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Happy New Year 2021!

Friday, January 1, 2021
by The Hat Team

New is the Year, New are the Hopes, New is the Resolution, New are the Spirits, and New are my Warm Wishes just for YOU! 

Have a promising and fulfilling New Year! 2021

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Fireworks and Dogs: How to Help Your Pups on New Year’s Eve

Wednesday, December 30, 2020
by The Hat Team


If you have a pet that gets anxious or scared when fireworks go off, then you know how stressful New Year’s Eve can be. How can you enjoy your night when you know your sweet fur baby is terrified by the loud noises?  Here are some ways to try to help alleviate your dog’s anxiety:

  • If your dog is crate trained, New Year’s Eve is a good night to confine her to the crate. It provides a sense of security and safety. Provide a blanket or towel with your scent for extra security. Don’t try this if your dog has not been crate trained. Introducing something new when your dog is already anxious will just make things worse. Understanding, Preventing & Treating Dog Anxiety
     
  • Make sure your dog gets lots of exercise.  Take your dog for a long walk earlier in the day so that he is good and tired by the time the fireworks start. Dogs are less likely to panic if they are tired and have less energy.
     
  • Go somewhere else for the night. If you live in a neighborhood that is particularly rowdy on New Year’s Eve, you may want to take your pooch on a little respite to get away from the loud noises.
     
  • Distract your dog with a special treat or chew toy. If you haven’t spent a New Year’s Eve with your dog before and you’re not sure how he will handle the fireworks, giving treats will help him associate the loud noises with something positive. A Complete Guide to Dog-Calming Treats
     
  • Have the tv on or even better, play some soothing music. The constant noise will help muffle the sounds outside and be a distraction from the fireworks.
     
  • Have a talk with your veterinarian if you are concerned about your dog’s anxiety. If your dog gets super anxious, a vet may be able to prescribe something to help keep her calm.

Our pets are beloved family members and the last thing we want to do is celebrate when we know they are suffering.  So, be prepared for the fireworks and hopefully you can ring in the new year with a calm and happy pup!

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home, let Sandra Nickel and her Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call them today at 334-834-1500!

Photo Credit: companionpetstn.com

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Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 24, 2020
by The Hat Team

As you gather with family and friends to celebrate this year, take time to think about the origins of some of the traditions of Christmas.

  • Santa Claus – his story begins in the 4th century with St. Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra (an area in modern day Turkey). St. Nicholas was known to be a generous man especially devoted to children. Because he was so kind and benevolent, rumors began that he could perform miracles.  He became the patron saint of Russia and was known for his red cape and flowing, white beard. He has his own feast day that is celebrated on December 6…a day of gift giving and charity. The story of St. Nicholas was passed down through generations and his name transformed over time. The Dutch called him Sinterklaas. Dutch children would leave their wooden shoes by the fireplace and Sinterklaas would reward good children by placing treats in their shoes. This tradition traveled to America with Dutch colonists and here the Anglican name of Santa Claus emerged.
  • Christmas Trees – the decorating of fir trees originated in 16th century Germany where trees would be adorned with apples, roses, candies and colored paper.  The Christmas tree was brought to England by Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, from his native Germany.  The first Christmas trees in America were introduced by Pennsylvania Germans and became popular by the middle of the 19th century.
  • Mistletoe – mistletoe was used by Druid priests 200 years before the birth of Christ in their winter celebrations. They held the plant in high esteem because it had no roots, yet remained green throughout the winter season.  The ancient Celts thought that the plant had magical healing powers. It was also seen as a symbol of peace and it was said that when enemies met under mistletoe, they would lay down their weapons and embrace. Scandinavians associated the plant with Frigga, the goddess of love. This is perhaps where the custom of kissing under the mistletoe began.  It is thought that those who kiss under the mistletoe have the promise of happiness and good luck in the year to come.
  • The Christmas Wreath – The Christmas wreath is another tradition that has been around for a long time.  The first wreaths were created from fresh evergreens. Because they are green year round they were the obvious choice for winter months.  The word “wreath” is derived from an English word meaning “to twist”, such as in a circle.  Some believe that initially wreathes were hung on doors in Ancient Rome to represent victory.  The circle shape with no beginning or end represents eternity or life never ending.

While celebrating with these ancient traditions and with your own family traditions this year, may you be surrounded by peace and joy. Merry Christmas! 

