JUNE 2009

What’s in Your Backyard?
Have you ever noticed how the homes in Johanna Woods are positioned on the lots? Most of the homes are set so that the front doors don’t face the street. This is one of the big differences between our community and site-built home communities and is probably due, in large part, to the fact that we are primarily a community of single-section homes. Now, all of that was extra, here’s the point. Since most of our homes have front doors that do not face the street, it means our front doors do face our neighbor’s home, usually the back of our neighbor’s home. With that in mind let me repeat the question, What’s in your backyard? Whatever it is, it’s the first thing your neighbors see when they go out their front door everyday. It’s also the first thing their friends and family see when they walk up to their front door. Do you have a shed that needs repair? Would you consider it an eyesore if it were in your front yard? If you keep your trashcans by the back door, are they neat or do you just toss your trash bags out the door and forget about them until trash day? How about the back steps? Are they in good repair? Curb appeal is an important aspect of any community, but, as homeowners we need to be concerned with our entire home site. It’s very easy for a manufactured home community to become a trailer park. All it takes is for the homeowners and management to stop paying attention to our homes and lots. It requires far more work to avoid looking like a trailer park, but it’s worth the effort. Have you looked in your backyard lately? Would you be pleased to have whatever’s there in your front yard? If not, now’s the time to fix it!
Your neighbors will thank you!

Going Green the Natural Way!
It’s one of those phrases that’s being overused, but have you noticed how lovely and green we look after all of the rain? It seemed like it might never stop, but you sure can’t complain about how bright and pretty everything is because of it. We appreciate all of you who worked so hard to keep up with your yard work while dodging the raindrops over the last few weeks. Thank you!

Celebrating Flag Day
The American flag is one of the most complicated in the world. No other flag needs 64 pieces of fabric to make. National flags are not merely symbols of a country. Their colors and designs convey past history and future goals. The current flag has 13 red and white alternating stripes (representing the original 13 states) and 50 stars (each star represents one of the states of the Union) on a blue background. The first flag, called the Grand Union, was first flown at the headquarters of the Continental Army on January 1, 1776. Betsy Ross, a seamstress, is said to have contributed to this design along with George Washington. There were some Flag Day observances in large cities that began in the 1870′s, but in 1949, President Harry Truman signed into law an Act of Congress that National Flag Day be observed every June 14th. The United States Flag Code, as adopted by Congress, states ìThe flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.î This is why we should give the flag our full respect. Now you know how this event came to be celebrated!

Johanna Woods Salutes Dads
They come in all colors, all shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common: they are vitally important to their children. Every little boy needs to see his dad being a man… taking on the daily responsibilities, and being faithful to the awesome task of taking care of the family. This is how he learns to be a man. Every little girl needs a dad to love and to be her ìspecial beauî so she can learn what it is she needs to look for in the man she will marry. Happy Father’s Day Dad, you are indispensable!

Grilled Lime Chicken
Ingredients:
1/2 cup lime juice 1/3 cup olive oil
4 green onions, chopped 3 tbsp. dill
4 garlic cloves, minced 1/4 tsp. pepper
8 boneless, skinless chicken breast

Directions:
Use a 1-gallon zip-top plastic bag, set in a large bowl. Put the first 6 ingredients in a 1-gallon zip-top plastic bag and “mush” to mix. Add chicken to the bag, seal it and mush again to coat chicken the well. Place the bag of ingredients in a large bowl.

Refrigerate the bagged ingredients for a minimum of 2 to 4 hours–all day is better. Grill for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and juices run clear. Enjoy!

Note: You can buy lime juice, but this is better if you buy some limes and squeeze them. Fresh is best!