Shopbrazos January 2012

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Interior design tips for giving your kitchen a brand new look

Interior design tips for giving yourkitchen a brand new look

Three delicious Valentine’s Day dessert recipes

Three delicious Valentine’s Day dessert recipes

Insulating your home withRockcrete saves energy & money

Insulating your home withRockcrete saves energy & money

JANUARY 2012JANUARY 2012

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WHAT’S INSIDE

page tenpage tenChocolate has great sensual appeal and has long been associated with the euphoric

feeling of being in love.“Chocolate has great sensual appeal and “Chocolate has great sensual appeal and

”feeling of being in love.

”feeling of being in love.

page fourpage fourIf you’re DIY-challenged, keep in mind that a coat of paint and a change of accessories can make a huge di� erence to any room.

If you’re DIY-challenged, keep in mind that If you’re DIY-challenged, keep in mind that a coat of paint and a change of accessories can make a huge di� erence to any room.

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page sevenIf you don’t exercise them or give them toys,

they might chew your curtains.If you don’t exercise them or give them toys, If you don’t exercise them or give them toys,

they might chew your curtains.they might chew your curtains.

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979-229-3493Greg

979-220-6578Celeste 936-349-2137Bobby1-888-FOAM-HOMe

Foam InsulatIonCan Help!

www.rock-cretefoam.comAlso the only way to effectively cool a metal building or a 2 story house

ElEctric BillsHigH?

Rock-Crete Foam Insulators Helps Lower Power Bills.Rock-Crete is going on 8 years in this exciting and wonderful business. We actually make a difference in theway people live. We make their houses more comfortable, and their electricity bills more affordable. We savethem from 30%-70% on their utility bills depending on whether the house is existing or in the building process.At Rock-Crete Foam Insulators, we talk about air-conditioning as much as we talk about insulation. The twoare married, and if you do not understand this, then you should not be spraying foam. The first rule should be,“Do no Harm!” When we get on the scene, we are usually the only experienced people that have showed upthat can intelligently discuss the needs of air conditioning and heat in a new or existing house with foam. Onexisting homes we seal the attic and drop your utility bills from approximately 30-50 percent and sometimeseven more. We have some competitors that apparently don’t like to work in hot attics, and discourage peoplefrom contracting for this kind of work. When they do it, they don’t even do it right and you spend your moneyfor a “pricey radiant barrier.” At Rock-Crete, we brought spray foam to the area. Not only that, but some of ourfirst jobs 8 years ago were existing homes in which we created a sealed attic. For years we were the only onesdoing that. Now, some have come along trying to get some of that business in a down economy. They do notlike it, and often do not do it right. We stand behind our product. In a 100 degree day, your attic temperaturesshould be between 77 and 85 degrees, but only if it is done right. Your humidity usually goes down also.Retrofit example:1. Leaverage, 1500 sq foot added 1000 sq foot; foamed roof of both and walls of add on. Bills dropped

from 400 to less than 200.00. That is on a 2500 sq foot older home!2. Claraday home, large home with hot 2 story. Took our advice on air conditioners and foam, and

reduced a $1,200.00 bill down over 65% and now have a comfortable home, including the upstairs.3. McWhorter Home, before $500.00 after, $225.00.4. Baggs home and office and Winkler home and office, both report it was unbearable before, and comfortable

now with savings over 30%.

New homes:1.Mason home, 2635 sq feet, 2 story, with only a 3.5 ton unit, highest bills $125.00, average on AC with a

separate meter on unit is $42.22 monthly?2.Lincecum home. 2700 sq foot metal home with high ceilings and attached 1500 sq foot shop. Summer time

bills never over $110.00.3.Shultz 1200 sq foot home, electric bills on all electric from $46.00 to $69.00.4.Rude home, approx. 4000 sq feet with bills form $150.00-$200.00

Rock-Crete Foam Insulators knows foam, and knows air conditioning. You need to know Rock-Crete. As youcan see, our customers are very happy with the job performed. You only get a chance to do it right one time.Don’t let an inexperienced company into your home that sprays a little foam here and there and calls it done. AtRock-Crete, we spray the proper amount at the proper places and we care about the performance of your house.You are only as good as your last job. We want your referrals. We are one of the largest, and have the bestprices on a job done right! Tax rebates are currently up to $500.00.

