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Your 2020 Fall Activity Guide is Here!

September 18, 2020 by dbabcock Leave a Comment

Get ready for sweater weather, football games, and of course, Pumpkin Spice Lattes…because fall officially kicks off next Tuesday, September 22nd! While we are unable to participate in many of the planned indoor events and activities due to Covid, there are still plenty of outdoor recreational activities and “social-distance” approved events that pay tribute to this beautiful season.

In need of some inspiration? Check out this month’s newsletter for some fun and festive ways to celebrate the fall season in and around the Sacramento area.

The time is ripe for a perfect fall outing! Pay a visit to one of these Apple picking locations. Before planning your visit, please review the safety measures that these Apple Hill Growers are taking to keep both visitors and workers safe.

Denver Dan’s Apple Patch

Goodness Orchard

Goyette’s North Canyon Ranch

24 Carrot Farm

While you’re in the area, you might want to check out one (or more) of Apple Hill’s “must visit” locations:

Johnny Appleseed Day: Celebrate Johnny Appleseed Day with special events and activities on Sunday, September 20th at these participating locations.

High Hill Ranch: This popular location has a wide array of activities including a crafts fair, fishing, pumpkin patch, wine tasting, an apple bar, bake shop and much more!

Rainbow Orchards: This location is home to world famous hot apple cider donuts! Check out some of their other delicious desserts and pies here and their special events here.

North Canyon Cider Co: As their name suggests, this location is known for its award-winning hard cider! They are open weekends now through mid-November.

Fudge Factory Farm: Any chocolate lovers out there? Choose from an impressive selection of handmade fudge, and 15+ types of candy coated apples, homemade jams, fresh baked pies and more! Want to skip the line? Pre-order here.

Ponderosa Ridge Bed and Breakfast: Wanna get away? Wake up to beautiful views and three acres of apples that only guests can pick!

Go wine tasting “with a view” at one or more of the below vineyards where you can enjoy live music and delicious wine and food pairings. Please note that reservations are highly encouraged during this time. Be sure to check each website to reserve your table ahead of time.

Rancho Roble Vineyards

Scribner Bend Vineyards

Rucksack Cellars

Wise Villa Winery

Starfield Vineyards

Wofford Acres Vineyards

Boeger Winery

Cante Ao Vinho

Savor the fall season by supporting some of our local restaurants in the Sacramento area and beyond! Whether you are looking for a beautiful outdoor setting or fall-inspired dishes, these restaurants (categorized by cuisine type) won’t disappoint!

Italian Cuisine: 

Paseanos

Waterboy

Piatti

Il Forno Classico

Obo’ Italian Table & Bar

Vaiano Trattoria

Visconti’s Ristorante

French Cuisine/Wine Bars:

Revolution Wines

The Rind

Whired Wine

La Provence

Brasserie Capitale

Danielle’s Creperie

Mexican/Spanish Cuisine:

Tapa the World

Zocalo

Cantina Alley

Mas Taco Bar

Mesa Mercado

Centro Cocina

Alaro Craft Brewery

American/California-Inspired Cuisine:

Wildwood

Delta King – Pilothouse Restaurant

Paragary’s

Bennett’s Kitchen

Sienna

Milestone

Hook & Ladder

Farmhaus

Asian-Inspired Cuisine:

Kru

Mikunis

Miyagi Sushi

Shangri La

Fats

PF Changs

If you are not comfortable dining in at this time, you can still support our local restaurants and businesses by placing an order to go or by using a delivery app including Postmates and DoorDash.

What better way to enjoy the fall weather than with an outdoor picnic? Below are some of my favorite fall picnic spots in Sacramento:

Ancil Hoffman Park

McKinley Park

William Land Regional Park

Natomas Rose Garden

Curtis Park

Jensen Botanical Gardens

Folsom Lake State Recreation Area

Filed Under: Sacramento Lifestyle

Is It Time for a Laundry Room Makeover?

July 12, 2019 by dbabcock Leave a Comment

Basements are out of sight and out of mind a lot of times. It’s easy to let the space get away from you.  There’s not enough light, little organization and a whole lot of monsters hiding in the deep, dark corners.  We let our basement get the best of us. So, we decided to partner with The Home Depot to take back our neglected space and turn it into a place that we enjoyed spending time in with a laundry room renovation.

We had water damage from old gutters and an overall bad habit of piling stuff in corners that had to be addressed.  (Check out how we fixed the water damage and prepped the space prior to the update) When our decades old washing machine started to smell like it was burning, we knew it was time for a change. We wanted to go with something with high efficiency and high capacity since we just increased to a family of four.

