| Monthly
Quote |
"Every
tear is answered by a blossom, Every sigh with songs and laughter
blent, April-blooms upon the breezes toss them. April knows
her own, and is content."
-Susan Coolidge, April, American poet and
author, (1835 - 1905)
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| Tip
of the Month |
With
the weather warming up, many folks are starting to think about
their yards, and by association, their landscaping. Many people
are also buying homes at this time of year, which is another
reason to think about landscaping. If you are considering
changing your landscaping or landscaping a home without anything
currently, consider xeriscaping, a type of landscaping that
is customized to your climate and uses a minimal amount of
water.
Xeriscaping is a creative way to save money
on your yard! A xeriscaped yard can reduce landscape water
by 60% or more, and drip irrigation systems water plants more
effectively. You will also increase your property value by
as much as 15%, and you'll realize additional value if you
take advantage of tax breaks offered by cities like Las Vegas
and Scottsdale, Arizona. Xeriscaping is also pretty much drought-proof,
which can be a money-saver when the weather starts threatening
your landscape investment. Finally, everyone feels their time
is valuable; put your time to better use by spending less
time fiddling with sprinklers and water hoses!
Source: IdealBite.com
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Seasonal
Suggestion
 The
month of April means plenty to celebrate: the arrival
of spring, the end of Lent, Easter and warmer weather!
Decorating eggs is a traditional way for many families
to celebrate spring and Easter. Try preserving your
hard work (and not eating so many hard-boiled eggs!)
by decorating blown eggs. Here are a few steps to get
a blown egg:
1. First, grab some raw eggs, a straight
pin and a bowl.
2. Starting at the narrow end of the egg, carefully
pierce a hole through the shell and membrane with the
pin.
3. Turn the egg over and pierce another hole through
the shell and membrane with the pin in the center of
the bottom of the egg. Use the pin to gently remove
pieces of the shell to create a hole approximately 1/16-inch
in diameter. Now pierce the yolk.
4. Press your lips to the top or narrow part of the
egg and blow the insides of the egg out of the bottom
of the egg into the bowl. If you touch the raw egg,
wash your hands immediately after.
5. Rinse the inside and outside of the shell with a
1:1 mixture of vinegar and water.
If you want to dye your eggs first,
be sure to keep the raw egg intact, dye it first and
then blow out the contents. If you don’t do this,
you’ll have to go bobbing for eggs in your dye!
You’re now ready to decorate eggs until your heart’s
content! If you want to keep your eggs for next year,
be sure to store them in a cool, dark place where nothing
will crush them.
Source: Holiday Decorating for
Dummies, by Kelley Taylor, Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2003.
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