Thoughts On Education

• If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. - Andy McIntyre
• An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest. - Author unknown, commonly attributed to Benjamin Franklin
• Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army. - Edward Everett
• Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one. - Malcolm S. Forbes
• As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools. - Author Unknown
• To the uneducated, an A is just three sticks. - A.A. Milne
• A teacher affects eternity: he can never tell where his influence stops. - Henry Brooks Adams
• All the world is a laboratory to the inquiring mind. - Martin H. Fischer
• Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.  - Albert Einstein
• You can get all A's and still flunk life.  - Walker Percy
• Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity. –Aristotle
• The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. - William Arthur Ward(Adopted From www.quotegarden.com/back-to-school.html)

 

Late Summer Landscaping Can Keep Your Yard In Top Shape

Sometimes the last thing on people’s minds in the heat of August is working on the yard, but there is still work that can be done to maintain a yard that   is the envy of the neighborhood.
August isn’t a good month for planting, but current plants need to be taken care of, and doing the wrong thing can hurt, not help, the appearance of plants.
August is usually a pretty hot month in which the emphasis should be on planning for September and next year and watering what’s existing.
Many University Extension Programs have information on their websites recommending a watering schedule of three times each week in summer months and a couple of times each week in the spring and fall during periods of little rainfall.
Sometimes people see struggling plants and decide they need fertilizer. However, it is               recommended to use less than the full dose of fertilizer that a label might suggest. At this time of the year it is more important to make sure plants are receiving adequate water and use only a little non-burning, organic fertilizer for best results.
Homeowners can use August to plan for the coming early fall, which is a great time for planting, especially trees and shrubs.

Another thing homeowners should consider for the early half of September is                           reconditioning their lawns. Start with a good stiff rake, which allows you to focus on areas that look like they’re not in the best shape. Then, add a layer of topsoil, which makes a nice seed bed. Next, add grass seed, fertilizer & Canadian peat moss to aid the growing process. For those who are looking for a new or different style of grass, early September is a good time to lay sod.

Because August is a poor time to add plants to the landscape, residents who are itching to do something to their front or backyards now can take on other projects, such as  putting in a patio or a water feature. (Adopted From http://www.candgnews.com)

 

Inexpensive Ways To Lower Your Utility Bills

1. Use Power Strips: Even in sleep mode, your computer, DVD player, etc use some energy. By plugging them into power strips, & then turning off the power at the strip, you use less electricity.
2. Simulate a Low Flush Toilet: If you don’t have a new, water-saver toilet, you can simulate one by putting a clean brick, or a sealed plastic bottle filled with pebbles, or a weighted mason jar, into your toilet tank This displaces water so that less is used each time you flush.
3. Air-dry Dishes: Instead of using the drying cycle on your dishwasher, just set it to clean only, and open the door when the dishwasher is done. The wire racks in the dishwasher can conveniently double as drying racks, and you’ll save the energy it would have taken to dry all your dishes. (Adopted from: http://www.doughroller.net/smart-spending/)

Recipe Of The Month: King Ranch Chicken

Ingredients:

• 2 pkg. medium sized corn tortillas (about 20)
• 1 whole chickens or a pkg. of thighs & a pkg. of breasts cooked & cubed
• 1 large onion, finely diced
• 1 large bell pepper finely diced
• 2 tsp. chili powder
• Garlic salt or powder to taste
• 2 cans cream of chicken soup
• 2 cans of Rotel tomatoes (mild) with green chilies blended or chopped fine (pour off some of the juice)
• 1 lb. mild cheddar cheese, grated

4

Directions:

1. Warm some olive oil (1/2 in. deep) in a frying pan & dip tortillas in it one at a time, then pat dry with a paper towel. You want them softened, but not crispy.
2. Place the above ingredients in a greased casserole dish in the order given & repeat. This will make several   layers from the bottom of the casserole to the top. Bake in a 9” x 13” greased pan for about 45 minutes at 350 degrees.
3. This recipe is great for entertaining because it can be made ahead of time and popped into the oven at the appropriate time. It can also be doubled for a big crowd (cooking time would need to be lengthened) and it freezes well.

