Government concerns for excessive personal debt loads has prompted new rules for the Canadian Mortgage Industry that come into effect March 18th. In an effort to avert potential problems with overextension, the federal government has imposed the following changes;

• reduced the maximum amortization period to 30 years from 35 years for government-backed insured mortgages with loan-to-value ratios of more than 80 per cent.
• lowered the maximum amount Canadians can borrow in refinancing their mortgages to 85 per cent from 90 per cent of the value of their homes. 
• withdrew government insurance backing on lines of credit secured by homes, such as home equity lines of credit.

That break our school kids look forward to all year can represent anything but a break for parents. Making sure children are having a good time can leave you worn out, sore and cranky.

Take a day off – or at least a good chunk of the day, so you can really enjoy some time alone or with friends or at the spa or whatever you want. How?

Trade ’em away! This takes a like-minded parent of your child’s friends. Plan a full day to watch your child's friend, and arrange for them to reciprocate. Commit to a good 10 or 12 hour span, something they – and later you – can really put to use and enjoy.

With a few carefully planned activities, your day to watch them may even be less hectic than watching only your own, as the larger group of kids will tend to amuse themselves better. And if you have particularly active ones, outdoor activities can be the answer; nature walks, sledding, maple syrup shack, playground hockey, build snow creatures, etc.

One drip a second from a leaky faucet wastes about 1,200 litres (265 gallons) of water in a year! If it’s the hot tap that’s leaking, there is wasted energy, too! And possibly all because of a simple little washer that is well within the ability of most people to change themselves.

With a few simple tools and a few minutes of your time, you can end the drip. For some useful guidance and instructions, check out this homerepair.about site or this diydoctor one.

“If you don't know the way, walk slowly.”
~Irish Proverb

What do you call a leprechaun’s downtown home?  A lepre-condo.

What did the leprechaun get when he discovered poison ivy growing in his four-leaf clover patch?  A rash of good luck!

Did you hear about the leprechaun who went to jail?  He was a lepre-con!

What kind of car does a leprechaun drive?  An electric car, because it’s ‘green’.

Do leprechauns get angry when you make fun of their height?  Yeah, but only a little!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Only boil what you need.

In a tea mood? Break the habit of putting too much water in the kettle. Fill it with only the amount of water you need plus 125 ml - a half a cup – or so. The extra is to address evaporation during boiling and so you don’t leave a hot kettle empty, which can damage some.

By not over-filling, you will save energy and water, and you’ll be sipping your favourite orange pekoe or chamomile sooner, too! Sleep-inducing teas might even work better this way – you’ll sleep more soundly knowing you’re helping the environment. ;)

It’s not difficult to be proud of this great land we call home. Canada is blessed with some of the most amazing geography and scenery in the world. Did j’a know these amazing facts about our wonderful country?

• Mount Logan, Canada’s highest mountain, is growing! It is 5,959 m (19,551 ft) high and gains a few millimetres each year due to tectonic activity.
• Canada is home to the largest freshwater island in the world; Manitoulin Island, in Lake Huron.
• Manitou Lake on Manitoulin Island is the world's largest lake within a lake at 106 sq km (41.1 sq mi).
• Canada’s largest island, Baffin Island, is bigger than all but two US states (Alaska and Texas), more than double the size of the UK and only slightly smaller than France.
• Our border with US is the world's longest border between two nations at 8,892 km (5,525 mi).
• Alert, in Nunavut territory, is the northernmost permanent settlement in the world.
• Canada has the longest coastline of any country in the world at more than 243,000 km (150,000 mi).

Go poking around this spring! As winter cold eases and the snow base around your home melts, take a walk around outside with a small flat-headed screwdriver and gently poke at areas of concern; railings and posts, deck surfaces, wood trim around windows, doors, etc. Rotten wood will be soft - and mushy if it’s wet - helping you identify areas in need of repair - before they cause more damage and expense.

“No matter how cynical I get I just can’t keep up.” ~Nora Ephron

“If you choke a Smurf, what colour does it turn?” ~Jeff Dunham

“I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it.” ~Mitch Hedberg

“There will be a rain dance Friday night, weather permitting.” ~George Carlin