DECEMBER 2021
Real Estate Guide to Pontotoc County & the surrounding area
Mossy Oak Properties, Pontotoc Ridge Realty, Ltd. PAGE 2 & 5
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 3 5 7
Mossy Oak Properties Patty Turk Properties, LLC
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Mossy Oak Properties How to care for winter birds that visit your yard
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First Choice Insurance
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Dennis Cox, Tommy Morgan, Inc.
Pickens Pest Control Conti Realty Holiday hosting in small spaces Crye-Leike Realtors, Beth Walker How to reduce risk of home fires this holiday season
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Southern Hills Realty & Appraisal, Inc. First Choice Bank
Advertising Consultant: Angie Quarles • Designer: Chelsea Williams Pontotoc Progress • 13 Jefferson Street • P.O. Box 210 • Pontotoc, MS 38863 • 662-489-3511
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HOW TO CARE FOR WINTER BIRDS THAT
T
Visit Your Yard
he pristine, white backdrop of a snowy winter day can be a wonder to behold. While fresh snow on the ground can make for awe-inspiring landscapes, the absence of greenery amid the starkness of winter poses challenges for animals that do not ride out winter in a state of hibernation. Several bird species stay in colder climates over the winter. Red-winged crossbills, snow buntings, bohemian waxwings, evening grosbeaks, and cardinals are just some of the birds one may find while gazing outside on a chilly winter’s day. Birding
in the winter can be a rewarding hobby because, despite the chilly conditions, birds tend to be easy to find in bare trees. Furthermore, the colder temperatures may keep many people inside, meaning neighborhoods, trails and parks can be very quiet, making it easier for those who brave the cold to see birds. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds indicates that winter is a difficult time of year for birds due to the weather and the scarcity of food. Furthermore, birds must consume a lot of food in a short amount of time to have the energy and body warmth to survive each day. Even
birds that store food in caches or have developed special scavenging strategies to find as much food as possible can benefit from a little wintertime help. Penn State Extension suggests providing a variety of foods to attract the greatest number of species. Small, black-oil sunflower seeds are preferred by many smaller species of bird and have a high oil content that is nutritionally important for birds. Other sunflower seeds will be appropriate for blue jays and cardinals. Some other popular foods include white proso millet, thistle seed, niger seed, and peanuts. Consult a wild bird store,
which likely sells a birdseed mix that enables you to place a variety of seed into one feeder. In addition to seed, suet, which is made from high-quality animal fat, is crucial for birds in the winter. Families can get crafty by spreading peanut butter onto pine cones and sprinkling seed on top. Hang the pine cones tied to pieces of string from tree branches for homemade feeders. Birds likely need a little help surviving the winter, when conditions can be bleak. Offering food and observing backyard visitors can be a great way to unwind on winter afternoons.
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Holiday Hosting
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IN SMALL SPACES
atherings of family and friends are a big part of the holiday season. Hosting such gatherings can be a great way to show loved ones how much you appreciate them, and hosting also saves hosts the trouble of traveling during one of the most hectic travel seasons of the year. When hosting a large crowd at home, space can be a difficult hurdle to clear. However, a few helpful strategies can help spacestarved hosts pull off a holiday soiree where everyone is comfortable. Holiday hosting can be fun, even in small spaces. A few simple tricks can make even the smallest spaces accommodating.
Tricks for holiday hosting in small spaces PARE DOWN THE MENU
Holiday feasts don’t have to resemble medieval banquets with excessive amounts of food and drink. Hosts with small kitchens and tiny dining quarters can pare down the menu, limiting offerings to just a single entree and a few simple side dishes, so everyone feels comfortable at the table and has ample room to eat. A small menu also gives hosts more time to spend with their loved ones during the festivities.
Don’t overdo it on drinks, either
When planning the drinks menu, avoid offering cocktails, which take time to prepare and often require guests to visit the kitchen for refrigerated ingredients. Limit drinks to wine, beer, water, and soft drinks, storing cold beverages in a cooler kept outside on a front or back porch or in an area outside the kitchen so cooks can work without interruption.
Move some furniture
If your main living space is small, consider moving some bulky furniture into a bedroom or office where guests won’t be spending time. Then make better use of the open living space by placing folding chairs or other accommodations to ensure there’s ample seating for everyone. A single recliner can only be enjoyed by one person, but removing it from a room may create enough space for as many as three folding chairs.
Go small on decorations
If you know you’ll be hosting in advance of the holiday season, decorate with guests in mind. That might mean skipping a six-foot Christmas tree in favor of one that takes up less space. Avoid leaving any fragile decorations out, as adults or overexcited kids may knock them over as they try to navigate a cramped space.
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HOW TO REDUCE RISK OF HOME FIRES THIS
S
Holiday Season
afety might not be the first thing people think of as the holiday season approaches. Faith, celebrations, decorations, and holiday dinners all come to mind when considering the holiday season. But that doesn’t mean safety should be left out of holiday planning. Fire safety bears special consideration during the holiday season, when the prevalence of fire hazards like Christmas trees, holiday lighting displays and other decorative items increase the risk for home fires. Such tragedies can be averted with a few simple safety measures. Fire safety measures are an important component of the holiday season that can prevent this joyous time of year from turning tragic.
Simple safety tips to reduce the risk of home fires TEND TO YOUR TREE
Live Christmas trees are awe-inspiring, but they also pose a significant fire risk. The National Fire Protection Association urges celebrants to purchase only healthy trees with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched. Such trees are less likely to dry out, especially when well-watered throughout the season. Dry trees can catch fire more easily than healthy trees if embers from nearby fireplaces or candles drift in their direction.
TURN OFF ALL LIGHTS AND EXTINGUISH ALL LIT DECORATIVE ITEMS WHEN LEAVING THE HOME OR GOING TO BED
Lit candles and menorahs should never be left unattended. The NFPA recommends turning tree lights and exterior decorative lights off when leaving the home or going to bed.
UTILIZE A FIRE SCREEN ON FIREPLACES
Embers can catch on trees, decorations or anything else that’s flammable if they escape the fireplace. Fire screens prevent that from happening by ensuring embers from burning logs stay in the fireplace. Like candles and menorahs, fires burning in a fireplace
should never be left unattended. Make sure all embers have been extinguished before leaving the home or going to bed.
RECOGNIZE THAT LOCATION MATTERS WHEN DECORATING
The NFPA notes that Christmas trees should always be placed at least three feet away from any heat source, including fireplaces, space heaters, heat vents, candles, and even overhead lights. If decorating with candles, never place them on the tree or on tables where other flammable decorations have already been placed. Chanukah menorahs should never be placed near curtains or other decorations.
KEEP DISCARDED TREES AWAY FROM YOUR HOME
A 2014 analysis from the NFPA found that none of the ten days with the largest share of Christmas tree fires were before Christmas. Dried out trees still pose a fire risk even after they’ve been removed from a home. When discarding a tree at the end of the holiday season, place it at the curb or keep it a safe distance away from your home and garage until you can.
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