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THE MONTHLY BUZZ
Presented By EcoArmor
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July 2021
DO VACATIONS BRING FAMILIES CLOSER TOGETHER?
The Outdoors Vacation Is A Hopewell Family Tradition
The arrival of July brings back fond memories of past vacations. Spending true quality time with family can be difficult during the hustle of everyday life, but a vacation can give you the opportunity to slow things down, change things up, and enjoy all of the little and big moments of your summer together. I wrote a good bit about my father in last month’s Father’s Day edition. My dad has always been an extremely hard worker. Yet, he always made time for his family. I was extra lucky because, as a kid, I had many opportunities to spend time with him. My siblings and I have a huge age gap between all of us. My closest sibling is 8 years older than me, so I’ve grown up like an only child since I was about 10 years old. One of the most memorable vacations I had with my parents was when we’d travel to Colorado nearly every year for four or five years straight. Every time we went, we did something a little bit different, so we managed to do a whole range of activities: hot springs, sightseeing, hiking, and even water rafting. I had plenty of terrifying experiences while doing various outdoor activities as a 10-year-old! Water rafting on the Colorado River was definitely one of them, just because I was a small human being at that time.
friends along with us. It made our outdoor adventures a little more exciting.
Although we stopped making those huge trips out to Colorado, our family still gets together almost every year to spend some time out in the wilderness in Beavers Bend in Oklahoma. Everyone brings all the kids, we visit wildlife museums, and it’s a ton of fun. Growing up, these vacations definitely imparted the importance of family to me. No matter how hard my dad worked, he made sure to spend time with us without any distractions. Looking back, it taught me how important it is to have those experiences and memories — and to cherish them. You don’t have to spend very much on a vacation, either. Take your family out camping or hiking and try to enjoy those quiet moments while you can. As of writing this, I’ve just recently come back from a vacation I took with my wife and daughter, the first time as a family. I can’t wait to have many more. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy your summer this year. See you next month!
We’d drive to Colorado in a huge RV, but we’d take long, narrow roads in 100-degree weather up to Pikes Peak, where it’d be cold and snowing.
Hanging out in the RV was a blast as a kid. We spent over 15–20 hours a day playing cards and taking naps while getting to Colorado. Of course, we made plenty of stops along the way. Some of my favorite stops were corn mazes and a burlap sack slide. The slide was enormous, probably around 100–150- feet tall. You’d take a long staircase to the top, then sit on your burlap sack and go down the slide.
Jordan Hopewell
Our adventures were never limited to the three of us, though. We also would take other family (like my cousin) and family
“You don’t have to spend very much on a vacation, either. Take your family out camping or hiking and try to enjoy those quiet moments while you can.”
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FUN FACTS ABOUT THE FOURTH OF JULY You Can Share With Your Kids
Two future presidents signed the Declaration of Independence: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. They both died exactly 50 years later, on July 4, 1826. This fact is an interesting coincidence sure to fascinate
What do your kids know about the Fourth of July? Do they know it’s a day when you have a barbecue, spend time with friends and neighbors, and watch a fireworks show? These hallmarks of the holiday certainly do make it fun and memorable, but they don’t really exemplify why we celebrate the Fourth of July, the anniversary of when the United States declared its independence from Britain. So, along with the sparklers and hot dogs, here are a few fun facts about Independence Day you can share with your kids to help them understand the significance of the holiday. The Fourth of July marks our country’s independence because it’s when the Continental Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence. This fact might seem like a no-brainer, but it contextualizes the holiday for kids. It’s a great jumping-off point to talk about why the United States wanted to be its own country, what the Continental Congress was, what the Declaration of Independence said, and what it means to “ratify” something.
both kids and adults. It’s also a great way to introduce kids to some of the Founding Fathers and share how they helped shape the United States today.
In 1776, the year the United States was founded, only 2.5 million people lived here. Today, the U.S. population is 331 million. Lots of people have been born in the United States since it was founded, and millions more came here from other places, hoping to find a better life. Many succeeded, too. Many people want to call this country home! On the Fourth of July, around 155 million hot dogs are eaten in the United States. Okay, so this fact might not have anything to do with American history, but it’s still pretty funny! If anything, the fact that we have so many hot dogs to eat on that day is evidence of the prosperity so many people enjoy in the United States of America.
A NORTH TEXAN HOMEOWNER’S GUIDE FOR TERMITES
Lately, we’ve been getting a lot of calls about termites, so for this edition, we thought we’d talk about many of your burning questions. How do you spot these pests, and what should you do about preventing them, especially in older homes in humid areas? THE MOST COMMON TERMITE IN OUR AREA The eastern subterranean termite is the most common type that plagues this region. This species is small, rarely exceeding half an inch long, and they often form massive underground nests with thousands of members. Subterranean termites form a network of tunnels commonly referred to as mud tubes, which allow them safe passage from the nest to food sources. These tubes protect the insect from potential predators and dehydration and are often visible from the exterior of an infested property. WHAT DOES TERMITE DAMAGE LOOK LIKE? In some cases, property owners will notice that floors and ceilings begin creaking or sagging. As the termites erode the interior walls, they might begin to sound hollow, and discolored moisture damage will develop. This moisture damage stems from the accumulation of saliva and mud within.
