Home & Garden

Solar energy comes from the sun. A biology class will tell you that in addition to affecting climate and weather, sunlight provides the energy that sustains most life on earth. It also can be harnessed to provide heating, lighting and electricity. Solar power has become a hot topic lately, but this technology is nothing new – Native Americans, people in China and even the early Greeks have historically turned their buildings to the sun for heat.

Table refinishing is a great idea that almost everyone can benefit from, and there are many kinds and styles of tables as you can possibly think of. Many different kinds and materials to choose from too. There are end tables, dinette tables tilt top tables step tables wood ones metal ones wicker and rattan, Thomas Chippendale tables, Duncan Fife tables too, and Sheridan tables as well, just to name a few, and every one can be refinished several times. By far the most common table to refinish would be a type of classic wooden table.

Much has been made of the dangers of street racing, with young men particularly targeted.  Teenage boy plus adrenaline equals heavy on the gas pedal for many.  Street racing is a deadly serious form of lawbreaking.  Accidents happen and speed kills.  Drivers who engage in speed contests put themselves at risk and endanger innocent others, whether the races occur on freeways or on public streets.  The next crash may take the life of a driver, a passenger, a spectator or an innocent by-stander who has the misfortune of being there at the wrong moment.

Remember when the garage was supposed to be a home for your cars and tools but is now a storage disaster?  The garage can be a great functioning place with a little effective organizing.  And this is the year to do it.
The first order of business is to get rid of the things you don’t need or haven’t used in a couple of years.  You only want to categorize, sort and organize what’s left over. 

Debbie’s Sewing & Interiors is excited to announce a new co-owner — Shannon Mora, daughter of Debbie Francis.  Shannon first started sewing at the age of 5 and continues to develop her talent today.  Recently having a baby back in April 07, Shannon decided not to go back to her job of six years at one of the local hotels, but instead Debbie asked her daughter if she would like to work with her. 

With its holiday music, crafts, and activities, all that was missing to complete the scene at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital’s 22nd Annual Community Tree lighting was snow. Instead, thousands of guests enjoyed the Santa Clarita Valley holiday tradition on a sunny California day.

Is your home dimming the spirit of the New Year?  Here are some options and a secret for remodeling your Home in 2008.  The secret to remodeling your home for the new year has nothing to do with being naughty or nice and everything to do with timing.  You may not realize it, but right now can be a perfect time to start your renovation.  That’s because business for contractors and builders slows down between December and February.  Not only are most contractors eager for work, they have more time to invest in helping you the customer create the home of your dreams.

The cool, short days of winter usher in the bare-root planting season.  Bare-root plants have been tended in commercial growing fields for several years, then dug and supplied to retailers with their roots bare of soil but kept moist enough to prevent dehydration.

Now that the New Year is here, it is time to redecorate with some new furniture, and Homemaker’s Furniture Store is just the place to start.  This family owned and operated furniture company has been serving the Santa Clarita Valley for over 25 years and now they are going out of business. Their closing sale will leave you speechless and wanting more.  Everything in the store is discounted and everything must go!  With up to 76 percent off of merchandise, you can makeover your entire home for one low cost!

The great enemy of creativity is fear.  When we are fearful we freeze up, like a 9-year-old who won’t draw pictures for fear that everybody will laugh.  Creativity has a lot to do with a willingness to take risks.  
The power of the arts is constant, but it is not recognized in our daily lives. 

It’s never too soon to begin preparing for the best season of the year, even though swimming season may be a several months away! In summer, most of us enjoy swimming, whether it is in the ocean, a river, or the neighbor’s backyard pool. You need to start planning now, if you want a swimming pool built in backyard, in time for summer. So taking that into account, let’s consider two of the most popular swimming pool construction materials: fiberglass and gunite.

Thank you, Santa Clarita Valley!  Thank you for helping us to find a well-deserving family for the 3rd Annual A.Allbright Painting Giveaway.  Because we so enjoy giving back to our community, we decided we needed to give even more this year and increased the giveaway to $7,500.  We had many stories to choose from and it was not an easy decision.  On Wednesday, November 21st, our team voted for which family we wanted to help this year.  I just wanted to take a moment to share with you the story of this year’s recipient.

We would like to thank all of our customers for their business and support this past year.  We enjoy working in, and for the residents of the Santa Clarita Valley.

Remember that childhood request we made when we didn’t like how things were going for us, “I want a do-over!”  Well, this is a great time to think about a “Do-over” if your life feels out of control, overwhelming and frustrating.  It’s the beginning of a new year and a great time to assess how one’s life is going. 

The EasyTouch Pool and Spa Control systems set the standard for operating simplicity with push-button operation and clear, intuitive instructions and displays.  EasyTouch systems can control four or eight accessory functions.  Four-function systems are typically used to control pool and/or spa operation plus pool or spa lights and heaters.  Eight-function systems allow separate scheduling for additional features, such as landscape lighting, waterfalls, fountains, additional heaters and more.

The Santa Clarita City Council voted unanimously to oppose the proposed Las Lomas mega-development, citing the serious traffic, environmental and public safety concerns to neighborhoods in Santa Clarita and the greater Los Angeles region.

Start your holidays with the festive Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital Annual Holiday Home Tour on Saturday, December 1, 2007, where three stunning Westridge homes will be professionally decorated in the season’s finest.
The theme? “A Heritage Holiday,” which is a nod to the cherished traditions that help make up a family’s “heritage,” with the added symbolism of the Heritage Oaks for which Westridge is known.

Renovating a kitchen is exciting, but it can also be intimidating.  There are all those aesthetic, functional and budgetary decisions.  Should the counters be granite, soapstone, quartz, or solid surface?  Will porcelain floor tile perform better than ceramic tile?  What’s the advantage of a fire clay sink versus stainless steel or cast-iron?  Is the $600 faucet necessary?  There are also local codes to consider, plumbing, electrical, framing and the sequence of installation.  To save time, money and hassles, it makes sense to work with a savvy, experienced designer.