My House My Home Archives - Forbes Phoenix

Native Orchid And Insect Facts Fascinate Garden Club

August 19, 2022 By Sweet Pea

Spring has started in John Brownes’ garden in Forbes. The Forbes Garden Club meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Contact President Elvy Quirk on 0428 540 272 for more information.

There are 30,000 species of native orchids in Australia and some of them can be found in the Central West in areas like Weddin Mountains and Mount Canobolas.

These were some of the amazing facts presented to members at the Forbes Garden Club’s July meeting with guest speaker Colin Bower from Orange who is an entomologist and botanist.

He captivated the 39 people at the meeting with his presentation about insects and orchids, and explained that orchids often take their names from their appearance, such as ‘bearded’, and ‘ducks’.

Colin also delivered a serious talk on pollination, and in thanking him Meg spoke of the humorous side of the sexual behaviour of bees.

The club’s bi-annual flower show will take place on 15th October, and members are encouraged to support the event with an entry. Volunteers are also required on the day, as well as seedlings and cuttings for the plant stall. Donations for the raffle which can be bought along to the next meeting at the home of Trudy & Mark Mallick at 16 Greens Road. In the event of wet weather, the meeting will be held at Northside Chapel in Johnson Street.

The club’s garden trip is on 19th September to Mayfield Garden. The cost is $60 payable at our August meeting, and includes coach travel and entry to the gardens. Please bring your own lunch.

A special thank you to all who participated in th flower of the month competition. First place went to Max Swift with a spectular Camellia. The second and third places were also Camellias and went to Pam Bass and Margaret Swift.

The raffle was won by Sylvia Glasson, and the second prize by Irene Ford.

Now is a good time to start tidying up in the garden as spring is just around the corner.

By Sweet Pea

Do You Recycle Your Receipts?

June 17, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Check if receipts are thermal. Run your fingernail firmly across the paper and if its thermal it will leave a mark. Make sure you check both the front and back side of the receipt.

Thermal receipts cannot be recycled. The ink used on the ‘thermal’ type paper contains BPA (now banned in specific types of plastic) and is tricky to remove during the recycling process. Due to the type of ink used that contains BPA it is easily transferrable and contaminates what it comes into contact with.

Unfortunately thermal receipts need to go into general waste, or you can refuse receipts and ask the business to email them if you need to keep them for record purposed.

Enjoy the Space and Freedom Of Country

May 6, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Peter Giles, Project Manager & Sales, with his partner Nartayliah, who is the Director & Compliance Advisor of Giles
Land Development, and their two children Mila and River.

Old Pine Estate is a unique 105ha property located in the beautiful shallow rush area on the western limit of Parkes NSW that is being developed into a residential area for families looking for the beauty of country living. The locally owned and established subdivision is done by Giles Land Development and will comprise six lots of 1.3ha each and 23 lots of 4ha each.

Peter Giles, Project Manager, said the development was named ‘Old Pine’ after the original farm. The development is located adjacent to Moulden Street, Cookapie Street, Back Trundle Road and Gold Rush Road.

Peter said the large blocks were targeted at the family looking for the freedom and lifestyle of country living. “The joys of watching your kids grow up, riding horses or motorbikes, enjoying the outdoors or the older couple looking for a quiet community to retire into, with the added convenience of the town centre only minutes away.”

With the current shortage of property available across the Parkes region and the Central West, Peter and Nartayliah decided it was the perfect time to release this subdivision to the public. “There is currently no other affordable 4ha or 1,3 ha lots available in the area,” said Peter.

“We are very excited to present this affordable and desirable land to the Parkes community.”

All the blocks will have power, sealed road access, new fencing and estate style entryways. There will be no house design or style restrictions, but the standard council regulations for the R5 Zoning code will apply. The 1.3ha lots have town water and street lighting, and all the lots can have a bore installed.

Peter said the response had been great so far, and he and his family were also going to build and live on the estate.

To register your expression of interest and to receive an information brochure scan the QR code in the below image. For up-to-date news, like and share their Facebook page @gileslanddevelopment.

Do You Own A Property In Forbes And Looking To Renovate?

January 31, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Council’s Heritage Advisor is available to provide free architectural and design advice for landowners within the Forbes CBD or who own a heritage building anywhere in the Shire.

