I'M MELLLLLLLLLLLLTTTTINNNG!

Oh my gosh....The wicked witch of the west would never have survived the water in Houston recently!! I hope you are high and dry after the torrential downpour last night.

This is a huge reminder that in Houston, even if you are not plotted into the flood plain, flood insurance is worth the money!! If you aren't in a flood plain, your flood insurance will be at a fairly minimal cost to you, and could save you tens of thousands of dollars if you do get flooded out.

When you are at the epicenter of a flood like last night, in which 12 inches of rain are dropped in a matter of hours, no drainage system is going to be able to accommodate that kind of abuse.

Please visit with your insurance agent...and let them guide you in this decision.

BRING HOME THE BUTTERFLIES

Nothing adds to the beauty of a flowering garden more than butterflies fluttering about on a warm summer day. If attracting butterflies to your garden is what you'd like to achieve, there are a few things you can do to accomplish this. Butterflies have a very keen sense of smell and can smell flowers many miles away. If the right flowers are planted in your garden, then butterflies are going to flock to it. Not only does smell attract them but colors do as well. They tend to like purple, yellow, pink and white flowers.
To attract butterflies, you will need to keep a few things in mind. Butterflies need sunshine to keep warm, and most of the flowers that attract them need sunshine, too. Make sure when you select a location for the garden that it's in a sunny area. Adding rocks and bricks for the butterflies to bask in the sun will keep the butterflies close to your yard.
When selecting your plants, choose a variety of plants so that there are always flowers blooming at all times during the summer. If you plant all of the same type flower and they bloom and die, the butterflies will leave. Here are some of the plants that attract butterflies the most
Daylily
Iris
Lavender
Milkweed
Petunia
Phlox
Asters
Butterfly bush
Heliotrope
Cosmos
Clover
Zinnia
Different breeds of butterflies will be attracted to different flowers so keeping a variety of flowers will also bring in a variety of butterflies. Butterflies need nectar to live so keeping a constant supply available will keep the butterflies in your garden all summer. They will also need water so place a plate with water on it so the butterflies can get a drink when they need it. Keep in mind that the types of flowers you select will depend on whether the butterflies begin to lay eggs and then reproduce in your garden. Watching a caterpillar transform into a butterfly is one of the most fascinating things to witness. If you have children, this can be an educational experience you can share with them.
The biggest problem people encounter when trying to attract butterflies is that some gardeners will use pesticides to control garden pests. If you're trying to attract butterflies you can't use any pesticides at all. The poison will kill the butterflies off as well as the other insects. Weed killers will also harm butterflies so avoid using them as well.
For those that live in an apartment and don't have access to a yard, you can make a window box and plant flowers for the butterflies. Because of their sharp sense of smell, the butterflies will find the flowers you plant in there even if you live higher than the first floor. Just make sure you place the window box in a sunny area, and make sure it's secured. I've known people who have had window/flower boxes on their balconies that attract butterflies as high up as the 10th floor. For an altitude like that you need to put up something as a wind shield because the butterflies wings are fragile and high winds will damage their wings.

Original painting by Beez

REMODELING HELPS

10 THINGS EVERY REMODELING CONTRACT SHOULD INCLUDE:

The contract is a critical step in any remodeling project; it holds the job together and ensures that all parties agree to the same vision and scope. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (http://www.nari.org/) spells out the key elements that every remodeling contract should have:

1. The contractor's name, address, phone number and license number.

2. Details on what the contractor will and will not do.

3. A list of materials for the project in your contract. This includes information about the size, color, model, brand name and product.

4. The approximate start date and completion date.

5. All required plans. Study them carefully for accuracy. Insist that you approve them and that they are identified in your written contract before any work begins.

6. Written notice of your right to, without penalty, cancel a contract within three business days of signing it.

7. Financial terms, spelled out in a way that you understand. This includes the total price, payment schedule, and any cancellation penalty.

8. A binding arbitration clause, which you'll need in the event a disagreement occurs. Arbitration may enable you to resolve disputes without costly litigation.

9. Everything you've requested. Consider the scope of the project and make sure all items you've requested are included. If you do not see a specific item in the contract, consider it not included. Never sign an incomplete contract.

10. A warranty covering materials and workmanship for a minimum of one year. The warranty must be identified as either "full" or "limited". The name and address of the party who will honor the warranty (contractor, distributor or manufacturer) must be identified. Make sure the time period for the warranty is specified.

HAPPY EASTER

Happy Easter!

What a glorious day of celebration today is! Alleluia!

I hope today brings renewal in your life....and a time spent with family and friends.

BUZZING ON THE POSITIVE SIDE!

With so many negatives swirling around these days, I wanted to share a positive "buzz" that appeared in my "Houston Realtor" magazine this week.


Since January 2009, Houston has received the following accolades:


1. Site Selection Magazine named Houston the "Top Metro Market" for corporate location and expansion activity.

2. Builder magazine called Houston the healthiest housing market in the nation.

3. Business Week named Katy as the second fastest growing residential community in the U.S.

4. BusinessWeek.com listed Friendswood as the most affordable suburb in Texas in 2009.

5. The Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate ranked Houston as the 8th best investment market in the world.

6. The Allied Van Lines' 41st Annual Magnet States Report named Texas as the No. 1 destination state for residential relocations for the fourth year in a row.

7. Forbes ranked Houston as the 6th strongest housing market in the country.


If you are in Houston, be thankful. We are in better shape than most city economies in this Nation.

WELCOME TO HOUSTON!! YOU WILL LOVE IT HERE!

Houston is a dynamic, culturally diverse city that amazes visitors and natives alike with its ever-changing and infinite variety of attractions. Houston is an easy place to call home. Houston was ranked the #1 Best City to live by Kiplinger's Personal Finance. As the fourth-largest city in the United States, Houston has been also called "America's booming opportunity city" by The American Magazine. Houston has one of the best and most affordable Real Estate markets, strong job growth and a broad-based and growing economy. The oil and gas industry, the strong health care job base and international trade, along with the can-do business atmosphere, position Houston as a leader.

Original Painting by Beez