Question: What do you do with the extra hour in your day when the clocks go back in the Autumn? Do you relish a lie-in without guilt, or make a concerted effort to be more productive? Me, I'm in the latter camp. I prefer to make that (sort of) extra hour count. There's no nicer feeling than getting the big shop in, doing the housework and tackling life admin, then to look at the clock to see that it's still only 2pm.

look at Leap Day pretty much the same way. You do have to wonder; why isn't Leap Day a holiday day, coming as it does once every four years? I've even got a name for it: Mayfly Day, named after the insect that only lives for one day, but pretty much parties like it's 1999 for its 24-hour life expectancy.

It's really just a thing the inventors of the Gregorian calendar did to make up for the fact that the earth doesn't take exactly 365 days to circle the sun (it's more like 364.242, supposedly).

Fine, it means one more day until the end of winter and beginning of spring. But still, a whole extra day in the calendar to make everything better! I won't be proposing marriage to anyone and I won't be at the '10th' official birthday party of a fortysomething friend. But I do intend to make the most of it.

It should be enshrined in law (or at least, culture) that Leap Day offers us a chance to do things we might not ordinarily do. You know, the things we always say we will, but never find the time for? Wouldn't that be a nice doff of the cap to our Gregorian calendar-creating forebears?

So this Saturday, I'm kicking things off by tackling what's been left on the long finger. Stuff I've idly sworn I'd do, but never get around to.

Kondo-style clearout

I've been meaning to haul books, clothes and shoes to the charity shop for as long as I can remember. Parting with your stuff is never fun, but you can't beat that feeling when you can see long-forgotten bits of the carpet again. You don't need to be a feng shui master to know that a cleaner-looking space is genuinely energising.

Open-air market

Next up, I plan to hit an open air market, like the food market that happens every Saturday in Temple Bar or the Cow's Lane market not far off. Markets hit my blind spot and I always say that it's something I will get around to.

Culture hit

The other pursuit that often becomes the first casualty of a frantically busy life is culture. How many times have you told yourself you'll visit a gallery or lunchtime theatre spot, but your plans get squeezed out by daily life? There is probably a single word in German for the feeling that you get when you walk into the National Gallery or Museum of Literature and you feel so good that you wonder why you don't do it more often. Well, I'm going to wrong that right with some free art.

Pampering

Self-care has also, alas, gone by the wayside, as it often does when you have a young family and full-time job. I won't be able to languish the afternoon away in a day spa, more's the pity, but I can try some 'micro' self-care. A hot-oil hair treatment (1 minute), a sheet mask (10 minutes), a foot scrub (five minutes) oh, and shaving my legs, which seems like a major personal indulgence since I became a mum 12 months ago.

Turn the page

I also dream of finally tackling the growing pile of unread magazines and Sunday newspaper supplements teetering on my bedside locker. There are Grazias there since August that haven't yet been opened. Fine, the trends are probably on the way out by now, but getting through this to-be-read pile seems like a goal worth tackling.

There are dozens of other things you could try on 'Mayfly' day like: making a recipe out of the cookbook you bought with great intentions in January; getting around to creating that vegan meal you said you would attempt; using the pricey bubble bath you're keeping for 'special occasions'; watching the worthy foreign film that always loses out in the Netflix toss-up between it and a frothy rom-com (don't lie, this happens all the time). Just make February 29 the day that you live your best life, if only daily life didn't get in the way. It's probably what our Gregorian forebears would want.

Irish Independent

See the rest here:
Leap of faith: How to make the most of February 29 - Independent.ie

Today, selling a home has been made easy because of the many platforms out there willing to help you through the transition. However, there are many challenges along the way, and that can see you get a poor deal based on the condition of your home. Luckily, with renovations here and there, you can quickly go on with the process without any worries about your homes value.

Without saying much, here are some simple ideas you can consider to help boost the value of your current home.

When it comes to finding a new home, the first thing that every other buyer considers is security. As a homeowner, you need to ask yourself, is the home safe to live in? With the rising cases of house break-ins, the level of home security is paramount. You must, therefore, consider everything that means security, from the door locks to alarm systems.

Today, almost every home has a door alarm system. These systems require you to key in a code to allow access to the facility. The idea is to help prevent unwanted parties from accessing your premises. CCTV system is also another thing you can consider. You can have the cameras installed both inside and outside your home to help record everything that goes around when you are in or outside your home. You can as well consider adding fire alarms to your home as they are essential. Choosing these additions may seem expensive in the first place, but they are worth the investment when you are considering appreciating the value of your home.

There is nothing that feels fantastic than stepping into a house full of fresh paint. The paint helps create a new feeling about your home. With time, the old paint in your home may have started to fade and peeled off and hence calling for some retouching. When repainting, its recommended that you go with plain and simple colors. White and cream do work magic when it comes to winning peoples attention. When considering some painting, you can choose to have a professional do the heavy lifting for you. A professional painter can help you with color matching to avoid unnecessary surprises.

When it comes to searching for a new home to live in, among the first things you ought to consider is the ventilation and drainage system. Having proper functioning systems gives you peace of mind. Therefore, you must include your current HVAC and drainage systems in your checklist. According to HVAC and plumbing experts from http://www.mytrustedcontractor.com, it would help if you brought in professionals to do the inspections for you. With the help of a pro, its much easier to point out the simple complications in your home. Things such as underground leakages, if not rectified in time, can see you lose a considerable sum of money.

Another benefit that comes with hiring professionals is that they can help you with upgrading your HVAC system. An HVAC system is an essential aspect of a given home. Currently, with the ever-growing energy bills, it would help if you swapped your old system with the modern energy-efficient systems. Todays systems are designed to operate only when needed. They are usually fitted with a thermostat and which means that they can be programmed to operate only when the temperatures hit a specific range.

Often, many homeowners invest heavily in a homes interior and forget that the exterior is also crucial. Dont be like the others, as this can see potential buyers lose interest in your home. If your space allows, having a lawn or a backyard garden is the secret to attracting potential buyers. You can add some grass and flowers around your compound to help improve on the appearance. There are many options when it comes to adding a lawn, and lawn mowing service providers can assist you to come up with an ideal setting.

