August-September 2010 Aire Magazine

August/September 2010 1

Forget-Me-Not Ant iques & Col lectables

The Fishing Hole

Inside this Issue:

ProphecyHome Grown

Back To School

2 August/September 2010


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Contents

20

ON THE COVER:As a family owned business Linda combined her love of antiques with Reggie’s

passion for fishing with Forget-Me-Not Antiques & Collectibles and The Fishin’ Hole.

Forget-Me-Not Antiques & Collectibes has a quaint mall atmosphere where you will find that you can smartly decorate your home with a vast variety of antiques and collectibles. You will also find Nana’s Fudge and Brown Bag Lunch, so come in for a free taste of fudge or enjoy lunch in a clean friendly atmosphere.

The Fishin’ Hole, located inside Forget-Me-Not Antiques & Collectibles, carries all your brand name tackle. Largemouth bass, walleye, trout, crappie, smallmouth bass or catfish, whatever your species we have fishing tackle and fishing lures for you. The Fishin’ Hole offers name brand fishing tackle plus a complete selection of specialty items such as, rods, reels, fishing hooks, bulk plastic worms, spinner blades, lure skirts, fishing apparel, and much more.

Be sure to drop into today at Hwy 67 and H in Farmington, Missouri.


Trivia Prophecy

Trivia How to Predict Your Future Every Nine Years

Back to School Too Many

A Field Trip With Grandma

Gotta Eat Making Munchies Matter

Reel Time

Aire on the Square Home Grown & and Fete De L’Automne

Money Discover the Secrets of Increasing your Credit Score! Local Tek A Letter to Small Business Owners

Sportsmans Hunting and Fishing Finding a Snake in the Grass

Automotive Minute All Tuned Up

DIY Nearly Invisible

Inspiration Two Horses

Puzzles

Classifieds

Couplons


Trivia

“The Prophecy of the Titanic”One gloomy night in April, in the year 1898, the largest luxury passenger ocean liner

of its day struck an iceberg. The ocean became an icy blue graveyard in a few hours, the dead bloated from sea water, dying due to the lack of the proper number of lifeboats on board. Most of the 2,500 men, women and children perished needlessly. But wait! This is not the Titanic. This is a synopsis from the novel THE WRECK OF THE TITAN by an unsuccessful British writer, Morgan Robertson, whose book was published more than a decade before the horrid events of April 14, 1912, the day the British passenger ocean liner, the Titanic, sank after hitting an iceberg. The main reason so many perished that night was the lack of enough lifeboats. Coincidence, or did Robertson have a special insight, a premonition, a prophecy? You have to decide, but decide wisely. Your fate may depend on it.“The Man in the Mirror” The nearby clock tower strikes its haunting chimes twelve times...the witching hour. A lonely woman stirs from under her bed sheets, lighting a candle that casts a jagged shadow of her upon the curtains. She sits in front of her mirror, apprehensions settling in as uncertainty is replaced by fear. The candle is lifted up to her shoulder, the flame macabre dancing from the open window’s draft. The candle is almost dropped from her ivory hand as her face turns ashen...for there in the mirror, looking over her shoulder, is the face of a man. In American lore, a woman is supposed to be able to predict who she will marry if she looks in a mirror on Halloween night at the stroke of midnight. In the mirror will be the face of her future husband. If you are already married and you still see a face when you look in a mirror, you better call the police.“Finding an Appealing Person” In colonial days, a woman who wished to find out the initials of her future husband would peel a potato or an apple without breaking the skin. She would then throw it over her shoulder and let the unbroken peel fall on the ground. The peeling would reveal the initials of her beloved or reveal that she has a pretty good imagination to read English letters out of that.