Rock-Crete Foam Insulators Helps Lower Power Bills.

• Approx. Savings 30 - 50% In Existing Homes• Approx. Savings 70% In New Homes

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NEW LOOKSSHOPBRAZOS.COM

By Avery MAnn | SPECIAL TO THE EAGLE

ou don’t have to be able to paint a trompe l’oeil frieze or completely remodel your home to give it a fresh new look. If you’re DIY-challenged, keep in

mind that a coat of paint and a change of accessories can make a huge difference to any room.

In the living room In newer homes where open-plan spaces have replaced separate living and dining rooms, dens and offices, it can be a challenge to create a homoge-neous look to a room that serves multiple purposes. A stylish living room is less about your choice of furniture and accessories than it is about having a clean and clutter-free look. Create activity zones and cozy corners with screens, wall dividers and bookcases, and store things close to where they are used to make switching from one activity to another quick and simple. Remember, a large decorative box with a lid hides a multitude of sins. Choose what stays on permanent display in the living room to reflect your personality.

In the bedroom One quick way to get a new look in the bedroom is to rearrange the furni-ture. Swap and change dressers and bedside cabinets between rooms for a matched look in each room or for a more eclectic effect. The quickest update will come from a new bed set, a throw and a few fancy cushions with matching drapes. Develop the theme and keep things organized with a few stackable decorative storage boxes.

In the bathroom Another room where the furniture is fixed, the bathroom will also benefit from reducing the clutter and hiding everything away you don’t want on show. A thorough cleanup, removing lime scale and mold from around taps, and a good tile grout cleaner can make a world of difference in this space. Use a laundry hamper that doubles as a seat, if there is room, to create instant comfort. Change dingy plastic toilet seats for classic wood ones to bring warmth into the room. Update accessories such as toilet paper holders and toothbrush racks, and replace or dye towels to trendy colors, and you have an instantly stylish bathroom.

In the kitchen Update a fitted kitchen with new doors and drawer fronts and replace outdated appliances for a complete overhaul. On a smaller budget, make changes with new light fittings, smaller appliances, such as a kettle and a toaster, trendy window dressings, and a new vase for flowers or a striking fruit bowl. It’s harder to achieve a complete new look in a room where the furniture is fixed, so it’s important to keep work surfaces clean and clear of clutter so that what you have on show is more effective.

Get a new lookSimple decorating

and design ideas

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.COMNEW LOOKS

The kitchen was very large with a nice wood floor, but its redeeming qualities ended there. From the dim lighting to the dated appliances, this kitchen needed help. To help keep costs down, I decided to give the space a face-lift instead of a total gut. I knew this would be no simple nip-and-tuck, but, rather, a full-fledged operation.

A kitchen face-lift typically involves re-freshing a lot of the old and injecting some of the new. In this instance, I wanted to preserve some of the farmhouse flavor, but update it with an urban, industrial vibe.

Kitchen face-lifts are all about making the most of what you have, so I decided to keep the flooring and most of the cabinetry. But all of the wainscoting and backsplash had to come off, as well as the countertops and

some of the cabinetry.When it comes to kitchen face-lifts, paint

can be your BFF. I painted the kitchen a bright paper-white, except for one accent wall that I painted butter-yellow. I mixed in some new cabinetry with the old and painted the upper cabinets white and the lower cabinets black, and to all of them I added gorgeous clear Lucite rail-pulls.

