A Real Estate Publication of the St. Tammany News • Friday, February 25 , 2011

Cute house, won’t last long at this price!Conveniently located to shopping & I-12.

Fresh paint, wood laminate & carpet floors; new front & rear door. Openkitchen with new counter tops. New vanities in both baths. This homequalifies for Rural Development loan. 3 bdrms/ 2 baths MLS # 861045$88,900 Call Tanya Witchen for private showing. Cell# 985-264-6025,or direct# 985-690-1539 email: witchen@bellsouth.net to view morelistings go to www.luvtosell.com

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Create Homemade Outdoor Crafts

As families await the arrival ofwarmer weather, there are thingsthey can do to prepare for a seasonof fun in the sun. Engaging in somecraft projects are ways to beat cabinfever while dreaming of warm,springtime weather to come.

There are many craft projectsfamilies and children can tackle,but ideas that involve projects thatcan be put to use outdoors may bethe most fitting. Fortunately, thereare a number of ideas for craftyprojects to involve everyone in thehousehold.

* Birdhouse: Head to the hard-ware store and pick up a few sup-plies. Otherwise, chances are itemsthat can be made into a birdhouseprobably can be found from scrapsof materials already around thehouse or in the garage. Scraps ofwood, metal, tiles, plastic, and thelike can be used to craft a birdhouse or feeder. Even an emptyplastic bottle can be used. Somenesting material, such as pieces ofyarn or cotton, can be placed insidethe house to entice birds to take upresidence once the weather warms.

* Stepping stones: Steppingstones can be a whimsical way todress up the outdoor garden oryard. A trip to the craft store forsome plaster or even a quick-setcement can be the medium to usefor the stones. Experiment withshapes that can be used as molds,and gather different materials thatcan be embedded into the steppingstone, such as pebbles, marbles,beads, etc. Use a pencil or anotherpointed tool to engrave a messageor name on the stepping stones

before allowing them to dry andharden.

* Kite: The beginning of thespring season often arrives behinda burst of wind. Make the most ofblustery conditions by crafting akite from a kitchen trash bag, somesticks and string.

* Garden gnomes: Craft storesoften sell unfinished pottery thatcan be painted and sealed. See ifgarden gnomes or other whimsicalcreatures can be found. Use acrylicpaint to decorate the figurines inyour favorite colors.

* Outdoor games: A large piece ofplywood or fiberboard can serve asthe game board for a number of dif-ferent activities. Use spray paint tostencil on alternating squares of redand black for a larger than lifecheckerboard or chess board. Forthose with more time and creativestamina, use large stones to pain onletters and make an outdoorScrabble(R) board for fun timeswith family and friends.

* Painted flower pots: If the col-ors and designs at the local gardencenter don't fit with a particulardesign scheme, buy unfinishedterra-cotta or plastic pots and paintthem with the designs and colorsthat coordinate better.

Getting crafty doesn't have tomean knitting sweaters ordecoupage hat boxes. By makingitems that can be put to use out-doors, families can usher in thespring season a little early and reapthe rewards for months to come.SH112502

PAGE 4 BBRROOKKEERR EEAASSTT FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011 ST. TAMMANY NEWS

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Bird Feeders of Many Shapes andSizes Can Add Aesthetic Appeal

When it comes to spring and sum-mer, many people associate certainsights and sounds with these warmweather seasons. Ocean waves crash-ing, luscious lawns glowing green andbirds chirping are often associatedwith spring and summer.

While homeowners might not beable to bring the soothing sounds ofthe ocean to their homes, they canbring the lyrical sounds of birds chirp-ing to their yards. Bird feeders make awonderful addition to any lawn orgarden, adding aesthetic appeal andbringing music to your ears. Choosinga bird feeder can depend on whereyou'll be hanging it. But whatever thelayout of your property, bird feederscome in so many shapes and sizes thatyou're sure to find the right fit.