Prophecyby David Easter


“No Tea Bags Allowed” Reading tea leaves to predict your future is as simple as making tea. Using tea leaves to brew your tea, drink the tea straight. Then, when you empty the cup, pick the cup up in your left hand and drain out the remaining tea. If you are a woman turn the cup counterclockwise upside down over the saucer three to seven times. If you are a man, turn the cup clockwise. Now look at the bottom of the cup, as well as its sides and at the top. Keep the handle pointing south at all times while reading the leaves. Leaves that stay on the bottom mean that you are to experience deep sorrow in the future. Any leaves in the middle predict the next few days. Leaves at the top of the cup are immediate. Look closely at the leaves. Do you detect an image of something? The following are just a few images you could see and their meaning: snake [temptation is coming your way], mouse [financial woes], rat [danger], horse [a new lover], goat [misfortune], spider [luck is coming your way], hen [your wife is pregnant], peacock [getting real estate], hammer [triumphant], ladder [get ready to travel], scissors [you will be in a fight], steeple [disappointment], umbrella [troubles are coming], apple [a long life], acorn [better health is on the way], and a clock showing the time of 7:00 or 9:00 [death in the family]. However, a clock showing midnight means prosperity. Good luck if in one reading you show a horse, a hen and scissors.“Bird Brained Romans” Roman prophets, known as augurs, would try to predict the future in various ways. One way was to place their alphabet on the ground. Grains would be placed on each letter. The augurs sat back in hiding and awaited birds to alight and eat the grain. Later in the day, the augurs would write down the letters that still had grain on them. The gods answered their questions by the letters left behind. All the augurs had to do was to interpret the answer by rearranging the letters into a meaningful message. Thus was the beginning of Scrabble.“World War III” Edgar Cayce, known as the “Sleeping Prophet,” is supposed to have made many predictions that came true. One time in a dream, Cayce saw New York City devastated. Nebraska had become the new west coast as earthquakes had destroyed the land area we currently know as the West Coast. Alabama has been partially destroyed by the Gulf of Mexico. Most of Japan had vanished due to the rising oceans. New lands

rose out of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Troubles heaped upon the United States as World War III almost wiped out the Land of the Free. Those were very troublesome times back in 1999-2000. The newspapers and radio stations carried the stories nightly, as television newscasters blamed the Republicans and Democrats, depending on what station was on. Food was rationed and Mexico sent troops to protect their borders from invading Americans trying to escape their radioactive land. Wait a minute. None of this ever happened. Perhaps Cayce had a nightmare instead of a dream that night?“The AntiChrist?” Self-proclaimed prophetess Jeane Dixon told how she envisioned Queen Nefertiti, of ancient Egypt, revealing that a child from the Middle East, born around 7:00 AM on February 5, 1962, would become a world leader who would bring the world into one faith by 2001. The person is 48 years old now. He is probably rechecking his time schedule.


Think back nine years. Were you highly successful then or just the opposite? Nine years ago were you happier or sadder than now? What about events that happened to you? Good times then or bad times? What your answer is will be an indication of your fate cycle. Fate cycles occur in intervals of 18 years - nine years of accumulating negativity followed by nine years of accumulating positive events. Then the cycle repeats with more bad things happening to you in nine years than good then back up to where the ninth year becomes the most positive. Sounds like nonsense? OK. Write down the high points of your life . . . marriage, your first boy/girlfriend, your best Christmas, your first job that paid well, graduation, anything that was the happiest time of your life and record the years. Now do the same for the worst times in your life...divorce, breakups, failure at sports, sickness, a death in the family. Graph the years to see if the most negative things happened to you in a nine-year period, followed by nine years of good, followed by nine years of slowly increasing bad and so on. Do you see some cosmic tide forming? Not enough years to do this because you might be 18 or younger? Just start subtracting 9 years from your current age and then do your research yo learn if the past nine years have been increasingly good or increasingly bad. You might find you started in the middle of the cosmic tide where for five years things improved then things started to go down hill for you afterward. Just keep track year to year to see if you hit your worse period and when. Why nine? Nine is the only number that is the sum of the digits of multiples that always add up to 9. For example, 9 X 1 = 9, 2 X 9 = 18 with 1 + 8 = 9, 3 X 9 = 27 with 2 + 7 = 9. Get a calculator and knock yourself out. Go as high as you want [10,971 X 9 = 97, 839 with 9 + 7 + 8 + 3 + 9 = 36 with 3 + 6 = 9]. It always works. Our subconscious is supposedly controlled by these cosmic forces. Therefore, beware that at ages 9, 27, 45, and 63 you are controlled by more negative energies than any time in your life. Likewise, ages 18, 36, 54, 72, and 90 will be your best times to make decisions. Now is this all true or just psuedo-science? Is astrology true? If you wrote out your years and was honest with yourself in your own personal answers, you have the proof before you whether this is sheer nonsense or if you have been given an insight to think about.

