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Put your writing skills into action and tell us why you love living at WoodsEdge! There are some pretty great prizes being raffled so be sure to submit your entry. For more information, visit us on Facebook!

Decorating Your Apartment: Part One

Decorating doesn’t have to be as scary as you think. Begin by selecting the style that best suites you and work your way from there. Use this guide to help you with all of your decorating endeavors. We've listed Part One here and will be sharing Part Two with you shortly ... stay tuned!

Contemporary

Contemporary is really a fancy name for a combination of many popular decorating styles. Most contemporary looks consist of clean, sleek lines, simple accents, and neutral colors with a few bold accents. Most apartments that feature this style have an open, spacious layout so that it is easier to blend each area of the home together. You may choose to use ultra dark wood or very light wood depending on the feel you are going for. You want your home to feel clean, airy, and simple yet sophisticated when you are finished with your design. Try finding furniture with a neutral color scheme and accessorize with accents of color. This way you can change your design as often as you wish without breaking the bank. Always take the “less is more” approach with contemporary design.

Cottage

If feeling cozy, comfortable and relaxed in your home then cottage design may be for you. This design style allows you to really express your personality and allows your guests to feel warm and welcomed in your home. You may want to consider drawing inspiration from the beach, country fields, or other parts of the natural landscape that surrounds you. Cottage design is often inspired by nature due to the fact that nature has many calming, relaxing sceneries to offer. Colors that are often used in cottage style design include soft blues, greens, yellows and whites. If you want your home to be cohesive yet stylish while still having a “lived in” look then cottage design should suite you well.

Traditional

While trends come and go, traditional design always remains the most popular style for homes across America. Traditional design is influenced by English and French design and usually exudes elegance, warmth and classical elements. Homes in the 18^th and 19^th century began using this style to help determine social classes within the household. Don’t let that fool you though, traditional design may look expensive, but can be pulled off for a lot less than you would think.

Check out our Facebook page for more tips on apartment design, organization and more!

Some tips for creating a beautiful – and low-maintenance – garden!

This is the perfect time of year to add some color to your flower garden. We have some good suggestions for a beautiful and easy to maintain garden.

Start simple. Annual flowers are a good place to start. Choose flowers that are easy to grow and do not require a lot of fuss. We recommend annuals such as marigolds, dusty miller and salvia as a good starter plants. Marigolds have a sunny bloom that ranges from dark orange to light yellow. Marigolds produce blooms throughout the spring and summer and they really show off in late summer and early fall. Dusty Miller is a tough plant that has velvety silver-white foliage. The leaves have a lacy look when mature. Dusty Miller makes a good filler plant and will last late into the season. Salvia comes in a variety of colors. Locally the most popular colors are bright red and dark purple. These flowers have tall blooms that add a punch of color. All of the above-recommended plants are hardy and drought resistant.

Work some perennials into your garden. Perennials are plants that come back year after year. We recommend trying Sedum, Coneflowers or Coreopsis. Sedums grow in a nice tight, round shape. They have light green to silvery foliage, and come in a variety of colors. Our favorite is “Autumn Joy”, which produces big, beautiful coppery flowers in early fall. Coneflowers will add height to your garden. They have tall stems with large daisy shaped blooms and a cone shaped center. Traditional coneflowers come in light pink, yellow and white. However, you can also find them in flashy colors such as raspberry, marmalade and hot papaya. Coreopsis is an easy perennial to grow. They are short, dense and come in a variety of colors such as yellow, orange, white and pink. These plants begin to bloom in late spring and continue into late summer. One plant produces a mass of small colorful blooms. With most perennials you will want to prune back the plants in late fall.

Try some bulbs in your garden. One of our favorite signs that spring has arrived is seeing the early bulb flowers that sprout up. We recommend Alliums, Daffodils and Narcissus. Alliums come in pink, pink-purple, white and yellow. They have plentiful, tiny blooms that work great as borders and around larger late blooming bulbs. Daffodils are a favorite of many. These pretty blooms come in a range of shapes and colors. You may want to plant bulbs in large groups for a beautiful focal point in your flower garden. Daffodils can also be clipped and brought into your house for a cheerful addition to your dining room table. Narcissus’ remind us a lot of daffodils but the flowers are slightly smaller and fragrant. These plants thrive in a sunny location and last quite awhile. Narcissus can be found in cream, yellow, white and peach.

All of the above suggested plants are, for the most part, deer resistant. Be sure to add mulch to your flower garden as it helps maintain moisture during dry times. Check your flowerbeds regularly for weeds. They are easier to pull before roots have a chance to get established. If you do not have room for a large flower garden, pick up some flowerpots and fill them with your favorite flowers. They can liven up your patio. Take time to enjoy your garden. Gardening can help reduce stress and is a good way to get some exercise and fresh air.

