Century 21 Farm & Forest's Derby Agent Tara Lewis recently invested in a multi-family home and quickly learned that a little elbow grease goes a long way.  When she saw that one of her kitchen's linoleum flooring was covering beautiful hardwood, she quickly went to work and what a difference it made!  

If you are thinking of putting your home on the market, or simply want to spruce your place up a bit, there are many simple do-it-yourself home projects that add value to your home.   Here are some practical tips from U.S. News and World Report.   Only have an hour or so?  Check out Bob Vila's 60 minute home improvement projects that deliver big results.  Not sure where to start? Take a look at Love Property's presentation of "before" and "after" shots and get inspired!  

Maintaining a balance between work and home has become even more challenging now that home has also become  an office and classroom for many, including Burke Managing Broker Brandy Goulet. Fortunately, there’s a plethora of learning opportunities available online, where you can find virtual field trips, science experiments for kids of every age, live storytelling events, art and craft classes, plus so much more.

Montshire at Home, from Montshire Museum of Science, includes downloadable activities, science projects you can do at home, community challenges and online exploration of science concepts. Vermont State Parks’ 2020 Venture Vermont Outdoor Challenge will help get everyone outside and provides an opportunity to get free entry into state parks. Seacoast Science Center in Rye, NH, offers a variety of experiments and activities you can do at home, such as a Nature Scavenger Hunt and Build a Boat Challenge. FieldTripDirectory.com has a compilation of virtual field trips from museums, national parks, aquariums and other venues around the country. 

Wondering how other parents are doing at homeschooling? HuffPost gives peek at some of the struggles with this humorous collection of Tweets from parents thrust into homeschooling. 

Office v. Home Office

(by Tamara Pare)

I truly love my job and the people I work with.  They are my second family and we care about each other and our families.  While weekly video office meetings do allow us to "see" each other, after however-many weeks now, I MISS EVERYONE!!!   The BEST part of working from HOME is that I now have a beautiful VIEW outside my window rather than the office hallway.  That, and constant companions - my dog Jade; and, my hubby Ric, of course!

I'm still managing virtual files and working on advertising to keep our agents and great variety of properties out in the public eye.  Our agents are doing all they can from home.  These days, we are ALL grateful for the internet, FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter, and so on.  Technology makes it easier to work from home while still sharing the wonderful listings we have.  

In between checking emails, updating online files and working on ads, I have opportunities to take Jade for a walk by the lake, capture some pictures of the beauty that is the Northeast Kingdom, make goodies like banana oatmeal bread, try new recipes for dinner, call to check on my parents, and assist my husband on projects.  All this time at home also makes it easier to connect with our grandsons (and their parents) in New Hampshire and our daughter and son-in-law in California.  We know where everyone is at all times!!  FaceTime, Zoom and Google Hangouts have also allowed Ric and I to visit with family and attend Sunday services and study groups with our church family, who we miss greatly. 

Who knows when we will get back to "normal" or some sort of that idea, but when we do, I hope hugs are allowed.  I am a hugger and so miss hugging my grand-babies, family and friends.  I really miss my weekly Friday lunch date with my cousin - our girl-time to talk, encourage, dream, share and eat out at a restaurant (LOL). 

There are so many people who need encouragement and a friendly word during these strange days.  Let us all reach out in some way.  By the grace of God we will endure and grow from this isolation and reconnection with our quarantine partners.  We'll get through this and one day have some great stories to tell.....Remember that Spring we were all at home for weeks on end?  I'm now reminded of the favorite words of our departed friend and coworker, Micheline....."et la vie continue" (life goes on).  It does and it will.

'Till then, stay home, stay safe and behave!

Miss ya......Tamara

How We Survived the Quarantine!

(by Lee Fitzgerald-Pierce)

Well, as the Rental Property Manager for Century 21 Farm & Forest, the hustle and bustle of the rental world communicating with people from all over the country on a daily basis has certainly slowed down a bit.  I continue to respond to all rental leads from both owners and potential tenants.  I also check in on all current tenants to see how they are doing and keep the landlords updated.

I do get ready for work every day and head to my "home office", a bit crowded as it served as a guest bedroom (but who's having any guests?!) and the storage shelves for all my yarn, the yarn of many colors just waiting to be crafted into a special project.  I am also surrounded by lots of family photos in all sorts of frames reminding me of lots of fun family times - - looking forward to those times again.  And, thanks to Zoom, we have been able to stay in touch with all the family both here in the US and in the UK.

My down-time now exists of doing the things I love to do:  COOKING - at this point I either need a bigger fridge or a larger family living with me.  I've also been doing a lot more READING and recently finished, "The Splendid and the Vile," a look at Winston Churchill's first year as Prime Minister of Britain.  I'm WORKING IN THE YARD with Ron, trying to get rid of "stuff that just seems to accumulate," and KNITTING in the evening while Ron tunes into his daily dose of CNN!

I'm saddened by all the chaos that this crisis has unfolded onto so many families and businesses and pray that they may come out of all this in some good way.

Take care and be safe,

Lee

In the tight-knit community of Brighton, Vermont, brokers Emma Gunn and Brandy Goulet are very involved with the town’s recreation department. While many of the organization’s classes and events have been cancelled due to Covid-19, Brighton Recreation is encouraging everyone to keep moving while adhering to Governor Scott’s Stay Safe, Safe Home order. For Brighton Recreation’s Active April Challenge, all you have to do is log 30 minutes of movement every day. The Brighton Rec Facebook page provides inspiration, as well as links to a variety of workouts. So, put on your yoga pants (be honest, you've been wearing them instead of "real pants" for weeks) and try a yoga video, have the kids join you for a bike ride, grab some weights and work those biceps, or simply take the dog for a walk. 

Click here for helpful information from VPR regarding what you can do to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

https://www.vpr.org/post/vermont-officials-wear-masks-public-continue-social-distancing#stream/0

Get back to nature with our Deal of the Week! Located within the East Hill Wildlife Area in Wolcott, Vermont, this 322-acre parcel offers three access points and is in Current Use. There’s a small pond as well as approximately 2,000 feet of frontage on the Lamoille River and 3,000 feet of frontage on multiple brooks. Great area for hunting and exploring. Listed at $299,000. Click here for more details, then contact Rachel Riendeau in the Burke office to see this property.

180-degree mountain views from this 127+-acre equestrian estate in Lyndon, VT - it's our Deal of the Week!  This well-appointed four bedroom, three bath (two full; one 3/4) brick Cape has hardwood floors throughout most of the main level.  Chef's kitchen with cherry cabinets, granite counters, and high-end stainless appliances including a commercial-grade Dynasty gas range, and granite counters.  Formal living/dining plus a great room with cathedral ceilings.  Master suite has private bath with whirlpool tub and glass enclosed shower, dressing room and large walk-in closet.  Outside you will find a 4-stall horse barn with overhead storage, paddock, and a 2-stall garage with over-sized doors.  Enjoy a game of tennis on your private court, then relax on the covered paver patio.  Simply a beautiful property.  Offered at $699,000.  Click here for more information and call Connie Isabelle for a private showing.