Now it was time to bring in the new appli-ances — a fridge/freezer combo, dishwasher, stove and a range hood — all in stainless steel that instantly modernized the look. I did the counters in soft gray laminate and married them to a Carrara marble hexa-gon backsplash tile. I also installed a large single-bowl, stainless-steel sink that offers a twist on the traditional farmhouse sink.

In the middle of it all, I installed a long, custom peninsula in reclaimed pine. I clad-ded the front in barnboard, which spoke to the character of this farmhouse. The peninsula houses additional storage and a dishwasher, and I provided seating for three with charcoal stools upholstered in yellow-and-gray floral fabric, inspired by vintage tea towels.

But the real “wow” factor in this room has to be the authentic tin ceiling I installed, comprised of square tiles. I then added re-cessed lighting and hung the coolest light fixtures — three pendant lights that are ac-tually old Mason jars, tinted in a subtle blue.

By using lots of paint and fabric, in addi-tion to high-impact finishes like reclaimed wood, tin and repurposed lights, I was able to give Ilya and Pina’s tired old space the ul-timate face-lift kitchen.

Interior decorator Candice Olson is host of HGTV’s “Candice Tells All.” For more ideas, information and show times visit http://www.hgtv.com/candice-tells-all/show/index.html.

A kitchen face-lift that really cooksUnder the knIfe

By CAndICe OlsOn | SPECIAL TO THE EAGLE

Interior designers and plastic surgeons have one thing in common: They both do a lot of face-lifts. Recently, a house belonging to clients Ilya and Pina went under my “knife.” They have a large family, and they all live in

an old farmhouse where they enjoy cooking and holding family celebrations. But the kitchen was ill-suited to the tasks at hand. The room that should have been the soul of the household was absolutely soulless.

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SAVE WATERSHOPBRAZOS.COM

By ed del GrAndeSPECIAL TO THE EAGLE

dear ed: I enjoy your passion for saving water and I’m ready to start upgrading my plumbing fixtures to be more efficient so I can lower my water bill. Can you give me some guidelines to get started? Please keep in mind that right now I’m on a fixed budget. — Brenda, New Jersey

A: I have the perfect project for you to consider.

First, here are some water-saving basics. You can save thou-sands of gallons of water a year in these three areas — with efficient toilets, showers and faucets.

My first two suggestions are to replace any toilets and show-erheads made before 1990. You can noticeably reduce water con-

sumption by upgrading to a new high-efficiency toilet or water-conserving showerhead.

While these projects are well worth investing in, material and labor costs may hold you back for now. So, to get you on the fast track to water conservation, I rec-ommend starting with your fau-cets.

Standard faucets can use about 2.2 gallons per minute. New high-efficiency faucets can use 1.5 gal-lons per minute and can deliver significant water savings over standard faucets.

Here’s even more good news: As long as your present faucets are in good shape, in most cases you won’t have to change them. At the very end of the faucet spout is a small, inexpensive control called an aerator.

Aerators screw into the spout and control the water flow. If you can unscrew the present aerator and take it down to your local plumbing supply house, its rep-resentatives can set you up with a new “low-flow, high efficiency aerator” to match your present faucet. Once you install a new wa-ter-saving aerator on your older faucet, you’ll have a water-saving faucet.

Bottom line: This is one proj-ect that can really conserve your water -- and your wallet.

Master contractor/plumber Ed Del Grande hosts TV shows on Scripps Networks and HGTVPro.com. Visit eddelgrande.com or write [email protected]. Always consult local contractors and codes.

small fix, big savingsSave water with newer faucets, aerators

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SHOPBRAZOS

.COMPET BEHAVIOR

“She started with toilet paper, and we thought it was relatively harmless,” says Bella’s owner, Ellen Galvin, 44, of Port-land, Ore. “We were less amused when we found the sofa cushions destroyed.”

To protect your house from your dog, trainer Gary Cassera of Balanced Dogs in Marlton, N.J., offers two options.

“You can use a crate or baby gate to contain your dog to a certain room or area of your home,” he says. “Or you can make sure your dog gets enough exer-cise.”