What Is Your Home Worth In This Market?

Do Snack Food Preferences Affect Job Choices?

A study of more that 18,000 adult volunteers across 35 occupations were surveyed to determine the correlation between their occupation & their favorite snack food. This is what they found out…

Chip lovers are ambitious & successful: If you crave potato chips, you could be a lawyer, tennis pro, police officer, or CEO. They are competitive & have high expectations.

Pretzels: fire-fighter, journalist, flight attendant or veterinarian. Lively and energetic, those who crave pretzels seek novelty and easily become bored by routine. They make decisions based on intuition and emotion, especially in romantic relationships.

Tortilla Chips: farmer, travel agent, chef, clergy or news reader; they are perfectionists who are also humanitarians. Sticklers for punctuality, you will rarely see a tortilla eater late for an appointment.

Cheese Curls: real estate agent, psychiatrist or producer. Formal, always proper, conscientious and principled, people who crave this have a highly developed sense of integrity and maintain the moral high ground with their family, co-workers and romantic partners.

Popcorn: teacher, artist, truck driver, nurse, judge or neurosurgeon. They are self-assured and confident, those who prefer popcorn are best described as "take charge sort of people." A popcorn enthusiast will not hesitate to assume extra work on the job or take on extra duties at social gatherings.

Nuts: plumber, architect, sanitation worker, cardiologist or politician. Those who prefer nuts tend to be easygoing, empathic and understanding. When confronted with an emotionally charged situation, they can be counted on to keep calm and not join the fray, allowing time for the emotional upheaval to pass. Their even handed nature makes them well suited for dealing with the public during emergency situations.

Snack Crackers: stockbroker or professional race car driver. Snack cracker devotees tend to be contemplative and thoughtful, and base their decisions on solid reasoning instead of their emotions. They value their private time and are most creative when allowed to be alone, free from daily responsibilities and interruptions.

Snack Crackers: stockbroker or professional race car driver. Snack cracker devotees tend to be contemplative and thoughtful, and base their decisions on solid reasoning instead of their emotions. They value their private time and are most creative when allowed to be alone, free from daily responsibilities and interruptions. 

Meat Snacks: dentist or bartender. Those who crave a satisfying stick of beef jerky or a mouth-watering bag of pork rinds are the life of the party. Gregarious and social, meant snack lovers are at their best amidst the company of others. They are loyal and true friends who can always be trusted, and will make extraordinary self-sacrifices to please others.

In summary, the study found that 'A person's job selection reflects his essential essence and his personality,' writes a Dr. Hirsch. 'Food choices, selection of clothing, movies and spouses can provide insight into personality and character structure. Thus the typical personality traits associated with savory snack preferences can be used to help predict   occupational choices, because a person's job selection also reflects his essential essence and his personality.’

What is your favorite snack? (Adopted from: http;//www.guy-sports.com/humor/saints.labor_day.htm)

You Know It’s Time For Summer To End…

1.) When you start telling your kids that you’re bored.

2. You’ve quit wearing perfume and instead settle for two sprays of misquote

repellent.

3.) You’ve grilled everything you can think of including your husband’s favorite pair of flip flops!

4.) The only family vacation you want to take is to Slumberland.

5.) You cut the grass in the shape of a giant calendar so you can mark the days until school starts.

6.) You’ve started using the hedge clippers to trim your own hair.

7.) Your garden produced so any zucchinis that you have started hiding them in the purses of friends who visit.

8.) You’ve eaten so much sweet corn that you now chew your green beans holding them with both hands.

9.) The lemonade has turned ruby red - exactly the same color as the tube of lipstick you can’t find.

10.) You get caught trying to buy school supplies for yourself. (Adopted from: momlaughs.blogspot.com)

Vitamins For The Mind! - Tips For Happiness In Daily Life

Daily life can be made happier. It is a matter of choice. It is our attitude that makes us feel happy or unhappy.  It is true, we meet all kinds of situations during the day, and some of them may not be conductive to happiness.  We can choose to keep thinking about the unhappy events, and we can choose to refuse to think about them, and instead, relish the happy moments. All of us constantly go through various situations and circumstances, but we do not have to let them influence our reactions and feelings.

