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JUNE 2024
ME LV I N ’ S MON T H LY MOMENT S
205-223-6192 www.MelvinUpchurchSells.com
THE BEST DOG EVER No Really! She Knew Where She Belonged
Ashley’s instincts were incredible. When we came back to Birmingham, Ashley followed Bram up to his room and slept right by Bram’s door, seeming to understand that she was here for Bram. She had her boy. She loved playing “crazy dog,” snuggling, and taking long walks! She made friends with our crazy cat, Skinny, although he weighed 19 pounds — a story for another day. She didn’t like storms, tension, or loud noises. She probably had enough of that with her first family. She also didn’t like having her picture taken, so we had to sneak almost every picture we took! I have never seen that with any other animal. Ashley loved Jill and seemed to understand that her mom was the one who primarily took care of her. She just tolerated me, but at night, after we went to bed, if Ashley had to go out, she always came to my side of the bed to wake me up. She never woke Jill up. I guess she figured that if Jill took care of her during the day, I could handle the nights. She did seem to appreciate me, but honestly, I think she liked Skinny cat more than she liked me. Now our sweet girl is gone, and I reflect upon her goodness and almost 11 years of having her in our lives. She and Bram grew up together. I really don’t think we rescued her. I think we were blessed with a beautiful companion. A companion who gave us much more than we gave her. A companion who displayed that love should be unconditional. A companion who displayed that we should always greet others with a smile (or a wagging tail). A companion who
I know, everyone says they have the best dog ever, but … they are wrong. We had the best dog ever. Her name was Ashley. Eleven years ago, Jill’s sister Jaime rescued Ashley. Sadly, Ashley was a pawn in an ugly divorce battle, and after the husband in the case won custody of Ashley, out of spite, he was going to take her to the pound. Thankfully, Jamie saved her! Jamie has a habit of being at the right place at the right time for stray or abandoned animals! Ashley was about 4 years old at the time. Jamie took Ashley to her farm to join her four other dogs, two horses, and a donkey named Clover. Ashley thought she had it made, but one of the other dogs did not like Ashley. A few months went by and we all hoped Ashley and Harley would learn to coexist. That did not happen, so we decided that our 4-year-old boy needed a dog, and a 4-year-old dog needed him. So, we headed to North Carolina, and before unpacking, Bram took Ashley for a walk around the farm. When they came back, Ashley went straight up to the carriage house where we were staying. Ashley had found her people! From that point forward, she just went where we went. She never really associated with the other dogs again. She had an instinct that she was now part of a family who would love her. After a few days, when we loaded up our car, she hopped in like she knew she was going home. Ashley always enjoyed traveling back to North Carolina, but she knew that Alabama was home.
stands by you on your best and worst days. A companion who gave us memories for life. The pictures are from Ashley’s first walk with Bram, fun with Skinny cat, a picture with her pretending to like me, Ashley guarding our yard, and her last day with Bram looking into her soulful eyes. She fought a good fight, but on April 22, we had to say goodbye. We were fortunate to have had such a sweet, loving dog be a part of our lives. God always has a perfect plan. Eleven years ago, that plan was for Ashley to adopt our family. We miss her.
–Melvin Upchurch
• 1 www.MelvinUpchurchSells.com
NEGLECTED NECESSITIES
4 Chores You Can’t Ignore
Low water pressure, on the other hand, can lead to frustration when washing dishes or bathing.
If you are a homeowner, you know home maintenance chores are never-ending and can begin to pile up — it feels like a part-time job. For many, it’s tempting to just rely on professional repair services when something breaks down, but this can be expensive. That’s why you shouldn’t ignore a few important maintenance tasks — they may present dangers to the home and its occupants. Here are four simple home maintenance tasks you shouldn’t neglect. Maintain your sump pump. If you have a basement, you likely have a sump pump, which transports water from the deepest part of your house to a designated draining point to prevent costly flooding and mold growth. These mechanisms are usually tucked away to prevent them from being an eyesore, making them easy to forget. However, routinely inspecting and performing necessary repairs on your sump pump could prevent catastrophe. Check your water pressure. There is nothing worse than expecting a nice, relaxing shower only to be greeted by a blast of water akin to one from a super- soaker wielded by an overzealous kid. When it comes to domestic comfort, water pressure makes a big difference: On one hand, if your pressure is too high, it can lead to discomfort and damaged pipes — and you’ll waste water, which means higher utility bills.
