Courtesy of Susan Sieg

#510, 800 Broadmoor Blvd, Sherwood Park, AB T8A 4Y6

Trusted Service... Every Step of the Way

Call: 780.686.0068 susansiegsells@gmail.com ■ www.SusanSieg.com

Volume 17 | Number 09

CHOOSING A TABLE Life happens around food and food is often served around a table which makes purchasing the right table important. Before heading to the store or looking online, consider the size and shape of table you'll need. Round, rectangular, square or adjustable- which one will fit best in your space? And speaking of fit, how much room do you have for a table? Don't forget to include the space needed to pull chairs out and sit in them. Next consider the functionality of the table. Would a glass table, for instance, be a magnet for children's fingerprints? Would a high table be too awkward for older friends and family to sit around? Would a bench look fantastic but be really hard for your guests to move across your lush dining room carpet?

Once you have a general idea of what will fit in your space and how it will function, the next step is to test drive some tables. Sit in the chairs and determine if you like the way they feel; see if there is a table leg that you will constantly bump your knee into when sitting down and such. Once you find a table or dining set that you know will function as you need it to, find one that will fit the aesthetic of your room and your budget. If you can’t find what you’re looking for in a furniture store, go ahead and shop online, test your luck at a thrift store or the local buy and sell listings or even garage sales.

TIRAMISU BROWNIES

INGREDIENTS • 6 oz dark chocolate, chopped • ½ cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes • 3 large eggs

DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper that extends an inch over each side. Set aside. 2. Melt together the chocolate and butter. Use a heat-proof bowl and melt mixture in the microwave at half power, stirring every minute. 3. In a separate bowl, vigorously whisk together the eggs and 1 cup sugar until pale and frothy. Whisking slowly, pour melted chocolate mixture into the eggs and sugar. Stir until combined. Sprinkle in flour and stir together until smooth. 4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, bake for 25 to 30 minutes. When ready, a toothpick inserted into the center should come out moist, top will be thin with a few cracks. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes. Prepare the other ingredients.

5. Combine the espresso or coffee with ½ cup sugar. Dip the ladyfingers into the coffee soak then arrange them into a single layer on top of the cooled brownies. Trim the ladyfingers as needed. 6. In a large mixing bowl, combine the mascarpone, heavy cream, and remaining ½ cup sugar. Using an electric whisk, whip the mixture together until it thickens and holds medium peaks. Add the vanilla and whisk to combine. 7. Spread mixture over the top of the ladyfingers with a spatula, or use a piping bag to pipe dollops over a thin layer of cream. Chill brownies in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight. 8. Dust the top with cocoa powder before serving.

• 2 cups sugar, divided • ½ cup all-purpose flour • 12 to 15 ladyfingers

• 1 cup espresso or strong coffee • 1 cup mascarpone, softened • 2 cups heavy cream • 2 tsp vanilla extract • Cocoa powder, for dusting

Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867 – 1957) Laura Ingalls Wilder is known for writing the Little House on the Prairi e series which was based off her life as a settler and pioneer in Wisconsin.

SOME OLD-FASHIONED THINGS LIKE FRESH AIR AND SUNSHINE

ARE HARD TO BEAT. - Laura Ingalls Wilder

TANKLESS WATER HEATER Also known as on-demand hot water, a tankless water heater can provide relatively instant hot water that won't run out as long as you need it. They work by heating cold water as it runs through the unit with either an electric element or a gas burner. Therefore, as long as your hot water tap is on, the water will come out heated so you don't have to worry about running out of water mid shower, for example.

Water is also not stored in the tank so it's smaller than a traditional hot water tank and some homeowners opt to install more than one tank in their home depending on their needs. While the water is always hot, if too much is being demanded at once, the flow rate can be lower, so having multiple tanks could be useful.

A bit more of an initial investment, over the average lifespan of 15 years, the lower cost of energy bills can add up to make it worth it.

HOME LIBRARY BOOK STORAGE Reading has been a hobby for many for as long as books have been around. Recently though, the trend of home libraries has been growing thanks in part to social media influencers showing off their collections. If you want to gather your books into a home library, there are a few tips from the experts to ensure your books last and don't gather dust and grow mould. You should dust your books, shelves and trinkets on a regular basis. Use a brush attachment on your vacuum to clean dust and debris from on top of your books and a dry cloth to dust the spines. And yes, experts encourage you to stand your books up as opposed to stacking them. Stacking can lead to pages and covers warping if all books in the stack aren't the exact same size. Another pro tip - instead of tilting your books out to remove them from the shelf, slide them out by gripping on either side of the spine. This will also help preserve their structure. To prevent books from leaning, use book ends to hold them upright but not too close together so the inks from the covers don't stick or transfer.

• The missing numbers are integers between 0 and 8. • The numbers in each row add up to totals to the right. • The numbers in each column add up to the totals along the bottom. • The diagonal lines also add up the totals to the right. NUMBER BLOCK Try to fill in the missing numbers.

SOLUTION

Courtesy of thinkablepuzzles.com/ numberblocks/numberblock15.shtml

Q: You’re a bus driver on a fall leaf tour. At the first stop 4 people get on. At the second stop 8 people get on, at the third stop 2 people get off and, at the fourth stop everyone got off. The question is what colour are the bus driver’s eyes? A: The same as yours: you’re the bus driver. Q: There is a bush, a pine tree and an oak tree and it is the fall season. If the wind is blowing towards the west, which way does the leaves on the pine tree fall? A: A pine tree doesn’t have leaves.

No slump in Edmonton’s property market as numbers begin to cool

$203,742 apt./ condo UP 5.1% year-to-year

$546,101 detached UP 10.2% year-to-year

AVERAGE SALE PRICES

$290,569 row/ townhouse UP 14.7% year-to-year

3,467 NEW LISTINGS 2,591 SOLD LISTINGS

detached 2,036 645 detached 1,468 423

apt./ condo

apt./ condo

2.2 MONTHS OF INVENTORY

5,798 ACTIVE LISTINGS

75% SALES TO NEW LISTING RATIO

35 DAYS ON MARKET

Edmonton, September 3, 2024: There were a total of 2,591 residential unit sales in the Greater Edmonton Area (GEA) real estate market during August 2024. New residential listings amounted to 3,467. Total residential average prices came in at $435,094, a 1.2% decrease from July 2024. Detached homes averaged $546,101, decreasing 1.1% from July 2024. Row/townhouse prices fell 0.5% from July 2024. Apartment Condominium average prices dropped slightly to $203,742, a 0.3% decrease over last month.

“The hot summer season is definitely at an end as we can see clearly from the month-over-month numbers,” says REALTORS ® Association of Edmonton 2024 Board Chair Melanie Boles. “But the yearly comparison is telling a different story. This year’s home prices have increased in double-digit percentages for most residential categories, and the market is definitely more active as the number of sales continues to be stronger as well.” Overall, all residential listings averaged 35 days on the market. Statistics reflect market activity in August 2024 | Source: REALTORS ® Association of Edmonton | Market values stated are of the average of Edmonton and surrounding region. 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.

The greatest compliment you can give me is the referral of family and friends!

Call: 780.686.0068 susansiegsells@gmail.com ■ www.SusanSieg.com

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