With a new year comes new home care and maintenance tips here at Ponderosa Homes! With all this California rain, we found some helpful tips to keep your sanctuary safe from this winter weather.

There’s no better time to sip on hot chocolate and get cozy around the fireplace, but make sure to clean and inspect the chimney for any signs of damage. Take a flashlight and safely look inside, you’ll want to make sure there are no obstructions in the chute and that there isn’t a buildup of debris along the interior. Afterwards, sweep up the floor and remove any leftover ash from previous use. You never know what good old St. Nick could have left behind!

Pro-tip: ash is a natural source of calcium and nutrients for plants, so feel free to sprinkle some on your flower beds and watch your garden morph into spring.

It can be hard to leave nature at the door, especially when you’re on the go. After a few holiday parties and friendly gatherings, your carpets could need a little TLC – get them deep cleaned and see what a difference it makes just in time for allergy season.

It’s always important to clean your gutters and drains – in rainy weather they get backed up, so stay consistent and your home will thank you later. Same goes for rooftop checks to make sure there aren’t any leaks. As our state recovers from the drought, you’ll want to make sure your home doesn’t have to recover from the rain.

Lastly, enjoy your beautiful home and get started making more memories with your loved ones, the season isn’t over yet.

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We’re thrilled to announce our featured home at Cameron Place in Pleasanton! This Residence Three home offers a single-story plan with approximately 3,725 square feet of living space, 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths plus study. Priced at $1,818,900, this Craftsman home features a 4-car garage, top-of-the-line GE Monogram® kitchen appliances and Kohler® plumbing fixtures.

Don’t miss your chance to own this coveted home at Cameron Place in Pleasanton! Hurry as opportunities to customize this home will be limited after February 10.

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This weekend brings plenty to do in the Bay Area. See all that you can explore near home in the coming days.

It’s all about cars this weekend in San Jose! The Silicon Valley International Auto Show is happening this Saturday, January 10 and Sunday, January 11 at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. Click here to learn more.

It’s all about music this weekend in Pleasanton! The Vintage Brass Quintet brings masterful horn playing to the Pleasanton Public Library on Sunday, January 11 at 2PM. For more info, go here.

Volunteer at one of the biggest events of the year this weekend in San Jose! The annual pruning of the roses is taking place at the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden. Hundreds of volunteers are needed to prune the 3,500 rose bushes, and everyone is invited to help! Come out this Saturday, January 10 from 8:30AM to 12PM. Learn more here.

The Kingston Trio is hitting the stage this weekend in Livermore! The American folk music ensemble’s tight harmonies, smooth vocals and classic sounds will have you singing along this Saturday, January 10 at the Bankhead Theater at 8PM. For tickets, click here.

It’s time to create this weekend in Pleasanton! The Lawrence Hall of Science Inventor’s Workshop: “Wobble Bots” is happening this Saturday, January 10 at 1:30PM. This workshop for grades 3-5 presents a hands-on experience in electrical engineering. Click here for more info. 

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Happy Holidays! Get ready to celebrate the season with new homes from Ponderosa! Enjoy this joyous time of year with family and friends in a dream place to call your very own.

Cameron Place and Ivy Lane in Pleasanton and Vinsanto II and Coventry in Livermore offer everything your growing family wants and needs in a new home – so what are you waiting for?

Visit PonderosaHomes.com for more details on these gorgeous new residences.

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Get out and about and enjoy some holiday festivities this weekend in the Bay Area!

Grab some great reads and yummy treats with Santa this weekend in San Jose! Celebrate the season at a Winter Holiday Party this Saturday at the Bascom Branch Library from 11AM to 1PM. Make a craft, receive a free book and snap a pic with jolly Old St. Nick. For more info, click here.

Sugar plums will dance through your head this weekend in Livermore! Experience the music of Tchaikovsky and the magic and wonderment of The Nutcracker, this Sunday at the Bankhead Theater at 2PM. Get tickets here.

Santa Claus is making his way to Dublin this weekend! Enjoy a scrumptious pancake breakfast and take photos with Santa at the Shannon Community Center from 8:30AM to 12PM. Register here.

Hey, superstars – groove to the tunes of a legendary band this weekend in Pleasanton! CLOSE TO YOU: A Christmas Tribute to The Carpenters is happening this Sunday, December 14 at 2PM. For tickets, click here.

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The life you’ve always envisioned awaits you at Ivy Lane in Pleasanton! This new neighborhood reflects the small-town comfort and charming city allure of this classic community, which was recently named #4 on 24/7 Wall St.’s list of America’s 50 Best Cities to Live In.

Pleasanton also makes education a top priority. Both of our high schools rank among the top 2% of US News & World Report’s Best High Schools in America.

We embrace a higher standard of living. Pleasanton was ranked as #3 in Highest Earning Cities in America. Money Magazine named the city one of the 50 Best Places to Live in the Nation, and the data analysis site, NerdWallet, declared Pleasanton as one of the Top Twenty Cities in Northern California.

With the arrival of Ivy Lane, fresh opportunities to live in Pleasanton are now available.

These thoughtfully designed single-family residences feature modern conveniences and innovative amenities. Offering  up to approximately 2,656 square feet of living space, with up to 4 bedrooms, 4 baths and a bonus room, these excellent homes include everything you desire in an officially outstanding community.

