NEW WEEKLY FOX TEAM LISTINGS

New Fox Team Weekly Listing Post: 120 Nebraska - Holton - - - Priced at $97,000 3BR, 3BA, 2Car Attached Gar. Lots of updates, including dishwasher, countertops, bathrooms, flooring, programmable thermostat, water pond/water feature and rock patio out in backyard and much more. This home is bright and decorated tastefully. The large rec room in the basement inc. add'l bathroom and kitchenette. Lg 2 car garage perfect for your hobbies! You have to see the oversized shower in the 2nd full bath on the main level. Well maintained home on great corner lot in quiet neighborhood with curb appeal! New roof to be completed by close of home! 327 Lincoln - Holton - - - Priced at $76,000 3+BR, 2BA Updated home! Updated oversized bath w/ Jet Tub. Large lot w/ potential for garage addition! Roof 3 years old, Heat & Air and hot water htr 2 years old. Newly remodeled! Must see - adorable inand out! Alley Access. Also incl. all appliances! First Time Homebuyers - Large home which should pass inspections programs well! 18465 W Road - Denison - - - Priced at $205,000 3BR, 2BA 6 year young BEAUTIFUL berm home on 30 acres ,want to save money on utilities,VERY EFFIECIENT!!,all appliances convey,hickory Custom WoodProducts (CWP-St Marys) cabinets ,surround sound THRU-OUT, Beautiful stamped concrete entrance, fruit trees, 36x48 implement shed, stocked crappie pond, some timber & wildlife, 30 min to Topeka - all paved roads, seller" MAY " reserve the right to receive harvest of crops and hay production of 08 season.. Oversized Bedrooms/closets,DON'T WAIT! INQUIRE TODAY!!

Tree Pruning - 4-H Project Talk - Forestry

by Rosalie Wilkerson, 4th year Straight Arrows 4-H The morning of December 11, 2007 I woke up to find the lights were out in my home and school was cancelled. I rushed to the window to see the whole world covered in a thick layer of ice. It was the most wonderful thing I had ever seen. As the frozen water continued to fall, I could hear firecrackers going off outside. What sounded like firecrackers was actually the sound of limbs breaking on trees. Hi, my name is Rosalie Wilkerson. This is my fourth year in the Straight Arrows 4-H Club and my first year in the Forestry project. I want to talk to you about how to help trees recover from the ice storm of 2007. After the ice storm most peoples’ first thought was, “let's get this mess cleaned up.” This unfortunately resulted in removing trees that could have been saved. The Arbor Day Foundation suggests a few simple rules in tree first aid after a storm: · Don't try to do it all yourself. If large limbs are broken or hanging, or if high climbing and chainsaw work is needed, it's a job for a professional arborist. They have the equipment and knowledge needed to prune trees. · Remove any broken branches still attached to the tree. Removing smaller broken limbs is one repair you can make after a storm. It will help reduce the risk of disease. Smaller branches should be pruned at the point where they join larger ones. · Repair torn bark To help the tree's appearance and to remove hiding places for insects, carefully chisel ragged edges where bark has been torn away. Try not to expose any of the greenish inner bark, as this layer contains the tree's food and water between roots and leaves. · Don’t over prune Don't worry if the tree doesn’t look perfect. Your tree may look naked with the branches gone, but you'll be surprised at how fast they will grow new leaves and return to their natural beauty. · Don't top your trees! Some people cut back all of the branches, hoping to keep limbs from breaking in the next storm. “Topping,” which is cutting main branches back to stubs, is one of the worst things you can do for your trees. Stubs will grow back a lot of weak branches that are even more likely to break in the next storm. Severe ice storms can affect trees, but trees can also make remarkable recoveries. It depends on the health of the tree and the techniques used to prune and remove limbs.

My Back Yard: Weekend Front Yard Face-Lift

Transform your yard in 7 easy steps - By Sarah Gleim Picture this: You're driving through the neighborhood admiring the beautifully manicured lawns when suddenly, your scenic drive is jarred by an overgrown, unkempt front yard. You immediately cringe in disgust—but not just at the sight of the yard. You're most appalled knowing that this eyesore is your yard. So, what's a busy homeowner like you supposed to do? Simple. Follow these seven steps and in just one weekend, you'll be sitting pretty in a yard you can be proud to call your own. · Mow the lawn regularly · Edge the Sidewalks and Drive · Trim overgrown bushes and hedges · Clean up and Prepare Flowerbeds · Start Planting · Mulch Flowerbeds · Water – Water – Water http://homegarden.realtor.com/

Green Home Corner: 10 Tips for an Energy Efficient Kitchen

1. Many dishwashers have internal heating elements that allow you to set the water heater to a lower temperature. 2. Let your dishes air dry. Turn off the control knob after the final rinse and prop the door open. 3. Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door over a piece of paper or a dollar bill. If you can pull the paper out easily, the latch may need adjustment or replace the seal. 4. Cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder. 5. Move your refrigerator out from the wall and vacuum its condenser coils once a year (unless you have a no-clean condenser model). Your refrigerator will run for shorter periods with clean coils. 6. Wash your clothes in cold water using cold-water detergents whenever possible. 7. Use the cool-down cycle to allow the clothes to finish drying with the residual heat in the dryer. 8. Place the faucet lever on the kitchen sink in the cold position when using small amounts of water. Placing the lever in the hot position uses energy to heat the water, even though it never reaches the faucet. 9. If you purchase a gas oven or range, look for one with an automatic, electric ignition system. An electric ignition saves gas because a pilot light is not burning continuously. 10. Use small electric pans or toaster ovens for small meals rather than your large stove or oven. A toaster oven uses a third to half as much energy as a full-sized oven. Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC)

Slithering Surprises around every corner...

Being a real estate agent comes with its dips and turns. Why? Due to my high percentage of … Yes, that’s right, being Attacked by snakes. Here’s a few TRUE, humorous stories of just that. There was an old home in Mayetta with an historic rock stairway. I descended to open up the basement door for an open house. I reached out, unlatched the lock, went to push on the door and out jumped a small snake, having not seen it hiding in the crevice! When I had pushed the door open I had squished his little tail and he lurched out at my hand – coming with in cm’s away. ‘Quick Draw McGraw’ I am though – as I go screaming up the stairs! Not long after that, a fellow agent had a house for sale in town with an old chimney falling away. My client and I were standing in a rather large pile of leaves and my client said “What’s up with the snakes?” as I looked up the chimney there were 6 big black snakes dangling from the chimney opening – needless to say my courageousness kicked in again. As I went running, screaming like a fool – only to find out after I made a rude call to the listing agent, making him go look at the dilemma, that they were fake snakes posted to keep birds away. So, thinking my fellow agents were playing a joke on my past circumstances, when my husband and business partner finally mentioned the snake that he had seen dangling over my desk for several days from a light fixture – I thought, no way could this be real – and shame on someone! But no, this little gardener snake came in from the old brick attic above, tried crawling thru the light above my desk and SURPRISE – got stuck and died hanging about 6 inches out of the light. Last Fall, 2 6-foot long black snakes had entangled themselves in a lovely mating call in a tree over our house after slithering full blast away from our 3 screaming boys that had bumped into them in the yard. I see my fortunate adventures and actions carry from generation to generation! So, if you have snakes or are unsure, call Sara – she’s sure to find them – a pleasant, present day Medusa at your service. Do you have some fun snakes stories to share? Email them to us and we may post them on our website.