April 2011
Our Community Is Growing!
Spring is in the air – again! Hopefully, it’s here to stay this time and not just flirting with us again. The trees are budding and hopefully things will start looking green again very soon. It was a difficult winter, but Spring always brings a lift to the heart and mood as flowers bloom and life is renewed all around us. The last few weeks have been busy as far as people moving into our community, too. We have seen quite a few homes change hands and some new homes move into the community. Welcome to all of our new neighbors! Please be sure and take the time to introduce yourself to the new folks who may be living next door to you or just down the street. If you don’t have new neighbors yet, keep watching, they are turning up in different places all around the community. One of the best ways of providing security to our individual homes and our neighborhood is to know our neighbors and to look out for each other. This is the easiest and most inexpensive way to maintain the safety of our community. And we can all do it! It just takes a little time and effort. Please take the time to be friendly and neighborly. Cookies are optional…
Strong Winds and Home Inspections Ahead
Oklahoma is a windy place a lot of the time, but especially in the Spring. With stronger than normal winds and Spring inspections at hand, it’s a good time to make sure your home is ready for both. Here are a few things you might want to check on:
1) Are your shutters securely fastened to your home? 2) Are your trash cans stored in such a way that they will not wind up across the street 3) Are there loose items around the outside of your home that could blow away? If so, you need to secure them, store them or simply get rid of them. Finally, be sure that all trash that is set out is placed in bags that are securely tied. Taking a look around and tidying up the outside of your home will give you a head-start on preparing for inspections, too!
COMMUNITY NEWS!
Congratulations to the Pederson family! They won the drawing for March and received a $25.00 Lowe’s Gift Card!
Don’t forget about our resident referral program. If you refer someone to Johanna Woods and they buy a home or lease a lot here, you will get a free months rent!
For Johanna Woods Only….
April is officially Home Improvement Month and since it also marks the beginning of our annual Spring inspections it seems appropriate that we help with someone’s home improvement chores! So for April we will be having another drawing for a $25.00 Lowe’s gift card. Whether your are planning improvements to the inside or outside, there is surely something they can help you with. Your on-time rent payment is your entry for the drawing. Good Luck!
The Dollar Stretcher
This months column will focus on saving money on your laundry. Did you know that 90% of the cost of doing laundry can come from heating the water? A simple switch to cold water washing for all but the most heavily soiled items can save you a lot of money automatically every year. Even if you wash with warm or hot water and don’t want to change that practice, you can still save some money by making sure you use cold water for the rinse cycle. Another common mistake that leads to higher than necessary laundry costs is using too much laundry detergent. Always measure your detergent and you will save some money every year. Studies show that using too much laundry soap will actually keep your clothes from getting as clean as they could because too much detergent keeps the water from doing its part in the washing. Always go by the measurements provided in most detergent lids. If you can’t see them, get a permanent marker and make them easier to see so you don’t pour money down the drain, via your washing machine! Finally, when you are shopping for clothes avoid clothing that needs to be dry cleaned whenever possible. With the price of gas increasing, every trip to the dry cleaners to drop off or pick up clothing costs you more!
Cook’s Corner
Grilled Marinated Shrimp
Ingredients:
1 Cup Olive Oil
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1 lemon, juiced
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce
2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails attached
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
skewers
Directions:
Mix the olive oil, parsley, lemon juice, hot sauce, garlic, tomato paste, oregano, salt and black pepper together in a medium size mixing bowl. Set a small amount of this mixture aside for basting. Pour the remaining marinade into a large re-sealable plastic bag, add the shrimp and seal the bag. Turn the bag several times to disperse the marinade, then place in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Preheat the grill for medium-low heat. Place the shrimp on the skewers and discard the marinade in the bag. Lightly oil the grill grate and cook the shrimp for 5 minutes per side, or until the shrimp is opaque in color. Baste frequently with the reserved marinade while cooking. Remove shrimp from skewers and enjoy!
Community Calendar
April 1st – Rent is Due.
April 6th – Unpaid rent is late and subject to a $25.00 late fee.
April 18th – Mail you taxes by midnight tonight!
April 22nd – Good Friday. The Office will be closed.
April 24th – Resurrection Sunday/Easter! Don’t lose the meaning of this day among the colored eggs and candy…