Tag Archives: Chappaqua Homes for Sale

Chappaqua Homes for Sale

Homes That Might Be Trying to Tell You Something | Chappaqua NY Real Estate

Remember the Virgin Mary in the grilled cheese? Or Mother Teresa in a cinnamon bun? And wasn’t there a Cheeto that looked like Abraham Lincoln? Or was that a McNugget? Anyway, humans see faces everywhere. It’s a phenomenon called pareidolia: interpreting a random stimulus as being more significant than it really is.

Food visions aside, architecture is rife with face-like imagery. The abundant shapes and symmetry can easily form what looks like two eyes, a mouth and sometimes a nose.
The funny thing is, once you notice these faces, it’s impossible to ever look at a house the same way again. Just look at the smirk on this window’s face. Shameful!
Nooooo! Come back! You’ve left me naked and stone cold out here!
Hey, you, somebody, anybody. I’d kill for a glass of that scotch over there.
Come in, dear. Don’t you look ravishing. Let my Bette Davis eyes watch over you while you do your toilette.
Did you say you’re here to reclaim my reclaimed barn wood?
What’s happening over there? No, not another turkey, please. It’s too big. Help!

Best Vegetable Seed Companies | Chappaqua NY Homes

By the time you poke your first seeds into the ground each spring, you  already have huge hopes for the success of your crops. You’ve spent hours  planning, weeks waiting, and your soil may reflect years of hard work spent  building its fertility. With so much potential in those seeds, you want to buy  from a seed company you can trust. So how do you know which have the best seeds  and selections? And which follow sustainable practices?

To answer these questions, we asked hundreds of gardeners to take our 2011  Seed Company Survey. Our survey group was a well-seasoned bunch: About 65  percent had grown food gardens for more than 10 years. Each respondent picked  his or her three favorite vegetable seed companies and then ranked companies  based on individual qualities. Ultimately, the survey revealed 15 standout  vegetable seed companies, all of which emphasize sustainability. (Join our Gardening Advisory Group to take future surveys.)

Top 15 Sustainable Seed Companies

Our Top 15 list (toward the end of this article) is based on how often the  vegetable seed companies were ranked in gardeners’ top three. For our survey  takers, it wasn’t just about the seeds. In addition to an array of varieties  with consistently high germination rates, they wanted seed companies that  provide detailed variety descriptions, growing advice and interesting stories.  Genetic integrity was also a top priority. The gardeners we surveyed were deeply  concerned about genetically modified (GM) food crops, so we made sure all of the  companies here have signed the Safe Seed Pledge — a written commitment to sell  only non-GM seed — or made public declarations that they will not knowingly sell  GM seeds.

Many gardeners said they didn’t know there were more than 100 mail-order seed  and plant companies. You can find a national list in our Directory of Companies Offering Mail-Order Seeds and  Plants.

Superior ratings in multiple categories put Johnny’s  Selected Seeds, a company that offers heirlooms, organics and hybrids, in  the top spot. “The Johnny’s catalog is accurate and informative without the  hype, and I have never had a failed crop from their seed,” wrote a Midwestern  gardener with more than 20 years of experience. Others praised Johnny’s “cool  tools” and hard-to-find organic gardening supplies, and many said they liked  doing business with an employee-owned company.

Gardeners want to support preservation of heirloom varieties, so Seed Savers Exchange  received high marks for providing unique and nearly forgotten heirlooms. Seed  Savers, a nonprofit organization, has “wonderful heirloom seed, a beautiful  catalog and a great mission,” wrote a Mid-Atlantic gardener who puts  sustainability first. The Seed Savers catalog was rated highly for its variety  descriptions and photographs, plus customers said they liked being a part of  seed conservation. “They’re outside of the mainstream, consolidated  seed-production system, and they have a wonderful community feel to their  operation and network,” wrote an organic gardener in the Pacific Northwest.

A strong sense of purpose has earned Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds many  loyal patrons. A prominent spokesman against GM “Frankenfoods,” founder Jere  Gettle has amassed a global selection of rare and worthwhile varieties. “What’s  not to love about Baker Creek?” wrote a Mid-Atlantic gardener. “They’re making a  hugely positive impact on the world. With all the GM seed obscenities going on,  they’re helping make sure humans will be able to eat in the future!”