* Tray (platform): These feeders aresimply a big, open tray that's easy tofill and easy for birds to access seed.What's more, they can accommodateseveral birds at one time. Most birds

will jump at the chance to feast at atray feeder. There are some who willbe reluctant, however, includingdoves, quail, sparrows and otherground feeders. However, they cancertainly dine on any seed that getsspilled over.

* Hopper feeders: These have plas-tic or glass enclosures that dole outseed as it is needed. This is a smartchoice since seed isn't wasted and it'sprotected when not being eaten.

* Widow feeders: Before storm win-dows and screened-in windows infil-trated modern society, birdseed wassimply strewn out on an open windowsill. You can still invite birds to yourwindow with a window feeder thatmounts like a window box. Or, thereare models that simply suction to thewindow itself.

* Tube feeders: These just may bethe most efficient type of feeders outthere. They're self-contained, the seedstays dry, and they hold a largeamount of seed, making refilling aninfrequent job. They also can feed agood number of birds at one time.

* Nectar feeders: Some birds, likehummingbirds, orioles, house finchesand some woodpeckers, prefer sweetnectar or sugar water over seed. Use anectar feeder to satisfy their sweettooth. GT104361

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ST. TAMMANY NEWS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011 BBRROOKKEERR EEAASSTT PAGE 7

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Revitalize Your Lawn After a Long Winter

Every spring, homeowners head out-side to take stock of how the wintertreated their lawn. Homeowners in areasthat experience heavy snow or rainfalleach winter likely do not look forward tothis inventory, fearful of what anotherharsh winter did to their property. Fallentree branches, frozen ground and winterwind storms can do a number on eventhe most well-manicured lawns, turninga summertime labor of love into a night-mare.

While homeowners might not be ableto do anything about the weather, thereare ways to revitalize a lawn each spring.And you don't have to be an accom-plished landscaper to handle the task.The following tips can help bring yourluscious lawn back to life, helping makewinter a distant memory.

* Remove all debris from your yard.Debris includes any trash in the yard,wood, large roots, fallen branches, andeven stones. The presence of trash suchas broken glass or even faded paperproducts such as cups or bags is not onlyunsafe for the environment, but it canprove harmful to anyone who might beout in the yard once your grass grows,especially if you have children.Oftentimes, winter winds can blow trashfrom nearby garbage cans across theyard, no matter how neatly homeownersput out their trash.

* Smooth the soil. Once all debris beenremoved, examine the soil for anyabnormalities that might need to besmoothed out. Use a spade or rake tosmooth any areas that aren't up to par.Next you'll want to loosen the soil aswell, something that can be done with agarden rake. Any unsightly areas, such as

humps or ditches, should either besmoothed out or filled in, depending onwhich is appropriate. This can be donewith some soil and should not prove toocostly.

* Consider seeding the lawn if need be.For lawns that took a particularly harshbeating over the winter, consider seed-ing the lawn to help revitalize it. Whenseeding a lawn, be sure you choose theright seeds. Different regions respondbetter to different types of grass. Butdon't be intimidated if you don't knowthe correct grass to choose. Simply ask alandscaper or consult a lawn care spe-cialist at a nearby home improvementcenter as to which type of grass is thebest fit your region and your yard.

When you're read to seed, the seedcan be scattered by hand for smalleryards, or with a drop spreader for largerlawns. When spreading with a dropspreader, use the suggested amount ofseed on the bag (even a little less seedshould do the trick) and make sure youspread out the rows evenly in the samedirection. Once you've sowed the firstpart of your lawn in one direction, youcan crisscross back over that part at a90-degree angle, making sure you keepequal distance and calibrate yourspreader at the same speed.

* Add mulch for aesthetic and practi-cal appeal. Moist helps the soil, and canalso add aesthetic appeal to a lawn.Moist helps the soil by allowing it toretain moisture, making it more con-ducive to growing healthy grass. Whenlaying mulch down, keep the mulch atroughly a quarter-inch to ensure yourlawn will grow in nicely. GT104358

Homeowners can revitalize their lawn after a longwinter in a number of ways.