Adding a garden shouldnt drill a hole in your wallet as its much more affordable to achieve. When you choose to go down this road, you must have in mind that your garden needs maintenance. Therefore, if you dont have the time to attend to it, its essential to hire the services of a professional to help with the task. With such an arrangement in place, it means that your lawn will always stand out from the crowd and attract any passerby.

What is the state of your homes floor? Do you have any broken tiles or worn out carpets? If the answer is yes, how do you feel about it? The chances are that you feel awful whenever you step on the affected areas. The same applies to any potential home buyer out there. Having a home with broken floors can turn them off quickly.

Whenever the idea to upgrade your floor comes along, dont forget the hidden areas such as the kitchen and bathrooms, as its the case with most homeowners. You can consider adding a hardwood floor as its the new trend. Although choosing the idea may seem like an expensive idea, its worth the investment as you help create a setting that every other buyer will admire.

Whether you are looking forward to selling your home or live in it for a long time, performing home improvements is a vital task. Explained in this piece are some of the necessary home improvement ideas that you can consider for your home. Some of these upgrades are easy to accomplish by yourself, while others need the help of a professional. Read through the entire piece to figure out which idea in the list you should adopt.

Read more from the original source:
Home improvement ideas that can increase the value of your home - Wales247

Edward Nowak, a junior at Rowan University in Glassboro, is pictured with Rebekah Hardy, campus minister, and Father John Rossi, pastor of Saint Bridget University Parish.

The Call to Stewardship is a periodic series profiling individuals and families throughout the Diocese of Camden who have shown an inspiring response to the call to Christian stewardship highlighted in 1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of Gods varied grace.

It was the beginning of a new school year at RowanUniversity in Glassboro. The air was still summer-hot, and the grass was highin the yard that fronts the Newman Center near the heart of the campus. EdwardNowak arrived early to see if there was something he could do to help as newcampus minister Rebekah Hardy prepared for the nights get-together, a movienight on the lawn. As Hardy tells the story, she was under a lot of stress,trying to pull together an event that would draw a crowd.

Edward, she says, jumped in to help, immediately.

Edward took charge of mowing the lawn that day, and Hardysfears that they might not be ready when the other students arrived disappeared.And, as she soon learned, that was a normal day for Edward, taking care of lotsof details that others might take for granted.

Hes always ready to jump in and help in any way thatsneeded, by planning the music for Mass, or by making dinner for the group. Hejust helps without asking, she said.

Father John Rossi, pastor of Saint Bridget UniversityParish, agrees that Edward is always ready to lend a hand. The Newman Center,which is affiliated with Saint Bridgets, is within walking distance of thechurch. There are about 15-20 students who are a regular part of Newman Centeractivities, and many more at student Masses. The church is where student Massesare celebrated on Sunday evenings at 6 p.m., and as the liturgical coordinatorand secretary for the executive board of the Newman Center, Edward plays a bigrole in lining up all of the details that need to be put in place to make theliturgy run smoothly.

You dont have to ask him, Father Rossi says. Hes alwaysready to step up and serve.

Of course, Edwards story really began way before college,in a home where faith was part of the air he and his twin brother, Nick,breathed every day. Their dad and mom, Edward and Mary, made sure that thefamily always made it to Mass, and as their parents grew in the faith, the boysfollowed suit, becoming extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist in highschool, and going with their mom to daily Mass when possible. Along the way,Edward explains, the influence of hisparents faith turned into actually seeking it out for myself.

Catholic school also had a big impact on Edward, especiallyin high school at the Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, N.J. It was therethat he learned how much an individuals success in life depends on the help ofothers. I made connections there that are lasting and deep, he says. He waswell-prepared to enter public university and find a way to make connectionswith other students who want to find God in their college experience.

For Edward, now a junior majoring in mechanical engineering,service to the Catholic community at Rowan is part of claiming the faith as myown. He lines up the lectors. Eucharistic ministers, altar servers andmusicians that serve at each Mass, and he heads up the music ministry, oftenplaying, singing and sometimes composing the music for the Mass. Currently,hes arranging an a capella Mass setting, hoping to be have it ready before theend of the school year this May.

Speaking about faith in his younger years, he says, I tookit for granted. Today, at 21, faith and connection to community are the way hebalances what might appear to be an impossible schedule.

Father Rossi explains the close connection between theparish at Saint Bridgets and the students of the Newman Center fellowship.Often after the Sunday evening Mass, parishioners will host a dinner for thestudents, a nice reminder of home-cooked meals and a way to help the studentsfeel part of the larger parish community. And on All Souls Day this pastNovember, the parish and students gathered at the local cemetery.

Father Rossi describes a moving scene, where Edward playedAmazing Grace on the bagpipes while those gathered prayed for the souls ofthe departed.

As Father Rossi sees it, faith and prayer are the catalyststo good stewardship: Prayer is key to understanding what God has given us.Hopefully, what develops is a spirit of thanksgiving.

He adds, God made each person unique, and each person hasgifts and talents. Stewardship is when a person has a prayer life and iswilling to share. Thats what Edward does.

More plans are shaping up for service this spring, as Edwardand fellow Newman Center students are working on ideas to engage in serviceprojects in the area. It will likely involve another busy itinerary for a youngman who seems to always keep moving.

But Edward says that he likes the whole idea of having agood impact on whoever you can share with. And that, he says, can happen whenpeople meet and make connections through faith.

The mission of theOffice of Stewardship is to help the disciples of Christ who live in theDiocese of Camden to live out Christian charity in a sacrificial way that wemight understand the grace that comes from giving back from our blessings sothat in all things God may be glorified. For more information, contact DeaconRussell Davis at 856-583-6102.

