engine where you don’t have to have carburetor issues or engine oil and stuff like that. You just make sure your battery is charged.”
For battery-powered machines, the only maintenance require is scrapper bar and paddles replacement when needed.
“Now if you get three feet of snow, the battery-powered ones aren’t going to do what the gas does,” Stauffer added, “but the battery ones have their place.” n
Anna’s Tomato Tart
Courtesy of Ina Garten
Barefoot Contessa: Modern Comfort Food, From Cooking for Jeffrey Copyright foodnetwork.com
2 1/2 pounds dried beans for baking the crust (pie weightsoptional)
Directions:
Place the flour and 1 teaspoon of salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the butter and pulse 1215 times, until butter is the size of peas. Add the egg yolks and pulse a few times to combine. With the motor running, add the ice water through the feed tube and pulse until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a floured board and roll it into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a sheet pan with
Filling Ingredients:
2 1/2 pounds firm medium tomatoes, cored and sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 whole cup fresh parsley leaves, lightly packed
1/2 cup coarsely chopped basil leaves, lightly packed
3 large garlic gloves
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
parchment paper. Meanwhile, place the tomatoes in a large bowl. Put the parsley, basil, garlic, thyme, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon pepper in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and process until finely minced. With the processor running, pour the olive oil down the feed tube and process until combined. Pour the mixture over the tomatoes and toss gently. Set aside. On a well-floured board, roll the dough out to an 11 by 17 inch rectangle and transfer it to the prepared sheet pan. Don’t worry if it doesn’t fit exactly; you want it to cover
most of the bottom of the pan, but it can be a little rough on the sides. Place a second sheet pan directly on the pastry and bake for 15 minis. (You can also line the pastry with foil and fill it with dried beans). Remove the top sheet pan (or beens and foil). Using a dinner fork, pierce the pastry in many places. Bake for another 8-10 minutes, until lightly browned. Check the pastry during baking; pierce any spots that bubble up. Allow the crust to cool for 15 minutes. Lower the oven to 375 degrees. Brush the mustard on the crust with a pastry brush. Sprinkle a thick even
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup good olive oil
6 tablespoons Dijon mustard
3/4 pounds of grated gruyere cheese (1 pound with rind)
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons freshly grated Italian Parmesan cheese
layer of Gruyere on the pastry, reserving 1/2 cup for the top and sprinkle with the 1/2 cup of parmesan. Place overlapping tomatoes in rows on top. If there is a little garlic and herb mixture in the bowl, sprinkle it over the tomatoes, but if there is liquid in the bowl, strain it through a very fine mesh strainer, discard the liquid and sprinkle the garlic and herb mixture on the tomatoes. Sprinkle the reserved 1/2 cup of Gruyere and the remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmesan on top. Bake for 30 minutes. Cool slightly. Cut into squares and serve warm or at room temperature. n
Did You Know?
September iS a time of tranSition
By Julie Young House and Home Feature Writer
For many of us, September feels like the real beginning of the year even though it comes near the end. As the first month of fall in the Northern Hemisphere and the first month of spring in the Southern Hemisphere, September is a time to transition to a new season of life!
DAY CHORE CHART
While no one wants to work over a long weekend, there is plenty of work to do around the garden. Here are a few projects to consider:
4 Pick and preserve the last items of your summer harvest.
4 Divide your perennials. Look for holes or dead spots in your beds, which might indicate that a division is in order.
4 Store seeds for next year.
4 Fertilize your lawn.
4 Plant shrubs and trees.
AN APPLE A DAY SEPTEMBER SKY SHOW
September and apple picking go hand and hand, but did you know that there are a surprising number of health benefits to this tasty (and inexpensive) treat?
4 At only 60 calories, apples offer the biggest nutritional bang for the buck when they are eaten uncooked and unpeeled.
4 They are also rich in antioxidants and are a good source of fiber.
4 Apples can help sta bilize your blood sugar and help lower your cholesterol.
4 They can help you live longer by reducing your risk of heart disease.
IN-HOUSE ORGANIZATION
September’s full moon, known as the Harvest Moon will reach peak illumination on September 17 around 10:34 p.m. and will be the brightest of the calendar year. This year also happens to be a “super moon,” which makes it extra special. You will also be able to catch the constellation Pegasus in the sky this month as well.
Rainy weekend put a damper on your plans? Get a head start on your holiday and seasonal preparations:
4 Organize your broom closet.
4 Clean your front hall closet to make room for winter coats.
4 Labor Day sales are typically the best indicator of how robust holiday sales will be.
4 September 11 is a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Make plans to give back to your community and honor those who lost their lives 23 years go.
4 Out of the 12 months in a calendar year, September is spelled with the most letters.
4 There are more classic and pop songs with September in the title than any other month.
4 September’s birthstone, the sapphire, is rumored to have the ability to reduce inflammation, lower a fever and serve as a lucky charm for those who wear it. n
4 Get to work on your holiday correspondence by purchasing cards, stamps and create a list of those you want to include in your mailing.
4 Start planning your next big project whether it is a kitchen or bathroom renovation, painting or finishing a basement. Create your dream board and begin to formulate your vision so that you will be ready when the time comes to get to work.
