Dan and Rachael Polakovic London Ontario Real Estate Professional

Has summer actually arrived?? It's only August!!

With today being a scorcher in the City Of London (one of very few we have seen this year so far) many of us Londoner's would have been fleeing to the nearest swimming pool or splash pad for some quick refreshment.

For those who are unfamiliar with the term Splash Pad I will explain. Over the past few years in London Ontario, the city has been integrating these Splash Pads throughout the city. It's an alternative to a public pool and has become quite popular in our city. It's an area, usually found in a public park, and in areas heavily populated with families. They look alot like play grounds. They are colourful and have a soft landing. In various areas there are posts that stick out (some have recently become quite fancy and swirl around or have motion sensors) and spray water at random times. A few I have seen, like the one in Storybook Gardens in London Ontario is quite vast and has huge buckets of water that fill up and dump over the heads of laughing children. Great fun.. for children of any age I will add. I have gone several times with my young children and have had just a good of time as they did.

So on day's like today.. I would highly suggest you visit one of London Ontario's many Splash Pad locations and have a great time cooling off!!

Below is a list of where you can find some of them. HAPPY SPLASHING!

1) Gibbons Spray Pad in Gibbons Park London

2) Rowntree Spray Pad on Whetter Avenue London

3) Lambeth Spray Pad on Beattie Street West Lambeth

4) Forks of the Thames Spray Pad Near Harris Park in London

5) Kiwanis Spray Pad off Hale Street in Kiwanis Park London

6) West Lions Spray Pad by Kinsmen Rec Centre London

7) Bonaventure Spray Pad on Bonaventure Drive London

8) Jesse Davidson Park Spray Pad off Monte Vista or Ensign Crescent London

9) S.E. Optimist Park on Deveron Crescent London

10) And last but certainly not least.. the best one I have seen yet.. and also has many other things to offer for the family to do on a nice summer day is the one in Storybook Gardens of London Ontario.. definietly one you do not want to miss.

I am an avid reader of all things positive.

Be it "self help" books, Chicken Soup For Any Kind OF Soul..or anything that will lift my spirit and make me want to be all that I can be.

I have two young children. We frequent the local library.. I choose my books.. such as "How Can I Blog Better... ?" OR "The Seven Steps Of Highly Successful People".. and the children choose theirs. My kids are BIG fans of Mercer Mayer and Robert Munsch.

Today my daughter (4).. came to me with this book.. she said she liked the pictures.. I had a look and fell in love with the message. I bought a copy for everyone in my family and two for myself. What an amazing message to send to adults and children alike. That is why I chose to share it with all of you. Enjoy.. and learn something.

Hope..
Sometimes feels far away.
But HOPE is always there

Hope is warmth of strong arms around you
Hope is sad tears flowing, making room for joy.

Hope is angry words bursting, making room for understanding.
Hope is scared words asking for help, and finding that help is there.

HOPE is knowing that you are LOVED.
HOPE is knowing that you LOVE others.

HOPE IS HOLDING TIGHT TO YOUR MOTHERS HAND...

Hope is your father's goodnight kiss.
Hope is remembering his kisses when he can't be there with you.

Hope is finding happiness in simple things.
Hope is daring to do something you have never done before.

Hope is remembering that YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
Many others feel just the way you do. Many others care.

Hope is a candle flame in the darkness

HOPE IS A CLEAR SKY ABOVE THE GREY CLOUDS.
Hope is the glistening snow when the storm has passed.

HOPE is a heart... that is open to the world around you.

HOPE IS KNOWING THAT THINGS CHANGE--- and we can help things change for the better.

Hope is always there.. waiting inside you to unfold

I recently lost my mother to cancer.. so turning my back on hope was easy.. hearing these words help me realize that no matter what tragedies we face in life.. hope is always there.. and this what helps us all live on forever.

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Being extremely afraid of spiders, I have spent quite a lot of time recently researching how to keep spiders out of my home. Since it's the time of year for all little critters to be out and about I have noticed spiders lingering in my home, and other homes I have visited with clients recently and I thought I would share some tips on how to keep spiders from moving in to your home!! These are all natural solutions that are safe for you, your pets and children.. but is a great deterant to the creepy crawlers...