See the original post:
Connecting with others through service - Catholic Star Herald

Photo: Pixabay

Itll soon be time to ramp up lawn care for spring, summer and fall, so now is the perfect time to drum up more business for your lawn care company. But attracting new customers isnt always easy especially when homeowners think they can handle all their lawn maintenance chores themselves, or when theyre simply reluctant to spend their hard-earned money on their lawn.

Figuring out how to get new lawn care customers requires focusing on your business network, your reputation, your advertising campaign and your business metrics.Provide the best service you can, offer package deals to entice new customers, harness technology to see where youre going wrong and collaborate with other local business owners to generate new referrals. Soon, youll have so many customers youll need to expand to handle them all.

For small lawn care companies, reputation is everything. Like other contractors, small lawn care businesses can suffer from bad word of mouth, especially when homeowners are already inclined to distrust contractors.

Besides, good recommendations from existing customers represent the easiest and cheapest way to increase business. However, satisfied customers are much more likely than dissatisfied ones to keep quiet about their experience. They post fewer online reviews and speak less about your company to their friends unless, of course, the friends happen to ask, Hey, who does your lawn?

Boost your reputation by soliciting feedback from customers. Offer customers a simple form for comments, negative or positive. Positive comments can be shared online to boost your reputation. Negative comments and complaints can be mined for data to help you improve your business. Offer points, discounts or other bonuses to customers who refer others, and make it easy for them to do so. Prioritize great customer service and work to offer the best lawn care you can.

Fertilization, aeration, dethatching, mulching and tree trimming, rather than mowing, tend to be your money makers in the lawn care industry. The trouble is, many homeowners want a nice lawn, but not if it costs a lot. Paying to have your lawn mowed is one thing it removes a strenuous, time-consuming and often unpleasant chore from the homeowners honey-do list but many homeowners will simply fertilize their own grass, or skip fertilization and other less regular maintenance chores altogether.

Take some of the sticker shock out of lawn fertilization. Offer package discounts for homeowners who sign up for lawn fertilization, aeration and dethatching package. Youll get more customers willing to shell out for the extra service, and thatll be more money in your pocket.

How well is your business performing? Are you quoting the right price for jobs, or do you sometimes find that you under-quoted a job because its taking much longer than you thought? Are your routes organized for maximum efficiency so crews spend as little time as possible on the road between jobs? How many jobs a day do your crews perform?

Use field service software to collect data on how long it takes you to do jobs, how efficient your routes are, how many jobs youre doing a day and more. Make adjustments as needed to minimize costs and maximize revenue and profit.

If you want to bring in more money, partner up with other small contractors in your area to establish a system of referrals that can benefit everyone. Develop relationships with independently owned hardware stores, plumbers, landscapers, construction companies and other small businesses that interact with homeowners on a regular basis. Business networks can strengthen all of the small businesses in your community because they provide a forum for sharing business ideas, as well as customer referrals.

For example, lets say one of your customers has a patch of exceptionally overgrown grass on their lawn. Recommend a local plumber from your business network to check the customers leach field for leaks. Maybe that plumber will recommend you to one of his customers who needs someone to take care of his elderly mothers lawn. It doesnt cost you anything to be part of a network, but it can give you access to many more potential customers than you might otherwise come into contact with.

Social media marketing and organic search engine results are two powerful new media ways of promoting your business, but people still watch TV, read newspapers and notice billboards on the highway. Investing in organic search engine optimization (SEO) will help your business appear at the top of search results when customers search for local lawn care companies.

Social media marketing will put your advertisements and content into customers social media feeds, and its free apart from paid advertising posts. Traditional media advertising will bring your company to the awareness of older and less tech-savvy customers the exact market that may be most likely to need a lawn care company.

Bringing in new business for your lawn care company can be a challenge, but its one that you can definitely rise to. With a strong business network, a comprehensive advertising campaign, a solid grasp of your business metrics and a stellar reputation, your business can grow as fast as the lawns you care for.

EDITORS NOTE:This article was written by Jackie Carrillo. Carrillo is a content coordinator and contributor who creates quality articles for topics like technology, home life, business management, gardening and landscaping and education. She studied business management and is continually building positive relationships with other publishers and the internet community.

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Five tips on how to get more lawn care customers - Total Landscape Care

MANHATTAN Its probably a bit early to hope that the cold days of winter are in the rear view mirror, but homeowners with dreams of a lush summer lawn should already be concocting their spring work schedule.

Nows a good time to make a lawn care plan, said Ward Upham, a K-State Research and Extension specialist in horticulture. I suggest marking dates on a calendar so that important tasks are not forgotten.

A majority of Kansas homeowners grow such cool-season grasses as bluegrass and tall fescue. In the southern and western parts of the state, Bermuda, zoysia and Buffalo grass are popular warm-season grasses.

Upham, who for nearly 30 years has answered homeowners questions through the universitysHorticulture Information Center, said the months leading up to summer are crucial for setting up the home lawn for success.

Fertilizing at the correct time can help prepare our cool-season grasses for the stresses of summer, Upham said. If you fertilize too little, the turfgrass plants enter the summer in a weakened condition. If you fertilize too much, the plant responds by growing faster, which leads to mowing more often or removing too much of the leaf blade at one time.

Follow guidelines so that you fertilize at the correct time and with the correct rate, which leads to healthy plants that are better able to fight off disease and weed invasion.

K-State publishes aweekly horticulture newsletterwith tips to help home gardeners maintain healthy landscapes. The Feb. 18 issue outlines a schedule to help homeowners care for their lawns.

For cool-season grasses:

March spot treat broadleaf weeds, if necessary. Weeds should be treated on a day that is 50 degrees F or warmer. Do not water the lawn for at least 24 hours.

April Apply crabgrass preventer when redbud trees are in full bloom. The preventer needs to be watered in before it will start to work. One-quarter inch of water is enough.

May Fertilize the lawn with a slow-release fertilizer if you water your lawn, or if you normally receive enough rainfall that the lawn doesnt go drought-dormant during the summer. Spot treat broadleaf weeds with a spray or use a fertilizer that includes weed killer. Rain or irrigation within 24 hours will decrease the effectiveness of the weed killer, but fertilizer needs to be watered in. If using a product with both fertilizer and weed killer, wait 24 hours before watering.

