Today, I got to make another appearance on WWLP's awesome morning show, Mass Appeal!  Thanks to Patrick Berry and the gang at WWLP for having me on and helping to promote Beekeeping School 2021 put on by the Hampden County Beekeepers Association.  For more information on the event, please click the photo above.  To sign up, click the photo below!  

Bee School 2021 is no longer for "locals only"!  We've gone virtual and you can now take the classes online with your friends and family on the couch together or from a long distance apart!  Learn all you can this winter so you will BEE ready for your new hobby by spring!  

Our bees were busy in 2020 and they now have some new products to offer you in the new year!  

We got them to make some beautiful comb honey for the first time!  We tried something new and using the Hogg Halfcomb system did the trick!  The bees build and fill the honey comb directly in the cassettes that become the packaging so this honeycomb has never been touched by human hands!  A true delicacy!  We've appropriately labeled it "CTHC" for Connecticut Honey Comb.  

The bees also made some delicious raw amber honey, which comes crystalized this time of year.  The propolis tincture has been restocked and of all things... the bees (with some help from their graphic design team) made a new t-shirt!  

As always, hive products are available in extremely limited quantities and our bees are extremely grateful for your support! 

Bee well!  

168 Watchaug Rd
Somers, CT 06071
2 bedroom, 1 bathroom
​$174,900.00

​Small but mighty, this little ranch has it all.  Size does matter when it comes to saving on your utility bills!  The wide, open living space gets lots of natural light.  The u-shaped kitchen is well appointed with plenty of counter and cabinet space.  The master bedroom is very spacious and has sliders to the back yard.  The second bedroom is good sized and makes a great home office, studio or distance learning classroom.  The full bathroom includes laundry making this a perfect home for single level living.  Situated on a lovely, treed and fully fenced lot the property is semi-private and the views change seasonally.  There is beautiful stonework on the property plus perennials blooming throughout.  Kloter farms shed.

82 Brett Ln
Enfield, CT 06082
3 bedroom, 1 bathroom 
​$185,000.00

​This well maintained ranch is clean, light, bright and move-in ready! It has beautiful hardwood floors and neutral paint colors throughout. The Anderson windows let in lots of natural light. The master bedroom has a double closet and either of the two additional bedrooms would make a great home office or distance learning classroom. The yard is open, flat and semi-private. Convenient location close to Route 190.  Check out the virtual tour and make an in-person appointment today!

 
VIRTUAL TOUR

Congratulations to my friends at Creative Device, Inc!  They're launching a new business and needed a great flexible space to suit a wide variety of needs.  In 2020, we've all had the opportunity to explore and examine our work flow.  These guys have determined they can easily work remotely, but they do not necessarily want to work from home.  And that if they work together, they can also get a whole other job done.  I respect and appreciate their hustle!  Their new space has plenty of office space and a fantastic warehouse and checks all the boxes their new business needs!   

Meet Valeigh! If you've been reading these stories, you know how much I love a smart, young homebuyer!  Valeigh knew paying rent was a waste and decided it was time to invest in her future and purchase her first home!  Location was super important here.  Not so much the town as much as the nearby amenities.  We checked out a few condos in a few different areas.  Some of the most desirable areas only had the tiniest condos available and when we found a spacious townhouse in Bloomfield it seemed too good to be true.  It was!  There was a special assessment on the condo for siding and roofs and the fee was astronomical and went on for YEARS.  No, thank you!  But missing out on THAT one made it possible for us to find THE one.  And this Simsbury location cannot be beat!  The right thing at the right time.  Thank you, the universe!  I know Valeigh is going to love making this place her own!  Congratulations! 

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​This spacious raised ranch has room for everyone and everything! Set back from the road and situated on 1.43 lightly wooded acres with an in ground pool this home has it's own backyard oasis. Inside there are hardwood floors throughout, the kitchen has stainless appliances and tons of cabinets and counterspace, the full bathroom was updated in 2017 and all three bedrooms are good sized. Recent big ticket updates also include a new roof in 2017 and a new boiler and water heater in 2015. The finished lower level has a half bath with laundry, a walk-in storage closet and the perfect nook for a home office or distance learning space. Part of the yard is fully fenced in. Solar panels for those energy bills.

