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Better Judgements eZine
Terria Judge, Realtor
CRS, ABR, GRI, Broker Associate

Better Judgements is a newsletter on home matters, from Terria Judge, your Garden 
City, KS real estate agent!

Contact Terria Judge at 620-271-2129!

Terria Judge
Coldwell Banker, The Real Estate Shoppe, Inc.
John P. Judge, Broker
1135 College Dr. Suite E
Garden City, KS 67846

620-275-7421 x 223
http://terriajudge.com

tjudge@gcnet.com

Subscription Management at end of newsletter.

Thanks for your subscription to Better Judgements, the newsletter from your 
Garden City Kansas Realtor, Terria Judge.

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In this Issue
=============

1. Easy Fix Recipe: 
            Easy Lemon Meringue Pie
2. New Listings
3. Article: Cozy Nooks: Creating a Secret Outdoor Place
4. Article: Home Equity Loans

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Recipe
======

1. Easy Lemon Meringue Pie

Filling:

1/2 cup lemon juice (fresh or bottled)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 egg yolks

Mix milk and egg yolks till smooth, add lemon juice and stir till well blended 
and thickening. Pour into graham cracker crust. Set aside.

Meringue:

big pinch of cream of tartar
2 tblsp sugar
2 egg whites

Beat till stiff peaks form. Top pie, making interesting peaks in meringue. Broil 
till brown (a few seconds).

Chill at least 4 hours. No need to bake this pie or "cook" the filling, as the 
lemon cooks the filling for you. May also substitute Key Limes for a great Key 
Lime pie. This is a very old recipe and wonderful at potlucks. The best lemon 
meringue pie in the world!


New Listings
==================

1. 705 Evans -- http://terriajudge.com/705evans.html

2 Plus 2 Bedrooms 
Nursery or Office area & plumbed for 1/2 bath 
Up Bedrooms have hardwood floors 
Formal dining area 
2 Garages--detached has 220 amp service 
This home has a great view overlooking a park. Shade trees complete a fenced 
back yard. Two garages are a great feature. 

2. 514 Colony -- http://terriajudge.com/514colony.html

5 bedroom, 3 bath 
Up laundry off garage with ceramic tile 
Large Family room down 
Kitchen with nice dining area plus eating bar 
Lots of walk-in closets in bedrooms 
All brick 5 bedroom, 3 bath home with up laundry, gas fireplace and lots of 
walk-in closets in bedrooms. Very large family room down. Kitchen has nice dining 
area plus eating bar, oak cabinets and ceramic tile. 



--See all of Terria's listings at http://terriajudge.com!



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Cozy Nooks: Creating a Secret Outdoor Place
By Debbie Rodgers 

Everyone seems to love a secret -- and when the secret is a nook in your outdoor 
space, all the better. A nook is defined as a private or secluded quiet inner place. 
Any outside space, from a balcony to an acre estate can benefit from including a nook. 

Here are points to consider: 
Purpose 

It doesn't make any sense to set up a secluded garden reading bench if you never 
have the time to pick up a book. But maybe you'd like to spend 15 minutes in the 
morning over coffee with your partner, or want to have a quiet spot for conversing 
with a special friend. Or maybe your nook will be an intimate dining space for four. 
Consider what you really want to do with your outside space and then make your nook 
available for that. Otherwise, you'll end up with a space that's lovely to look at 
but seldom used. 

Mystery 

Much of the charm of a nook is the secrecy of the space. To achieve this, hide the 
furnishings at least partially from view. In a garden you might do this with a 
fence, the wall of an outbuilding or a hedge. On a porch or balcony, consider 
using fabric panels or drapes, pots and planters or a decorative screen. Lattice 
screening is especially appropriate to create a nook area on a deck. If your space 
is small, consider keeping the height of any dividers under 4 ft. That will allow 
for a feeling of privacy in the nook, yet not completely cut off the visual flow 
of the space. 

Boundaries 

Hiding the furnishings from view may also help with another design principle that 
should be applied in your nook -- defining the boundaries of that space. A nook 
is often closed in on three sides by walls, plantings, trees, arbors, fences and 
so on. 