For warm-season grasses:

Marchspot treat broadleaf weeds, if necessary. Weeds should be treated on a day that is 50 degrees F or warmer. Do not water the lawn for at least 24 hours.

April Apply crabgrass preventer when redbud trees are in full bloom. The preventer needs to be watered in before it will start to work. One-quarter inch of water is enough.

May August 15Fertilize with one pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per application. Follow the recommendations on the bag.

More applications will give a deeper green color, but will increase mowing and lead to thatch buildup with zoysia, Upham said. Bermudagrass can also have problems with thatch buildup but thatch is less likely with Bermuda than zoysia.

Upham suggested that homeowners should plan on two to four applications of fertilizer for Bermudagrass, and one to two for zoysia and Buffalograss. He offered the following guidelines to determine when to apply fertilizer:

One Application: Apply in June.

Two Applications: Apply May and July.

Three Applications: Apply May, June, and early August.

Four Applications: Apply May, June, July, and early August.

For a complete lawn care schedule stretching through November, subscribe toK-States weekly horticulture newsletter, which includes information on fruit, vegetables, trees and a variety of other landscape topics.

Interested persons also can visitK-States Horticulture Information Center online, or send email to Upham at[emailprotected].

Excerpt from:
Now's the time to prep for healthy summer lawns - Salina Post

Great Notion Brewing, the pioneer known for popularizing New England IPAs in Portland along with boundary-pushing culinary-style beers, this weekend opens its new westside location.

The Cedar Mill taproom, at 230 N.W. Lost Spring Terrace, will hold a grand opening with ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. then complimentary barbecue.

The Beaverton location features 20 taps, a limited, barbecue-focused menu, and beer to go. The location includes 2,000 indoor square feet with rollup garage doors leading to a stone beer garden.

We really like the Timberland shopping center because it doesnt have that old strip mall vibe, said Ryan OConnor, vice president of operations. The wood, stone and metal really echos our Alberta and NW 28th locations.

Great Notion, which opened in Northeast Portland in 2016 and expanded to outer industrial Northwest Portland a year ago, is planning a fourth location, which is scheduled to open this summer in Seattles Ballard neighborhood.

Parties for the release of Fanzine IPA, a collaboration between Grains of Wrath Brewing in Camas and Fort George Brewing in Astoria, will be held tonight in Vancouver and Saturday in Portland.Courtesy of Fort George Brewing

Fanzine IPA, the recent gold medal winner in the American IPA category of the Oregon Beer Awards, was released this week at Grains of Wrath in Camas, and parties are planned in Vancouver and Portland.

The collaboration between Fort George Brewery of Astoria and Grains of Wrath Brewing in Camas will be celebrated tonight at Tap Union Freehouse in downtown Vancouver, then Saturday at Roscoes in Southeast Portlands Montavilla neighborhood.

Both parties are from 5 to 8 p.m. Roscoes is at 8105 S.E. Stark St., and Tap Union is at 1300 Washington St. #200.

The makers of the West Coast IPA described it thusly: A piney bitterness backs up the heavy hop additions, with grapefruit and other citrus notes. Mild sweetness from the malt bill lingers with a taste of orange juice.

Little Beast Brewery located at 3412 SE Division St, Portland, Or., May 24, 2019. Mark Graves/StaffMark Graves/Staff

Little Beast Brewing on Saturday will release the 2019 vintage of Dream State, whose predecessor earned a spot in The Oregonian/OregonLives 2019 ranking of Portlands top 10 beers.

The maker of fruited and funky farmhouse ales will release this years version at noon at its tap house, 3412 S.E. Division St.

For the first time, the brewery will offer vertical tastings of the foeder-aged ale with strawberries, pouring 2017, 2018 and now 2019 vintages.

The collector boxes sell for $99 and include limited-edition 6x9 prints of each label and a tap-handle magnet for each character. The last of the boxes are being offered Saturday at the brewery.Courtesy of Gigantic Brewing

Gigantic Brewing on Saturday will sell the last of its limited edition Hellboy collectors boxes, featuring all six Hellboy beers.

The Hellboy series, based on the popular horror comic-book character created by artist Mike Mignola, includes:

The collector boxes sell for $99 and include limited-edition 6x9 prints of each label and a tap-handle magnet for each character. Fifty-eight of the original 666 boxes remain.

Sales of the last of the boxes will begin at noon Saturday at the Southeast Portland brewery, 5224 S.E. 26th Ave.

Tight Tacos had been a mainstay at Growlers Taproom at Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard and 32th Avenue, but it was forced to find a new home after the taproom closed. Now it's taken over the kitchen at Southeast Portland's Thirsty Monk.Courtesy of Tight Tacos

The Thirsty Monk, a Belgian-beer focused bar in Southeast Portland, will reopen this weekend after closing for three weeks to remodel and incorporate Tight Tacos, a former food truck, into the bars kitchen.

Tight Tacos had been a mainstay at Growlers Taproom at Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard and 32th Avenue, but it was forced to find a new home after the taproom closed because of a landlord dispute.

Thirsty Monk CEO Barry Bialik said the bar will shed a few more remnants of its former European soccer bar vibe and incorporate elements of the Tight Tacos branding. The brewery taproom will reopen at 11 a.m. Saturday with Thirsty Monk taps only, craft cocktails and of course, delicious tacos from Tight Tacos.

Thirsty Monk also has pubs in Asheville, North Carolina, where it was founded, and Denver, and it brews Belgian-rooted modern ales at those locations, as well. It opened in Portland in 2018 in the former home of Bazi Brasserie.

The Belmont Station bottle shop at 4500 S.E. Stark St.The Oregonian

Belmont Station, the longtime Southeast Portland beer bar and bottle shop, is Oregons sole candidate for USA Todays readers choice Top 10 Best Beer Bars annual ranking.