Here are a few tips for increasing happiness in daily life:                                                         

• Endeavor to change the way you look at things. Always look at the bright side. The mind may drag you to think about negativity and difficulties. Don't let it. Look at the good and positive side of every situation. Always expect happiness! 
• Think of solutions, not problems.
• Listen to relaxing, uplifting music.                                        
• Each day, devote some time to reading a few pages of an inspiring book or article.
• Watch your thoughts. Whenever you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts, start thinking of pleasant things.  
• Always look at what you have done and not at what you haven't. You may have accomplished a lot during the day, and yet you let yourself become frustrated, because of some small things that you did not  accomplish. You have spent all day successfully carrying out many plans, and instead of feeling happy and satisfied, you look at what was not accomplished and feel unhappy. It is unfair toward yourself.                                                                   
• Each day do something good for yourself. It can be something small, such buying a book, eating something you love, watching you favorite program on TV, going to a movie, or just having a stroll around the block.                                                                                           
• Each day do at least one act to make others happy. This can be a kind word, helping your colleagues, giving your seat in a bus to someone else, or giving a small present to someone you love. The possibilities are infinite. 
• Do not envy people who are happy. On the contrary, be happy for their happiness.                                                                                                  
• Associate with happy people, and try to learn from them to be happy. Remember, happiness is contagious.                                                                                                                 
• Do your best to stay detached, when things do not proceed as intended and desired. Detachment will help you stay calm and control your moods and reactions. Detachment is not indifference. It is the acceptance of the good and the bad and staying balanced.        

Smile more often! (From: http://www.successconsciousness.com/index_000065.htm)

Trivia Facts About Dogs

• The canine nose works one million times more efficiently than the human nose
• The average dog has 42 permanent teeth.
• There are 701 types of pure breed dogs.
• Female dog bites are twice as numerous as male bites.
• The name of the dog on the Cracker Jack box is Bingo.
• Most domestic dogs are capable of reaching speeds of 32 km's per hour when running flat out, but the members of the greyhound family may reach speeds up to 70 km's per hour.
• A male dog urinates with one leg up to better mark his territory. The scent can tell him many things, including size and health. The size is judged by the height of the stain. Male dogs although, do not actually need to lift their leg.
• A dog’s ear is very sensitive, full of sensory nerves that help to preserve hearing. Never, blow into a dog’s ear, even gently can hurt a dog. It’s not the actual act of the wind, but the frequency at which you blow. It’s like running your fingers on a blackboard, amplified hundreds of times!
• “According to tests made at the Institute for the Study of Animal Problems in Washington D.C., dogs & cats, like people, are either right-handed or left-handed: that is, they favor either their right or left paws.”
• The Beatles song ‘Martha My Dear’ was written by Paul McCartney about his sheepdog Martha. (Adopted from: http://rulingcatsanddogs.com/dogs-trivia-facts-canine-information.htm)

Reel Partner Of The Month! - 4 Seasons Climate Control

Ask The Reel Team: When Is A Good Time To Buy A House?

Buying a house is an exciting time. However, some buyers rush into the process without fully preparing themselves. There is a wrong and a right time to purchase a home. Before speaking with a lender, it helps to review your circumstances to determine if...
You Have A High Enough Credit Score
Mortgage lenders do not require perfect credit scores. However, the higher your FICO credit rating, the better your interest rate on a mortgage loan. You can likely qualify for a mortgage with a score around 650. In fact, FHA home loans only require a score of 620. But even   if you qualify for a mortgage, you won't receive the best interest rate on the home loan. Higher rates increase monthly payments, & if you can't afford a higher payment, you'll have to select a cheaper home or postpone buying. Scores 680 and above qualify for the most competitive rates on mortgages.