Passions for ethical responsibility and high-quality seeds helped put Seeds of Change, High Mowing Seeds and Fedco Seeds near the top of the list, too. Here’s what some  respondents had to say about them:

Seeds of Change: “Good combination of heirlooms, open-pollinated and quality  hybrids, all organically grown.”

“I find the agronomics information listed for each type of vegetable very  helpful, and I like their emphasis on biodiversity and sustainability.”

High Mowing Organic Seeds: “I love the personal service and wide variety of  organic selections from High Mowing.”

“The varieties they offer are excellent and suitable for organic market  farming; everything is certified organic, which makes life easier if ordering  seed for a certified organic farm.”

Fedco Seeds: “Excellent variety choice, and usually the cheapest prices. I  like supporting a co-op, and Fedco offers information on where their seeds are  from.”

Crazy for Seed Catalogs

Nearly 70 percent of gardeners said they buy most of their seeds from  mail-order vegetable seed companies. Most gardeners were quick to heap praise on  their favorite seed companies and their catalogs. Of Fedco, one gardener said, “Their catalog makes wonderful, entertaining, laugh-out-loud reading, and all of  the vintage graphics are wonderful.”

Loco for Local Seeds

Most gardeners send at least one seed order to a local or regional company,  and this practice offers certain benefits. For instance, locally grown seed is  more likely to be suited to your climate. In the upper and mid-South, Southern Exposure Seed  Exchange has a strong following. “I go here first,” said a Mid-Atlantic  gardener. “Southern Exposure provides mostly locally grown seed, heritage and  open-pollinated varieties, excellent service and decent prices.” Known for  offering unique items, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange was called “a small  company with a big heart” by a longtime organic farmer.

In the Northwest, Territorial Seeds reigned supreme as a regional seed source,  with excellent ratings for producing catalogs brimming with varietal and  cultural information. “They always have what I want in stock, so I don’t have to  wait. The variety descriptions are excellent,” wrote a gardener with a small  plot who’s just getting started. And Territorial Seed is successful nationally,  too. “Territorial has good selection across the board, dependable seeds and fair  pricing,” said a New England gardener. Additionally, Territorial is one of the  only major seed companies that publishes a winter catalog, which is of  tremendous interest to food gardeners in areas with mild winters.

Are We Having Fun Yet?

Gardeners of all skill levels enjoy trying new crops and varieties, and many  look to mail-order seed companies to add to the adventure. “Nichols  Garden Nursery always has something new and interesting, plus they continue  to carry my old favorites,” said a veteran gardener from the Southwest. A  Mid-Atlantic gardener noted, “The family warmth of Nichols shows in the care  they take with each order, and they have taken a stand against treated and GMO  seed.” A gardener from the Midwest with more than 20 years of experience summed  it up this way: “When I’m looking for old-world heirlooms or just plain fun,  Nichols Garden Nursery is my favorite.”

Those in search of undiscovered garden pleasures often find them in packets  from Renee’s  Garden, which is also a valued source for garden-worthy annual flowers. “The  Renee’s Garden catalog introduced me to favorite new crops, including ‘Trombetta’ squash and ‘Garden Babies’ lettuce,” said an experienced gardener  from the Southwest. A Midwestern gardener with 20 years of experience praised  Renee’s “combo packs” that include three varieties of lettuce, squash, tomato or  pepper.

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/print.aspx?id={56DCD921-5138-45DE-8FC5-E13DAADFF64F}#ixzz2nMheJ3Y6

Tech-Happy Design in the Hollywood Hills Asks $7.825M | Chappaqua NY Homes

Location: Hollywood Hills, Calif. Price: $7,825,000 The Skinny: Here’s a sleek Hollywood Hills house that is definitely not for the technophobic: with self-closing kitchen cabinets, an automated Neorest toilet in the master bathroom, and a sound system that’s controlled via a Smarthome system, this place might very well be among the first to throw off the shackles of human domination when the A.I. singularity occurs. Until that unhappy moment arrives, though, the Jay Vanos design provides everything an early-20th-century free-range human could want in modern luxury. Inside there are Miele appliances in the kitchen (including a built-in coffee system and wine refrigerator) and heated bathroom floors; outside there’s an infinity pool with a swim-up bar and spa, all with panoramic city views. The 5,200-square-foot home has three bedrooms and four bathrooms (one full, three partial) that are served by an elevator which, hopefully, is not powered by a semi-autonomous computer chip nurturing a murderous rage toward the people who make it go up and down all day, every day. The listing is asking $7.825M, regardless of whether Skynet is about to awaken or not.