Readers are able to vote once a day for their favorite from a list of nominees compiled by a panel of beer experts. The bars were chosen for their stellar selection of draft and bottled beers, many with a focus on regional or Belgian selections. Pair that with a relaxed atmosphere and knowledgeable bar staff ready to help any guest become a beer junkie, and you've got a recipe for a great beer bar.

Voting ends at noon Tuesday, March 17. The top 10 will be announced Friday, March 27.

-- Andre Meunier

Subscribe to Andres text service and get ongoing alerts about beer releases and news from the Portland and Oregon beer scene. And check out Andres beer reviews on Untappd, where hes andremeunier13, and follow him on Instagram, where hes @oregonianbeerguy.

More beer coverage:

Original post:
Oregon beer this week: Beaverton Great Notion opens; Fort George/GOW, Little Beast releases - OregonLive

The Gypsy King is known for living an exuberant life and his love for luxury motors is something that all his fans are aware of. Tyson Fury has owned a range of cars starting from Ferrari to Rolls Royce to Range Rover. He has a collection of all personalized and expensive cars in his garage.

Read: Conor McGregors cars collection

Read: Khabib Nurmagoemdovs car collection

Though Tyson Fury has seen all the ups and downs in his career, his love for cars is something that remained. These were the list of cars owned by the star and we are eager to see what the Gypsy King adds to his list now.

Read the rest here:
From Rolls Royce to Ferrari: The Stylish Car Collection of Tyson Fury - Essentially Sports

Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) is now standard across both model grades in the Patrol range, and the AEB system also features pedestrian detection. In addition, the updated Patrol also gets rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and blind-spot monitoring.

Further standard equipment highlights for the entry-level model on test include: satellite navigation, electric front seats, surround-view monitor, leather seat trim and steering wheel trim.

Using the term entry level is a bit of a misnomer given the luxurious feel and build quality you get with the Patrol, but the fact remains that we have the most affordable Patrol on test in the CarAdvice garage.

So here weve tested the Ti, which starts from $75,990 before on-road costs, and you can of course step up to the Ti-L, which starts from $91,990 before on-road costs. Even though pricing for both models has crept up slightly with the facelift, its hard to argue the value-equation point given comparable competitors cost a whole lot more.

The age-old battle has always been Toyota versus Nissan in this space, and that hasnt changed despite the fact that this-generation Patrol has never had a diesel engine to take the fight toe-to-toe to Toyota. Still, price comparisons are inevitable.

Of course, theres no longer a petrol LandCruiser 200 Series; however, the diesel range starts from $80,190 for the base GX, while GXL starts from $91,890 before on-road costs. The VX starts from $102,590 before on-road costs, and the range-topping Sahara starts from $123,590 before on-road costs.

Given a Ti as tested here feels like a GXL, if not a VX, theres a fair win to the Patrol simply in dollar terms against its closest natural competitor. Youd still opt for a diesel if youre setting off on a lap around Oz or doing some remote-area touring, but for most buyers, a petrol makes just as much sense as a diesel engine.

Theres no doubt that the Patrol lost sales to the 200 Series given it lacked a diesel engine option, but its luxurious cabin and primo positioning probably cost the Patrol some credibility among off-roaders, too. Which is a shame because it remains a formidable off-road performer. It just happens to tackle off-road work in consummate luxury.

The safety updates are quite obviously crucial to buyer appeal, theres no doubt about that, but most potential buyers will first notice the new styling. The headlights are new, as is the grille, the tail-lights and the alloy wheels.

Unfortunately, Australia wont get the impressive new dual-screen infotainment system we saw in launch images from overseas, nor do we get the updated infotainment system that features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Those additions would make a good thing even better, its hard to argue that case, but the ageing system that Nissan moves on with works reliably.

The 5.6-litre petrol V8 is a powerhouse and generates 298kW at 5800rpm and 560Nm at 4000rpm, and is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. What the V8 does do is get a big hefty SUV up and moving with pretty sharp focus. The gearbox plays its part, too, with well-spaced ratios and smooth shifting capability.

The Patrol gets off the mark quicker than you expect, and the whole drive experience is a lot more rapid than you might be expecting, too. It rolls up to freeway speed with almost comical ease, such is the creamy nature of the way the V8 generates power. Its quiet and refined you know there is a V8 under the massive bonnet, but it doesnt make the usual rumble that you might be accustomed to. Find one on the net with an exhaust on it, and you might be considering fitting exactly the same thing to your Patrol. It sounds tough as nails.

The ADR fuel claim is 14.4L/100km on the combined cycle. We saw an average of 16.9L/100km during our time with the big SUV, with genuine efficiency on the freeway evening out the thirst in traffic around town. Youll see the figure drop below 10.0L/100km on a prolonged freeway run, but countering that, if youre going nowhere in traffic for long periods, it will creep up around the 20.0L/100km mark.

Now, there is an efficiency argument to be had, of course, but if you round our average up to 17.0L/100km, thats only 4.0L/100km more than our 13.0L/100km average from a 200 Series diesel not so long ago over a similar drive loop. Given the refinement of the petrol engine, the smooth nature of the power delivery and the driving dynamics, not to mention the price difference, theres a lot to like about the Patrol as a buying proposition.

Weve done plenty of off-road testing in Patrols before, and we know how capable they are, so this time we spent our week behind the wheel doing what most buyers do roll around town to and from work. The first thing you notice is the comfort.

A lot of that comfort is down to the quality and execution of the cabin. The seats are broad and positioned commandingly. The cabin itself feels huge across all three rows, especially in the second row, and theres more room back there than just about any other large SUV of any kind. If youve got teenage children, or children approaching their teenage years, this is the big SUV for a growing family.

Youll easily seat three adults across that second row, and there is ample knee and foot room, too. The roof doesnt feel too close to your head in the second row either, even if youre taller than average.