Check Out Our Local Museums!

We are lucky to have so many great museums located in our own back yard. A visit to your favorite is the perfect way to spend a rainy April day. Here are some suggestions for local museums that are worth seeing.

1. Corning Museum of Glass, Corning NY – Even if you have been to the Corning Museum of Glass it is definitely worth another visit. With new and changing exhibits, galleries, and live glass blowing demonstrations each visit brings new discovery. You will want to visit their website for directions, pricing and a museum map to help you plan your tour. Their website is www.cmog.org.

2. The Rockwell Museum of Western Art, Corning NY – The Rockwell Museum of Western Art focuses of American Western and Native American Art. The museum renews exhibits several times per year. Through this fall the museum is featuring two must see exhibits; Andy Warhol: Cowboys and Indians and Face to Face: Portraits and the American West. Visit their website at www.rockwellmuseum.org for more information.

3. The National Soaring Museum, Elmira NY – The National Soaring Museum is an aviation museum featuring motor-less flight. While visiting the museum you will see many gliders on display, you can also try out a computerized flight simulator, and participate in their educational programs. While there, don’t forget to buy a gift certificate for a sailplane ride through Harris Hill Soaring Corporation. Visit their website at www.soaringmuseum.org.

4. Museum of the Earth, Ithaca NY – Visiting The Museum of the Earth is a great way to teach your family about the history of our planet, the life it sustains, and how different life was millions of years ago. Permanent exhibits include fossils and bones, the impact of humans on Earths climate and the geological history of Central NY. They do have temporary exhibitions that change every few months. Their current featured exhibit is called Maize: Mysteries of an Ancient Grain. To help plan your trip visit their website at www.museumoftheearth.org.

5. The Science Center, Ithaca NY- The Science Center is a wonderful way to get your children involved in science. They have many educational interactive exhibits that teach children the basics of science ranging from understanding measurements to hydraulics, air currents, music and sound, oceans and much more. On a sunny day your children can enjoy the outdoor Emerson Science Park. To see a complete list of what they have to offer, visit their website at www.sciencenter.org.

Whether it is science, art or history there is always something new to explore and learn about. We hope you enjoy our suggestions.

Something Sweet to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!

We have the perfect dessert to follow that corned beef and cabbage you will be serving on St. Patrick’s Day. The following is a fun and inexpensive recipe for traditional potato candy.

Irish Potato Candy

Ingredients
1 large potato
Pinch of salt
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 to 5 cups confectioners' sugar
5 cups sweetened coconut flakes

Instructions
First, peel the potato and boil it in water until soft. In a mixing bowl, mash the potato with the salt and butter. Let it cool completely. Mix in the vanilla extract and 4 cups of sugar. The mixture should be stiff. If it isn't, add more sugar. *

Sprinkle half of the coconut onto a waxed-paper-covered surface and turn the potato mixture onto it. Roll the batter until all of the coconut has been mixed in. Shape teaspoonfuls into small balls.

Roll the balls individually in the remaining coconut. Chill the finished candies until you're ready to serve them. Makes about four dozen.

* For a splash of color add a few drops of green food coloring into the mixture before you add the coconut.

Have a Safe and Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

Amy Donnelly

Family-Friendly Snow Fun!

We can’t help but notice all the snow outside. It’s everywhere! For those who love this time of year, here are some fun family friendly things you can do on those crisp sunny days.

• Make a snowman. They are fun and easy to create. All you need is an old hat and scarf.

• Build an igloo. Pull out your beach bucket and shovel…they’re great for snow too.

• Try downhill skiing. We recommend Greek Peak in Cortland, NY or Swain Resort in Swain, NY.

• Take the family ice-skating. The Nasser Civic Center in Corning offers ice-skating, lessons and hockey, too.

• Enjoy cross-country skiing. There are many trails located throughout the Fingerlakes Region. We recommend the Fingerlakes National Forest with its thirty miles of connecting trails.

• Don’t forget the old favorite – sledding! Tanglewood Nature Center in Elmira does not have an official sledding area, however they do have a good steep hill that locals use for sledding. Be prepared for a long walk back up the hill!! (Please note this hill may not be suitable for small children.)

Get out and enjoy the fresh air. Remember to bundle up. Pack a thermos of hot cocoa for the family and most of all have fun!

Check out the Rockwell Museum of Western Art

Now that the hustle and bustle of the holidays are over, things tend to quiet down in our hometown area. Now is a great time to get out and visit some of our local attractions.

One of the local spots that we recommend is the Rockwell Museum of Western Art. This museum specializes in American Western and Native American Art. The museum is open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. They are now offering free admission on Sundays through April 2011. For more information please call (607)937-5386 or visit their website a http://www.rockwellmuseum.org.

Amy Donnelly

Resident Manager
WoodsEdge Apartments