THE latest statistics are in from the Greater North Pole Real Estate Board on the market for ‘ gingerbread houses. These figures indicate that demand is strong this holiday season for pretty well every type of gingerbread house. Particularly popular this year are those models with red and green jelly bean roofs, although many buyers still prefer the traditional coconut-flake shingles. Red-licorice chimneys are still favoured by most people, however some builders are using gum dreps on their chimneys and this is starting to catch on with buyers. ‘ mas in past years, consumers are partial to homes with marsh- mallow siding and chocolate-chip doorknobs. Buyers are also keen for homes trimmed with Smarties, although M&Ms are ‘becoming trendy in some areas and some of the more avant guard builders are using Hershey Kisses. . - According to Realtors Hansel and Gretel, the most sought- after interiors this year have milk-chocolate counters and white- Chicklet cupboards. They also tell us that hard-candy flooring is taking over from the gingerbread coverings that were so pop- ular 20 or 30 years ago. In terms of landscaping, peppermint-lined pathways with ginger-smap stepping stones are still the traditional favorite. . Lately we are seeing more and more rockeries made of Belgian >, chocolates with cotton-candy plants. Pretzel-stick fences have using sweet si also been catching on in some areas but most people still prefer those made of cinnamon sticks. We talked to the Little Red Riding Hood Realty Company and they recommend that you Bet an inspection done if you are going to invest in a gingerbread house. There have been prob- lems in the past with marshmallow foundations which can sag after a number of years and also complaints about Rice Crispies roofs keeping people awake with all the snap, crackle and pop- ping. There is also the leaky gingerbread condo problem where you can get soda pop coming through the roof. Finally the inspector has to check to ensure that the owner hasn’t been eating his home. There are a number of elves avail- able who will do a thorough inspection for a fee of one candy cane. Some motivated sellers are offering very enticing financing packages this year in order to lure buyers. For example one sell- er will let his house go for a down payment of six candy canes and payments of three peppermint sticks a week. Another one can be bought for a gallon of chocolate ice cream down and one candy stick a week. While sales of gingerbread houses have been brisk this year, things look even better for the future. The employment picture is bright with only two elves unemployed and that is because they don’t really want to work anyway. Furthermore, SNP (Statistics North Pole ) forecasts that personal disposable income will increase to eight candy canes a week by early next year, It look likes a great year coming up so have a very merry Christmas! — Trent Appelbe is a pen name for one of Santa’s elves and can be reached at 988-4797. Friday, December 24, 1999 — North Shore News - 67 = ACCORDING to columnist Trent Appelbe, AKA one of Santa's elves, gingerbread houses are hot property now. Tips on keeping festive garbage to a minimum THIS holiday season the Campbells, an ordinary local family with two kids, a hamster and a mortgage, are doing a remarkable thing. . They are not buying festive wrapping paper. This radical plan was hatched last year wher. ‘3 the usual Jast minute rush to wrap presets, parents Doug and Louise ran out of wrapping paper. Doug drove to a local store, forked over $20 for four tolls and hurried home to complete the job before Santa came down the chimney. Less than 10 hours later Louise ‘wes stuffing die torn and crumpled paper into garbage bags as the children played with their new toys. The waste was painfully obvious. stores, theatres, video shops or restaurants; © house plants; © gifts of time: to wash a car, cook a meal, babysit or paint a room. When friends or relatives arrive with gifts in ‘wrapping paper, put the paper aside for reuse or recycling. Finally, based on a tip from an unnamed source at the North Pole, the Campbell family is expecting a festive treasure hunt this yea Rumour hes it that Santa will hide the kids’ gifts, unwrapped, in tricky places and. plant clues to lead the children to their’ presents. -Maximum fun, minimum garbage. Who; knows, maybe Santa will set up a treasure hunt in your home too. Loe . So this year, the Campbells have a plan for keeping festive garbage to a minimum. Here are sonic of the ideas they’ve come up with, @ Make the wrap part of the gift. Use 3 scarf, tea towel, basket, napkin, fancy pin, plant pot or handkerchie as wrap. Or put a gift in one sock, tie the other sock around the top and stick in a sprig: of holly for a. festive touch, — @ Make cloth bags from scraps f velvet, denim or other fabric. Simply fold the fabric in half and ard sew up the sides. Or make a patchwork bag from different fabric pieces. Decorate with trim, sequins or Jace scraps. To close, make a casing for the drawsuing or jist tic with a piecc of cord, ribbon or shoelace. B Cover handled store bags with children’s paintings, coloured comics, wall paper, posters, maps or last year’s ards to make unique paper gift bags. @ Tie a big bow on oversized gifts like a bicycle or CD rack. @ Choose gifts that do net need wrapping or fancy packaging: © tickets to a concert, muse- . um or sporting event; : © Jong distance calling; *® memberships to focal attractions or recreational cen- tres; © gift certificates to favourite CUT down on ‘Christmas. waste around: your houes— use a bow to wrap up large gifts. Ot SANTA Gieus went beyond the call of duty at Lynn Valley Mall last Saturda : when he hosted local pets upon hile knee, tative than the usual lineup of ‘email children. rs ;