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Fall Maintenance Checklist

National Preparedness Month

Being a Good Neighbor

Celebrate Fruits & Veggies—More Matters Month

Fall Maintenance Checklist

Maintain your equipment to prevent future problems and unwanted costs. Keep your cooling and heating system at peak performance by having a contractor do annual pre-season check-ups. Contractors get busy once summer and winter come, so it's best to check the cooling system in the spring and the heating system in the fall. To remember, you might plan the check-ups around the time changes in the spring and fall.

A typical maintenance check-up should include the following:

• Check thermostat settings to ensure the cooling and heating system keeps you comfortable when you are home and saves energy while you are away.

• Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors. Faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation of your system and reduce the life of major components.

• Lubricate all moving parts. Parts that lack lubrication cause friction in motors and increases the amount of electricity you use.

• Check and inspect the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode). A plugged drain can cause water damage in the house and affect indoor humidity levels.

• Check controls of the system to ensure proper and safe operation. Check the starting cycle of the equipment to assure the system starts, operates, and shuts off properly.

Heating Specific

• Check all gas (or oil) connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger. Improperly operating gas (or oil) connections are a fire hazard and can contribute to health problems. A dirty burner or cracked heat exchanger causes improper burner operation. Either can cause the equipment to operate less safely and efficiently.

Actions to Do Yourself

• Inspect, clean, or change air filters once a month in your central air conditioner, furnace, and/or heat pump. Your contractor can show you how to do this. A dirty filter can increase energy costs and damage your equipment, leading to early failure.

www.energystar.gov

September is National Preparedness Month

Be Prepared…Be Informed

Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as making an emergency supply kit and developing a family communications plan, are the same for both a natural or man-made emergency. However, there are important differences among potential emergencies that will impact the decisions you make and the actions you take. Learn more about the potential emergencies that could happen where you live and the appropriate way to respond to them.

In addition, learn about the emergency plans that have been established in your area by your state and local government.

Knowing what to do during an emergency is an important part of being prepared and may make all the difference when seconds count.

Don't Forget Your Pets

Remember to make a list of vets or veterinary hospitals in other cities where you might need to temporarily shelter your pet if evacuating the area.

Visit www.ready.gov to view a full list of states and local government organizations in your area to see how you can prepare for emergencies that could happen where you live.

Being a Good Neighbor

Taking the time to establish good terms with your neighbors has numerous benefits. The community will be friendlier, the neighborhood safer, and the area a nicer and more comfortable place to live.

1. Introduce yourself if you're new in the neighborhood or new residents have just moved in on your block.

2. Control your dog. Keep your dog on a leash if it has a habit of running rampant on your neighbors' lawns, especially if they have a cat or a dog of their own, and make sure to clean up after it.

3. Practice parking etiquette. Park in front of your home, not theirs. Avoid slamming car doors and over-revving the engine of your car or motorcycle early in the morning or late at night.

4. Alert your neighbor to parties. If you're planning a party, be sure to give your neighbors plenty of warning, letting them know when it's going to start and how long you expect it to go on.

5. Keep your yard tidy. Promote a pleasing neighborhood and encourage your neighbors to do the same. Keeping up appearances helps everyone's property values.

Excerpted from Wiki How

National Home Safety Month

National Iced Tea Month

June 14th: Flag Day

June 19th: Father’s Day

June 21st: Summer Begins

Raspberry Iced Tea

Ingredients:

• 1 gallon water

• 3 (3 ounce) large tea bags

• 1 cup fresh raspberries

• 1/2 cup white sugar

• 1/2 cup powdered lemonade mix (such as Country Time®)

• Ice cubes

Directions:

Bring the water to a boil in a large pot, and stir in the tea bags, raspberries, and sugar until the sugar has dissolved. Allow the mixture to steep until the desired level of tea flavor is reached, 3 to 5 minutes; remove tea bags, and stir in the lemonade mix until dissolved. Pour tea into pitchers, and add ice to cool.

How to Maintain Your Central Air Conditioner

Besides changing an air filter once a month, central air doesn’t require much in the way of maintenance. By following the steps below you may be able to avoid future repair bills. Remember to check the manufacturer’s instructions before starting any maintenance and remember to turn the unit OFF.

• Clean or change air filter (once a month).The air filter is the most important part of your cooling system. If it becomes clogged, then your system will have to work harder and longer to supply the same amount of cool air.

• Clean indoor coil (once a year). A dirty coil will hinder the unit's ability to cool the air moving through the unit. This makes the unit work harder, wasting energy and money.

• Brush and vacuum the fan blades and fan enclosure area (once a year) to keep your air conditioner running at maximum efficiency.

• Keep outdoor condenser unit free from debris (as needed). Anything obstructing the unit will prevent it from dissipating heat as effectively, making the unit work harder. This wastes energy and money.

National Deck Safety Month

National Salad Month

May 5th: Cinco de Mayo

May 8th: Mother’s Day

May 21st: Armed Forces Day

May 30th: Memorial Day

Blackberry Pear
Asian Salad

Don't overlook the value that fresh fruit and berries can add to a salad.