If you choose to use a crate, the gen-eral rule for young dogs is to crate them no more than one hour per each month of age.

“This has to do with their ability to control their bladder and bowels,” Cassera says. “For older dogs, the most important factor is that they have al-ready released physical and mental en-ergy that would cause them to naturally want to sleep.”

Cassera says dogs need daily physical activity.

“Take them out and walk, bike or Rollerblade,” he says. “Or play search games inside the house. Get their energy level from 100 percent to about 20 per-cent before you leave them alone.”

When it comes to cats, destruction

usually involves scratching. “It’s natural for cats to scratch,”

says veterinarian Colin Chaves of Fort Bragg, Calif. “Get them a good scratch-ing post.”

Cats also need exercise, which Chaves says often is overlooked. Cats exercise by playing or chasing treats.

“When animals sleep 12 hours at night, they can be bored during the day,” Cassera says. “They don’t have email or Facebook. They have what we provide. If you don’t exercise them or give them toys, they might chew your curtains.”

Galvin is seeing to it that curtains don’t make Bella’s list of destroyed household items.

“We knew her behavior was our fault; she wasn’t ready to be left home alone,” she says. “Now we crate her, take her with us on dog-friendly outings, or check her into dog day care.”

stop bad behaviorTips for dealing with a destructive dog or catBy sherry phIllIps | SPECIAL TO THE EAGLE

t wo dog beds, three cushions, one comforter, doz-ens of rolls of toilet paper, a paperback book and

a pair of prescription swim goggles: Bella the boxer has quite a resume when it comes to chewing.

“If you don’t exercise them or give them toys, they might chew your curtains.”

— GARY CASSERA, TRAINER

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SHOPBRAZOS.COM

SAINT MICHAEL’S SHOPBRAZOS.COM

SHOPBRAZOS.COM

ROCK-CRETE FOAM INSULATORS SHOPBRAZOS.COM

This winter may not have been a cold one, but it’s hard to forget how hot

last summer was and it’s not hard to imagine how rough the next one could be. Checkbooks all over the Brazos Valley felt the sting of high utility costs associated with keeping houses cool while the temperatures were routinely topping the 100-degree mark outside. Greg Pruitt at Rock-Crete Foam Insulators wants people to know it doesn’t have to be that way. Whether you are looking at a new home, an existing home, a metal build-ing, workshop, or even a mobile home, Rock-Crete Foam Insula-tors can slash your heating and cooling utilities by as much as 30-70 percent. Rock-Crete uses Foamsulate 50 Series foams from Premium Spray Products. These foams form a solid barrier of insula-tion, effectively stopping un-

wanted airflow in and out of the home. Stopping that airflow is key not only to proper insu-lation, but is becoming a big part of new building codes in many locations. Minimizing air exchanges between the inside of the house and the environ-ment is a priority. Not only does air coming in through walls and ceilings carry pol-lutants, but it places a larger

Ahead of the curveFoam insulation helps homeowners save money & stay ahead of new building codes

By Billy MauThe Eagle

load on the air conditioning and heating systems as it has to be run through the system to regulate temperature. “The 2012 building code in College Station is calling for a much tighter home,” Pruitt said. “A typical home with fiberglass insulation is go-ing to average six to eight air exchanges per hour under a standard pressure test. With

cellulose insulation, you can get that down to about three air exchanges per hour, but with foam you’re looking at 0.2 to 0.3 if it’s done right.” Pruitt has been doing foam insulation for eight years now, and his team installs the prod-uct the right way, all the way down to the caulking that not all of his competitors do. He is so confident in his work that