“How to Predict Your Future Every Nine Years”

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Band. Choir. Dance. Baseball. Basketball. Soccer. Cheerleading. Gymnastics. Horseback riding. Book club. Debate team. Chess club. The list of extracurricular activities available in and outside of school goes on and on. There are so many things children can do that it is easy to see how they might become too involved. That’s right. There is such a thing as a child participating in too much, and as their parent, it is up to you to keep a rein on their extracurricular activities.When your child approaches you about participating in extracurricular activities, don’t just say yes. Sit down with them and determine exactly how much free time they can devote to such activities. If your child doesn’t get home from school until 4 p.m. and has one to two hours of homework each night, that doesn’t leave them much time for extracurricular activities on the weekdays. They

Back to School

By Tresa Erickson

might be better off participating in activities on the weekends. While determining how much time your child has available, don’t overlook the importance of family time and downtime. Your child needs to spend time with you, your spouse and their siblings, even if it is just an hour on weeknights and a few hours on the weekends. They also need time to hang out with their friends and be by themselves. Make sure they get the opportunity for all. Once you have an idea of how much time your child can devote to extracurricular activities and when they can do so, you can start searching for relevant activities. Keep in mind that it is your child, not you, who will be participating in the activities, so let them choose things they like. If they don’t like being around horses, don’t push them to take a horseback riding class. You will just be wasting your money and their time.

Find out as much as you can about any extracurricular activities that interest your child. Arrange for a tour of the facilities and sit in on a class if possible. Make sure ample instruction and supervision are provided. Make sure all equipment is in good condition and up to date. Ask about the fees and any additional equipment required. Know what your child is getting into before signing on the dotted line. Be wise in the selection of extracurricular activities for your child. Don’t overload them in an effort to keep them busy. That could lead to stress. Should your child begin experiencing headaches, stomachaches, insomnia, nightmares, loss of appetite, anxiety, aggression or regression, they very well could be suffering from extracurricular activity overload. Avoid the issue by limiting the extracurricular activities your child participates in and allowing them a say in what they do. █


Field Trip with Grandma

YOU ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT PEOPLE TAKING CHILDREN ON FIELD TRIPS. THEY TAKE THEM TO ALL SORTS OF PLACES CALLING THEM A FIELD TRIP. WELL…WHEN I TAKE MY CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN ON A FIELD TRIP, WE GO ON A REAL FIELD TRIP.

I recently had the opportunity to take my five year old grandson, Zeb, on a real field trip. He lives a long way from me in another state. I try to make our time together quality time. Zeb has a three year old brother named Wyatt. He was invited to go with us but at the last minute chose to stay with his mommy. I decided this was probably good and Wyatt would get a solo trip in a couple of years. I belted Zeb in our UTV and we were off to our big field behind our house. We use to cultivate a large portion of this area but then we decided to allow nature to landscape it for us. She is doing a fabulous job. We have all kinds of plants and young trees to now explore on this ground. The first plant I introduced Zeb to was Queen Ann’s Lace. We have a huge crop growing in this field. I told Zeb we needed to pick a big bouquet of this plant to do something special with when we get home. I told him it was also called “Wild Carrot” and it smells like carrots. Zeb sniffed the plant and agreed they do smell like carrots. I explained this is also a natural medicine. The next plant was easier. It was the pretty blue Wild Chicory also known as the “Blue Sailor”. I told him the root of this plant was also used like something his mommy drank every morning. Zeb was eager to guess it was coffee. I assured him it was sometimes a substitute for coffee. Chicory is also used to calm the effects of caffeine in coffee. I also explained chicory was used a lot when I was a little girl. My folks and many others drink it so the real coffee in short supply was sent to our soldiers fighting World War II.

