Housing Market, Health & Handmade Gifts: Listening to Local Voices

1. Let's begin with some good news for home buyers.

Even with home prices stabilizing, , according to Mary Weidner, a real estate agent for .

"For the third quarter, 72.9 percent of all homes sold were affordable to families earning the national median income of $64,200, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index," Weidner writes.

2. Speaking of good deals, Jane Skoch -- retired engineer, mom, handmade artisan -- talks about making her own Christmas gifts.

In her most recent blog, Skoch tells how .

3. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Richards -- the mastermind behind -- offers some winter grooming tips for your pets.

"Salt and ice-melters can act as a skin irritant. Make sure to wash your pet’s feet off after coming indoors. Dogs with long fur and/or short legs should have their stomach areas cleaned off as well," she advises.

Get more helpful suggestions .

4. "The journey to a healthy body is only one part of the lifelong journey toward self-actualization. Anything that promotes one will promote the other."

So says Barbara Berkeley, the medical director of obesity programs for Lake Health.

In that vein, she wants to know, "How have you actualized yourself this year?"

She asks our readers, "What idea, product, person, activity or thought has helped move you along that road this year?"

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5. Finally, it may be cold and winteresque now but it's going to warm up again eventually.

And, when it does, you'll want to barbecue and .

Picnic Shelter Reservations for the parks system begin Dec. 5 for Lake County residents.