First you have to determine how the spiders are getting in to your home and what is attracting them in. Spiders LOVE cardboard boxes. They are an ideal place for them to live and of course lay their eggs in. Consider no longer using cardboard boxes as a means of storage. Replace them with plastic Rubbermaid bins or the vacuum seal plastic bags. In order for spiders to live.. they of course have to eat!! The main staple in a spider's diet is any type of bug. So the first step in starving the spider is to try your best to keep your home free of all other household bugs. A good way to do this is to ensure all openings into the house are securely sealed. That there are no cracks or holes in your window screens, or seals broken on screen doors etc. Of course there may be cracks and crannies you cannot see that these little sneakers can slide right into. Some sure fire ways to deter them before they enter is to put something they do not like on the way in. You could of course use the store bought chemical pestisides. However, these are expensive, toxic and they smell horrible. I have learned that a spiders taste buds are on their legs. So they will not step in things that taste horrible to them.

Rather then putting a lemon on the windowsill or in the door way, try spraying the window ledge and door frame with Lemon Pledge. You can kill two birds (or bugs) with one stone. Your window sill will sparkle and be dust free and this will also keep the critters from getting in. For a double whammy... fill a spray bottle with a mixture of pure tea tree oil and water and spray down your vents and on the window and door screens.

Now for the pesky friends that are currently living in your cozy home. Spiders love quiet, dark and undisturbed places. That's why we often find them in our basements, closets,and under your bed. If you make sure to vacuum and dust these forgotten places more regularly, spiders won't have too much of a chance of setting up shop before getting the boot. Spiders (and other bugs) also love moisture. Try and control the humidity levels in your home. Get a dehumidifier in your basement.. these are handy for other purposes too. Try not to leave wet towels or bathing suits lying around in your laundry room. This way you won't get any big surprises when you go to do the laundry. Fix any dripping faucets and wipe up any water left behind after your bath or washing your hands or teeth. This way you won't find any eight legged friends the next time you try and relax into a hot bath.

If after taking all of these steps to prevent and clear out your infestation, you are still finding an abundance of visitors... maybe you should consider an exterminator. Once they have done their job all of these things will help maintain a critter free home!!

For these and more great tips on how to keep your home spider free please visit

www.ehow.com/how_4863738_keep-spiders-out-of-house.html

I hope you found this post informative and interesting!! Thanks for visiting my blog!

London Ontario's Wortley Villiage.. Our City's Gem

A Brief History of Old South London

Old South advanced as a suburb of London Ontario during the second half of the nineteenth century, integrating with the city in 1870. In spite of the rapid growth the city has experienced in recent decades, the area which spans from Wellington Road to Wharncliffe Road and from Commissioners Road to the Thames River is recognized as Old South London Ontario; the section of Wortley Road near the corners of Craig and Bruce Streets as Wortley Village London.

Prior to the residential settlement of the area, the land was covered with towering oak, birch, pine and maple trees, an immense natural forest teeming with wildlife. Old South was surveyed as early as 1810 : the first settlers beginning to inhabit the region the following year. At first the land was used for the cultivation of corn, wheat, potatoes, oats and peas; bees were raised, grapevines were cultivated, and fruit orchards were planted in the rich soil close to the river. However, with the increasing renown this modern community provided, soon the land was converted from agricultural use for the preparation of a residential village.

Early Development

Much of the early development of the area revolved around the Establishment, by many Londoners, of considerable estates and mansion along Wortley Road, Ridout Street, and later Grand and Elmwood Avenues. In the 1870's, the suburban neighbourhood along Wortley Road had formed a sufficiently sizeable and distinctive identity that it deserved its own post office, providing the community with a distinct identity. The postal district was labeled "Askin", however contemporary documents also refer to the area as "New Brighton" or "South London Village".