Ingredients

• 1 package (5 ounces) spring mix lettuce

• 3/4 cup sliced or cubed cucumber

• 2 green onions, thinly sliced

• 1 ripe pear, cored and cut into 16 thin wedges

• 1 package (6 ounces) blackberries

• 1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds

• 1/4 cup prepared Sesame

• Ginger Salad Dressing

Instructions
Arrange lettuce, cucumber and green onions on four salad plates. Top each with 4 wedges of pear, one quarter of blackberries and 1 tablespoon almonds.
Drizzle each salad with 1 tablespoon of dressing.

Going Green this Summer? Quick Tips for Your Landscape

• Plant a tree. Carefully positioned trees can save up to 25 percent of the energy a typical household uses for cooling.

• Consider water use when replacing the irrigation system—native plants are well adapted to the amount of water your community usually gets and will cut down on overall watering needs.

• Replace outdoor floodlights with compact-fluorescent versions—they’re just as bright and use 1/4 the energy.

• Replace low-wattage halogen landscape bulbs with LED versions. They cut energy use by over 80 percent and can last for 10 years or more.

National Garden Month

April 1st: April Fool’s Day
or All Fool’s Day

April 22nd: Earth Day

April 24th: Easter Sunday

April 29th: Arbor Day

Celebrate Earth Day with These Natural Air Freshener Alternatives

Commercial air fresheners don't remove odors, they just mask them—and coat your nasal passages in the process, which diminishes your sense of smell. If you have a stubborn odor lingering in your home, try one of these natural air freshening alternatives instead:

• Place small bowls of baking soda in bathrooms, kitchens and hall closets

• Grind lemon or orange peels in the garbage disposal

• Simmer cinnamon or cloves in a few inches of water on the stovetop

• Open your windows to keep the air circulating and to prevent odors from lingering

holidays.net/earthday

Surprise your family this April Fool’s Day with a Spaghetti Torte

Bet you’ve never had spaghetti like this before! It looks like a fancy torte, but it’s still the same pasta, sauce and cheese combo that the whole family loves.

What you’ll need:

• A large springform pan, generously greased

• Your favorite pasta sauce

• Mozzarella or provolone cheese

• Ricotta cheese or more pasta sauce for "frosting"

1. Toss your favorite pasta sauce with about a pound of cooked pasta.

2. Gently fold a couple of beaten eggs into the pasta mixture, and then spread half of this mixture into the well-greased springform pan.

3. Sprinkle the pasta with shredded provolone or mozzarella cheese, and cover the cheese with the remaining pasta mixture.

4. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F
(175 degrees C) for 30 minutes.

5. Allow the spaghetti "cake" to rest about 15 minutes before unmolding it from the springform pan.

6. "Frost" this tasty cake with ricotta cheese or drizzle it with more pasta sauce just before serving.

American Red Cross Month

March 13: Spring ahead! Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins (except Arizona and Hawaii) at 2:00 a.m. local time in the U.S. Turn clocks ahead one hour.

March 17: St. Patrick’s Day

March 20: Spring begins

March 20–26: National Poison Prevention Week

Federal Tax Deadline Pushed 3 Days—Deadline is April 18

Taxpayers will have until Monday, April 18 to file their 2010 tax returns because Emancipation Day, a holiday observed in the District of Columbia, falls this year on Friday, April 15. By law, District of Columbia holidays impact tax deadlines in the same way that federal holidays do. Taxpayers requesting an extension will have until Oct. 17 to file their 2010 tax returns.

Baked Pork Spring Rolls

Ingredients

1/2 pound ground pork

1 cup finely shredded cabbage

1/4 cup finely shredded carrot

2 green onions, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1/2 teaspoon sesame oil

1/2 tablespoon oyster sauce

2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger root

1-1/2 teaspoons minced garlic

1 teaspoon chili sauce

1 tablespoon corn starch

1 tablespoon water

12 (7 inch square) spring roll wrappers

4 teaspoons vegetable oil

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425º F.

2. Place pork in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Remove from heat and drain.

3. In a medium bowl, mix together pork, cabbage, carrot, green onions, cilantro, sesame oil, oyster sauce, ginger, garlic and chili sauce.

4. Mix corn starch and water in a small bowl.

5. Place approximately 1 tablespoon of the pork mixture in the center of spring roll wrappers. Roll wrappers around the mixture, folding edges inward to close. Moisten fingers in the corn starch and water mixture, and brush wrapper seams to seal.

6. Arrange spring rolls in a single layer on a medium baking sheet. Brush with vegetable oil. Bake in the preheated oven 20 minutes, until hot and lightly browned. For crispier spring rolls, turn after 10 minutes.

Courtesy of: All Recipes

February 2: Groundhog Day

February 3: Chinese New Year

February 6: Super Bowl XLV

February 14–20: Random Acts of Kindness Week

February 14: Valentine’s Day

February 21: Presidents Day Holiday

Super Bowl Trivia

• What does XLV mean? 45 and here's why! X=10, L=50, V=5. So as the X comes before L you take ten away from the 50 and then add the five.