Our old laundry set up did not have a single surface to fold laundry on.  We addressed it a few ways.  First, we added a butcher block workbench top by Edsal over the top of our new washer and dryer.  It’s a perfect fit,  durable and gives us a designated folding space that would combat the all too common “lost a sock between the washer & dryer” epidemic.  Plus we added these great teal Macklin metal baskets to capture the rest.

Next we brought in two Gladiator workbenches and the Gladiator free standing garage cabinet (with wheel kit) in white. The hardwood top and the white metal legs flowed perfectly with our lighter colored theme. Most importantly, it would hold up to the water we’d inevitably get in the basement.

Lastly, to make our lives a little easier, we picked up two of these bottomless Seville canvas laundry hampers. Now we can shuttle our laundry from washer to dryer without losing a sock or two along the way!

Click here for full article

Filed Under: Home Improvement

Our Spring Cleanup was a Success!

July 12, 2019 by dbabcock Leave a Comment

We had a great time this past weekend cleaning up the parkway at the Sunrise Recreation Area with the help of over 100 volunteers! It was the perfect opportunity to spend the day outside in the sunshine for a great cause.

Wondering how you can help keep our parkways clean? The American Parkway Foundation will have more volunteer opportunities throughout the remainder of the year. Stay tuned for our next cleanup opportunity!

  

Filed Under: Charity

Tips on Redecorating with a Budget

June 1, 2013 by idxcentral Leave a Comment

Lindsey Patterson helps all of us homeowners with tips on redecorating on a budget.

Most homeowners have a desire to decorate in a manner that suits personal tastes while also being visually appealing. All those home magazines make it look so easy, but can also come with steep prices. When you are limited to a budget that’s somewhat smaller, you can still achieve the look you desire without breaking the bank.

Reuse

Before you start buying new furniture, bedding, and fixtures that will quickly eat through your budget, start by taking an inventory of what you already have. Think about ways that things can be reused. Simple furniture pieces can be painted or even just have the hardware changed out that will change the way a piece looks.

Many types of furniture can serve a different purpose. An unused dining table can become a desk. That old sofa table can be used as a mobile bar if wheels are added. Even a broken dresser can be salvaged and transformed.

Simple Appearances

Bigger is not always better. Sometimes a few simple changes can make a big impact, with minimal expense. Updating paint colors or just adding an accent wall is one way. You can also change out throw rugs and light fixtures. A small thing, like changing lamp shades or the glass covers on your ceiling fans or overhead lighting, can have a big visual impact as well.

Add covers to pillows and duvets to bedspreads. But what is a duvet? Think of the duvet like a pillowcase for bedspreads. You can put an existing bedspread inside the duvet and create an entirely different look. Duvets and pillow covers can be purchased in a variety of patterns and colors, but you could also make your own if you want something more custom.

Thrifty Shopping

If you still plan to make some purchases, consider used pieces. Second-hand or thrift stores are often great places to buy décor items without spending a fortune. Wholesale, liquidation, and salvage places can also help save some money. Remember to consider possible alternate uses for items as well.

Keep your eyes open for things that people are trying to sell, too. Visit yard sales and flea markets. You can find a wide variety of items that people are selling for low prices. Swap meets are also good places to locate what you might need, while giving you the opportunity to get rid of something that no longer suits your tastes or needs.

Artwork

An alternative to pricey reprints, or even more expensive originals, is to create your own artwork to display. Try your skill at painting or decoupage. Frame your child’s latest art piece. You can even find free artwork to print and use at home. Spruce up some old wooden frames. Things like foiling and sponging can help you turn drab frames into decorative displays.

One at a Time

The most important thing to remember is to take it one step at a time. Try not to redecorate every room at the same time. You may need to divide your budget into chunks for each room that you want to redecorate. If you go room by room, you may find that you have some money left over that can be used for other rooms. By going one room at a time, you can avoid getting overwhelmed because you have taken on too much at once.

There are numerous options for redecorating on a budget, regardless of how small that budget might be. In your redecorating efforts, you can make huge changes just as easily as you can make small ones, both impacting the final result of a room. In the end, your home can be a display of the things you enjoy in an atmosphere that best suits you.

Click here for the full article

Filed Under: Home Improvement Tagged With: Images Left

Diane Babcock

Diane Babcock

California REALTOR®
916-768-7600
Contact Diane

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Testimonial

“I bought my first house from Diane and her late husband Tim in 1990. They were fantastic helping a newly divorced, single woman find the perfect place. Over the next several years, I bought and sold three houses, all with very little stress and all expertly managed. Diane has an extensive network to help with home repairs, yard work, financing assistance and personally has a great eye for staging. I have recommended her to friends who have also experienced unconditional service and success whether buyer or selling. A true real estate professional.

~ Kim Hess“

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Diane Babcock

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