By Marylee Visnovske

A Field Trip With Grandma


Our next stop was a Wild Cherry Tree. A lot of cough syrup is made from the bark of this tree. I reminded Zeb it could be in medicine he would take for a cough and cold.. The next fence row tree was Sassafras. I pulled a branch from it. I allowed Zeb to examine the three different shape leaves that grows on this tree. He thought that was pretty cool. I told him Native Americans, as well as my grandpa, dug roots of this tree every spring. It was made into a tea and was suppose to help thin and clean your blood. It smells like root beer and is still used by some companies in natural soda. Red Clover was next to catch our eye. Zeb said he thought it looked more pink or purple and wondered why they called it Red Clover. I really didn’t have an answer for that one. I told him, this plant also is suppose to clean our blood when it gets dirty from being sick. Purslane was next growing close to the ground. I explained it was also good medicine for a lot of things. But mostly grandma likes it in a salad. I also told him that grandpa and the rest of my family thought it was “yucky”! Zeb wasn’t eager to taste the purslane either. Mullein in its stately form was next. I showed him the thick fuzzy leaves. Zeb soon learned this was also good for coughs and helped you breathe better. I told him that I used it in something we call salve to heal some of grandpa’s sores. Then I shared another family story. My granny use to wrap several of these thick leaves around pounds of homemade butter. This helped keep the butter from melting when she took it to the store to trade it for flour, sugar, and coffee. The bright orange bloom of Pleurisy Root, also called “Butterfly

Weed”, was next in our path. It helps pleurisy and bronchitis. This is how it acquired its name. We drove through a section of woods to find a large limb from a tree had fallen across our lane in the woods. Zeb insisted I was not strong enough to remove this tree. He told me his daddy was really, really strong and he could move it. I informed him I was his daddy’s mom and was also strong. Well folks when I grabbed hold of this big limb, it was heavy. I do believe I received some divine help from above in moving it. I said a little “Thank You Lord”. I told Zeb, “Your grandma’s strong too, now don’t forget that boy!” He just grinned at me and said, “You are my crazy grandma.” When we reached the creek, a red bird was in a tree. This also reminded me of yet another story; a Native American legend of how the red bird got his red feathers. I told Zeb that there was a naughty raccoon who liked to play tricks on other animals living in the woods. The raccoon one day found a wolf sleeping. (Wolves sleep a lot in the day time.) The raccoon got this sticky stuff from the pine tree called, “tar.” When it gets hard it is like glue. The raccoon put this sticky tar glue on the wolf’s eyes and sealed them shut. When the wolf woke up, he couldn’t open his eyes. He stared howling and crying because he was blind. An ugly little bird heard him and flew to help the wolf. The ugly bird picked all the tar from the wolf’s eyes so he could see again. He was so grateful. The wolf told the ugly little bird he could make him into a beautiful bird. The wolf took the bird to a big red paint rock and told him to paint all of his feathers red. So that’s how the red bird got his red feathers. Zeb rolled his eyes

and grinned a little disbelief grin and said “Good story Grandma.” Elderberry blossoms were growing along the creek. I told Zeb these blossoms will soon turn into hundreds of shiny wine colored berries. These berries are so packed full of good medicine it is sometimes called “the country medicine chest.” A patch of Echinacea not yet in bloom caught my eye. I told Zeb I would show him some that were blooming at Earth Mother. I told him this was the medicine our family always took as a natural antibiotic which is also antiviral. I told him it was an awesome medicine.


When we arrived back at the house, a volunteer Sweet Annie (one of my favorites) looked like it was saying please don’t forget me. I touched its delicate fern like foliage and allowed Zeb to smell my hand. I asked him what it smelled like. He said, “It smells like your house Grandma.” I proceeded to tell him how special “Sweet Annie” was to me. I told him 100 years ago in 1910 a little boy 10 years old, named Johnny Magre, walked with his Cherokee grandma, Mary Cahow Bettis. She had for several years took Johnny on walks to teach him to recognize the plant medicine. They walked on Calico Island on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River where they lived. Forty years later Johnny, now a grown man, took his little niece, Marylee, on walks in the woods and fields to help her learn plant medicine. Now in 2010 Marylee takes her little grandson, Zeb, on his first field trip to also learn the plants that are medicine. I told Zeb the SweetAnnie that grows on my farm came from Calico Island where my great grandmother planted it so long ago. She

was a medicine woman and used this herb to doctor malaria (a disease caused by certain mosquitoes). Zeb and I saw a lot more herbs on our trip, more than we can mention in one story. I asked him if he had learned anything on our field trip. He said, “You really got a lot of flower medicine growing on your farm Grandma.” I will continue to take Zeb on herb walks to educate him. Maybe one day Grandpa Zeb will take his granddaughter (Mary Sara) on a herb walk to educate her. I pray we continue to pass on the passion we have for these God given medicines from one generation to the next. Zeb and I colored the white Queen Anns Lace with food coloring into a beautiful colored bouquet. My mom did this every summer. We pass on another tradition.

