It’s part of holiday tradition to celebrate with family and friends and to share gifts with our loved ones.  There’s no measuring how much is spent on the combined effort and money to find the perfect gift.

The challenge is to identify the right gift in the right color and size; something they really want and need; and something that won’t break the budget.

“Eight Gifts That Do Not Cost a Cent” are suggestions that have been offered on numerous Internet sites attributed to an anonymous writer.  They may be just what you need to find the perfect gift.

THE GIFT OF LISTENING…but you must really listen. No interrupting; no daydreaming; no planning your response; just listening.

THE GIFT OF AFFECTION…be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends.

THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER…clip cartoons and share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say “I love to laugh with you.”

THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE…it can be a simple “thanks for the help” note or a full letter. A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime and may even change a life.

THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT…a simple and sincere, “you look great in red” or “you did a super job” or “that was a wonderful meal” can make someone’s day.

THE GIFT OF A FAVOR… go out of your way every day to do something kind.

THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE…there are times when a person wants nothing more than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others.

THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION…the easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone. It’s really not that hard to say Hello or Thank You.

Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

Blights, wilts, and viruses are just a few of the terms that many backyard gardeners have received a rude and unwanted introduction to this growing season. 

Although diseases can appear despite your best efforts, if you’re familiar with their symptoms and the controls that can be used against them, you’ll have a better chance of stopping them before they can become a problem.

Sensible Cultural Practices to Keep Plant Diseases at Bay
While good gardening practices will fend off many diseases, you can’t always prevent a disease from attacking a prized plant. To help keep plant problems under control, try taking the following steps:

• Transplant Carefully – This minimizes root damage. When broken, roots are susceptible to certain soil born diseases.
• Keep Plants Healthy – Give them the water, light and fertilizer they need to flourish.
• Keep the Garden Clean – Do a thorough fall cleanup each year utilizing your favorite garden tools. Remove weeds, since pathogens may over-winter on them. Strip off any diseased leaves remaining on plants and rake up and discard all diseased leaves on the ground. You may also want to rake up other garden debris, though; if not diseased, it can serve as good mulch.
• Buy Disease-Resistant Plants – Vegetable seed packets are labeled to indicate the particular plant’s disease resistance. Plant tags on fruit trees or ornamental trees and shrubs also contain this information.
• Take Care Not To Injure Plants – An open wound on a plant stem or tree trunk readily admits bacteria and fungi.
• Avoid Wet Weather Garden Work – You may unwittingly spread water-borne pathogens as you move about from one spot to the next.
• Remove Diseased Plants – If certain plants are constantly afflicted by disease, eliminate them from the garden and replace them with less troublesome choices. This solution is simpler than trying to control the disease, and it removes the source of further infection.
• Install a Drip Irrigation System – Minimize the splashing water that can spread water-borne pathogens.

Unfriendly Sources of Backyard Garden Diseases
Fungi, bacteria and viruses are the pathogens most often responsible for plant diseases. Unlike green plants, these organisms are incapable of manufacturing their own food and must instead take it from a host plant. Fungi can live in the soil, but the bacteria and viruses that cause plant problems cannot survive outside of their host.

Fungi multiply by tiny reproductive bodies called spores, which they produce in great quantity. Spores of some fungi enter plants through the roots; others land on leaves, where they attach and complete their life cycle.

Simple Organisms Create Complex Problems
Bacteria need water and warmth to multiply, so the diseases they cause tend to be more prevalent in warm, wet climates. These single-celled organisms enter plants through wounds and cuts.

Viruses are even smaller than bacteria; they can reproduce only within the actual cells of the host organism. Some viruses are transmitted by insects such as aphids, leafhoppers and thrips; others are carried by infected seeds and pollen. Viruses also enter plants through wounds and cuts.

Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

The home-buying process is a high-stakes thrill ride full of exhilarating ups and scary downs, but unquestionably one of the most deflating moments is when the appraisal comes in significantly lower than the accepted offer. This is, to use technical real estate lingo, “a bummer.”

Change the way you use mobile email forever with the incredible new app Spark by Readdle.  Spark’s smart features are convenient and easy to use, giving you a stress-free, personal email experience.  Here are just a few of several perks that Spark has to offer.

Spark lets you choose how you view your inbox.  In addition to the traditional main inbox, which organizes your emails in chronological order, Spark’s new smart inbox feature automatically groups emails into categories.  Using the smart inbox view will keep your newsletters, app notifications, and personal emails sorted out, making it easier to find what you’re looking for.  

You can further customize your inbox by using swipes.  Important emails can be swiped and pinned to the very top of your inbox so they’re always within reach. Conversely, emails that aren’t your top priority can be swiped and snoozed.  When an email is snoozed, Spark will send a push notification reminding you about it at a time more convenient for you.

Spark’s streamlined interface and powerful integration make it incredibly easy to use by itself or in conjunction with your favorite cloud services.  Easily attach files from the cloud or save attachments to it.  No matter what type of attachment you send or receive, Spark can support it.  Spark also lets your search for attachments (or anything else, for that matter) using a smart search feature, allowing you to search based on the actual content rather than keywords.

A mobile email app should make it easy for you to send, receive, and organize your emails, and Spark does all that and more!  Spark is available for iPhone and Apple Watch, and iPad and Mac versions are currently underway.  Download Spark today and change the way you use mobile email forever!

Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News