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.COMSAINT MICHAEL’SSHOP

BRAZOS.COM

SHOPBRAZOS

.COMROCK-CRETE FOAM INSULATORSSHOP

BRAZOS.COM

with one program he offers, he’s willing to guarantee the heating and cooling utility costs for two years on new homes built with Rock-Crete Foam Insulation. New construction homes see huge benefits from foam insu-lation for those willing to look at the big picture. Pruitt said, “Some people only see that foam costs more than fiberglass or cellulose insulation when comparing price tags.” While that may be the case, there is more to look at. A home that is top-to-bottom foam insulated requires only half – if not less– as much HVAC capacity. With the reduction of other building cost factored in along with the lower utility bills, many hom-eowners will in the first year get the nominal difference in foam returned to them. The savings over a lifetime can be $40,000-$100,000, It just depends on when you start. “Consider on a 3,000 square-foot home, you’re looking at $4,000 on fiberglass insulation and we might charge $8,000 for foam on the same house,” Pruitt said. “So you start off looking at a $4,000 difference. But you were going to use two air conditioners at about seven tons of air with fiberglass. We’re probably going be able to get you down to four tons of air and just one air conditioner. That’s going to save you $4,000 or $5,000 right there by not having to buy that second air conditioner. “When you look at the costs of foam insulation as part of the building process as a whole, it’s not that much more at all. Then you go into that first year of living in that house and the difference in utility costs is going to finish paying for it. You have to be smart enough to look at the big picture and smart enough to ask your builder about it.” For those who have exist-ing homes, foam is a good bet as well. Rock-Crete can come in and spray the rafters in the attic and even the underside of homes on pier support foun-dations to help dramatically

lower bills and make the home more comfortable. A foam insulated attic should stay between 77 and 85 degrees even on a 100-degree day. Not only does that make the home more comfortable, but also it’s great for items being stored in the attic. If you have some money earning 1 percent in a Money Market or Bank savings ac-count, wouldn’t it make sense to use that money to put money back in your pocket month after month? Pruitt has even started using foam on mobile homes. Anyone who has lived in a mobile home knows they are notoriously bad on utility costs. Pruitt has de-veloped a process for foaming the roof of a mobile home that has had very positive results. He’s also completely remodel-ing a rental mobile home and plans to go into the walls and give it the full foam treatment.Rock-Crete has proven that foam insulation is great for non-home applications as well. Anyone operating a busi-ness out of a metal building can benefit from foam. Metal buildings are a popular choice for workshops, but aren’t so great when it comes to energy efficiency. Rock-Crete can foam the interior of the ceiling and walls, completely insulating the structure. One client who had a metal building said it was like an Igloo Cooler after the foam was installed. “Foam insulation is great for just about anything,” Pruitt said. “We’re getting some diesel tanks put in out here so that we can gas up our equipment right here at the shop. Condensation inside of those tanks can be-come a big problem under the right temperatures, so we’re going to foam the outside of the tanks. That’s going to eliminate that problem before it starts.” For more information on Rock-Crete’s services and how they can help you, call 1-888-FOAM-HOMe or visit www.rock-cretefoam.com. Also, make sure to look for them on Facebook and at this year’s Home Expo at the Brazos County Expo Center.

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SWEETS FOR YOUR SWEETIESHOPBRAZOS.COM

By MArGAret MAples | SPECIAL TO THE EAGLE

We have the perfect finale for a Valentine’s Day dinner. The potential for naughtiness may be high, but this dessert is very nice: Valentine Frangipane. This is a delightful combination of almond cream, Mara-schino cherries and chocolate. We chose these ingredients because they’re natural enhancements for this romantic occa-sion. Chocolate has great sensual appeal and has long been as-sociated with the euphoric feeling of being in love. Each little tart rests on a heart-shaped crust made of a chocolate ver-sion of pate sucree, the sweet dough that’s used in tart crusts. (If you don’t have a heart-shaped tart pan, a mini-muffin tin makes a fine stand-in.) For a little more chocolate oomph, we added swirls of choc-olate syrup. Then more cherries seemed like a good idea. You’ll be able to decide these things for yourself. Or maybe just leave the whipped cream, chocolate syrup and cherries within reach.

sweet, sweet loveFlavors merge in a Valentine’s treat

A drizzle of chocolate syrup and a few more cherries make the finished valentine frangipane even more festive. FOODSTYLING AND PHOTOS BY MARGARET MAPLES / SPECIAL TO THE EAGLE

these mini tarts are ready to bake, with a cherry and a layer of almond cream visible in each well of the tart pan. Chocolate pate sucree forms the base crust for each one.

