The Homefront by The Chris and Lisa Team Page 1

Fall 2014
Fabulous Fall is Here
With summer coming to an end its time to start thinking about harvesting the bounty from our gardens, closing up the
cottage, and planning renovations. Read on for pointers in all of these important areas of our lives.

July 1
st
was the day new Anti-Spam legislation came into effect with regards to how businesses market through email.
To comply, we emailed our contacts asking if you would like to continue to receive information from the Chris and Lisa
team by email. The positive response from the majority of our contacts was amazing, thank you!

At the Chris and Lisa team we care about how we interact with you. Were considering providing this newsletter to you
through email instead of regular mail. If you would like to receive The Homefront by email or if you have suggestions on
how we can better serve you, please contact our Assistant, Margaret, at margaret@thechrisandlisateam.com

May the fall season bring you good health, much wealth and lots of laughter. Kindest regards,





September 17 FALL FLOWER & VEGETABLE SHOW; Rebecca Graves Kemptville Horticultural Society event:
Herbs Drying, Storing, Blending, Medicinal Teas, etc. 7:30 p.m. For info contact Arlene at 613-258-4645 or
www.gardenontario.org/site.php/kemptville

September 24 STAY AHEAD OF CONSUMER TRENDS Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) Vice-
President Pierre Clroux is the keynote speaker of the Change is on the Horizon event at the North Grenville
Municipal Centre, 6 p.m. To register and learn more about this event visit the North Grenville Business
Retention and Expansion Alliance website.

October 4 KEMPTVILLE WALKS FOR MAMMOGRAPHY Kemptville District Hospital Foundation. Proceeds
go to Mammography Campaign. For info contact Mary Boucher at 613-258-6133 ext 157 or
www.kemptvillewalks.ca

October 18 HARVEST MOON FALL EXTRAVAGANZA Beth Donovan Hospice, North Grenville Municipal
Centre, 6 p.m. For info contact 613-258-9611 or www.bethdonovanhospice.ca


Local News & Events
Chris and Lisa


The Homefront by The Chris and Lisa Team Page 2

Gardening Tips: Harvesting Popular Veggies

Broccoli Harvest when flower head is fully developed, but before the flowers begin
to open. Cut 6 to 7 inches below the flower head. Side heads will develop
after the main head is cut.
Carrot Harvest when to 1 inch in diameter or smaller when thinning. For
storage, leave carrots in soil until a light frost occurs. Use care when
harvesting, since bruising favors the development of soft rot during
storage.
Cucumber Proper harvesting size is determined by product use. Pickles: Sweets are 1
1/2 to 2 inches long; dills are 3 to 4 inches long. Fresh slicing are 7 to 9 inches
long and a bright dark green. Leave a short piece of stem on each fruit.
Harvest daily and don't allow fruit to mature.
Onion

Correct harvesting stage is determined by the type and product use. Harvest
onions grown from sets when they are 6 to 9 inches tall for immediate table
use. Onions grown from seed for fresh use should be harvested when the
bulbs are 1/4 to 1 inch in diameter. Harvest seed grown onions for boiling when the
bulbs are 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Harvest for storage (seed or set grown) when the
tops have weakened and fallen over and the bulbs are 2 or more inches in diameter.
Harvest before hard frost.
Potato For storage, harvest when full sized with firm skins. Tubers continue to
grow until the vine dies. For new potatoes, harvest at any early stage of
development. This is usually when tubers are 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
Tomato

For peak quality, harvest 5 to 8 days after fruits are fully colored. Tomatoes
lose their firmness quickly if they are overripe.

Check List: Closing the Cottage
Outside Tasks

Put away garden and patio furniture

Put away gardening tools

Chop wood and kindling ready for winter visits, and stack in
cottage

Store snow shovels where they are easily accessible

Store ladder in accessible place if shovelling the roof will be
necessary
Boats

Pull boats out of the water

Winterize and store away motorboats

Store away canoes, paddleboats, sailboards and sailboats

Remove and store dock
Inside Tasks

Pack perishable items to take home

Store non-perishable food items properly

Sweep and vacuum

Clean out fridge

Guard against mice

Replace bed linen on the beds

Turn off water pump and water heater

Winterize the water system

Empty water out of appliances and vases

The Homefront by The Chris and Lisa Team Page 3

To Renovate or Not to Renovate
Is That The Question?
Many home owners who are thinking of selling ask that
very question. The answer is.maybe.