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Pretty Poinsettias: Caring for Them Year ‘Round

Tuesday, December 22, 2020
by The Hat Team

The holidays wouldn’t seem complete without poinsettia plants; one of the most popular holiday flowers. While you may be familiar with the gorgeous red blooms of poinsettias, these days you can find them in an array of beautiful colors. And you may not know this, but they aren’t actually flowers. They are modified leaves called "bracts".  The inviting bracts attract insects to the tiny yellow flowers in their centers. Poinsettias need a little TLC to keep them in bloom throughout the holidays and beyond. While you might just buy new ones every year, it IS possible to get them to rebloom the next season. 13 Christmas Plants Perfect for a Magical, Indoor Holiday Garden

How to Care for a Poinsettia:

  1. Be sure to provide enough light for your poinsettia.  Place it near a window that gets a lot of sunlight.  South, east, or west-facing windows are all better than a north-facing window.  They are tropical plants and will soak in all the direct sunlight they can get.
  2. Use a loose, well-draining, peat-based potting soil.
  3. When the surface of the soil feels dry to the touch, it’s time to water your poinsettia. Water until it drains out the bottom of the pot, but do not OVER water. The plant should not sit in water. So, make sure the pot has a hole in the bottom for drainage. And if your poinsettia is in the typical foil wrapping, remove the foil so that water can drain. If your plant sits in water, the roots will rot.
  4. Poinsettias, being tropical plants, like mild temperatures.  For them to stay in bloom as long as possible, maintain a temperature of 65-75 F during the day.  Dropping the temp to about 60 F at night won’t harm them, but cold drafts, allowing the leaves to touch a cold window, and lack of decent light can result in premature leaf drop. If you live in a dry climate, you may need to water your poinsettia more often, but you should never water it every day.
  5. You will not need to fertilize your poinsettias during the blooming period. But if you plan to keep the plant all year, begin fertilizing it in spring at half-strength when there is no growth.  Feed every three to four weeks.

With the right care, your poinsettia will stay healthy and robust throughout the holiday season. They will need enough sun, warmth, and water to achieve the ideal seasonal color. 

If you wish to keep your poinsettia through more than one season and force reblooming, follow these steps. Getting a poinsettia to rebloom is not an easy process, so don't be disheartened if you don't have success your first try.

  • January – March: Continue watering poinsettia when the surface of the soil is dry.
  • April: Beginning on April 1, slowly decrease the amount you water, allowing the soil to get dry between waterings. Watch that the stem does not begin to shrivel. This is a sign of stress and indicates the plant is dying. After a couple of weeks, when the plant has acclimated to the drying process, move it to a cool spot, such as a basement or garage. You will want to keep it at a temp of about 60 F. Now is also the time to prune stems back four to six inches to promote new growth.
  • May: Around mid-May cut stems back to about four inches and repot in a slightly larger pot with new potting soil.  Water it regularly. Place the poinsettia by a window that gets lots of natural sunlight and go back to keeping it in temps between 65 F and 75 F. Water whenever the surface feels dry and watch for new growth. As soon as you see new growth, begin to fertilize every two weeks with a Complete Fertilizer. Be sure to follow the fertilizer label instructions.
  • June: Move the poinsettia outside. Make sure it is in a partially shaded location and maintain your schedule of watering and fertilizing.
  • July: Early in July, Pinch back each stem by approximately 1 inch. This will encourage a burly, well-branched plant. A poinsettia that is left unpinched will grow tall and spindly.
  • August: The stems should have branched and leafed out by mid-August.  Once again, pinch or cut the new stems, leaving three to four leaves on each one.  Bring you poinsettia back indoors and place by your brightest window again. Keep watering and fertilizing!
  • September: Continue watering and fertilizing. Be sure to keep the temperature above 65 F.
  • October: Poinsettias are Short-Day Plants, which means their bud set is affected by the length of daylight. To rebloom, they need about 10 weeks with 12 hours or less of sunlight per day. It will be necessary to artificially create these conditions and you must be diligent in doing so. Starting on October 1st, keep your plant in complete darkness between 5:00 PM and 8:00 AM.  Any exposure to light during those hours will delay blooming.  You can use a box or fabric to cover the plant and keep sunlight out.  Move your poinsettia back to its sunny window during the daytime and continue watering and fertilizing.
  • November: You can discontinue the darkness treatment around the last week of November and allow your poinsettia to remain in its sunny window.  You should start to see flower buds at this point.
  • December: Discontinue fertilizing around December 15th. Keep watering and treat your poinsettia the way you did when you first brought it home in bloom. Hopefully, if all has gone well, you will have a pretty poinsettia back in bloom for another holiday season!