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SHOPBRAZOS

.COMSWEETS FOR YOUR SWEETIE

Beat together the almond paste and sugar until smooth (check for small lumps of almond paste). Add the butter and beat smooth. Add the egg, mixing until combined.Stir in the flour, mixing until it’s absorbed. Cover and refrigerate until half an hour before you plan to bake the mini tarts.Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Shape balls of chocolate pate sucree slightly less than 1 inch in diameter and place one in each well of a heart-shaped mini tart pan or mini-muffin pan. Use your clean fingers or one of the tart pan inserts to flatten the dough in place. The dough should be 1/8- to ¼-inch thick. Place almond cream in a piping bag fitted with a medium star tip or in a refrigerator bag with a corner snipped off. Pipe almond cream onto each base of pate

sucree, spreading until it’s ¼- to 3/8-inch deep. Press a cherry into the almond cream of each little tart. Bake tarts for 15 to 17 minutes, until almond cream is lightly golden and gently puffed up around the cherries. Do not overbake, as this makes the mini tarts too chewy.Remove the tarts from the oven and let them cool slightly. Re-move them from the pan, set them on a rack and let them come to room temperature. Drizzle a dessert plate lightly with chocolate syrup. Arrange two mini tarts atop the syrup. Using a piping bag or a refrigera-tor bag with a corner snipped off, draw a circle of chocolate syrup on each tart. Pipe a cap of whip-ping cream onto each tart and finish with another cherry.

Makes 4 to 5 dozen mini tarts.

This chocolate crust can be used with other fillings, such as custard or fruit. And if you’re in the mood for a larger confection, roll the dough between sheets of waxed paper and fit it into a bigger tart pan.

Beat together the butter and sugar until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, sift together the pastry flour, salt and cocoa. Add to the butter mixture, 1/2 cup at a time. Beat until combined.

Turn out the dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap. Shape the dough into a log, wrap it airtight and refrigerate until half an hour before you plan to bake.

vAlentIne frAnGIpAne

• Chocolate Pate Sucree• 7/8 cup (1 3/4 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature• 1/2 cup granulated sugar• 1 egg

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract• 2 1/3 cups pastry flour• 1/2 teaspoon salt• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa (regular or dark works well)

AlMOnd CreAMCooled and removed from their pan, the tarts are ready for a little choco-late syrup, a cap of whipped cream and a second Maraschino cherry.

• 8 ounces almond paste• 1 cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature• 1 egg

• 1/2 cup + 1 teaspoon pastry flour• Maraschino cherries• Whipped cream• Chocolate syrup

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Contact Connie Van EttaProperty Manager

[email protected]

Stop by today and meetthe friendliest leasing staffin Bryan/College Station!

3130 E. 29th St. • Bryan, TX 77802

979-776-6622

• 24-Hour Fitness Center• Sparkling Swimming Pool• A&M and Blinn Shuttle Stop• Beautifully Landscaped Grounds• Professional On-site Management• 24-hour Emergency Maintenance• Planned /Resident Activities• Complimentary Scantrons• Copy and Fax Service

sunriseevents & errands

illuminating dreamsone event at a time

sunriseeventsanderrands.webs.comsunriseeventsanderrands.webs.com(979) 575-1034

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WINDOW TREATMENTSHOPBRAZOS.COM

Improve your room’s view10 window-treatment trends for 2012

1 Jewel tones Window treatments in jewel

tones, which range from deep reds to subtle blues, are sophisticated and cre-ate the atmosphere of lux-ury in any space.