Into the third row, the seats are useful, and the only gripe is that they dont sit down completely flat when you fold them out of the way. They go close, but not quite. Most buyers who are up for some touring remove the third row and fit a specific set of drawers into that section, really adding to the flexibility of a specific battery, fridge slide or simply smarter storage, for example.

The infotainment system is ageing and feels like it needs a refresh, but it works, and works reliably. The Bluetooth connection performed faultlessly, audio streaming likewise, and the proprietary satellite navigation also worked well. The switchgear is well laid out and easy to understand, too.

On-road, everything about the Patrol is effortless. The ride is magic-carpet-like, the engine and transmission beautifully paired, and the steering well weighted. In fact, you quickly forget how big the Patrol is physically, such is the ease with which it cruises around in luxury.

Theres almost nothing in the way of wind or tyre noise entering the cabin, and while the suspension is supple enough to be luxurious, it doesnt wallow and roll the way big 4WDs can tend to do its actually quite well balanced. All in all then, it makes for a practical daily driver, even if it does use more fuel than a diesel V8 would, and even if it is bigger than other large SUVs.

The Nissan Patrol is covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, and the first six services are capped at $376, $577, $392, $860, $407 and $624 respectively with 6 month/10,000km intervals.

While it is undoubtedly a behemoth, especially in town, the Patrol remains as useful, practical and comfortable as its ever been perhaps even more so. It makes a lot of sense as a two vehicle, off-road explorer or family SUV truckster if your garage is big enough. Dont be put off by the petrol-only option either. It makes more sense financially than you might think, given the initial outlay.

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2020 Nissan Patrol Ti review | Size, Versatility and Tech - Drive

Off Feise Road in OFallon, Muirfield Manorhas three gorgeous designer market homes remaining, all scheduled for summer delivery.All are reduced between $6,000-$8,000, plus $6,000 to $8,000 in Union cash. Final prices: $420,827; $454,008; $535,304.

Wyndemere Estates is featuring $6,000 to $8,000 in Union cash on three market homes. Move-in-ready are two Ranch plans, the Sterling Display, $565,000 with savings of $35,063 and a Tuscany II, reduced by $33,041, for a final price of $420,619. To be completed in summer are a 3-bedroom ranch and a two-story, both sale-priced in the $400s.

Photo provided by McKelvey Homes

The 1.5-story Provence display is now for sale listed at $521,960 in the hot-selling Villages of Provence, representing McKelvey savings of $30,824, plus $7,000 in Union cash. $6,000 in savings is also available on two completed ranch plans, The Sterling and Tuscany II.

Brand-new just north of I-70 in St. Charles, the historic Villages at Sandfort Farm has two fabulous homes eligible for $7,000 in cash at closing. Both sale-priced in the $500s, the LaSalle ranch and 1.5-story Muirfield are under construction for summer occupancy.

Excerpt from:
McKelvey Homes welcomes March with savings on top of savings! - STLtoday.com

The 50 States Project is a yearlong series of candid conversations with interior designers we admire, state by state. Today, were chatting with Rehoboth Beach, Delawarebased Jess Weeth of Weeth Home, a firm she launched as a side project four years ago while working in the fashion business before pivoting to design full-time two years later. In addition to sharing favorite moments from two recent local projects, she tells us how her background in fashion informed her current career, shares why she partnered with a local furniture retailer to give her clients a white-glove experience, and describes her hometowns unique coastal aesthetic.

You had a career in fashion before starting your firmlets start there.I have loved design in all ways as long as I can remember, but I didnt really consider it as a career when I was looking at colleges. Instead, I went for as rigorous an academic school as I could and got a bachelor of arts, thinking I would jump into the business world in some way, and try to get as close as I could to the creative areas of business. So when the opportunity [came] to join a corporate training program and take on a buyer role at the corporate office of Abercrombie & Fitch after graduation, I was able to jump out of college and get right into a $4 billion company, which gave me so much insight into not only the design side of fashion, but also the production element.

I traveled everywhereI was in China, Korea and Turkey often, and in London and Paris for inspiration and shopping trips. I got to see the mills and fabrics and all of the production elements firsthand. I was able to have an awesome career and ended up running a pretty large team, overseeing a large side of the womens business.

Abercrombie was a brand in transition at that time, correct?Exactly. When I started, it was the heyday of a huge global company that everyone knew so well, which then became a huge challenge to overcome, because everybody had one image of Abercrombie. It was a very cool learning experience to be around all those hardworking people. You would never imagine the amount of talent on that design team. Yes, youre designing jeans and T-shirts, but the capabilities and the [sources of] inspiration are a lot bigger than that.

I was running a $350 million portion of the business with a team of 13 under me by the time I left. So [the experience of] project management, presenting to the CEO, and exposure from that standpoint cut my teeth a little bit on the business end of things.

But [the office was in Ohio], so I wasnt anywhere near home. I grew up here in the Rehoboth Beach area, and my husband and I were thinking about how to get closer to that area. We started looking in Philly and Baltimore, a two-hour drive away. He ended up getting a brand manager role at Dogfish Head, a brewery that has a pretty sizable team here, so we relocated back to Rehoboth Beach. I had never considered coming exactly back to my roots, but it was awesome. Along the way, we had renovated our historic home in Columbus, Ohio, and it sold really quickly. Then we moved here into a small ranch fixer-upper and ended up doing the same thingrenovating it completely and flipping that house. In the meantime, I started blogging about it.

In the dining room of this project, we worked really hard to strike a balance between laid-back and polished, says Weeth. I wanted it to be the kind of room where you could get out the good china but stay barefoot in jeansapproachable with a hit of coastal prep. Keyanna Bowen

Weeth paired navy grasscloth with shiplap for an elevated but still casual effect.Keyanna Bowen

Left: In the dining room of this project, we worked really hard to strike a balance between laid-back and polished, says Weeth. I wanted it to be the kind of room where you could get out the good china but stay barefoot in jeansapproachable with a hit of coastal prep. Keyanna Bowen | Right: Weeth paired navy grasscloth with shiplap for an elevated but still casual effect. Keyanna Bowen

And the blog turned into a design business?In this town, there is a huge needit wasnt long before friends and coworkers and word-of-mouth referrals started coming in and I started taking on smaller projects. I took online classes at the Interior Design Institute to learn as much as I couldI had a baby son at the time, and wasnt at a point where I could move to a city and go to design school, so I had to get a little creative in [how to] get information and hone my skills.