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home, let Sandra Nickel and her Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call them today at 334-834-1500!

Photo Credit: diynetwork.com

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Christmas Décor on a Budget

Wednesday, December 2, 2020
by The Hat Team


It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! And if you have your house on the market, you might be packing up everything you own very soon. The last thing you want to do is unpack all your Christmas decorations only to have to pack them back up again. In addition, if you are showing your home to potential buyers, you are going to want to keep your holiday décor as simple as possible. You don’t have to be a scrooge though! You can decorate beautifully without spending a lot of money and without having to unpack all your personal treasures. Here are five inexpensive ways to decorate for Christmas:

Homemade Garland - A lot of craft stores have great sales and coupons this time of year.  Grab some greenery and then head on over to a dollar store and pick up some pretty ornaments.  You can find DIY instructions for making a festive garland on YouTube. How to Make a Fabulous Christmas Garland

Real Tree - If you have been using an artificial tree and don’t want to unpack it, this is a good time to buy a real tree. Some can be very expensive, but you can find a pretty tree for as little as $30 in some places. Consider using a smaller tree and placing it on a table top instead of on the floor. Decorate with old-fashioned strings of popcorn and cranberries. And you might be surprised at the sparkly ornaments you can find at very little cost.

Wrapped Gifts - Beautifully wrapped gifts can be used to create any aesthetic you desire. For a more formal look, wrap gifts in shiny silvers and golds. Want to go whimsical? Try wrapping paper in fun shades of red, green, pink and white. And if you’re going for a winter wonderland look, use blues and silvers.  The point is that you can use the gifts themselves to create gorgeous holiday décor.

DIY Christmas Wreaths - All you need is a hot glue gun, some inexpensive ornaments, ribbon, and a coat hanger and you can make pretty wreaths. There are lots of other ways to make them to. Check some out here: 36 Christmas Wreaths You Can DIY

Poinsettias - You can find pretty poinsettias just about anywhere this time of year. Care for them properly, and they will last the whole holiday season.  Display them in reds, pinks and whites to create a classy ambiance in your holiday home.

So, don’t let your house being on the market keep you from enjoying this festive season! Enjoy some new Christmas décor that won’t break the bank and might just get a “SOLD” sign in your front yard before the new year!

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home, let Sandra Nickel and her Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call them today at 334-834-1500!

Photo Credit: countryliving.com

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Thursday, November 26, 2020
by The Hat Team


Did you know?:

-    The first Thanksgiving was held in the autumn of 1621 and included 50 Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag Indians and lasted three days. Many historians believe that only five women were present at that first Thanksgiving, as many women settlers didn't survive that difficult first year in the U.S.

-    Thanksgiving didn't become a national holiday until over 200 years later! Sarah Josepha Hale, the woman who actually wrote the classic song “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” convinced President Lincoln in 1863 to make Thanksgiving a national holiday, after writing letters for 17 years campaigning for this to happen.

-    No turkey on the menu at the first Thanksgiving: Historians say that no turkey was served at the first Thanksgiving! What was on the menu? Deer or venison, ducks, geese, oysters, lobster, eel and fish. They probably ate pumpkins, but no pumpkin pies. They also didn't eat mashed potatoes or cranberry relish, but they probably ate cranberries. And no, Turduckens (a turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with a chicken) were nowhere to be found during that first Thanksgiving.

-    Thanksgiving was almost a fast — not a feast! The early settlers gave thanks by praying and abstaining from food, which is what they planned on doing to celebrate their first harvest, that is, until the Wampanoag Indians joined them and (lucky for us!) turned their fast into a three-day feast!

As you gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, take time to remember all that you have to be grateful for.  

Wishing you and yours a day filled with joy. Happy Thanksgiving! 

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Turkey! It’s Not Just for Thanksgiving Day!

