I Love Cats

It's no secret.

I love cats. 

 

They adorn my house in many forms.

Always smiling.

 

I love this happy black cat I got on my honeymoon in Costa Rica.

And this cute "Smart Cats" bottle.

Some more cute kitties, including even more Costa Rican cats!

I love this kitty particularly because it reminds me of my own real live kitty, who also wears a bell (and who chewed on the ear of his wooden counterpart).  

 

Love cats.

Love him.

Calgary Real Estate

My husband and I have been toying around lately with the idea of moving.  This means that we have been looking at a lot of real estate sites.  A lot of real estate sites. The good, the bad, and the ugly.  Some are great and give you just what you are looking for, and some are not worth our time for a variety of reasons.

A good example of what a real estate site should be is the site of realtor Cliff Stevenson.  He deals in Calgary real estate and his site reflects a well run business.  After having perused many, many real estate sites, Mr. Stevenson's website is really great and meets what my husband and I expect in a good real estate site.  And it never hurts to have a site like this one that's well laid out with flattering colors and designs!


1.  Ease of use.  Many real estate sites (and websites in general, for that matter) and set up in very disorderly fashions.  This site, however, has the information clients would want to search for, such as price, area, property features, and all are clearly labelled. 

2.  Number of listings and current listings.   It's frustrating to peruse a real estate site only to find that there are few listings shown online or that the listings have not been updated in several months.  It's important to keep listings current to attract potential customers and disseminate information to them. 

3. Contact info.  This website gives you many ways to contact the realtor.  It gives you not just the conventional ways such as phone or email but various forms of social media, which is really important today!

 Mr. Stevenson's website will definitely stand out among the sites of other Calgary real estate agents.  If you're in the area and looking for properties, be sure and visit.

Out with the Old, As They Say!

Everything with spring seems to be new....even things on this blog! 

You may have noticed the title has changed--from "Till Death Do Us Part" to simply "Homestead."  In the time I've been blogging, my focus has shifted quite a bit as I've gone from a newlywed to an "old" married woman of nearly three years!

I so enjoy posting recipes and pet stories and giveaways and some tips here and there, so I'd love if you kept joining me.

Out with the old, in with the new!

Spring Cleaning Tips

Some people dread cleaning of any kind.  I love it.  I spring clean.  In fact, I fall, winter, and summer clean as well.

But, there's something about the newness of sping that makes me want to have everything be especially fresh, especially in order.

Are you that way at all?

I had a bit of a spring cleaning challenge at work.  We had a particularly disorderly closet to tackle.  Yikes! 

I've heard it said that "Clutter is just delayed decisions."  That's definitely true for me.  Once I start hem-hawing around about what I should keep or where I should put something, the moutains of "stuff" begin to accumulate.

Here's how I rifle through my own "stuff" during spring cleaning and keep it from taking over my corner of the universe!

1. Be honest.  If you haven't worn/used/thought about it in years, chances are, you don't need it now.  Be honest with yourself--you can probably let it go.

2. Be decisive.  Don't delay the decision for later (that's how the clutter started in the first place!).  If it's something you indeed need to keep, find a place for it immediately, and put it away.  Either way, make a decision now.  And see #1.

3. Be diligent.  Even though spring cleaning can feel like tons of work (which it sometimes truly is), stay the course.  Work begun is half done, as the old saying goes, so stick with it!  You'll be glad if you do.

4.  Maintain order.  This is key to avoid the mess you've just eliminated.  Whether you've just cleaned a closet, laundry room, garage, or living space, implement a system to keep things orderly.  Use storage bins, crates, shoe boxes, shelving, or other organizational tools to keep things in their place.  Throughout the year, maintain the order you've created, and next year's spring cleaning will be a breeze!

Dare We?

Dare we say spring is near?

 

 

 

 

My yard gives me permission. 

 

 

 

 

As does Rush,  who, like the daylight, has been lingering about a little longer as of late.



 

 

 

I think it's safe to come out!