Had you left Abercrombie when you moved back to Delaware?I was still working remotely for the company when the design business started to grow, more quickly than I could have ever imagined. In May 2018, it got to the point that I actually went full-time into my interior design business.

The vision for this home was a light and bright open entertaining space for a fun, young couple, says Weeth. With a neutral palette at the heart of the open-concept living space, it was all about texture! Cane chairs, tufted leather, bohemian textiles, woven baskets and an abaca chandelier brought life to levels of whites and creams.Meghan J. Shupe

How did you know when it was time to do design full-time?My husband would tell you it was blatantly obvious, because I was just working around the clock. I would finish my work, do dinner with my son, and then be up and working, and the projects just kept coming. I did work remotely, but it was also starting to feel like a cheat on Abercrombies time, where occasionally, if somebody needed to schedule a 3 oclock meeting, I would go to their house quickly and then make up for [that missed work later]. It was crazy.

It just became so clear that the work was there, and I was honing my confidence and my skill set. I was able to raise my prices and start to wrap my head around the business model of design, which is complex and interesting in terms of the margins, savvy sourcing, tracking time, flat fee versus hourly, all of that stuff. It took those two years of hustling [to] feel confident that I could make the jump. Every client project that went smoothly puts that feather in your cap, where youre like, OK, I can do this, its getting easier, and Im loving it more and more because things are clicking. Now, when I source sofas, Im not looking at 2,000, Im looking at my favorite 60 that Ive already narrowed down from years of looking at and sitting in them.

The classes you took onlinewhat did you gain, and what made you realize that was an important piece of the process?I took 10 modules of interior design, so it wasnt years of schooling. I learned the history of architectural periods, some of the jargon that was making me feel uncomfortable. I knew I could style, I had an idea of what I liked spatially, and color has always been my strengthat Abercrombie, I was one of the color testers. But having that vocabulary and background [the courses provided] gave me the confidence and some good basic tools. The last thing I would want is somebody to think that I have a four-year design degree. There arent a bunch of big firms here, so interning was not an option, and I wasnt able to move to a city to attend school or work at a big firm. For me, that was my scrappy way to do it.

Woven elements continue into the kitchen.Meghan J. Shupe

What did the early projects with friends and family look like?They were furniture and styling projects. It was cool to find people looking for something different and a fresher aesthetic. Theres a lot of traditional design that I think is done really well here, and then theres a [firm] or two that does very modern design. I think I fall more in that fresh take on classic [category], that middle, breezier feel. So it was refreshing to see people that saw my home or blog or heard about me and gave me a shot. When I came with design boards and the aesthetic started to sync up, the projects started to spiral in a good way, where it was like, Oh, did you know theres somebody in our area that does this? I worked hard. My prices were super low back then. I was scrapping to gain traction, because I didnt have the internship. I didnt have a prestigious four-year degree, but I had the passion and had an aesthetic that some people were looking for.

My poor husbandI would have our guest room stocked to the brim with lamps and nightstands, little pieces of furniture. He would help me load everything. We would hang things ourselves. It was definitely down and dirty four years ago, and then one of the biggest changes came when I synced up with Mitchells Interiors, a fine furniture retailer out of Laurel, Delawaretheyre an hour away, but the owner, Derek Feist, lives in the Rehoboth area. I think its a pretty unique setup in some ways. I love a lot of the upholstery lines that they carry, and they have more of a breadth of resources for custom than I could ever want or need in terms of dining tables and beds. Plus, they do all of the receiving for me, including for [a lot of goods] from other vendors. The pricing is great and the client gets that white glove experience. We also spend a day together at High Point, where I point out new lines Im interested in and they use some of their buying power to help with that. Our partnership gives me a huge breadth of resources that I, as one individual designer, couldnt have.

An abaca chandelier is the focal point of the dining area in an open-concept space.Meghan J. Shupe

The homes master bedroom.Meghan J. Shupe

Left: An abaca chandelier is the focal point of the dining area in an open-concept space. Meghan J. Shupe | Right: The homes master bedroom. Meghan J. Shupe

How long ago did you set up that partnership?I started working with them pretty close to when I started, when the logistics were killing me. So its been over three years at this point. I feel like were on the other side with the logistics a lot more worked out, which is nice.

You opened your studio in October 2019. Where does that fit into that equation?It seems like a big jump, I know, but I had the luxury of two years of working from home for Abercrombie, and knew that I was not good at working from home. I just struggled with itI was so used to leading a really big team and being in meetings and that energy and focus. Home is home, and work is work. I was really struggling with that and wanted to have a space. Then I was getting so bogged down with the project management and logistical aspects of the job that were not paid as much, that bringing on an assistant or project manager was necessary. Even installs that dont seem that big, doing it by yourself is hard. And textiles are a huge passion of mine. I was building up this sample library that was a tool for people to understand my aesthetic and the things that get me excited. I think if it was all tucked away in our little office at home, which it was, it wouldnt be serving me as well as it could.

[The studio is] a huge investment that I had to think hard about, but because I work on so many second homes, I was meeting people in Starbucks or bringing fabric samples to dusty new-build sites. It was logistically very hard to give somebody what I thought was a high-end experience from my home. I was tired of bringing design boards to Starbucks and ready to have the presentation be a positive part of their experience rather than something that I was feeling self-conscious about.

I also think its nice for people to be able to walk in and be like, OK, so when she says shes coastal, but not too coastal, this is what she means, this is what that feels like. There have been anchors and seashells around here my whole life, and I couldnt want to be further away from that, but theres also this barefoot spirit that is why Im obsessed with living here, and why I think people move here or have second homes here. Rehoboth is super small, but it balloons [exponentially] in the summer. So its a nice way to say Im here and part of the community. We did a total gut on our building here on the main street, Rehoboth Avenue. It was a super cute boutique, but very coastal, and set up for a clothing shop. It took a couple months, and then we were able to open last October.