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It’s cooling down in the Bay Area! Get out with you family this Saturday and Sunday for fun events near you.

It’s time to lace up your skates! Come out for Downtown Ice this weekend in San Jose and twirl and glide on the ice rink beneath beautiful palm trees. For more info, click here. 

Games, games and more games this weekend in Dublin! International Games Day is happening this Saturday at the Dublin Family Library, and you’ll have the chance to drop in and experience exotic and brand-new board and card games from 11AM to 1PM. No registration is required. To learn more, click here. 

This event is perfect for book aficionados. Get ready to meet Bay Area authors this weekend in San Jose! Mingle with more than 20 writers and hear the inspiration behind their books from 1PM to 5PM at Kings Library this Sunday. Click here for more info. 

Grammy-award winners are hitting the stage this weekend in Livermore! The Manhattan Transfer, one of the most popular vocal groups of all time, is coming to the Bankhead Theater this Sunday, November 16 at 7PM. For tickets, go here.

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There’s plenty to do with your family this weekend in the Bay Area! Get ready for music, dance, artistry and more on Saturday and Sunday.

Puppet shows are always sure to delight! This Saturday at the Martin Luther King Library in San Jose, your little ones can experience “The North Pole Review” by Fratello Marionettes, featuring an ice skating snowman and a juggling penguin. The show starts at 3PM. For more info, click here.

Stride is the name of the game this weekend in San Jose! The Purple Stride Silicon Valley 2014 event is a timed 5K and untimed family-friendly walk taking place this Saturday to benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Registration begins at 9AM, with the run/walk beginning at 10:30AM. To register, go here. 

Take part in an artistic cultural experience this weekend in Livermore! Dancer and artist Patricia Bulitt presents A Gift Exchange of Dance: A California Dancer’s Exchange with the Eskimo in Alaska (1977 – 2013) at the Civic Center Library Storytime Room on Sunday at 2PM. This interpretive dance performance includes a slideshow of life in Hooper Bay, Alaska. Click here for more info.

This classic show will surely get you tapping your feet this weekend! Singin’ in the Rain is coming to the Firehouse Arts Center in Pleasanton. The Pacific Coast Repertory Theater presents this lighthearted romantic comedy on Saturday at 8PM. For tickets, click here. 

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Get out and about in the Bay Area this weekend and enjoy the beginning of November with your family!

Experience the culture of the Pacific Islands this weekend in Pleasanton! Kuma Hula Association of Northern California presents la ‘Oe E Ka La Hula Festival at the Alameda County Fairgrounds on Saturday from 9AM to 6PM to celebrates Hawaiian culture and traditions through dance, arts and food. For tickets, click here. 

Get ready for Thanksgiving a few weeks early in San Jose!  Head over to Color Me Mine pottery studio for Family Gobble Platter Day on Saturday at 11AM to create your favorite holiday designs to display your recipes at the end of the month. For reservations, click here. 

Come grab the season’s freshest fruits and vegetables this weekend at the Pleasanton Farmers’ Market! Open rain or shine, this market features all California-grown produce sold directly by the farmers themselves from 9AM to 1PM on Saturday. For more info, go here.

Books, books, and morebooks this weekend in Livermore! The Friends of the Livermore Library are hosting their monthly book sale this Sunday from 12PM to 4PM at the outdoor plaza of the former library location. Click here for more info. 

Don’t forget to set your clocks back this weekend for Daylight Savings!

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This warm, gooey and yummy treat is sure to get everyone in your family excited about Halloween!

Vanilla Coffee Roasted Pumpkin Seed Snack Clusters…Dipped in Chocolate. 

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 45 minutes

Total time: 1 hour

Yield: 25-35 pumpkin seed clusters

Ingredients

3 cups raw pumpkin seeds, rinsed and dried

1 cup raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds minus the shells)

1 cup pistachios

2 tablespoons ground or whole flax seeds

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

2 tablespoons coconut oil

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2-4 tablespoons fresh coffee grounds

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon all-spice

6 ounces semi-sweet, or dark chocolate, melted (use milk chocolate if you prefer)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

2. Spread the raw pumpkin seeds (not the pepitas) on a greased baking sheet. Roast the pumpkin seeds for 15 minutes to dry them out. Remove from the oven. Leave on            the pan.

3. To the pan with the pumpkin seeds, add the pepitas, pistachios, flax, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla extract, coffee grounds (2 tablespoons), salt, cinnamon, nutmeg      and all-spice. Toss well, making sure all the seeds are evenly coated. Bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring 2 or 3 times during cooking until the pumpkin seeds are golden          in color. Remove from the oven and using the back of a rubber spatula push the seeds into an even layer about 1/2 inch thick. Allow the seeds to cool completely. As           they cool they will harden. Break up into clusters.

4. Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Melt the chocolate in the microwave or on the stove. Carefully dip the clusters into the melted chocolate. Place on the prepared              baking sheet and if desired sprinkle with coffee grounds and sea salt. Repeat with the remaining clusters.

5. Place the pan in the fridge for 10 minutes or until the chocolate is hardened. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, or in the fridge, for up to two weeks.

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