General

Found 78 blog entries about General.

When the forecast for the weekend is 6 degrees like it is this weekend, wintertime temperatures deserve to be called "ice cold." 

As homeowners, we know that temperatures cold enough to bring ice are also cold enough to, ironically, thaw out all those old myths about ice melt. 

Top-5 Ice Melt Myths

We talked with Sun Valley Landscaping's Annie Forsyth about these myths. Over the next few minutes we'll uncover five of these myths, as well as give you a quick guide to some of the top-rated ice melts at Home Depot. 

Myth #1: Wind chill affects the freeze-thaw cycle of ice melt and salt. 

This one was pretty easy. Annie pointed out that only the actual temperature, not the wind-chill temperature, will affect the freeze-thaw cycle of ice

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In case you missed it, earlier this month the Federal Reserve decided to raise the interest rate by 0.25%. 

What does that mean? Great question. Banks lend money to each other every day at the Federal Reserve's predetermined rate. Now, that rate has been bumped up a notch. It's a good sign, because it means they feel confident enough in the economy's strength that they don't have to lend money with rock-bottom interest rates.

 

Without getting too complex, raising the rate also makes sure that inflation stays in check and the cost of daily life doesn't get out of control.

But the important question for homeowners is how that increased percentage will affect everyday things like mortgages, auto loans and credit card rates. To find the answers,

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Don't you just love that wintry scent of pine or fir filling every corner of your living room? 

The aroma of your tannenbaum is one of the trademark characteristics of Christmas.

Sadly, though, Christmas trees have also been the source of heartbreak over the years: home-destroying fires, in some cases, have been caused by heat, trees and bad luck.The American Christmas Tree Association (yes, there is such a thing) estimates that yuletide trees cost $13 million annually in property damage.

So, in an effort to keep you safe, happy and Christmasy as your tree dries out, we've created a list of three different safety tips based on information we found from the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the American Christmas Tree Association (ACTA).

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What are your favorite Christmas traditions?

Is it the stockings above the fire, the endless array of candy canes? 

Or maybe you're more of a Santa fan and you love setting out cookies and milk every year, taking your kids to see Santa and cozying up to your significant other for a night of old timey Christmas movies. 

Or may your favorites are more of a heavenly bent and you love the candlelight service at your church on Christmas Eve. 

We became curious about where these traditions came from, so we did some digging and found some very interesting holiday lore. So sit back, relax, grab your moose mug and fill it up with egg nog. 

Three Christmas Traditions and How They (Supposedly) Started

Why stockings, and why over the fireplace?

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You scoff at the thought of welcoming an artificial tree into your home. It's lifeless, papery needles are like little slivers of yuletide tomfoolery, you say. 

You'd rather pack up the family Clark Griswold-style and head to the forest belting "O, Tannenbaum" at the top of your merry lungs. 

You want to feel the weathered handle of an axe in your hands and the jolt the old girl gives you the moment it sinks its stubborn blade into the backside of an Eastern Red cedar. Or, you prefer the high-pitched wail of a chainsaw thrashing it's way through the sweet-smelling pine that will soon grace your home. 

 

You sir or ma'am, are a Christmas lumberjack, born and bred for the moment when that deep green beauty of a tree makes its graceful fall onto

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This week's post comes courtesy of Ashly Neneman and Annie Forsyth at Sun Valley Landscaping on Harrison St. Enjoy!

Fall  is  often  one  of  the  busiest  times  of  the  year  for  many  homeowners  and   therefore,  lawn  care  is  not  always  a  top  priority.  What  many  homeowners  aren’t   aware  of  is  how  important  this  season  is  for  the  health  of  your  lawn.  The  proactive   steps  you  take  during  the  Fall  will  help  bring  back  a  blossoming  lawn in the spring. 

Ashly Neneman, Business Development Director at Sun Valley

The team at Sun Valley Landscaping has identified the top five to-do list items for all homeowners this October and early November to prepare for the winter season: 

Sprinkler

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Local. 

It's a movement that's happening all across America and Omaha is one of the best examples of this revolutionary trend. 

A few weeks ago we featured four restaurants that were highlighted in a Food Network article about must-eat locations for Omaha newcomers. Kitchen Table, the Farnam St. favorite, was one of the places on the Food Network list. 

So, this past week, we decided to send owners Colin and Jessica Duggan a few interview questions about the Omaha food scene and the story behind Kitchen Table. Bon apetit!


At which point did you guys decided to open Kitchen Table and what led you to make the decision?

Opening a  restaurant was always kind of in the back of our heads. Colin's job as a chef gave us an awesome

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Today we got an alert through Omaha.com's Twitter accoutn saying rainstorms are in the forecast for the next couple of days.

That got us thinking, "What can we do to make sure our homes are prepared for thunderstorms and heavy rain?"

 

So, we did a little research on a couple of our favorite home improvement sites and came up with this great list of things you can do to prep your house for heavy weather. Some of these tips are pretty technical, but well worth a read in light of any future repairs or upgrades you want to make to you home.
 

Ring-Shank Nails Are Tough Customers

This tip comes by way of beloved home improvement boss Bob Vila. Nails with ring shanks differ from the nails most of us are used to. They have a spiraled shank

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Summer's sweltering temperatures are right around the corner. 

It's time to clean off the grill, overhaul the lawnmower and get the back patio ready for three months of barbecues and plenty of sunshine. 

But while you're getting things ready for an endless string of backyard parties, don't forget to set aside time to do a few very important things to your home to make sure it -- like your grill -- is ready to take on all that the summer has to give. We've done a little research and come up with five things you need to know about summer home maintenance. 

Four Summer Household Tips

1. Check those windows

Windows play a vital role in keeping the cold and the heat out of your home so you don't have to spend a fortune on heating and air

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Spring is finally here and with the weather starting to improve, it's time to focus on your home's curb appeal.

We did a post last year on spring lawn care tips. Take a look at that post for some great advice.

If you are looking to hire a lawn service, check out our Omaha home service directory.

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