The Little Christmas Cabin - Julie Shoffner

The Little Christmas Cabin


I have always considered myself a creative soul so it’s not surprising that most of my favorite holiday memories revolve around the act of making something either with someone or for someone. Whether I’m preparing a meal, baking cookies or making ornaments I have always enjoyed creating something unique and special for the people I love. Now that I am a parent I especially enjoy making things with my seven year old son. Aside from the usual cookies and candies we make, we have a special project that we work on every year for my husband. Many years ago my husband’s grandfather crafted a small log cabin that he placed under the family Christmas tree. When my husband was a little boy his mother started adding some additional details to the little Christmas cabin. A light was added on the inside as well as some little chairs and a tiny table. She even added a tiny flower painting on the wall. My mother-in-law has since passed on and my husband has inherited the little Christmas cabin. Now every year my son and I add a little something to it to make it more like a cozy little home. One year we added a Christmas tree inside. Last year we added a reindeer and some bears outside. This year my son added six little Christmas carolers. If you look close enough at the photo below you can see two tiny carolers singing by the tree. Maybe next year there will be a turkey dinner on the table too.

Another project my son and I do each year once the weather is below freezing is to make Ice Lanterns. A easy way to make your home look warm and cozy on a cold winter night. This is espcially pretty when there is snow on the ground or when you are hosting a holiday party.

How to Make An Ice Lantern:

You will need a large bucket, a plastic container smaller than the bucket (a coffee can works well), duct tape and a tea light or flamless candle.

1-fill the bucket 3/4 full of water. (if you want to get fancy you can add a bit of food coloring to the water)

2-place the smaller container inside the bucker of water but don't let it fill up with water.

3-place some rocks inside the smaller container to weigh it down so it sits about half way down into the water in the bucket but not all the way to the bottom.

4-place a strip of duct tape across the top of the large bucket so it holds down the smaller container in the water. Set aside until frozen solid.

5-run warm water over the outside of the large bucket to remove the ice from the bucket. Run some warm water inside the small container to loosen and remove it. This leaves an indentation in the lantern into which you can place the candle.

You can make several of these to line your front stairs, sidewalk or driveway!

Have a wonderful Holiday.

Julie Shoffner

Spring Property Maintenance Tips

Spring thunderstorm season is already here, but it’s not too late to prepare.  Each year, properties are damaged by thousands of thunderstorms, with the most sever occurring storms during the spring and fall.  These storms can produce damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes. 

You may have noticed increases in insurance costs on your home coverage recently.  Over the past few years, increased storm activities have accounted for these increased costs.  Insurance carriers pay out millions in property losses every year resulting in higher costs for insureds.

Falling trees and limbs cause millions of dollars in damage alone each year by damaging homes and cars and downing power lines.  Windstorms are the leading cause of such damage and injury.

Homeowners represent the first line of defense but often times, neglect taking their surroundings into consideration when trying to protect or prepare their property from storms.  It is important to regularly examine trees and check for damage or other troubling signs.  Good pruning can prevent many problems, but over pruning can weaken a tree.

Some potential problems are easy to spot.  These include:

•                 Cracks in the trunk or major limbs
•                 Hollow and decayed trees
•                 Branches hanging over the house near the roof
•                 Trees that look one-sided or lean significantly
•                 Limbs in contact with power lines
•                 Mushrooms growing from the bark, indicating decayed or weakened stem
•                 V-shaped forks rather than U-shaped ones.  V-shaped are more likely to split
•                 Crossing branches that rub or interfere with one another

Good pruning can help to prevent many problems. Remove diseased, damaged or dead plant parts helps to limit the spread of harmful insects and disease as well as reduce the possibility of future storm damage.  Always check local tree regulations prior to pruning.

If it is time for a new roof, replace your old roof coverage with new asphalt shingles making sure they have a Class 4 rating under Underwriters Laboratories’ (UL) 2218 standard.  A class 4 rating tells you a sample of the product did not crack when hit twice in the same area by a two-inch steel ball. 

What does this mean?  This means added protection when Hailstorms hit.

When a hailstorm strikes, if you are indoors, stay there.  Because large pieces of hail can shatter windows, close your drapes, blinds or window shades to prevent the wind from blowing broken glass inside.  Stay away from skylights and doors.

If you are outside, move immediately to a place of shelter.

Be sure to check the exterior of your home for loose siding, gutters and roof shingles.  Be sure to repair to avoid additional damage in the future.  It is always recommended to have a contractor review and make the necessary repairs to be sure they are properly corrected.

For additional repair and safety information, review the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety at www.disastersafety.org.