This story is also to MaKayla and all the other little people who enjoy having my stories read to them. Until next time……God bless. █



Gotta Eat

Watermelon Kebabs 1-inch cubes of seedless watermelon Smoked turkey breast Cheddar cheese Coffee stirrers or beverage straws Cut watermelon, turkey and cheese in cubes and skewer on stirrers or straws.

Kids love to snack. But left to their own devices, most kids don’t always make the healthiest snack choices. A new study of long-term eating patterns in children, from researchers at the University of North Carolina, shows that kids today are getting nearly one-third of their daily calories from unhealthy snacks such as chips, crackers and candy. Nutritious and delicious snacks are as close as your produce aisle. Water melon is practically a multivitamin unto itself — and its natural sweetness is something kids love.

Did You Know?• A 2-cup serving of watermelon is an excellent source of Vitamins A, B6 and C. • Vitamin A found in watermelon is important for optimal eye health.• Vitamin B6 found in watermelon is used by the body to manufacture brain chemicals

(neurotransmitters), such as serotonin, melatonin and dopamine, which preliminary research shows may help the body cope with anxiety and panic.

• Vitamin C in watermelons can help to bolster your immune system’s defenses against infections and viruses, and is known to stimulate the immune system and protect against free radical damage.

• A 2-cup serving of watermelon is also a source of potassium, a mineral necessary for water balance and found inside of every cell. People with low potassium levels can experience muscle cramps. A 2-cup serving has less than 10 percent of the daily reference value for potassium.

Try these fun recipes as after-school and post-activity snacks. For more kid-friendly recipes and healthy eating tips, visit www.watermelon.org.

Family Features

MAKING MUNCHIES MATTERSend some healthy lunch munchies to school — water melon chunks are an easy way to brighten up a sack lunch and give kids a tasty nutri tional boost in the middle of the day.


Watermelon NachosServes 6 to 8 12 to 16 ½-inch thick watermelon triangles with 3-inch sides 2 cups Greek vanilla yogurt ½ teaspoon vanilla extract A few drops almond extract 1 cup Craisins 1 cup white chocolate chips ½ cup toasted sliced almonds ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon Arrange the watermelon triangles on a serving platter or glass cake stand. Mix yogurt with extracts and spoon yogurt over the watermelon in the fashion of nacho cheese sauce. Sprinkle craisins, white chocolate chips, and almonds over the yogurt and dust with cinnamon.

Watermelon Dippers 8 ounces sour cream 4 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Watermelon sticks or small wedges Blend together the sour cream, sugar and vanilla in a small serving bowl. Use as a dip for the watermelon.

Watermelon Cut Outs Seedless watermelon, cut into ½- to ¾-inch-thick slices Yogurt Granola or similar cerealUsing your favorite cookie cutters, cut shapes out of watermelon slices. Frost with vanilla or other flavored yogurt. Sprinkle with granola.

Watermelon Berry SlushMakes 6 servings 4 cups cubed, seeded watermelon 1 10-ounce package frozen raspberries 1 12-ounce bottle sparkling mineral water Place watermelon in a single layer, in shallow pan; freeze until firm. Remove from freezer and let stand 5 minutes. Drop watermelon through food chute of a food processor or blender with the motor running. Add frozen raspberries alternately with mineral water, processing until smooth.

Watermelon Jelly LogsMakes 6 servings 6 3-inch x 2-inch x 5-inch watermelon rectangles 3 flavors all fruit or low sugar preserves 6 ginger, molasses or peanut butter cookiesUsing a melon baller, cut 3 divots into a long side of each watermelon rectangle. Fill each divot with a dif ferent all-fruit or low-sugar preserve. Serve each rectangle with a cookie.


Healthy Eating Tips• Healthy eating habits start at home. One of the best

things you can do for your kids is to be a role model for smart food choices. Here are some simple things you can do to help your kids develop healthy lifelong habits.

• Shop for food together and take time to examine, discuss and select fruit and vegetables that catch your child’s eye. Allow your child to help you to prepare these healthful foods. For example, let your child use a melon-baller to create melon balls from watermelon, cantaloupe and honey dew to create a festive, nutri tious and visually appealing dessert.