Renovations almost always add to the value of your home
when done properly. If you renovate with your drams in
mind you may spend more than you could potentially get
out of your home when you go to sell. You first need to
decide if the project will add value to your home, and if the
value added is more than the cost of the renovation. If you
are dreaming of marble, granite, exotic woods or expensive
hardware and fixtures, it may be beyond what your
particular home will sell for on the market.

When selling your home it is important not to have too
many little things left unattended such as painting and trim
work. You should replace old or damaged flooring,
countertops and outdated finishes.

Sometimes a home owner is overwhelmed with the idea of
renovating themselves, or cautious about hiring someone
to do the work. A lot of the time you may require different
trades people to complete the job such as plumbers,
electricians and carpenters. There are renovation
companies capable of doing all of these jobs, thereby
cutting the overall cost and the headache of scheduling the
work yourself.

When buyers see a house that has been well maintained
and updated it makes their decision much easier when
negotiating a deal for the property at the list price. Buyers
who bid on outdated, poorly maintained homes are
thinking of all the work that needs to be done, rather than
the enjoyment they will get out of the home, therefore,
offers made on these types of properties are always
considerably less than list price, and are perceived as an
insult by the seller, as they are usually accompanied by a
long list of improvements needed.

Motivation is the key to accomplish any task. For example,
if a home owner is capable of doing certain aspects of the
job themselves and ask for the job to be priced with and
without some tasks, I think this is great! It gets the home
owner in a hands on position completing overdue projects,
and it makes them feel good with a sense of
accomplishment. I will always, gladly, give anyone my
advice and knowledge when it comes to renovating. I will
never get tired of seeing a motivated seller with tools in
hand ready to go as I arrive at their home to work.

Whether you tackle the renovations yourself, or hire a
professional to do the job, you will feel good about the
decision to renovate for yourself as a home owner, and as a
potential seller. So, until next time, Happy Renovating!
John Burke



When presenting the coupon below you will receive an extra 10% off everything in the store that is marked
regular price, courtesy of the Chris and Lisa team.



10% Canadian Paint & Wallpaper Discount $$$$$$$

The Homefront by The Chris and Lisa Team Page 4



Cinnamon Apple Cake
Ingredients

1 3/4 cups sugar, divided

3/4 cup (6 ounces) block-style fat-free cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter or stick margarine, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

3 cups chopped peeled Rome apple (about 2 large)

Cooking spray

Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Beat 1 1/2 cups sugar, cream cheese, butter, and vanilla at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended (about 4 minutes). Add eggs, 1 at
a time, beating well after each addition; set aside.
3. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add flour mixture to creamed
mixture, and beat at low speed until blended. Combine 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon. Combine 2 tablespoons of the cinnamon mixture
and apple in a bowl; stir apple mixture into batter. Pour batter into an 8-inch springform pan coated with cooking spray, and sprinkle
with remaining cinnamon mixture.
4. Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until cake pulls away from the sides of pan. Cool cake completely on a wire rack, and cut using
a serrated knife.
5. Note: You can also make this cake in a 9-inch square cake pan or a 9-inch springform pan; just reduce the baking time by 5 minutes.





The Homefront is brought to you free by: The Chris and Lisa Team
Keller Williams Solid Rock Realty, P.O. Box 1706, 148 Prescott Street, Kemptville, ON, K0G 1J0
613-258-6299 E-mail: info@TheChrisandLisaTeam.com

This newsletter and information contained herein are intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial or
medical advice. The publisher takes great efforts to ensure the accuracy of information contained in this newsletter. However, we will not be responsible
at any time for any errors or omissions or any damages, howsoever caused, that result from its use. Seek competent professional advice and/or legal
counsel with respect to any matter discussed or published in this newsletter. This newsletter is not intended to solicit properties currently for sale.
Thanks for reading! If you'd like to tell us what you think about this newsletter, or if you're thinking of
buying or selling real estate, please call or email us, or drop into our office in Old Town Kemptville.