You Have A Handle On Your Debt

Another factor affecting mortgage rates & approvals is consumer debt. If you have high credit card balances, it can stop a mortgage application or result in a higher interest rate. Mortgage lenders use a housing ratio to   determine if someone can afford a home loan. And according to their ratio, a borrower's monthly debt payments (which includes the mortgage) should not exceed 36 percent of her monthly income. A car loan or excessive credit card payments can put borrowers over this limit. Waiting until debts are paid off or paid down helps borrowers qualify for a low-rate mortgage.

You Have Got A Stable Job

You may be tempted to apply for a mortgage loan after   acquiring your first job. Unfortunately, getting a mortgage loan while fresh on the job can prove challenging, if not impossible. According to the Home Loan Learning Center, mortgage lenders look at your employment history, and they require 24 months of consecutive employment.

You Have Saved Adequately

Being broke is definitely not the time to buy a home. Even if you can afford the mortgage payment, lack of cash in savings can postpone the mortgage process because buying a home requires upfront cash. Lenders charge an application fee, home appraisal fee & there's the fee for an inspection. Plus, you'll need a minimum of 5% to put down on your new property. This is in addition to closing costs, which can costs up to 5% of the loan balance. From: http:www.ehow.com/facts_7757096-goodrentbuy-house_.html

www.ehow.com/facts_5182827_better-rent-buy-house_.html

Reel Free Classifieds

$60 Pets 317-327-1397 They have over 100 pet options. Some highlights:

• Chanelle (Basset Hound Mix): She is an easy going girl, calm and gentle and not very demanding of attention. ID: A186028
• Peanut (Lab Mix): He can be timid, but warms up quickly.  ID:A184320
• Tonks (Beagle Mix): He is a sweet and playful boy who loves people and other dogs. ID:A186519
• Nala (Calico Mix):  She is a pretty calico with great markings. Nala likes to be pet and loved.ID:A181866
• Mufasa (Short Hair Mix): He has the softest coat and sweetest demeanor. This guy is so nice and calm. ID:A181159

Reel Deals

• FREE PUPPY Brindle Smooth Fox Terrier mix. Precious, cute, loving, sweet. Very loving of people. Bonds w/people quickly. Very good w/other dogs. Indoor house pet. 8 mos old. Spayed female. 317-578-5435
• LAWN ROLLER 18” Diameter, 36” Wide. $99.00. 317-847-0949
• PING PONG TABLE Folding, Standard Size, On Wheels, $75. (317)626-3553
• ROLLTOP DESK Oak, 4 ft. high by 4 ft.    6 in. wide. Good condition. $99.00. 317-773-6944

Charity Events

• Fri, Sept 7, 2012, 11:00 AM. United Way of Central Indiana's 'The BIG Kickoff' on Monument Circle.$5 Applebee's box lunches plus Dave and Rae on the Colts main stage. Raise funds for United Way by testing your field goal skills. 11 AM to 1 PM. 317-920-3460. www.uwci.org
• Sat, Sept 8, 2012, 9:00 AM. 2nd Annual Harvest Hustle 5K Run and Walk in Plainfield. A running event to raise funds to support the Christian Support Center's food pantry at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, a local organization that feeds 200-300 families each month. Prizes for top runners. www.reunionindy.com/
• Sun, Sept 16, 2012, 1:00 PM. 'Free to Breath Fort Wayne' Fundraising Event at Headwaters Park. A 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Walk, benefiting the   National Lung Cancer Partnership's research, education and awareness programs. Registration fee: $10-25. 1-4 608-828-8852. www.freetobreathe.org/fortwayne
• Sat, Sept 22, 2012, 10:00 AM. Walk to Defeat ALS at White River State Park. Participate in the annual Walk to Defeat ALS to help raise money to fight Lou Gehrig's disease. This is a free family event. Info: See Web site below or call 317-570-7000. walktodefeatals.org/
• Sun, Sept 23, 2012, 5:00 PM. Light the Night Walk at the Lake County Fairgrounds.
  The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's nationwide evening fundraising walk to celebrate and commemorate lives touched by cancer. 317-726-2270. www.lightthenight.org/in/