Courtesy of Melodie Mensch

MELODIE MENSCH Broker

OFFICE: +1 519-579-4110 MOBILE: +1 519-591-4450 mmensch@rogers.com www.melodiemensch.com

901 Victoria Street N Kitchener, ON N2B 3C3

www.MelodieMensch.com

Volume 17 | Number 04

UPGRADE YOUR FRONT DOOR THIS SPRING

With spring comes a season of rebirth and one way to make a statement in your home is to replace, or paint, the front door. A new door with windows or stained glass or the same door in a new colour can create a whole new vibe for you and guests entering your home. If painting or replacing the door isn't in your budget, consider just changing the hardware (knobs and locks) for a small change. To replace your front door, head to your local home improvement store for a plethora of options and expert advice. Be sure the door you're choosing will provide proper insulation, security and will fit in the current frame you have. When choosing to paint your current door, you'll want to protect any hardware by covering with painter's tape (unless of course, you're replacing it) then sanding down the current finish on the door. After sanding, thoroughly clean the door to remove dust residue and then apply a coat, or two, of exterior-grade paint and primer. Once dry, polish or replace the hardware and you’re all done. Whether you replace or repaint your door, finish off the new look with a new doormat and plants and enjoy your new entrance.

UNSTUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS

INGREDIENTS: 1 tbsp olive oil

DIRECTIONS: 1. Warm the oil in a large deep sided skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the beef, chili powder, garlic, salt, and pepper. Crumble the meat as it cooks. 2. When the meat has browned, about 8 minutes, add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, vinegar, brown sugar. Stir to combine and bring to a boil. 3. Stir in the cabbage, reduce to simmer, and cover with lid.

2 lbs ground beef 1 tsp chili powder 1 tsp granulated garlic or garlic powder 1 tsp kosher salt ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper 24 oz crushed tomatoes 15 oz tomato sauce

2 tbsp white wine vinegar ¼ cup light brown sugar

Cook until the cabbage is bright green, tender, and still slightly crisp, about 4-5 minutes.

½ head green cabbage about 4-6 cups, chopped into 1-inch pieces 2 cups cooked rice (total amount is rice when cooked)

4. Add in the cooked rice and simmer just until heated

through about 2 minutes. Serve warm.

Courtesy of barefeetinthekitchen.com

KINDNESS IS ONE THING YOU CAN’T GIVE AWAY. IT ALWAYS COMES BACK. — George Skolsky

George (1905 to 1983) was an American writer, radio host, screenwriter and movie producer who was best known for being a Hollywood gossip columnist.

FARMHOUSE STYLE DECOR Perhaps you live in rural Canada and your home's decor can authentically be called farmhouse chic because your home was built a certain way to be functional and utilize the supplies found locally. Or perhaps you live in urban Canada and long for the look of a modern farmhouse style as it brings back nostalgic memories or allows you to escape from the pace and style of city living. Regardless, there are a few key elements that define a farmhouse decor style that you can incorporate into your home if you so choose. The primary element in farmhouse decor is the use of natural materials like distressed wood, exposed stone and metal. Paired with neutral and warm colour palettes,

the natural materials provide a stark contrast and really stand out when used accordingly. Consider incorporating or highlighting metal accents, exposed wood beams, open shelves and barn style doors throughout the home. Furthermore, distressed or antique furniture as well as comfy, textured fabrics on sofas and linens round out the look.

ROLLING STORAGE SHELVES

Storage is something every home owner needs and never seems to have enough of. Creating a rolling storage system in the basement, garage or spare room can alleviate a lot of storage problems. The easiest way to create a storage system like this is to purchase bookshelves or shelving units and add casters (wheels) to the base so they can be rolled up against a wall or in a nook and then pulled out when needed. Adding labels and handles to the side of the bookcase or shelf can help make the items more accessible.

Items can be placed right on the shelf or into bins or baskets to keep smaller items together. Going one step further and adding hooks or a tension rod in place of a shelf (when structurally sound) can allow for other storage options like hanging tools, clothes, pet supplies, etc. Doors or curtains can be added to the front of the bookcase if needed as well. Be aware if your shelving unit is tall, you will want to put the heavy items on the bottom to prevent it from falling over.

JOKES Knock, Knock. Who's there? Rain Rain who?

Knock, knock. Who's there? Ears. Ears who? ‘Ears another knock knock joke for ya!

Knock, knock. Who’s there? Canoe. Canoe who? Canoe come out to play now?

Knock, knock. Who’s there? Howl. Howl who? Howl you know unless you open the door?

You're not going to tell me to go away and come again another day, are you?

Courtesy of funology.com

SUDOKU

Fill in the blanks so that each row, each column, and each of the nine 3x3 grids contain one instance of each of the numbers 1 through 9.

Courtesy of: www.thinkablepuzzles.com

Answer:

The Waterloo Region Experienced a Record Low in Home Sales During March

$483,085 apartment UP 0.3% year-to-year

$954,342 detached UP 4.9% year-to-year

$667,810 townhouse UP 4.4% year-to-year

AVERAGE SALE PRICES

596 SOLD LISTINGS 1,023 NEW LISTINGS

detached 344

86 apartment

58.3% SALES TO NEW LISTING RATIO

19 DAYS ON MARKET

1.8 MONTHS OF INVENTORY

WATERLOO REGION, ON (April 4, 2024) - In March, a total of 596 homes were sold via the Multiple Listing Service ® (MLS ® ) System of the Waterloo Region Association of REALTORS ® (WRAR). “While home sales in Waterloo Region hit a record low for March in over two decades, we’re also witnessing a positive trend,” says Christal Moura, president of WRAR. Over the past three months, prices and activity have started to pick up, and I expect this momentum will continue into the spring.” Total residential sales in March included 344 detached and 127 townhouses. Sales also included 86 condominium units and 37 semi-detached homes. In March, the average sale price for all residential properties in

Waterloo Region was $806,279, a 3.6 per cent increase compared to March 2023. The average price of a detached home was $954,342, up 4.9 per cent from March 2023. The average sale price for a townhouse was $667,810, a 4.4 per cent increase from March 2023. The average sale price for an apartment-style condominium was $483,085, an increase of 0.3 per cent from March 2023. There were 1,023 new listings added to the MLS ® System in Waterloo Region last month. The total number of homes available for sale in active status at the end of March was 1,081. At the end of March, there were 1.9 months of inventory. The average number of days to sell in March was 19. Statistics reflect market activity in March 2024 | Waterloo Region Association of REALTORS ® Market values stated are of the average of the Waterloo area. Individual home market values will vary and are affected by factors such as location, size, interior and exterior condition. Please call to get an up-to-date evaluation of your home. PICKLEBALL ANYONE? At some point in the last couple of years, you've probably heard of the latest sport taking over the country - pickleball. A sport that required no skill and relatively no special equipment to start, anyone can head to a local gym or league to partake in the sport that is a mix of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. Played on a badminton-sized court (indoors or outdoors) with a paddle and a plastic ball that has holes in it, like a whiffle ball, the sport is great for singles or doubles. If you're looking to try out the sport, players say it is really easy to learn the rules and you can make the game as intense as you'd like. Start by finding an athletic pair of shoes that offer foot support and have good grip to prevent slips on the court. Check with your local gym or community center to see if they provide equipment for the sport

or if you need to purchase your own paddle and ball. Paddles and balls can be purchased online or at most sporting goods stores.

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