Rose Cottage Ltd

While out walking yesterday, noticed these three daffodils almost ready to open. Knowing there was a day of rain coming today, I decided to bring them in last night and this morning – here they are!

Just a hair over 3 weeks until the first day of Spring – we can do this!

Early shoppers save 10% right now from Exterior Accents. Here are a few suggestions for products to make your outdoor living more enjoyable. Products for work and products for rest…

Special savings right now – FREE shipping on any order over $249!

Cedar Potting Bench with Soil Box

This western red cedar potting bench features a tilt-out soil box for easy access to your potting soil and sturdy shelves to hold your gardening supplies and tools. Functional and long-lasting, this bench will give you years of service!

Size: 50″H x 42″W x 24″D. 60 lbs.
Some assembly required.

46″ HD All-Weather Outdoor LCD TV

This Sunbrite TV is designed for safe operation in a permanent outdoor environment and all electrical cords are rated for outdoor use. The corrosion resistant powder coated aluminum exterior and watertight enclosure protects internal components from rain, dirt, insects and scratches. The baffled and filtered dual fan airflow system keeps the unit cool and dry in all environments.

Resolution 1920×1080, Standard VESA 75/100 mounting hole pattern.

Includes water-resistant remote control RSR232 Serial Control Discreet IR Control Concealed IR Window inside watertight cable door Detachable speakers TV Format 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i Aspect Ratio 16.9 LCD Screen 46″Diag, HDMI input x2 Extra Bright 46″ LCD Screen.

Full HD Dimensions: 44.72″W x 27.16″H(30.47″ H with speakers) x 6.85″D

Venturi Flame Table Top Gel Firepit (Apollo)

Light up the night and add warmth to your outdoor space with one of these beautiful fire pits.

The Venturi Flame Technology uses a proprietary turbo disc combined with a tempered glass cylinder to create the “spinning” flame. This product comes with one can of Venturi Flame Gel. This gel is clean-burning and can burn effectively for 3 hours emitting 9,0000 BTUs. The Apollo is a table-top fire pit that runs off gel fuel and can be burned indoors or outside. Portable. Operates on clean-burning Gel Fuel – Includes 1 can of Venturi Gel Fuel.

Size: Height 16.5″H x 10″W x 10″D

Nearing the end of February and only 24 days until Spring – but February weather sure can make for some drab-looking mornings.

At least there is just drizzle and it’s a bit too warm to make it ice. Good luck today to all those who are in the snow-belt of this week-ending storm.

And when it gets dark in the country – it gets really dark!

Time to start planning your “attack” on problem or drab areas of your garden for 2013.

50% off sale on many trees, shrubs, and roses ends Thursday…

+ Buy Fruit Trees Online

+ Fountain Grass

+ Hidcote Lavender

+ Great prices on wildflower seeds

+ Order Live Plants

Looking for Freesias? Don’t wait too long to order. These bulbs go “out of stock” very quickly. Here’s why!

I was reading an article online a day or two ago and I suddenly wondered what it is that makes a real estate property “luxury” versus “non-luxury.”

This is one of the few valuations regarding real estate when “location” is not the prime factor.

According to Wikipedia:

Luxury real estate is often defined as real property that has an appraised value of over $1 million in the United States, yet this varies greatly depending on the location. The classification also takes into account the presence of surrounding homes, amenities, views, waterfronts, absence of crime-rate, industrialization or unwanted commercialization, customizations of the home, and historical or architectural significance.

You can quickly see where location can become a problem when trying to define luxury real estate. One million dollars US might buy a very posh property in rural Kentucky or New Mexico – where the same dollars would not get you much in Manhattan or London. So what ARE the contributing factors?

++ Style and Size
Chances are your potential luxury property is larger than other homes in close proximity or, all homes in the area are larger than the average of those in the state or local market. Your cost per square foot is no doubt higher to much higher than average market homes. This is one of the first calculations I look at when doing property research. How much was spent per square foot to build the home? The land the property sits on is also a significant factor. Is it a small or large parcel? Acreage may be important in some areas when location with less of a footprint is acceptable elsewhere.

++ National/International Audience
I don’t think you’ll see any “doublewides” advertised via Christie’s Great Estates! You’ll also notice that Christie’s is a “International” real estate portal. Many luxury buyers have successful international businesses or travel extensively. They have money to spend and may decide that purchasing a home overseas is more cost-effective than constant hotel stays. Even in the US, many of the luxury real estate market purchasers are East and West Coast business executives and corporations. Owning a million-dollar condo in New York, and a multimillion dollar spread in Southern California would not be unusual.

++ Unique Legal and Finance Issues
Each country of the world has its own real estate laws and requirements. In some countries you must pay cash for your purchase. If you are wealthy enough, a blind trust may be used for real estate purchases. Imagine you are a international celebrity… I doubt you’ll just call a local realtor and start touring properties on your own! Many exclusive home buyers will have a full-time buyer agent on staff who does ALL property negotiations for them. Multi-country real estate, legal, and financial professionals may be involved in the purchase.

So if you aren’t doing research today on YOUR piece of luxury real estate, console yourself by remembering all the things you won’t have to worry about and remember, it never costs you to have a look!

A REAL “bear hug”!

Not big on the holiday itself, but do want to share this image of a heart-shaped leaf my sister found on the beach…

Check my prior post for some heart-shaped products for your garden.

Check out the all new items for spring 2013 from Sierra Trading Post!

Maybe this Infinity Orbit 245 Recreational Inflatable Kayak is in your near future?

++ Presidents’ Day Sale – 15-30% Off Thousands of items at Sierra Trading Post. Valid through February 18th.

++ Take an extra 25% off $125 or 30% off $200 at Sierra Trading Post. Valid through 3/6/13. Use code ALFEB3 at checkout.

++ $2.95 shipping with our Visa Rewards Card!

I’m not real big on Valentine’s Day, but here are a few last-minute gift ideas – just for gardeners! Free shipping in the Continental US on many items!

Starting off with one of my personal favorites from Garden-fountains.com…SAVE 15% Off This Item Today Only!

Enter Promo Code 15PERCENT at Checkout

March 17 is Saint Patrick’s Day. Whether you are Irish or not, it’s a fun holiday and well-celebrated in the United States.

Here are a few gift items for the Irish (or the Irish-for-a-day.) Surprise someone this year and help them celebrate their Irish heritage! All gift items shown here – under $20…

Shamrock All Butter Shortbread

These shamrock shaped cookies have an old fashioned melt-in-your-mouth taste.

8 cookies.

Jameson Irish Whiskey Fudge

These delectable candies blend two favorite flavors! Box contains approximately 20 individually wrapped pieces.

From Ireland.

BUY TWO OR MORE FOR $7.99 EACH!

Irish Whiskey Barbecue Sauce

Made with real Irish whiskey, this dark and thick barbecue sauce is also delicious as a dip.

Product of Donegal, Ireland.

Size: 16 oz.

Barbecue sauce and Irish whiskey…sounds like quite the combination!

Irish sayings on wall plaques, Irish jewelry, Guinness apparel for men, women and children, and hundreds of other Irish gift ideas…

Visit Shop Irish!