2let the light in One trend that’s always in

style is using window treat-ments that allow a lot of natural light into a space. Many fabric houses are making sheers in all colors, not just white or cream. They’re also using great linen blends with more con-temporary patterns.

3trim it up Personalize window treatments with

decorative embellishments. Designer Jennifer Duneier uses trim to create custom-designed treatments with store-bought pieces.

4natural elements Organic materials are

bringing nature indoors. “It’s all about nature-inspired and eco-friendly materials and designs,” says designer Lori Gilder.

“It’s no longer a trend, but more of a philosophy in the evolution of design. Bam-boo, matchstick blinds and natural woven shades lay-ered with simple sheer linen panels create an elegant yet earthy sophistication in any space.”

By ChelSey BoWen SPECIAL TO THE EAGLE

5 Metallics “Metallic surfaces are back in

vogue,” says Gilder. “Silver, bronze and gold metallic fabrics layered with sheers are making a grand appear-ance in living rooms and bedrooms.”

6 layer shades “An-other trend is to layer

shades,” says Jennifer Du-neier. “A blackout shade might be installed right next to the window with a sheer shade in front of it.’

7 Geometric patterns Instead of sticking with

solid fabrics, look for ones in creative patterns.

8 stainless steel Not just a favorite for ap-

pliances anymore, stain-less steel is making its way throughout the home. To incorporate this trend into your window treatments, Gilder suggests thread-ing stainless steel and other metallic curtain rods through simple eyelets at the top of panels to create a simple unadorned look.

9neutrals Gilder notes that “charcoal and slate

are the new neutrals and blend beautifully with the metallic trends.”

10 Cheery yellow Brighten up a room

with cheerful draperies.

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.COMPLAN YOUR GARDEN

By MAUreen GIlMer Special to The Eagle

pays to plan ahead. This was painfully evident last year when I discovered re-tailers pricing 1-gallon pot-

ted organic tomatoes at more than $7 apiece in June. The small-budget gardener in me knew that same plant could be grown from seed for pen-nies. But retailers know that many of us fail to plan ahead, and the result is we are forced to pay more.

To realize the economy of growing your own food, and to gain access to a gazillion modern and heirloom vari-eties of common vegetables, you need to plan well. That’s what seed cata-logs are for. Sure, they help you buy seed, but taking time to peruse the pages reminds us of what we failed to plant last year or why what we did plant failed. A good catalog will be filled with helpful hints for selecting the variety so you’re successful and return next year for another season of seeds.

It is a time-honored tradition of gardeners everywhere to spend cold winter days perusing catalogs. I re-quire hot tea, sticky notes, yellow highlighters and a tablet for notes and sketches.

As a horticultural journalist, I get most of my seed catalogs via the Di-rect Gardening Association (www.DirectGardeningAssociation.com). Their website is a great resource be-cause it features a list of catalogs for home food growers.

It’s easy to use the list because there’s a live link for every catalog

and beside it is a phone number for those who don’t use the Internet. Simply call and request they send you a lovely, full-color catalog that you can study for weeks this winter as you mentally organize next year’s garden.

Many of these catalogs are gen-eral, such as Johnny’s Selected Seeds, which is a favorite of organic market farmers because they sell in bulk, not just regular seed packets. They offer one of the most detailed and diverse catalogs with a good deal of informa-tion on growing each variety to help small farmers find greater success with their crops.

Burpee is more focused on the nov-ice or first-time gardener, with fewer varieties that are more widely adapt-able. Sometimes fewer choices make it easier to wade through the options.

This is the perfect jumping-off point for those just getting started with growing their own food. Follow these tips to help you get what you need for your region, your level of expertise and the method you use to

grow food.

• Select just one general seed cata-log to start your first garden.

• Don’t order out of multiple cata-logs unless you’re an experienced gardener.

• Be sure to read the entire descrip-tion of the variety, because pole and bush beans look identical in pictures.

• It’s easier to purchase seed online with a click rather than writing out all the varieties by hand.

