Home & Garden

It’s easier to describe the kind of kitchen or bathroom you want when it’s available in person to touch, see and feel.  Have you ever run to your neighbor’s house when their home renovation was completed so you could get ideas for your own?  Magazines are nice, but real life is always more beneficial then pictures.  During this holiday season, if you decide to re-model your kitchen or bathroom, check for a company that displays their work with pride.  A showroom filled with displays, not just pictures, so you can get real hands on experience for your future kitchen.

My earliest encounter with a chili was when I was probably seven or eight years old.  My mom had several of us kids with her and we were grocery shopping in town.  While we were going through the produce section, my younger brother reached up and grabbed a pretty little yellow chili pepper from the bin.  I don’t remember if he ate it or just bit it, but I heard the results of his actions.  He was crying, trying to wipe off the heat, and grabbing for Mom.  She tried water, wiping with her hanky, and I think finally ice cream, but nothing really helped put out the fire.

The City of Santa Clarita invites community members to view the Art Challenge, the latest installment of the City’s Public Art Exhibits featured at the Westfield Valencia Town Center. The exhibit is available for viewing now through January 12, 2010 and features one of a kind art pieces created by local artists using materials exclusively from stores in the Town Center mall.

Many people think Oasis Garden & Patio is just a great patio furniture store.  Well, it is that and so much more.  It is true that they carry over 30 sets on the floor year round, ready to be delivered, but this winter if you are thinking about buying patio furniture or not, you should stop by Oasis to see all they have to offer.

The City of Santa Clarita made some new additions to its popular “green” website, GreenSantaClarita.com, today.  The site’s newest additional features and tools are designed to make it easier for community members of all backgrounds to go green in and beyond Santa Clarita.
One of the new features added to the site is an “Alternative Fueling Station Finder” by Clean Car Maps.  Users select the kind of alternative fuel needed, along with their trip destination, and the online tool pinpoints exact the location of alternative fueling stations across California, Arizona and Nevada.  A new Trip Planner function corresponds to the Alternative Fueling Station Finder, allowing users to plan travel routes according to station locations.

One of the more common question asked of me over the last several months is regarding whole house reverse osmosis systems.  Are they appropriate for the Santa Clarita Valley area?  Do they waste water?
Probably the most effective type of water filtration available to us, there is value here.  Having said this, I would present three questions to anyone considering one for their home.
1. Might this be an over kill?
2. Is it cost effective?  And finally…
3. Are we doing all we can to conserve our precious water supply?
If the answers to the first two questions are favorable, the answer to the third question would have to be a resounding—No!  R/Os in a whole house application do waste a fair percentage of water.  However for the more common use, an under the sink filter in the kitchen for cooking and drinking, it is much easier to justify.
Think of it this way.  When you look at a five-gallon bottle of water filtered by R/O, it takes about seven-plus gallons of water to fill that bottle.  The other two-plus gallons go down a drain.  This can be a waste of water.
Now let’s look at a five gallon bottle of a “mountain spring” type water.  It takes only five gallons of water to fill that bottle.  No waste here.
I can’t help but believe that whole house R/Os will be restricted by many water districts very soon.  As we are encouraged, and in some cities and counties required, to reduce our water usage, would it make sense to invest in a filtration system that increases our water usage?
There are other considerations.  The whole house R/O is remarkably more expensive than our other whole house filter.  R/O requires four to six month maintenance intervals as opposed to four to six year maintenance for the other. And finally, as automatic water softeners have been banned in the SCV for environmental reasons, how long will it be before whole house R/Os are banned for cause?
There are more efficient and cost effective options available to us.  If, however, the R/O is the way to go for you, please call me.  I will be happy to go over all options with you so you may make a well-informed decision in whatever you chose, if anything, for water treatment.
Thank you and as always, good health to all.
For more information, please call Kirk Walker at 661-713-7762.

The Santa Clarita Artists’ Association (SCAA) November 16, 2009 meeting at 7 p.m. will feature wildlife artist, Marty Katon.  Animal lovers of all ages are invited to come to this demonstration.

Excerpt from A.Allbright’s October Color of the Month Blog:
As September falls silently behind us, without a backward glance we begin to gear up for the holidays (if we haven’t already).  Many people in many places, especially those on the East Coast, are now starting to feel the wind chill and can see the leaves turn before they descend to the ground, with nature’s brush painting them a myriad of rich earthly colors.

It’s the time of year when most of us spruce up the home for the holiday season.  We strive to put our best foot forward and spend so much time decorating the house for the holidays.  We always look for that special something to be the perfect finishing touch on our efforts.  So this year try bundling your window treatments.

Nowadays, several homemakers and builders are shifting their focus towards natural stones.  This building material has gained huge popularity over manmade stones.  It can be used to decorate kitchen counter tops, floors, walls, bathroom vanities and fireplaces.  They lend a royal feel to your indoors and outdoors.

Our elves have been working overtime in our Winter Wonderland to bring you another glorious Christmas display.  Our showcase trees are filled with all styles and colors of ornaments, from glass and crystal, to country lodge, traditional, whimsical garden, dogs and cats, wild animals and more.

Enjoy the Spirit of the Season with the 29th Annual Holiday Home Tour

Good cheer and tidings of the season will abound during Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital’s 29th Annual Holiday Home Tour festivities on December 4 and 5.

Expecting a crowd this holiday season?  If you’re entertaining family and friends over the holidays, there’s no doubt that you’re also cleaning your home from top to bottom.  You may even be doing some home improvements or remodeling.  Sure, the holiday season is just around the corner, but it’s never too early to start thinking about a home improvement project!

Become a Partner in the Green Initiative in the Santa Clarita Valley!
With the mandatory removal of automatic water softeners throughout the Santa Clarita Valley, there are many issues for homeowners to address.

“What type of paint sheen should I use?”  The answer depends on where the paint will be applied and the general purpose of the painted surface.  Here are some very helpful tips to keep in mind to help make the selection easy.
Flat Paints – The most commonly used sheen in homes is called flat or matte finish.  Most flat and matte finishes tend to have no shine at all. 

One of the many traditions on All Hallows Eve is the making of a Haunted House.  Some residents opt to dressing up their home in scary attire, while others create a fortress in the backyard.  Either way, if you want to give the kids (and adults) a truly scary haunted house experience this Halloween, try a few of these tricks and treats (pun intended):

For nearly a century, the American Cancer Society has fought for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community.  We have taken what we’ve learned through research and turned it into the potential for more birthday celebrations.  This year alone, 11 million cancer survivors in America will celebrate a birthday this year.

In an effort to address the challenges and needs of our military personnel and their families, the Santa Clarita Adult Day Health Care Center is proud to announce the expansion of services to veterans.  If you are a veteran or caring for a veteran you will find the center’s day care therapeutic environment is designed to promote socialization and stimulation and maximize individual potential for independence, dignity and quality of life among functionally impaired adults.