• Make healthy snacks available at all times for your children by keep ing the fridge filled with flavorful, nutrient-rich treats such as grapes, cherries, carrots and watermelon cubes.

• Simple changes are easier for your child to get used to. Try switch ing from full fat milk to non-fat milk, serving sherbet, sorbet, ice milk or fruit juice bars, or adding fresh fruit to his or her cereal in the morning.

• Serve your children colorful, deeply pigmented plant food. These foods tend to offer tremendous nutritional value. For example, red peppers, carrots, broccoli, oranges and water melon are all packed with minerals, vitamins and antioxidants.

• Start each day with breakfast, prefer ably fruit with low-fat yogurt or granola. Make a fruit smoothie by blending watermelon cubes and a banana with crushed ice. █


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Reel TimeDespicable Me (PG) (2010)Once in awhile an evildoer appears on the scene who is so mean that redemption seems out-of-the-question. Such a “rotten egg” is the evil curmudgeon, Gru (Steve Carell). Even if the film makers hadn’t led us right to Gru’s front door, there would be no doubt that the drab, foreboding house with the over-grown lawn belonged to a pretty evil guy. Now

demoted to being the second most nefarious bad-guy in the world, since his nemesis, Vector (Jason Segal), stole the Great Pyramid, Gru is determined to win back first place status. With an underground headquarters teeming with scientific looking gadgets and a hoard of (cute, little yellow) minions working deep below his grungy, suburban home, Gru works feverishly to top his rival’s stunning caper. In all his badness, including a very heavy pseudo-Russian accent quite reminiscent of Boris Badenov (“Rocky and His Friends”), Gru appears to be a heartless villain through and through. His latest caper involves shrinking and stealing the Moon, an endeavor so large that his evil deed will be noticed around the globe and his criminal reputation will be restored. When three little orphan girls appear on his doorstep selling cookies, Gru develops the perfect plan to execute his scheme. What he didn’t expect is that cute little girls like Edith, Agnes and Margo, have a way of growing on you. Animated films and 3-D CGI effects seem to go hand-in-hand at the movies this year. In the case of “Despicable Me,” the effect adds a wonderful dimension to the audience’s overall viewing experience. Instead of being merely a showcase for the technology, the story is enhanced by the expanded visuals. After the movie, we are given a wonderful demonstration of the medium’s capabilities when the little minions attempt to physically connect with the audience.

Directors Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin together with screenwriters Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio manage to create and visualize a tale that is universally entertaining. A simple plot with enough tiny, clever nuisances to keep you watching it with a keen eye, “Despicable Me” has plenty to offer with its subtle humor, fine voice-over talent and sheer quirkiness. The good news is a portal to a sequel seems to have been left ajar. ★★★★

The Karate Kid (PG) (2010)A sequel worthy of the original, this heartwarming tale of one youngster’s triumph over bullies hits the spot for summer family entertainment. Twelve-year-old Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) makes an unwanted move from Detroit to Beijing, China, when his mother gets a work transfer. Leaving his home, neighborhood and friends behind, Dre is obviously a very unhappy fish-out-of-water in China. To add to his misery, his older, larger classmates are out to get him. In Dre’s case, going to a new school can be quite literally painful as he is constantly getting roughed up by a gang of martial arts students. Dre’s plight is tempered only by his attraction to a young, musically talented female classmate, Mei Ying. Unfortunately, her mutual feelings toward him only fuel the bullying and the threatening behavior becomes unrelenting. With no one to turn to for advice in this strange land, his situation seems hopeless. Enter the humble, reclusive handyman at Dre’s apartment house, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) who takes the American boy under his wing and teaches him the skills and attitudes that he needs to become a confident young man. Jackie Chan plays the role well. His slapstick, comic moves are put on hold as he gently, but firmly, mentors his student in the ways of life as well as the moves of karate. There just has to be a


big tournament as a finale to all of the sometimes tedious instruction, and there is. The build-up is done well and I can practically guarantee that you will be cheering for Dre to win. If the story isn’t enough to hold your interest, the cinematography will certainly fill in the gaps. The shots of busy Beijing and the Chinese countryside, including The Great Wall of China” are most interesting and sometimes breathtaking. ★★★

