EPISODE #94 -
SATURDAY OCTOBER 15, 2011
The colder
weather has finally pushed us indoors again. I know it is hard
to think about summer ending, but we can now start planning for
the fun of the holiday season. Being indoors also has us
thinking about getting our homes ready, both inside and out, for
the long winter months. This week we have a bunch of stories to
help you get your home ready for what’s to come.
Ken’s Fabulous
Snowballs
There
is nothing like the taste of homemade candy. Now you can get
that taste and not have to do all the work. We caught up with an
old friend, Ken Hoyt, who now owns
Willamette Valley Confectionery (503-913-2786) to learn
about his company and have him share one of his private recipes
with us. WVC started when Ken was making Christmas treats with a
friend as gifts. From that first batch, it became a hit with
everyone who tried it. People were also impressed with the
quality local ingredients he used. He decided to give candy
making a try as a business. That small start has expanded to
include a large line of handmade candies that you can find at
some great stores like Market of Choice, Whole Foods, Made in
Oregon and Sheridan Fruit Market. Ken also produces gluten free
and vegan candies that taste great!
Fixing Siding
The winter winds are coming and if
you have not been checking your home in anticipation of the
seasonal change you may be losing energy and money. We noticed
some cracked siding on the house and thought we should check
with Chris at Parr
(503-531-7277). Good thing we did, cracks in your siding can
lead to long term damage and that will cost you a lot of money
if you don’t take care of the problem. We took lots of pictures
and measurements and stopped by Parr to visit with Chris to see
what we should do. We found out that the size of the crack could
make a big difference in how your treat it. If the damage to the
siding is small (a crack of a quarter inch or less) you can just
fix it with a silicone caulk. If the crack is slightly larger
you can use a product by Bondo. This is like the product that
you use on your car, but it is designed for home use. Be careful
to use all the safety gear recommended on the label, this stuff
is serious fix-it stuff! Work fast because it sets up fast. Once
it is applied and it has set up you can sand it and paint. If
you have a problem bigger than this, you need to talk to the
experts at Parr, because it may require some replacement siding.
Take care of the problem now to avoid long term damage.
Cascade Flooring
Wood and Granite
A lot of homeowners are thinking
about remodeling instead of moving these days and most don’t
know that some of the materials have become cheaper over the
past few years. To get the details we stopped by Cascade
Flooring America to talk to the owner, Sunny, about which items
can save you money. The first item we looked at was granite.
Since people are looking at staying in their homes longer they
are also looking for materials that will stand the test of time
and look great for years. Granite is the answer for them. It has
also become cheaper over the last couple of years because of the
economy and because manufacturing processes are more efficient.
It is also one of the lowest maintenance products on the market.
Once it is sealed it can handle just about anything.
Closet
Organizing
Are you getting the most use out of your closet space?
Natalie
Lamar of The Container Store
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