You can also define the nook's space by changing the flooring in that area. This 
might mean a few flagstones in the grass; a different color of stain (or a painted 
faux rug) on the deck; or a scatter mat on a protected balcony or porch. Consider, 
too, the ceiling. A leafy bough overhead, a pergola or a ring of mosquito netting 
can all serve as a roof for the area. 

It's not necessary to have three walls, and a delineated floor and a roof, but at 
least some of these elements will help define the nook and create the cozy feel of
a hideaway. A well-defined point of entry also adds to the welcoming effect. 

Comfort 

What furnishings your nook will hold depends on your use for it. But whether it's 
a reading chair, a conversation bench or a small dining table, be sure the furniture 
is comfortable to use. Seating should support you properly and tables should be the 
proper height for relaxing dining. Side tables for coffee or books should be easily 
accessible. If you'll be reading in the evening, you'll want to consider lighting 
that is restful to your eyes. And have always have lots of cushions and pillows 
so you can sink into them! 

Finishing Touches 

Try to include some greenery in your nook if it isn't there naturally. It will 
add color, texture and luxury to the space. If you can, include a favorite piece 
of whimsy that personalizes your nook. Remember that, although the view looking 
into your nook is half the fun, the view looking out can add immeasurably to the 
pleasure of the time you spend there. Keep it in mind when you're situating your 
space. 

Use these principles and create a secret nook that will give unexpected delight to 
you and your guests alike. 

-----------
Debbie Rodgers, the haven maven, owns and operates Paradise Porch, and is 
dedicated to helping people create outdoor living spaces that nurture and 
enrich them. Her latest how-to guide “Attracting Butterflies to Your Home and 
Garden” is now available on her web site. Visit her at www.paradiseporch.com 
and get a free report on “Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor 
space”. Mail to debbie@paradiseporch.com 

 




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Home Equity Loans
By Levetta Rivera 

A home equity loan allows you to cash-in on the equity you have built-up in your 
home. The funds you receive can be used for debt consolidation, home improvement, 
college education, investments or any purpose. With a home equity loan your home 
is used as collateral to secure the loan. If you default on the payment you can 
lose your home so it is important to insure that you can afford to take out the 
loan before you sign on the dotted line! 

Many homeowners get a home equity loan to consolidate bills. This can be a great 
strategy if you are overburdened with high interest credit card and/or consumers 
loan debt. A home equity loan can usually be obtained at a lower rate and all or 
a portion of the interest you pay on the loan may be tax deductible. If you are 
considering a home equity loan to consolidate your debt it will be wise to cut up 
your credit cards and close out the accounts. The last thing you want is to take 
cash-out of your home and end up back where you started from because you did not 
have the discipline to stop using your credit cards! 

A home equity loan can also be a great source for obtaining cash to make home 
improvements. Next to debt consolidation, home improvements are the 2nd most widely 
used reason that consumers obtain home equity loans. Depending on what kind of home 
improvements you are making, it can increase the value of your home which may help 
to justify the added monthly payment expense you incur when you obtain a home 
equity loan. 

A home equity loan can either be in the form of a fixed-rate loan or an 
adjustable-rate line of credit. With a fixed-rate home equity loan you receive 
all of your money in one lump sum and the amount of your monthly payment is the 
same for the duration of the loan term. With an adjustable-rate home equity line 
of credit you are approved for a credit line amount in which you can draw from as 
needed. In most cases you will only pay interest on the outstanding amount and 
your interest rate is subject to change. As such your monthly payments may vary 
depending on the outstanding loan amount and interest rate in any given month. 

There are many home equity loan lenders online who will lend to people with good 
or bad credit. You may want to compare the rates and programs of several lenders 
before making your decision to increase your chance of getting the best possible 
deal. Also, consult with your tax advisor to see how much of your home equity loan 
interest will be tax deductible. 


E-mail: babyann@alltel.net
Author's URL: http://www.badcreditloanshop.com
Levetta Rivera is a successful author and publisher of the following financial 
related websites: http://www.equityloansource.com and http://www.badcreditloanshop.com 



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This newsletter is compiled and published by Mitone Cooke, http://drbusinesscards.com, 
http://funkyfranks.com