Toy Story 3 (G) (2010)Dust off the old toy chest and take some time to reconnect with some old friends as they return to entertain and amuse you with their latest, playful adventure. To get the time-frame straight, it has been ten-years since we have seen Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), Jesse (Joan Cusack), Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head (Don Rickles and Estelle Harris), Barbie (Jodi Benson), Rex (Wallace Shawn), Hamm (John Ratzenberger) and all of their buddies. Young Andy has graduated from high school and is about to leave home for college. At his mother’s urging, he is in the process of cleaning out his old room and making some difficult decisions about what to keep and what gets trashed or donated. All of his favorite toys are nervous about their fate, but Woody insists that a life of retirement in the attic is the best way to faithfully serve their owner, Andy. In a terrible mix-up, the bag of toys is put out at the curb for trash pick-up. It is here that the drama begins as the whole gang gets diverted to Sunnyside Daycare Center where things get pretty “sticky,” especially in the Caterpillar Room. A perfect fit, both numerically and visually, for the (Digital) 3-D format, this Disney/ Pixar offering is a sure hit with viewers of all ages. In its infinite wisdom there are plenty of child sized 3-D glasses to go around. Even with a little peril at the dump and several close calls, a Potato Head kiss and Ken’s fashion, show this film is as pure as the driven snow and a treat for all. ★★★★

The Last Airbender (PG) (2010)If director M. Night Shymalan could learn to bend any element, please let it be time. That useful talent would allow him to erase such obvious mistakes as this latest, lame cinematic adventure and thus avoid the embarrassment of another box office failure. This attempt at creating a legend and building a franchise based on an animated Nickelodeon television series hasn’t a chance of success on the big screen. The film has such a limited appeal that perhaps only a few male, pre-teen, martial arts wannabes will even consider paying for a ticket. If it were to go to a home entertainment format tomorrow, viewership would still be minimal at best. “The Last Airbender” is set in a fantasy era when four nations, air, water, earth and fire, rule the planet and vie for power. The Fire Nation is the most aggressive and is constantly at war attempting to be the dominant force. There is one unifying being that can save the world from destruction by controlling all four of its elements, the Avatar (Noah Ringer), who can return in any form and in any time. The return of the Avatar is mystical and long in coming. It has been over a century since his last incarnation. A brother, Sokka (Jackson Rathbone), and sister, Katara (Nicola Peltz), team from a tribe of waterbenders discovers and rescues the airbender, Aang. Later they learn that he is the mystical Avatar who is destined to save the world and restore balance to the planet. First, the trio must navigate an unfriendly world and fight lengthy 3-D, CGI battles that drag on for extended periods of time. It should be noted that time could easily have been bent and folded a bit to get things done much faster, before the entire audience became tired of all the meaningless the ruckus. Often the young Aang turns to meditation to clear his mind and find the right path. If only the film’s creators had done the same, things might have been better. The mythical dragon who advises the Avatar might have warned us, “Turn back now, before you lose almost two hours of your life watching a cheesy excuse for an Eastern philosophical journey.” ★★

Mary K. Morgan is a member of St. Louis

Film Critics.


Aire on the Square

Celebrate the Harvest Season and French Heritage in Washington County

and Fete De L’AutomneSATURDAY, October 2 AND SUNDAY, October 3

Home Grown will feature:• Edg-Clif Farms & Vineyards• SayersBrook Bison Ranch• Bardenheier Wine Cellars• YMCA of the Ozarks• Country Corner Antiques and Florist• Long-Banta House• Farmhouse 1807• Old Village Mercantile• Belleview Presbyterian Church

• John Held Growers• Misty Glen Farm• Mouser Farm• Juliette Farm• Mary Wilson, Master Gardener• Smith Farm• Washington County Farmers Market• Washington State Park• St. Michael’s House Fete De L’Automne

Celebrate the harvest season in Washington County beginning Saturday October 2nd with the Fall Home Grown Farm Tour from 10 AM to 4 PM. This free self-guided tour features 18 venues highlighting the diversity of local farms and history in Washington County. From bison to vineyards, goat cheese to petro glyphs, there will be something for everyone. The day closes with a Harvest Field Dinner showcasing locally produced foods prepared by local chefs. Proceeds from the Field Dinner benefits the Washington County Tourism Council. (Reservations required, limited seating) Tour maps and information will be available at the Courthouse Farmers’ Market in Potosi, MO on the day of the event. The fun continues on Sunday October 3rd at the annual Fete De L’Automne at St. Michael’s House, Fertile, MO. The all-day event celebrates local French heritage with music, pastries, apple-butter making, and crafts. Fete De L’Automne is sponsored by the Old Mines Area Historical Society.