Spacious side by side two family with lots of attractive updates! Both units have updated kitchens with granite countertops and islands! Each unit has space to eat in the kitchen plus a formal dining space and both have a front-facing living rooms. Both units have a newer half bathroom on the first floor. The second floor in both units each have a full bathroom and two or three bedrooms, including a good sized master bedroom on each side. Both have laundry in-unit! There is plenty of storage in the separate basement areas and great off-street parking too. The current owner has made too many updates to count over the last few years including new boilers, new plumbing, walls, lighting, painting, etc. A great investment property in a very convenient location, close to I-91 for all your travel needs and walking distance to some shopping and restaurants! Check out the virtual tour and make an in-person appointment today!
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​VIRTUAL TOUR

It's finally yours. Your very own home. You can paint the walls whatever you like. Heck, even knock out a wall! There's no landlord to fight you. But if you're serious about developing good homeowner habits (so your home makes you richer, not poorer), you'll use this list the minute you close on your home — if not before. Easier to do now than suffer some head-slapping regrets later.

These are the very first things you should do after buying a house (for obvious reasons):
1. Change locks. Spares could be floating around anywhere.
2. Hide an extra key in a lockbox. Thieves look under flower pots.
3. Reset the key codes for garage doors, gates, etc. The former owners might've trusted half the neighborhood.
4. Test fire and carbon monoxide detectors. Who knows when the last time was. Definitely install them if there are none.
5. Check the temperature on your water heater, especially if you have young ones, so it won't accidentally scald. Manufacturers tend to set them high (but the best temperature setting for hot water is 120 degrees).
6. Make sure motion lights and other security lights have working bulbs.
7. Put a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and each additional floor.

Maintenance Planning:
Start your master maintenance plan (and good home-keeping habits) by setting reminders in your calendar to do these basic maintenance tasks:

8. Clean out the dryer hose and vent yearly. Clogged ones burn down houses. And you don't know the last time the previous homeowner did it.
9. Change your HVAC filters at least once a season. You'll save on heating and cooling — and your unit will last longer. (While you're at it, go ahead and stock up on them, too.)
10. Schedule HVAC maintenance for spring and fall.
11. Clean your fridge coils at least once a year. It'll run better and last longer. (Don't see any coils? Lucky you! Newer fridges often have coils insulated, so there's no need for annual cleaning.)
12. Drain your water heater once a year.
13. Clean your gutters at least twice a year.
14. And if all items on your inspection report were not addressed, make a plan to fix them — before they become bigger and more expensive repairs.

Emergency Preparedness:
You really really don't want to be figuring any of this out in a real emergency. Do it now. You'll sleep better and be less likely to ruin your home.

15. Locate the main water shut-off valve. Because busted pipes happen to almost every homeowner at least once. And water damage is value-busting and pricey to fix.
16. Find the circuit box, and label all circuit breakers.
17. Find the gas shut-off valve, too, if you have gas.
18. Test the sump pump if you have one. Especially before the rainy season starts.
19. List emergency contacts. You already know 911. These are the other numbers you often need in an emergency. You should have them posted where they're easy to see. In fact, here's a worksheet you can fill out and post.
20. Assemble an emergency supply kit. Some key items are:

• Flashlights and batteries
• Non-perishable food and water
• Blankets and warm clothing
• A radio, TV, or cell phone with backup batteries

​Home & Mortgage Documents:
These are in case there's a dispute with your mortgage lender or a neighbor over property lines, or if you're a bit forgetful about due dates.

21. Store copies (the originals should be in a fireproof safe or safety deposit box) of important home documents so they're readily available. Go paper, cloud, or better, yet, both.

• Lender contact information
• Property survey
• Inspection report
• Final closing documents
• Insurance documents

22. Set mortgage and other bills to auto-pay so you're never late.

Original Post from Houselogic.com

What a great mail day!  I know I'm not the only one who is ordering an-extra-lot online lately.  The little endorphin rush you get when a delivery person shows up with a package can be a great spirit boost during these strange times.  Today I was very excited to receive my copy of Tom Deady's latest book, Coleridge.  I ordered a signed copy and was super delighted to find that it was not only signed but PERSONALIZED for me!  Thanks, Tom!  

I am not only a fan of Tom's writing, but I also have the pleasure of knowing him in real life!  We bonded over our mutual love of Stephen King back in my bookshop days and have spent hours talking about all things horror in our Stephen King Book Club (I'll be back guys,  you've been warned!).  The picture below was taken during one of our Stephen King Book Club events at good old Blue Umbrella Books shortly after Tom won the Bram Stoker award for his novel, Haven.  You guys!  My author friend won THE BRAM STOKER award!  That's kind of a big deal!  It's horror's premier literary award!  

And that statue is no joke!  It's a heavy haunted house with a door that actually opens!  And he let me touch it!  Thanks, Tom!  

I'm very excited to read this new release!  And if you like to read horror, pick yourself up any of Tom's titles and enjoy!  You'll thank me when your delivery person shows up with the gift of horror you've given yourself!  

PS- Have you ever tried to take a selfie while pretending to read a book?  Don't.