Council also have grants available to assist in the maintenance and restoration of heritage buildings. Appointments are available with Council’s Heritage Advisor on the 4th and 5th of February for no cost. To make a booking call (02) 6850 2300

Don’t Play Renovation Roulette With Asbestos

November 1, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

November is Asbestos Awareness Month to educate the public about the dangers of asbestos as Australia has one of the highest rates of asbestos-related diseases in the world.

Asbestos-related diseases continue to increase as a direct result of exposure to asbestos fibres during home renovations and maintenance.

Many people wrongly believe that only fibro homes contain asbestos, but asbestos products can most likely be found in any Australian home built or renovated before 1987, whether it’s brick, weatherboard, fibro or clad homes.

It can be found under floor coverings such as carpets, linoleum and vinyl tiles, behind wall and floor tiles, in cement floors, internal and external walls, ceilings, eaves, garages, around hot water pipes, fences, extensions to homes, outdoor toilets, dog kennels, chook yards and backyard sheds.

It’s vital that Australians take the warnings seriously, stop playing ‘renovation roulette’ and protect themselves and their families from exposure to asbestos fibres during renovations and maintenance.

If you suspect you have asbestos in your home: Dont cut it! Don’t drill it! Don’t drop it! Don’t sand it! Don’t saw it! Don’t scrape it! Don’t scrub it! Don’t dismantle it! Don’t tip it! Don’t waterblast it! Don’t demolish it! And whatever you do… don’t dump it!

Check out the NSW Ministry of Health fact sheets about asbestos and health risks at www.health.nsw.gov.au

Things To Do Before Leaving For Holiday

April 5, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

You have a million things to do before you leave for a trip, so it’s very easy to let some important to-do’s slip through the cracks. Read through the below to make sure you’re ready for your next travel adventure!

• Pay off your bills before you leave or schedule automatic payments for your bills.

• Sort through your wallet and remove items you don’t need for your trip. Think extra credit cards or reward cards that only apply in your country of residence.

• Update your calendar. Be sure to check your calendar to see what commitments you have made while you are gone. Reschedule them before you leave.

• Put mail on hold. You don’t want strangers knowing that you’re away with the pile of newspapers at your door, so be sure to request to hold your mail. You also don’t want a mailbox that is overstuffed when you’re back from your holiday.

• Unplug and switch off. Remember to turn everything off, or better yet, unplug them, to conserve energy and money.

• Create an automated email response or a personalised voicemail to let people who are trying to get in touch with you know that you’re out of town.

• Clean out your fridge and garbage. Clean out perishables from the fridge so you’re not in for a nasty surprise when you get back. Take out your rubbish as well.

Habits Homeowners Need To Break

March 1, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Bad habits are so easy to fall into but in the end, we know they only make us miserable. Here are some bad habits to break now for a happier you (and a fuller bank account):

Taking Long, Steamy Showers: Spending 20 minutes in the steam may be good for your pores, but it’s also great for mould and mildew. Run the fan while you’re in the shower, squeegee the walls afterward and scrub that grout every few months.

Keeping Out The Sun: Shutting your shades on winter days might seem smart. More insulation from the chilly weather, right? Your energy bill disagrees. A sunny window can warm your home and lower your heating costs.

Compulsively Buying Bargains: Finding a deal feels so good, but cheaper isn’t always better. In fact, budget buys might cost you more in the long run. For instance, dollar paintbrushes will leave annoying streaks, requiring a costly re-do.

Running A Half-Full Dishwasher: Your dishwasher wastes water unless it’s completely full. Dishwashers do save more water than washing by hand but most machines use the same amount of water regardless of how many plates you’ve put inside, making a half-empty cycle significantly less efficient.

Going On A Remodelling Rampage: Don’t break out the sledgehammer for a demo three weeks after moving in unless your home needs serious, obvious work. Give yourself time to understand the home’s quirks before renovating.

Packratting: You know clutter is bad, but you just can’t help it. You had to put that unused exercise bike in the spare room instead of by the road as a freebie because what if? Plus, there’s so much in there already, and decluttering seems like such an insurmountable goal. If the task seems impossible, clean out a drawer or reorganize your counter, and then you feel the satisfaction of having done it. It becomes easier to do the next small thing.

Just remember that breaking habits takes time and a lot of slipups. It’s important to be kind to ourselves when we fail. When we create new habits, we’re building new wiring, but it’s not like the old

wiring disappears. Don’t turn goof-ups into give-ups.

To read the full article, go to the houselogic website (source).