Wednesday, November 25, 2020
by The Hat Team


Thanksgiving is just a day away, and chances are you will be feasting on turkey with your family. And chances are you might have some turkey leftover after your fabulous feast. You might find yourself wondering what to do with it all. Here are some great ideas for ways to enjoy your terrific turkey for days following Thanksgiving:

  1. The Classic Turkey Sandwich - It doesn’t have to be just turkey and bread…there are lots of ways to dress up those turkey slices to make a scrumptious sandwich.  The 15 Best Turkey Sandwiches
     
  2. Turkey Tostadas - Feeling like a fiesta to continue the holiday season? How about making some turkey tostadas? Warm up some tortillas and top them with chopped or shredded turkey, lettuce, cheese and pico de gallo. For a finishing touch add a dollop of sour cream.
     
  3. Turkey Chili with Corn & Black Beans - Continue the fiesta with a warm bowl of turkey chili. Dark meat is especially good shredded and used to create this comforting dish. Add some kidney beans, tomato, bell pepper, garlic and spices to taste and enjoy with a side of tortilla chips and salsa!
     
  4. Turkey Hash - Turkey for breakfast! Dark meat works well for a delectable turkey hash and is delicious served up with a fried egg. Sauté some shredded potatoes, a medium onion, and diced green or red bell pepper in a bit of olive oil until the vegetables are golden brown. Add a cup of shredded dark meat from your Thanksgiving turkey and season to taste. Cook until crispy and top with a fried egg and shredded cheese. YUM! Turkey Hash Recipe
     
  5. Turkey Pot Pie - If comfort food is what you desire, there is nothing better than a leftover Thanksgiving turkey pot pie! From the warm, savory filling to the crispy, flaky pie crust, this recipe is sure to delight everyone in your family. Classic Turkey Pot Pie

So, don’t let leftover turkey get you down. Just be creative, and you and your family will enjoy all different kinds of mouthwatering meals until the turkey is all gone!  Happy Thanksgiving!

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home, let Sandra Nickel and her Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call them today at 334-834-1500!

Photo Credit: tasteofhome.com

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507 Mercer Dr: Beautiful Home for Every Stage of Life!

Monday, November 16, 2020
by The Hat Team

Prattville AL Real Estate For Sale:

507 Mercer Dr, Prattville AL 36066

Beautiful Home for Every Stage of Life!

MLS#483654 | 4 Bedrooms | 4 Baths | 3,489 Square Feet | Glennbrooke

507 Mercer Dr

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BRAND NEW Morningside II J Plan on an awesome lot! Just completed, never lived in. This plan pairs expert space planning with a long list of desirables and numerous upgrades throughout, and the result is a beautiful home for nearly every phase of life. The welcoming feel starts on the covered front porch when you open the double front doors and enter into a long foyer entryway with upgraded wainscoting and leads you to a breathtaking view of the vast great room. The corner fireplace will immediately catch your eye, but the sprawling hardwoods and wall of windows will secure your admiration for this space. The kitchen's center island is a showstopper with a show-stopping built-in wine rack, bookshelves and includes many upgrades like a farmhouse sink, granite countertops, gas stovetop, pot filler and a large pantry. Off the kitchen is a flexible space showered with natural light that would make a great breakfast room, office/study or den. From the great room you can step out onto the covered patio with built-in gas fireplace perfect for watching football on chilly nights in the fall. The massive master suite occupies one side of the main level and offers a modern take on coffered ceilings and an adjoining sitting room, perfect for privacy. The flawless master bath centers around a free-standing soaking tub and offers a huge walk -in closet. The three additional bedrooms and two full bathrooms are found off of the main entryway, each with their own walk-in closet. The stairway in the foyer leads to a large bonus room and full bathroom, perfect for a 5th bedroom, media room/man cave. The mud room has built in cubbies, perfect for backpacks and jackets, and is conveniently next to the laundry room and right off of the garage. You don't have to wait, this new home is ready right now!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor Lauren Keen, Sandra Nickel Hat Team! 

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Happy Veteran's Day!

Wednesday, November 11, 2020
by The Hat Team

It happened on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. An armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as “the Great War.” Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars.

To all veterans of all branches: Thank you for your sacrifice, your bravery, and the example you set for us all. In short, thank you for your service! To all those who have served, and those who continue to serve… Happy Veterans Day!

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Its Time to "Fall Back"!

Saturday, October 31, 2020
by The Hat Team

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