Category: Misc.
Get to Know Two of Our Fine Subcontractors
John Leibley of Leibley Plumbing
John Leibley and Leibley Plumbing of Manheim have been performing Metzler’s plumbing for new home construction, additions and renovations since 2001. John and his team have many years of experience in the trade and carry a wide variety of products to meet our customers’ needs. Along with new construction and remodel work, Leibley Plumbing also specializes in plumbing service and repairs and water treatment.
John and his wife, Gretchen, live in the Manheim area with their daughter, Emily. He enjoys hunting, fishing and watching football in his spare time.
Brian Hackman of A&H Excavating
Brian Hackman, of A& H Excavating, has been performing excavating work for Metzler Home Builders for over 10 years and is a favorite of both the Metzler team and our customers. Brian’s vast knowledge and experience in residential excavating, his attention to detail, and his ability to communicate and connect with homeowners make him our “A” choice for custom home and addition projects. He also specializes in building boulder retaining walls. In his spare time, Brian enjoys attending Penn State football games.
Advent Calendars
A favorite holiday tradition is an Advent calendar.
“An Advent calendar is a special calendar used to count or celebrate the days in anticipation of Christmas. Many take the form of a large rectangular card with ‘windows’ of which there are usually 24: one for each day of December leading up to Christmas Day. The calendar windows open to reveal an image, poem, a portion of a story (such as the story of the Nativity of Jesus) or a small gift, such as a toy or a chocolate item. Some calendars are strictly religious, whereas others are secular in content.” (Source: Wikipedia)
Here are two creative Advent calendar ideas for you and your family to consider:
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Kindness Focused – A random act of kindness can be revealed each day. Some ideas include bringing a hot beverage to an outside worker, feeding a parking meter or giving food gift cards to the homeless.
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Family Fun Focused – Make the “gift” be the gift of family time. Some ideas include watching a movie, playing a game or going to a tree-lighting event in your town.
If you haven’t thought about an Advent calendar until now, don’t worry that you didn’t start it on December 1. You can begin this new family tradition at any time to countdown to Christmas Day.
Thanksgiving Hints and Safety Tips
With the start of the holiday season, many are spending more time in the kitchen. Even if you aren’t preparing the holiday feast, you are still baking desserts and side dishes to take to your holiday gatherings.
Unfortunately, the extra time in the kitchen also means an increased chance of accidents. Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind this holiday season:
- Before holiday baking gets into full swing, take time to clean your oven and stove burners so grease, spills and crumbs from past cooking don’t catch fire.
- Know where your fire extinguisher is. If you don’t have one in the kitchen, get one.
- Be mindful of your small children when working in the kitchen. They are curious, and in the blink of an eye your “helpers” can get burnt or cause you to have an accident yourself.
- Never leave cooking pots on the stove unattended. They can boil over, or your little one can reach for them when you aren’t there.
- When cooking and baking, don’t wear loose clothing that can easily catch fire.
- Keep pets out of the kitchen. They can get underfoot – hurting you and themselves.
All about the Turkey
If you need a few hints about how to prepare your Thanksgiving Turkey, here are a few resources:
Butterball Thanksgiving Pinterest Board – This board is dedicated to helping you host the picture-perfect Thanksgiving. From prepping the turkey to side dishes and desserts, this is the place to look.
Turkey Hotline – If you need guidance, call or email the Butterball Turkey Hotline. Here, you can get your questions answered by a Turkey expert.
Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids – If you need a few creative ideas to keep the kids occupied, we found this Pinterest board by artsy_momma.
Halloween Safety Tips for Around the Home
Halloween is one of the most popular U.S. holidays because both adults and kids alike can get dressed up, pretend a little bit and have fun. Here are a few tips to keep your family safe on this spook-tacular holiday
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No open flames. Most of us know to use glow-sticks or battery-operated candles in our pumpkins outside, but keep in mind that you’ll want to minimize open flame inside your home this time of year, too. Costumes, especially the arms, are often “loose” and can easily catch fire, and many of the fall decorations we have in the house – straw, dried flowers and crepe paper – are all highly flammable.
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Watch light bulb placement. Light bulbs are hot when then are on, and any of the above-mentioned decorations can also heat up and catch fire. Watch where you place your light bulbs to make sure that nothing around them can catch fire.
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Keep walkways and front doors clutter-free. You will see many trick-or-treaters, but with masks and bulky costumes, sometimes these kids aren’t the most coordinated. They fumble and bump into things while trying to get to you. Keep your walkway and front porch area clutter-free so they are less likely to hurt themselves.
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Remove tripping hazards. Kids get very excited to get to the next house to say “Trick or Treat,” and sometimes they don’t take the logical path and instead race through your yard. Make sure that garden hoses, tools, skateboards and bikes are all put away.
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Outdoor lighting. Strobe lights and other scary lights are fun. Just make sure that any electrical devices you put outside are safe for outdoor use.
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Use reflective tape. To keep your own trick-or-treaters highly visible, in addition to giving them flashlights or glow-sticks, use reflective tape on their costumes, shoes and loot bags.
9 Tips to Make Your Home More Attractive to Buyers
If you are thinking about selling your home (perhaps to build a custom home), it is important to look at it with a fresh perspective. When preparing to sell your house, the goal should be to make it as attractive to potential buyers as you can – so that your home sells quickly and for the most profit.