Making Maintenance Easier

February 1, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

No one ever said maintenance had to be fun. But can’t it be just a little bit easier? Here are some home hacks to take a bit of the drudgery out of your to-do list:

• Tuck chalk in your toolbox to stop rust: You can keep the metal tools and hardware in your toolbox rust-free with blackboard chalk. Chalk is a moisture-sucking material that traps dampness. Place several pieces throughout your toolbox.

• Spray your mower’s blades to keep clippings from sticking: If you have a lawn, mowing is one of those must-do drudgeries. Fortunately, cooking spray can make the chore problemfree. When applied to a mower’s undercarriage and blades, it can help prevent grass clippings from sticking.

• Toss in a tennis ball to clean your pool water: Suntan lotions, moisturizers, and body oils will leave a greasy slick on pool water. To clean, toss in a fresh tennis ball. Its fuzzy surface will soak up the oils your guests left behind.

• Grab a makeup sponge to repair drywall holes: Typically mesh or paper tape is used to fill small holes in drywall. But a cosmetic sponge will get the job done, too. Just stuff it into the hole and spackle.

To read the full article, go to the houselogic website (source).

New Year’s Resolutions For Your Home

January 18, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Every year when January rolls around you vow to lose weight, save money or spend more time with family and friends. But what goals do you set for your home?

Here are some resolutions that will make your home a more beautiful, efficient and clean place:

Streamline The Stuff

One of the best and least expensive ways to feel better about your home is to clear it of clutter. This year resolve to go roomby- room periodically clearing anything that you don’t use, wear or love and donate it to charity. Stash useful (but not beautiful) items such as DVD’s, remotes and those kicked-off shoes in simple woven baskets. Clear your counters of everything you don’t use on a daily basis.

Work Out A Weekly System For Keeping Your House Clean

• Daily: Dishes go in the dishwasher every night. Dirty clothes go in the hamper and jackets or clean clothes are hung in the closet. Bring everything back to its assigned place.

• Weekly: Clean your entire house.

Shrink Your Bills The best place to start is by cutting your energy usage in your home:

• Remember to switch off the lights when you leave a room.

• Turn off your air conditioner when you leave the house.

• Try drying some of your clothes on the line and wait for the dishwasher or washing machine to be full before you run them.

Get Your Place Ready For Entertaining

To make you feel like inviting people in, why not give the areas you entertain in a little update? One easy update that makes your home seem more “finished” is the addition of plants. Lastly, take some time to rearrange your furniture so it is oriented in conversation groups and not just facing the television.

Source: HGTV website

Staying At Home This Festive Season

November 2, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Staying at home for the holidays is becoming more and more popular as people ditch the getaway in favour of a “staycation” at home.

Why can’t your home be your holiday retreat? Your home should be your sanctuary; a place to unwind and relax in over the weekend as well as during this festive break. Combining relaxation with the comforts of home has made the staycation a very attractive option – hassle-free, affordable and no jet lag or traffic!

Here are a few ideas to help you avoid stress and recharge this festive season.

Get organised

If you’re going to the supermarket around Christmas and New Year, one thing you can guarantee is it’ll be busy!

So get it all done in one hit. Write a list, check it twice, that way when you get home you can just relax and don’t have to stress about forgetting the sponges for your trifle. Stock up on those bits and pieces you’d normally have on holidays so you can still enjoy those holiday treats.

Keep it simple Don’t go too far out of your comfort zone. When it comes to cooking and decorating stick with recipes and ideas that are tried and tested, and add anything you need to get to your shopping list above to avoid additional chaos!

Get Outdoors

You don’t stay in the hotel room when you go on holidays, so don’t stay inside at home! Pools, spas, slip and slides, outdoor lounge areas, sprinklers, decks, alfresco kitchens or any patch of grass.

Get moving and go for a walk, take your dog to the park, play with your kids in the playground. We spend so long at our desks, inside or in the car it’s nice to be able to roam free outside and enjoy the fresh air and the chance to unwind in the sunshine.

Stay offline

With phones being as ‘smart’ as they are, it’s super tempting to quickly jump online and check those emails and Facebook.

Before you know it you’ve replied to work emails and are back and forth with colleagues and clients or you’ve filled up your break traveling around town to catch up with people rather than relaxing. If you want to catch up with a few people, organise a BBQ or a picnic in the park and just invite everyone!

Relax

Remember the whole point of a break is to be with family and friends and to unwind from a long year and recharge the batteries. Take the chance to relax and enjoy those things you don’t manage to find time for normally.

Source: Dale Alcock Homes website (Dale’s Blog)