The bedrooms were designed to be cheery and calmingand to get you ready for a day at the beach! says Weeth. Meghan J. Shupe

Its you and your project manager. Is that your whole team?Yeah, thats my whole team as of now. My project manager joined when the studio opened. Its crazy that as of six months ago, I didnt have her. I dont know how I functioned. So thats been great.

OK, and so youre both there, and the studio is open by appointment only.Here, we have such a defined season. Its pretty much Memorial Day to Labor Day. Obviously, that extends every year, and its not like its dead year-round now. For us, it makes sense to be open full-time [during that season], when more people can walk in. We have some cash-and-carry things in here, and its been fun for people to come in and shop and see it. Im getting so much pressure and requests like, I just want to shop there all the time. Cant you make it a shop? That kind of thing. So I think come May, well extend that arm of the business and hire the extra couple of hands to be here when I have to be on-site.

You mentioned High Point earlier. Why is that so important, and where else do you go for discovery?High Point is essential for me, because of where we are. There really are no resources around hereno big design centers, no huge showrooms. It is a time for me to walk until my feet are numb and sit in everything I possibly can. Seeing something, it just clicks whether its a good fit for your clients and projects or not. I love discovering new lines and building relationships. That way, if theres an issue, theres somebody going to bat for you thats going to get it resolved.

Weeths studio. 'The focus was really on two thingscreating a living, breathing space that embodies our breezy take on classic style, and to showcase the beautiful textiles and materials we incorporate in our designs, says Weeth. I wanted clients to feel like a kid in a candy store during our concept presentations.Keyanna Bowen

How many projects are you typically working on?About a dozen at a time. Im about half-and-half right now, [in terms of] full house versus decorating. But the full house ones are on longer timelines, so in terms of all the decorating side, we have a little bit more time to pull things together. I think probably everyone loves the bigger projects, just because efficiencies pick up when youre doing bigger projects. But I dont think we will ever completely [forgo] the smaller projects. We try to impart to people that we really like to do projects to completion.

Were definitely looking to make the room feel meaningfully different and very finished when we leavenot just coming in to do the window treatments. Not that we cant use a favorite old pieceI certainly love the character and soul that that can bringbut I want to be focusing on, at the very least, the whole rooms design.

You talked about how in May, so many people are moving in. When did they approach you, and what kind of lead times did those projects come with?Thats the loaded question. The amount of project inquiries we get in January spikes, and even in the last month, too. I think once you cross the holidays and January is behind you, people start thinking about spring and summer. It would certainly be nice if people had the forethought [to think about it] back in early December.

Often theyll be like, Its March! Can you help me? Those requests havent changed, but my answers haveIve gotten stronger in my stance of being like, No. We cant start now and have a completely renovated, perfect house by May. That doesn't happen. But I will say, from working with builders around here, everybody is on that same timeline. So a lot of new builds, I dont necessarily have to set the schedule as much, because they started on the build nine months or a year ago with that date in mind. Now, am I often waiting on builders to finish up, and then it makes my life a little stressful? Sure.

A vignette near the shops entrance. Weeth focused on an array of lighting options so that the studio seems to glow from the street.Keyanna Bowen

We renovated the space completelyit was a drywall box when we started, explains Weeth. It was important to add some character and soul through reclaimed and vintage pieces. The beams came from Old Wood Delaware and the figure drawings are 1920s sketches I found on a trip to the Brimfield Antique Show over the summer.Keyanna Bowen

Left: A vignette near the shops entrance. Weeth focused on an array of lighting options so that the studio seems to glow from the street. Keyanna Bowen | Right: We renovated the space completelyit was a drywall box when we started, explains Weeth. It was important to add some character and soul through reclaimed and vintage pieces. The beams came from Old Wood Delaware and the figure drawings are 1920s sketches I found on a trip to the Brimfield Antique Show over the summer. Keyanna Bowen

What are your plans for the next few years? What do you see coming for the firm?I definitely see the shop experience, the studio experience being a big focus, just because of our location. The way weve designed it, its very well lit at night from the road. So theres been so much curiosity about it. I know that its a little unconventional to have such a focal spot thats appointment-only. So we are definitely going to make the studio experience a profitable portion of the business. [Another thing thats important to me is] curating. I dont want the pieces that you see everywhere to be here. We try to utilize our custom lines as much as possible when planning for the retail furniture items in here and some of the decorthat has been a work in progress that were excited to launch in May.

Im trying to pace ourselves a little. It would be great if this next year or two we are refining our processes and still taking on the same workload before taking on more headcount. I would certainly love to very intentionally grow this team, but I think me being as close as possible to the projects is whats right at the moment.

Whats the most inspiring thing about the business to you right now?I feel so strongly about the entire history and importance of this area, and how there really is, to me, such a vibe [in Rehoboth Beach] that hasnt necessarily been defined by a style. Theres not a West Coast or California coastal feel at all. It really isnt as specific as a Nantucket. It certainly is not a Southern vibe here, either. You have a lot of heritage components coming from Washington, D.C., and Philly, and some of that old-school tradition, but in a very laid-back way [because] people are so chill here. And theres a huge generational vibe to this town, where everybody is connected.

A lot of these homes have had iterations, and some of peoples best times are probably in these houses that are packed on top of one another on their way to the beach, and its a very inspiring thing to be a part of, especially having grown up here and seen the evolution. I love being able to bring a global lens, because I did leave and travel around the world [for my former job]. So its very cool to be able to bring, hopefully, a fresh take and style to an area that is very close to home for me.

To learn more about Jess Weeth, visit her website or find her on Instagram.

Homepage photo: Jess Weeth in her studio | Leeann Rae Pulchny

Read more here:
How this Delaware designer went from boardroom to showroom - Business of Home