Gated Communities Catching On? - 11/22/07 09:17 AM
I read with interest this article in the Toronto Star (November 17/07) -
http://www.thestar.com/living/article/276622
This trend doesn't appeal to me at all.  I certainly hope it doesn't come to this.  If there is high crime in any area, can we really believe that a wall and gate will keep them out?
The article contains some interesting stats on U.S. gated communities too:
"In the U.S., there are a reported 7 million households, 6 per cent of the total, living in as many as 20,000 commnities with walls and gates. Most are in Sunbelt states such as California, Florida and Arizona."
"In fact, census statistics … (1 comments)

The Color White - 11/22/07 08:38 AM
Today in Peel Region (and across the Greater Toronto Area) we have been hit with our first winter storm.  This is very early compared to last year when our first snowfall arrived in late January! 
I was just getting used to the fact that we had plenty of lingering yellow and gold leaves on the trees.  Now that those shades of gold are painted in white, it reminds me of the wide range of color choices available for a pale indoor landscape.  PARA Paints Whites Collection contains a total of 36 samples conveniently broken down into "Bright", "Neutrals", "Warm" and "Cool".  This … (7 comments)

Magnetic Poetry - 11/15/07 06:55 PM
While these tiny word magnets are great for party chuckles and everyday silliness, they should NOT appear on the fridge of any home for sale.  I admit, this is my own fridge covered with silliness for everyday living.  But I have seen many photos on MLS that have similar or worse nightmares on display !
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452,000 - 11/05/07 03:46 PM
No, that's not the price of a house.  The City of Brampton finally decided to up-date the "Welcome to Brampton" population signs at various highway entry points into the city.  A while back, my blog made reference to the signs which were obviously dated - http://activerain.com/blogsview/86378/Brampton-Facts-History
However, I find it amusing that by the time these signs were made and erected, a few hundred people moved to Brampton and several hundred more babies had been born. 
Silly waste of money isn't it?
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RELAX - 11/04/07 09:57 AM
Please help support our charity (Ovarian Cancer Canada) by purchasing this refreshing new Riesling from the LCBO (not sure if it is available outside of Ontario).  For every bottle of RELAX Riesling sold (up to November 10th, 2007, .50 cents will be donated to Ovarian Cancer Canada.  The bottles are identified with a neck-tag to identify this special promotion.
The Canadian ReDesigners Association will be working with OCC to ensure that women currently in treatment for ovarian cancer have a comfortable and harmonious room in their home in which to focus on rest and wellness.  ReDesigners across Canada are volunteering their time and talent … (0 comments)

Color Inspiration - 11/02/07 08:01 AM
I recently picked up the * General Paint ColorLife cards, a truly beautiful collection sure to inspire you no matter what your style.
* General Paint is only available in Canada.
They also carry a new line called the Canadiana Historic collection which brings to life the true north and the warmth & charm of cottage country.  It's just perfect for this time of year when all the autumn colors have fallen from the trees and we need to think about wrapping ourselves in comforting colors within our homes.
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Paint Calculator - 11/02/07 07:43 AM
What a great on-line tool this is !  One of my colleagues recently pointed this out to me, as a way to help those "do-it-yourselfers" calculate the amount of paint required for the job.  Of course this is a very general guideline and doesn't take into account the door & window spaces not being painted.  Always best to double check with your paint retailer or a professional painter !
http://www.paintquality.com/diy/calculator/calc.html
(from the Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute website)
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