• The second largest food consumption day in the U.S. is Super Bowl Sunday, trailing only Thanksgiving.

• Even with three games tied in the final minute, there has yet to be a Super Bowl overtime.

• There has never been a shutout in the history of the Super Bowl. The lowest point total for a team in the Super Bowl was 3 points.

Hugs and
Kisses Salad

Ingredients

1 large bunch fresh spinach (or other tender greens)

8–9 large strawberries

8–9 large mushrooms

1/2 cup slivered almonds (toasted)

2 tablespoons sesame seeds

1/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon of finely minced

green onion

Directions

1. Wash and spin dry the greens, pinch off the stems and place the leaves in a beautiful bowl.

2. Choose strawberries with pointed ends. Cut the stem out in a wedge shape so that the strawberry looks like a heart. Slice the berries thin, maintaining the heart shape.

3. Thoroughly clean the mushrooms, slice thin and toss into the spinach.

4. Toast the slivered almonds and the sesame seeds and set aside.

5. Whisk together the sugar, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, and olive oil. Add the onion and whisk well.

6. Toss into the salad, garnish with the toasted seeds and almonds and serve.

Courtesy of food.com

"Where there is love, there is life"—Mahatma Gandhi

Air Seal and Insulate with ENERGY STAR

Instant Curb Appeal

Get Organized in 2011

National Soup Month

Lentil Soup Recipe

This Winter Air Seal and Insulate with ENERGY STAR

Sealing and insulating your home—its outer walls, ceiling, windows, doors, and floors—is often the most cost effective way to improve energy efficiency and comfort. ENERGY STAR estimates that a knowledgeable homeowner can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs (or up to 10 percent on their total annual energy bill) by sealing and insulating.

Sealing Leaks: Many air leaks and drafts are easy to find because they are easy to feel—like those around windows and doors. But holes hidden in attics are usually bigger problems. Sealing these leaks with caulk, spray foam, or weather stripping will have a great impact on improving your comfort and reducing utility bills.

Adding Insulation: Insulation keeps your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There are several common types of insulation—fiberglass (in both batt and blown forms), cellulose, rigid foam board, and spray foam.

To get the biggest savings, the easiest place to add insulation is usually in the attic. A quick way to see if you need more insulation is to look across your uncovered attic floor. If your insulation is level with or below the attic floor joists, you probably need to add more insulation.

Sealing Ducts: In houses with forced-air heating and cooling systems, ducts are used to distribute conditioned air throughout the house. In a typical house, about 20 percent of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks and poorly sealed connections. The result is higher utility bills and difficulty keeping the house comfortable, no matter how the thermostat is set.

For information on how to do-it-yourself, visit your local home improvement store and visit www.energystar.gov

Projects for Instant Curb Appeal

Tips and tricks to make your home look its best this Winter

Check out these tips excerpted from an article found at www.familyhandyman.com.

• Paint, paint, paint: Few projects can transform a house as dramatically and inexpensively as paint. Top-notch paint costs only a few dollars more per gallon, but it will cover better, go on smoother and last longer than the cheap stuff—it's a smart investment.

• Install new house numbers: Replace shabby or dated-looking numbers with ones made of brass, aluminum or stainless steel. They’ll look best if the finish matches that of the light fixture and door hardware.

• Upgrade your mailbox: A new mailbox updates your home’s overall appeal.

• Line a walkway with bricks or pavers: Look for a wide assortment of pavers at brickyards and garden centers.

• Replace a light fixture: Consider function as well as style when selecting a fixture; it should light up your steps, house numbers and door without being too dominant.

• Plant a tree: Plant a tree and you get not only curb appeal but also shade, fall color and an improved view from the inside.

• Add low-voltage lighting: Low-voltage lights are available in many styles and create safer walkways and add dramatic nighttime style.

• Install shutters: Decorative shutters can add color, quaintness and depth to a house.

• Install flower boxes: Mount a window box below double-hung, slide-by or stationary windows. Build your own window box or buy one from a garden center.

For the full article visit: www.familyhandyman.com

Get Organized in 2011

Looking for tips and tricks to get organized this year? Visit the super cool website organizedhome.com/printable! A great online resource for all your organization needs. Just a few of the free printables include:

• Household Notebook: 41 images of printable inventory forms, menu planners, information pages and household checklists for your household notebook, home management binder or family planner.

• Printable Calendars: 24 free printable calendar pages; find one or two that suit your needs.

• Lined Blank Pages: pick from 9 images for lined pages to track lists, notes or other information to help you stay organized.
• Spring Cleaning Checklists: 14 images to help you track and organize weekly assignments for your cleaning. It's never too early to start!

• Crafts and Hobbies: Free printable inventory pages, planners and checklists for sewing, scrapbooking, crafts, etc.

• Sidetracked Home Executives: 9 printable pages to help organize your home.

For all this and more, visit organizedhome.com