By: Courtney Craig
Ah, the weekend! It’s a great time to relax, and to not think about the chores you should be doing, such as cleaning out your basement and attic, and — finally — getting organized.
You’re not a slacker — you’ve got energy. What you need are a few creative sparks that’ll make you roll up your sleeves and get going in the right direction.
Recently, I’ve come across some smart ideas for repurposing old stuff — fun and frugal ways that’ll help you declutter and keep your junk from ending up in a landfill. Here are some of my favorites:
Turn CDs into garden scarecrows
Chances are your music collection has gone all-digital in the past few years, leaving hundreds of old CDs sitting sadly in their jewel cases, with nothing to do except take up space.
Put them to good use by scaring birds away from your berry garden. Thread string through the hole in the CD and tie it off to make a large loop. Hang several CDs from a tree near your berry bushes. The shiny, moving objects will frighten birds, keeping them away from your sun-ripened berries.
Make a coat rack out of doorknobs
Do you have a collection of old doorknobs lying around? Put them to work again by turning them into a coat rack. Take four or five doorknobs — use a mismatched array for extra whimsy — and space them evenly apart on a piece of wood trim. Screw the knobs to the wood, then mount the wood to the wall. Voila — you have a new place to hang your coat or purse.
Use old pots for garden tool storage
Basements and garages are graveyards for old pots that became too small for grownup plants, kind of like the shells that hermit crabs vacate for a bigger home. Put these pots to good use by filling them with sand mixed with enough mineral oil to make it slightly damp. Stick your gardening tools in the sand for easy storage. The mixture protects tools from corrosion and rust.
Store tall tools in old golf bag
Perhaps it’s been years since you’ve teed off, or maybe you’ve just upgraded to a better bag, but here’s a new use for an old golf bag: Make it a home for your bigger gardening tools. Shovels, hoes, and rakes slide right into the compartments that once held clubs.
Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/blog/recycling-reusing/give-your-old-cds-new-purpose-plus-3-more-tips-repurpose-old-items/#ixzz2HOzN80f9
Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.
When the new year arrives, promises and resolutions abound. Here's the top 10 list the resolute home owner should should accomplish this year.
Then you'll love going to Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon at the Center at Eastman in Grantham, NH. The program begins its 21st year on Sunday, December 23, from 4-7pm with Richie Cole, world-class saxophonist. Doors open at 3pm, tickets are $18/adult, $16/seniors or students. Reservations are recommended - call 763-8732 or email bill.wightman@comcast.net. For reservations after 2pm the day of the show, call Bistro Nouveau at 863-8000. For a complete schedule, click on our Community Calendar at www.cbmilestone.com or visit www.josajazz.com.
There's lots of possibilities for this impeccably maintained, circa 1904 Arts and Crafts, shingle-style home. The quality of the craftsmanship and attention to detail are visible throughout. Beautiful millwork, 2 working Rumford fireplaces, maple and oak flooring, extensive built-ins and a butler's pantry are just a few of the home's highlights. 7 bedrooms, 9 baths plus 2 rental units in the carriage house, on 2.04 beautifully landscaped acres. The residence has also been used as a bed and breakfast inn. There is another acre across the street which is negotiable. Was $499,900, now $459,000. Visit www.258Main.com for more photos and details.
Stacey Viandier, Listing Agent, 603-526-4116
If not, look at the ones at Spring Ledge Farm in New London, NH. They are absolutely beautiful and huge! They offer white, red, burgundy, Jingle Bells and pink poinsettias, as well as Winter Rose cut flower poinsettias. Spring Ledge Farm has grown their own poinsettias for 16 seasons now. The poinsettia industry has trended toward mass-production, with large growers in Canada and the mid-Atlantic flooding the markets. As they cut costs over the entire crop, the quality of these mass-market plants suffers. To grow a high-quality poinsettia, with strong branches and healthy, colorful bracts, they space their plants correctly, starting them off with beneficial root microbes and carefully adjusting the growing temperatures as the season progresses. The poinsettias are grown alongside their cyclamen, which is started from seed the previous January and amaryllis and paperwhites which they force in the Fall. With their own supply of plants growing in their large greenhouse, they can easily keep the farmstand stocked with fresh color for your holiday needs. Check out this video which illustrates how they grow their own poinsettias. Click here for the YouTube video, (best viewed with "large viewer option").
The Sunapee Kearsarge Intercommunity Theatre will present "Ye Olde Madrigal Feaste: by order of King Henry VIII" on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, December 6, 7, and 9 at the Lake Sunapee Country Club, New London, NH. You can choose between a hearty beef or vegetarian fare prepared by the Country Club's chef. You'll be entertained by jesters, dancers and a Madrigal Choir singing holiday songs and madrigals. Reservations are required. Tickets for all shows are $40 for adults and $25 for children 12 and under. Thursday and Friday seating opens at 6pm with feasting at 6:30pm. Sunday seating opens at 1:30pm with feasting at 2pm. For reservations contact Don Boxwell 526-2910, or Susan Cancio-Bello 848-8898, or email susancb@comcast.net. Proceeds benefit the Steven Mendelson Scholarship Fund.
Take a look at this affordable 3 bedroom, 2 bath cape in Wilmot, NH. Open concept first floor. Large deck to relax on overlooking the Tannery Pond dam. Convenient to all Wilmot Village amenities. Offered at $239,900. For more photos and details, visit www.NHVillageCape.com
Emily Campbell, Listing Agent, 603-526-4116
This spacious contemporary offers exceptional, quality construction and finish details. Let the sun warm you up inside and out. Well-designed for one floor living, yet provides ample extra space on the first floor so everyone has room. Private setting, yet very convenient to town and I-89 for commuting. Wonderful patio and screen porch. Well cared for and relatively low maintenance. An excellent opportunity to own an attractive home in a great location. Offered at $437,000. Visit www.SpaciousNHContemporary.com for more photos and details.
Marilyn Kidder, Listing Broker, 603-526-4116
In this area there definitely is. Usually it’s our first sign of spring when For Sale signs start popping up like dandelions in the lawn and our multiple listings change daily with new homes and land on the market. Historic data at the National Association of REALTORS® indicate that April through July sales outpace the rest of the year in sales. Buying stays steady through the summer and early fall. It usually drops off right after Labor Day for a couple of weeks and then picks up again in October through early November. Two of the more obvious factors for this “seasonal” market include the fact that school has ended and families prefer to move before the next school year starts as well as the weather is much nicer in the spring-summer to be out looking at properties. This is not to say that properties will not sell any other time of year. It just means that in this area there may be less buyers out there looking. With proper pricing and enhancing your home for maximum effect, a house will sell regardless of the month. Give me a call to get the Coldwell Banker advantage any time of year. Donna Forest, Broker Associate, 603-526-4116; www.donnaforest.com
Come take a look at this 3 bedroom, end unit, Seasons Condominium in New London, NH. A special location with pretty views and privacy. Level yard extends out to the golf course. All new paint and carpeting. Just move in and enjoy easy living! Offered at $315,000.
603-526-4116
Sharon LaVigne, Listing Agent