Art Dealer’s Mott Schmidt Georgian Manor Asks $9.8M | Chappaqua Real Estate

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Location: Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. Price: $9,800,000 The Skinny: Built in 1929 for New York banker William S. Lambie, this Georgian manor was designed by architect-to-the-moneyed Mott Schmidt, whose work came into vogue when the tastes of the rich swung from Gilded Age opulence to something (relatively) more restrained. Despite its lack of garish flourishes, with eight bedrooms and 10 bathrooms spread out over 13,242 square feet the property still manages to announce the original owner’s wealth very effectively. Located on a 16-acre wooded lot not far from the Hudson River, it’s adjacent to the Sleepy Hollow Country Club, and actually sits on the road that inspired Washington Irving’s tale of the headless horseman. Schmidt, whose client list reads like a list of Who’s Who in early 20th-century New York, also designed homes in the town and country for the Vanderbilts, the Rockefellers, and the Astors. This home is currently owned by the art dealer Warren Adelson and asking $9.8M, a slight drop from the original $10.9M it asked was listed earlier this year.

· 842 Sleepy Hollow Road [Zillow] · 842 Sleepy Hollow Road [Coldwell Banker]

Bundle up for these chilly accommodations and bars around the world | Chappaqua Homes

Entrance under northern lights, ICEHOTEL, Jukkasjarvi, Sweden (© ARCTIC IMAGES/Alamy)
ICEHOTEL, Jukkasjarvi, Sweden
Sweden’s ICEHOTEL is the world’s largest hotel made of ice and snow. Each year, thousands of visitors descend upon the small village of Lapland — 125 miles from the Arctic Circle — to experience the unique accommodations from December to April. The hotel is the perfect place to view the northern lights while on a dogsled ride.

Top 20 Most Shared Video Ads of 2013 | Chappaqua Realtor

The Top 20 Most Shared Video Ads of 2013

As we near the end of 2013 the stats are rolling in regarding the videos we  have watched, loved and shared over the past year. Unruly has  just announced the most socially shared video ads of this year, that’s branded  content that was shared by engaged fans across Facebook, Twitter and the  blogosphere, and in many cases continues to be posted and tweeted and written  about. Dove, GEICO, Kmart, GoPro and Evian all made the chart of the most shared  video commercials of this year with the Jean-Claude Van Damme Volvo ad claiming  the #10 spot with 1.82 million shares only 8 days after its release. Let’s take  a look at the results.

The Top 20 Most Shared Video Ads Of The Year

Topping the chart is the ground breaking ad campaign by Dove that aimed to  prove that women are their own worst enemies when it comes to perceptions of  female beauty. Since its release in April, it has attracted 4.24 million  shares along with 58,797,435 views. It’s also the most viewed  video ad of all time

 

 

Source:  The Top 20 Most Shared Video Ads of 2013 http://www.reelseo.com/top-20-most-shared-video-ads-2013/#ixzz2lJ8WaeYM

30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Plummet 16 Basis Points | Chappaqua Real Estate

Mortgage rates for 30-year fixed mortgages fell this week, with the current rate borrowers were quoted on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace at 4.06 percent, down from 4.22 percent at this same time last week.

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate steadily declined last week, leveling off near 4.12 percent over the weekend before falling to the current rate this morning.

“Mortgage rates during the past week have fallen back to lower levels, helped by Federal Reserve vice chair Janet Yellen’s assurances before the Senate Banking Committee that Federal Reserve stimulus won’t be removed too quickly. This trend halves the increases of the prior two weeks,” said Stan Humphries, chief economist at Zillow. “Looking ahead, rates will be influenced by the Federal Reserve’s meeting minutes, scheduled for late Wednesday, as observers try to read the tea leaves to assess the likelihood of a December taper.”

Additionally, the 15-year fixed mortgage rate this morning was 3.05 percent, and for 5/1 ARMs, the rate was 2.69 percent.

 

 

 

http://homes.yahoo.com/news/30-fixed-mortgage-rates-plummet-16-basis-points-192253906.html