Never forget that a well-planned garden is based on the research you do now, which will pay off with all the $7 tomato plants you can manage for just pennies apiece.

Maureen Gilmer is an author, hor-ticulturist and landscape designer. Join her online at www.MoPlants.com or email her at [email protected].

seeds&savingsPlan ahead with seed catalogs

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KIDS’ ROOMSSHOPBRAZOS.COM

Clean your room!

Eight tips to curb children’s clutter

5 rules for kids’ roomsKids’ bedrooms breed clutter. Use these “room rules” to keep it under control:

1. Do not allow food in bedrooms.2. Place all dirty clothes in a basket or hamper daily.3. Do not leave potentially danger-ous items, such as balls, plastic build-ing pieces and roller skates, on the floor.4. Put away toys no longer being played with before getting out something new.5. Straighten up the room before going to bed.

By sherry phIllIps | SPECIAL TO THE EAGLE

n o matter their age, kids create clutter. But by establishing guidelines, you can keep the chaos under control and teach children valuable lessons about taking good care of their belong-ings. Try these ideas to reduce kids’ clutter in your home:

Avoid toy boxes and trunks. Small items sift to the bottom, and you have to empty the contents and make a mess to find them. Instead, buy assorted sizes of clear plastic bins for categorizing and storing each child’s belongings.

Store frequently used items, such as socks, play clothes, art supplies and favor-ite toys, in designated, easy-access bins, shelves and drawers that are labeled with details of the contents. (Use picture labels for pre-readers.) This way, when it’s time to tidy up, it’s easy for kids to stow their items and deposit dirty clothes.

Keep a small laundry basket, to collect dirty clothes, in each child’s closet.

Hang a see-through shoe organizer low on a closet door, and label the pockets so kids know where to stash small items such as hair accessories, game pieces and guitar picks that easily get lost.

Put a bin, crate or basket near the exit door to collect sports gear. After games

or practice, have kids deposit kneepads, cleats, batting gloves and other equip-ment in the container. That way, they’ll always know where to find the items.

Hang pegs or hooks at child level for jack-ets, backpacks and hats.

Buy a filing box and help your child set up files for schoolwork, pictures, awards and certificates, personal mail, articles for fu-ture reports and hobby brochures.

Create clutter-free zones in your home. Belongings left in these designated areas can go to “clutter jail” — and there’s a fee to get them out. Or, create a “swine fine” jar. If kids don’t pick up their belongings, call out “swine fine!” and require them to deposit a designated amount of money in the jar. These two strategies work best when mom and dad are accountable, too. Let kids collect the fine when you leave items out.

For more information, visit familymanager.com.

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Stay connected with specialsacross the Brazos Valley

FOODDickey’s Barbecue Pit2297 Earl Rudder Frwy.College StationMonday, All Day$5 Westerner sandwiches

Casa Rodriguez300 N. Bryan Ave.

BryanWednesday, 5 - 9 pm

All enchilada dinners for $5.99

Buffalo Wild Wings903 University Dr.College Station

Weekdays, 11 am - 3 pmLunch specials starting at $7.29

DRINKSYesterday’s Bar & Grill4421 S. Texas Ave.BryanThursday, All Day$1.50 drafts

O’bannon’s Tap House103 Boyett St.College Station

Wednesday, 8 pm - 2 amHalf off all pints

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop1712 Southwest Pkwy., Ste. 100

College StationMonday - Thursday, 4 - 7 pm$3 schooner margaritas

Los Molcajetes Mexican Food725 E. Villa Maria Rd., Ste. 100BryanTuesday, All DayKids eat free with purchaseof an adult meal

Tony Roma’s980 N. Earl Rudder Frwy.

BryanTuesday, All Day

Up to two free kids meals peradult meal purchased

Chicken Oil Co.3600 College Ave.

BryanWednesday, 5 - 9 pm

Kids eat free from kids menu withpurchase of adult meal

KIDS EAT FREE

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