As termites create further significant structural damage to a property, the owners commonly notice that windows and doors no longer open or close properly. The repairs are quite costly and typically are not covered by property insurance coverage, creating large out-of-pocket expenses. THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT TERMITES IS … Luckily, you can do several things to prevent termites, such as the following: • It is critical to prevent a property’s foundation from directly contacting the soil. Therefore, create a barrier using some inedible material, such as stone, steel, or plastic, that is treated with termiticide. • Termites need moisture to avoid dehydration and properly form their tubes. So, limit conditions that cause pooling water and keep crawlspaces properly ventilated to reduce humidity. • Consider using pine needles or a similar alternative to mulch and keep firewood piles stored away from the structure. We hope these tips help! As always, if you suspect that you have termite issues, don’t hesitate to call your favorite family-run local pest control company, EcoArmor (previously QuickSumo)!
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IT’S PICNIC SEASON! 3 Delicious Picnic Meal Ideas
S ummer is in full swing, and what better way to enjoy the warm, sunny weather than to go on a picnic? The best part about a picnic is that you can have it nearly anywhere. Go on a hike and pick a beautiful, high-altitude location to create some amazing memories. Whether you’re one person or a several-person family, here are a few ideas for your next outdoor meal!
CAPRESE SANDWICHES Pair With Pesto Zoodle Salad and Lemon Bars
Sandwiches are a picnic classic, and they can even be deliciously gourmet if you bring along some fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, tomatoes (including heirloom varieties), grilled or fried chicken, and your favorite bread. Pack a few small dressing containers of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and you have some superb to-go sandwiches! These sandwiches pair great with cold pesto “pasta” salad using zucchini noodles (zoodles) and your favorite lemon bar recipe.
BABA GHANOUSH
ALIEN BALLPARK CHERRY FIRECRACKER FLAG INDEPENDENCE
ORCHID PADDLEBOARD PATRIOTIC SUNDAE SUNSCREEN TRAMPOLINE
Pair With Pita Bread, Mediterranean Chickpea Salad, and Baklava Want to go on a
Mediterranean picnic? Eggplants are in peak season starting in July, so try this delicious, healthy
eggplant dip — baba ghanoush! Although it takes a bit of effort, it’s incredibly rewarding and
It’s blueberry season! Whip up this simple muffin recipe to celebrate in style. PLANT-BASED BLUEBERRY MUFFINS
pairs deliciously with a Mediterranean chickpea salad (roasted chickpeas, cucumber, red onion,
goat or feta cheese, medjool dates, cherry
tomatoes, fresh basil or mint, and dressing with cumin, lemon juice, fresh garlic and olive oil). Pick up or bake some baklava as a final sweet touch.
INGREDIENTS
• • • • • •
• • • • •
1 cup soy milk
1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp canola oil 1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour
CRAB CAKES Pair With Homemade Remoulade Sauce, Potato Salad, and Rhubarb Blondie Brownies Here’s a wonderful American- styled picnic that’ll hold up in transport — crusty yet tender crab cakes, matched with creamy, spicy
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
Zest of 1 lemon
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups fresh blueberries
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a muffin tin and set aside. 2. In a bowl, combine soy milk and apple cider vinegar. Set aside. 3. In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. 4. In a third bowl, combine sugar, oil, vanilla extract, and lemon zest. Add milk mixture and stir, then add flour mixture. Stir to combine until well-incorporated but not smooth. Fold in the blueberries. 5. Spoon batter into muffin tin, filling each well 3/4 full. Bake 20–25 minutes, cool, and enjoy!
remoulade sauce (mayo, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper), your favorite potato salad recipe, and rhubarb blondie brownies (cook rhubarb until jammy, add rhubarb in a baking pan with blondie brownie dough before baking, “swirling” it in the dough without distributing it completely).
We hope these picnic themes with a few preparation ideas will inspire you to picnic very soon! Thanks for reading and have a beautiful July.
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279 Highview Lane, Anna, TX 75409 | 214-334-1466 | Eco-armor.com
1 Create New Memories in 2021 — Go on Vacation 2 Fourth of July Fun Facts to Share With the Kids A North Texan Homeowner’s Guide for Termites 3 3 Delicious Picnic Meal Ideas Plant-Based Blueberry Muffins 4 The Paddleboard Craze Is Here to Stay INSIDE
WHAT'S 'SUP? The Stand-Up Paddleboard Craze That Never Went Away
Outdoor and exercise crazes come and go almost as fast as hairstyles and popular app games do. But every once in a while, a trend comes along that remains popular — think karate, which spiked in the ‘60s and again in the ‘80s, and it can still be found in almost every American city to this day. Back in 2013, one such trend arose: the stand-
Beachboys, showed the world a new way to hit the water in the first decade of the 21st century.
Unlike other crazes, the gear was simple and the activity beginner-friendly. To start, you only need a paddle, a board, a life preserver, and of course, a place to go! It’s a new way to see the water, which only boosted its popularity. Even veteran water sports enthusiasts weren’t used to standing on the water instead of sitting in a boat! But according to the industry’s own numbers, that popularity never died down. As it turns out, SUP is a good way to get around, and a lot of folks need that. Many cities, such as San Antonio, feature “paddling trails” that let SUP practitioners see the city in a new way or even commute via their board. How cool is that? If you’re looking for a new hobby this summer, it’s easy to rent a stand-up paddleboard and learn the basics. Take a class, head out into the water, and give it a shot. Who knows, you might be one of the thousands of Americans to discover a lifelong passion!
up paddleboard, or SUP for short.
The act of standing on a floating piece of wood in a surfboard shape and paddling (or poling) yourself along likely goes back thousands of years, but the SUP craze can be traced back to one man — and he’s not even in his 60s yet! That man is famous surfer Laird Hamilton, a household name in a sport that doesn’t usually generate them. And Laird, along with the Waikiki
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