To prevent this, measure your water pressure: You want a reading of around 75 psi. If it is significantly higher or lower, replace your valves or install a pressure gauge to monitor the issue. Clear window weep holes. The bottom exterior frames of windows often feature weep holes meant to displace excess rainwater. These can get clogged, which can lead to the frames filling up with water and then leaking, causing interior water damage. The easiest way to prevent this is by clearing your windows’ weep holes at least once a year. Drain sediment from your water heater. Many of us rely on water heaters for laundry, dishwashing, and bathing. Hot water is a comfort and a necessity, but the more we use our water heaters, the more sediment collects in the bottom of the tank. To fix this, flush out the tank. Here are some easy steps to follow: • First, you need to ensure its power is off: If it is electric, shut off your electricity. If it is a gas-powered water heater, turn off the thermostat
• Turn off the supply of cold water
• Wait for the water in the tank to cool off
• Connect a garden hose to the drain valve, and put the other end of the hose somewhere the water can drain safely
• Open the drain valve
• Empty the tank, removing any excess sediment
• Then refill the tank
Keeping on top of often neglected home maintenance chores is an investment in your future. The work you put in now will pay dividends later in terms of money saved on costly repairs and lower utility bills.
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Create the Cottage-Styled Home of Your Dreams
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE A VINTAGE HOME
down, savor everyday beauty, and find solace in the embrace of home.
Designing a home aesthetic is like painting a canvas with the brushstrokes of personal style and creativity. It transforms your spaces into a sanctuary of your design. One home decor style that has been on the rise recently is cottagecore. What is cottagecore? Cottagecore is a design style that encourages a simpler and more rural lifestyle. Its design characteristics include vintage and handcrafted clothing, candles, rustic furniture, and needlework. Cottagecore also encourages learning homesteading skills that promote self- sufficiency, including vegetable gardening, baking from scratch, and raising backyard chickens.
You can incorporate cottagecore in your home. To remake your home using a cottagecore aesthetic, look for decor with garden motifs such as butterflies, flowers, mushrooms, and landscapes. You can toss colorful bouquets in wicker baskets to enhance the look. Adding vintage-inspired art in old-timey frames will automatically transport
your home. You will feel a sense of calm by collecting beautiful vintage kitchenware that represents berry picking or gardening. To find furniture that blends with the cottagecore aesthetic, try looking at estate sales or antique stores for things that fit your specific cottagecore theme. Don’t be afraid to refurbish or repair old or damaged furniture, either. The do-it-yourself work required fits the theme of cottagecore perfectly. Designing a home is undoubtedly an art form; every corner of our home becomes a chance to showcase memories and the things we love most using our own unique design preferences.
The cottagecore aesthetic is a captivating homage to simplicity, nature, and nostalgia, evoking visions of idyllic rural life and a callback to simpler, less tech-dominated times. Handmade crafts infuse spaces with warmth and character, while elements of whimsy and folklore add a touch of enchantment. In a fast-paced world filled with modern conveniences, cottagecore invites us to slow
TAKE A BREAK
HOMEMADE DOLE WHIP Inspired by ThePioneerWoman.com
Ingredients
• 1 tbsp lime juice • Pinch of sea salt
• 3/4 cup pineapple juice • 1 cup vanilla ice cream • 2 cups frozen pineapple
Directions
1. In a high-powered blender, combine all the ingredients. Blend on medium-high speed until smooth, stopping to push the pineapple chunks down into the blender as needed. 2. Transfer to a bowl; cover and freeze for 30 minutes. 3. Scoop and serve. Alternatively, transfer to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip, then pipe into small serving bowls. (This method will make it look like it came out of a soft serve machine.)
Adventure Camping
Hiking Juneteenth Park Picnic
Pride Sandals Sunburn Swimming
Father Gemini
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205-223-6192 www.MelvinUpchurchSells.com 300 UNION HILL DR., STE. 200 BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
INSIDE
1
Saying Goodbye to the Best Dog Ever
2
Often-Forgotten Home Maintenance Issues
3
Cultivate the Cottagecore Aesthetic in Your Home
Homemade Dole Whip
4
Transform Your Kitchen Into a Cozy Cafe
DISCOVER CAFECORE
COMBINING INTERIOR DESIGN WITH COFFEE AND COMFORT
There are few better feelings than sitting around a table with friends — a steamy mug of coffee in hand — reminiscing at your neighborhood cafe. The fond memories, nostalgic decor, and inviting warmth make your local coffee shop an environment you want to visit routinely. Now, a new design aesthetic that gained steam on Pinterest, called Cafecore, aims to bring those feelings home.
Coffee enthusiasts are decorating their kitchens with the Cafecore aesthetic, which includes accessories for caffeine cravers, colorful furniture, brewing stations, and coffee table books. More than just matching the look, the design style also calls for matching the vibe. Accompany your morning brew with soft jazz or acoustic instrumentals and the pleasant, lingering smell of a scented candle to help tie it all together.
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