Wortley Village

Wortley Village has always been the traditional focal point of the Old South community. The unique village ambiance associated with Wortley Road is the result of a century of change and adaptation. Low building heights and the diversity in building styles have resulted in an attractive commercial setting, which has developed into a unique and specialized shopping area for antiques, collectibles and all other amenities. For those visiting the area for the first time, be sure to take some time to embark on a historical walk of this beautiful community.

Located in Wortley Village is the spacious Thames Park, a popular summertime hot spot which provides recreational activities including tennis, swimming, baseball, bird watching, playground equipment, picnic areas, and access to London's riverside bike paths, perfect for biking, inline skating and hiking. As the conventional heart of the Old South community, Wortley Village, truly a village within a city, offers any shopper, naturalist, historian or collector plenty of fun and interesting experience.

With buildings over 100 years old, over 80 small businesses and establishments, and with an abundance of inviting parks, Old South is the only region in London which offers an enticing blend of history, shopping and nature in a few square kilometres.

This self contained city inside the city is unique and charming. Almost like stepping into a whole other world. It has been noted in many columns and magazines world wide for it's beauty and quiet villiage feel. Properties found in Wortley Villiage London Ontario are just as unique and inviting as their community.

Around The Neighborhood

Wortley Villiage London Ontario has much to offer. From charming little gift shops Like the Perwinkle gift shop shown here, cozy coffee shops like the Little Red Roaster or elegant and authentic Mexican Fine Dining at the El Amanecer. Enjoy a stroll and enjoy all this community has to offer or consider a home purchase in our city's gem. London's Wortley Villiage. The properties available in this community vary in price range but do not vary in what they offer. The properties of Wortley Villiage London Ontario are equally as unique and inviting as the community that surrounds them.

Call us today and we would more then happy to introduce you to this fantastic neighborhood and all it has to offer. Be it an evening out, a shopping day with the girls or if you are contemplating a move. London Ontario's Wortley Villiage is definietly a place to think about.

Downtown Living In The City Of London

With companies such as London Life insurance company and several government and financial institutions in the heart of the city, living close to the core has become more and more attractive. They city of London offers a contemporary yet charming downtown surrounded with amenities to make dowtown living everything it's cracked up to be.

When you think of downtown, city living what is the first thing you think about? Words that tend to come to mind are, PENTHOUSE, HIGH RISE, HIGH PROFILE,NIGHT LIFE and of course $$. But living the downtown life in London Ontario doesn't include one of these things. Dowtown London living is certainly affordable. With high rise condo's such as London Tower's located at the corner of Dundas and Colborne St's or the newly built Renaissance next to Tru restaurant on King St the high profile life of downtown living is right at your fingertips. Enjoy spectacular views from the three floor penthouses and sprawling rooftop terraces with price tags that will drop your jaw! Some even in the low $200,000's.

Like neighboring Toronto, London's downtown is alive with trendy restaurants such as Moxies and the Church Key and downtown London offers a vast array of funky shops spread down historic Richmond Row.

All summer long Victoria park fills up with life and laughter during all of the festivals. These offer a taste of different places of the world right in your back yard. All winter long London's core comes to life with the cheers of excited Londoner's as the fill up the John Labatt center to cheer on our home team. The London Knights, Ontario's most popular hockey team who brought us players such as  John Tavares. And brought us home a victory in the Memorial Cup of 2005.

 Downtown London Ontario also offers a splash of elegance with venues such as The Grand Theatre where you can view shows nightly as if you were on Broadway in New York City. Living in London's core offers more then meets the eye.

For those who lead an active lifestyle, you are all but a hop, skip and and a jump from private bike and jogging trails wrapping through the core along the Thames River and through Harris Park. These features can also be attractive for families who may consider living in downtown London. With all the amenities that surrounding neighborhoods in our city offer such as Splash Pads and the London Children's Museum only a short walk away. Elementary schools surround London's core and London's Central Secondary School is nestled right in the middle. You couldn't ask for a better place to raise a family.

 London Ontario's downtown is where professionalism meets prestige. Where family meets fundamental.

If downtown city living is what you are after, consider London Ontario. You won't be disappointed.

For more information on downtown London Ontario, or any other neighborhood in London or Surrounding area please call today. We'd be more then happy to help.