SayersBrook – Take an extraordinary tour of the 2500 acre bison ranch at either 10:00 am or 3:00 pm. There will be food available for purchase after 11:30. Tours are $12.50 for adults and $6.50 for children under 12. Take a free drive through and visit the Country Store, the Pavilion at Lake SayersBrook, where there will be small animals for petting, and a view of the bison. Edg-Clif Farms & Vineyards – Tour the beautiful organic vegetable and flower gardens on the way to the vineyards! Edg-Clif chambourcin grape vines promise some of the best Missouri wines. Edg-Clif will be open from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. The last tour each day will begin at 3:00 pm. Enjoy a wine tasting with the award winning selections of Missouri wines from Bardenheir Wine Cellars. YMCA of the Ozarks will offer drop-by programs, with a football theme for the weekend. Hotel-style lodging is available, and includes all meals and activities. For more information on horseback and pony rides and other family-friendly activities, contact YMCA of the Ozarks. Home Grown guests should check in at the Trout Lodge Front Desk to pick up a visitor’s wristband. Overnight guests to the Washington County Home Grown tour are invited to contact YMCA of the Ozarks to make hotel reservations. YMCA Trout Lodge can be reached by calling 1-888-FUN-YMCA. Reservations can also be made online at www.ymcaoftheozarks.org. Misty Glen Farm hosts a festival on Saturday. Experience authentic country activities including sorghum making, cow milking, horse-drawn wagon rides, plowing with old-time equipment or horse-drawn plows. Country Corner Antiques & Florist in Potosi will offer free entertainment and activities for all ages, including a bounce house for kids as well as horseshoe pitching for adults. Country Corner has antiques, collectables and other seasonal items for purchase.

St. Francois Winery

Open Daily11a.m. to 7p.m.CLOSED TUESDAY

1669 Pine Ridge TrailPark HillsJust off Hwy 32(573) 431-4294

www.stfrancoiswinery.com

Enjoy hand crafted wines & locally made cheese and sauage from our tasting room or outdoor patio in a scenic vineyard setting.


Weather permitting, Country Corner will offer a parking lot sale and their special home-grown mums will be in season. Washington County Farmers Market provides the area with locally grown fruits, vegetables and plants throughout the summer. Regular hours are 7:00 to noon. Information for the Farm Tour will be available throughout the day. Potosi’s Long Banta House will offer tours from noon to 3 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $4 per person. This historical home and residence of the most prominent politician from Washington County has the original furnishings and is reported to be haunted. Mary Wilson, Master Gardener, will guide you through her spectacular and well-planned garden, showing her companion planting techniques and organic practices. Included is a tour of Mary’s Summer Kitchen where she preserves her harvest all season long. Caledonia’s Farmhouse 1807 (as featured in Country Living) will have both an artisans’ and local farmers’ markets. Specialty items available include alpacas, Dexter cow, Heirloom chickens, and baby lambs to view. Available for purchase will be sheep cheese, veggies, seasonal produce, jellies, antiques, home spun yarn, and knitted products. While in Caledonia, visit the Old Village Mercantile. They will be open and offering old-fashioned candies, coffees, cold drinks, antiques, vintage fabrics, toys, kitchen goods, and gifts.

Bellevue Presbyterian Church, the first Presbyterian congregation west of the Mississippi River, will offer tours from 9 am to noon on Saturday. South of Caledonia on Highway 21 is the Smith Farm where Marilyn Smith makes her famous Granny’s Nanny’s soaps and cheese. Watch a cheese making demonstration, see the goats, or purchase mums and fresh farm eggs. John Held Growers has home-grown mums and other perennials, vegetables, fruits, pumpkins, hay stalks and other seasonal plants and ornamentals for sale. John is one of the area’s leading growers and a mainstay at the Washington County Farmers Market. The Juliette Farm will offer tours through their fabulous log cabin built in 1979 and filled with beautiful antiques. View their Boer goats and visit the working barbershop with its exhibit of black powder guns, supplies and 1792 –1840 primitive attire. The Mousers invite you to their pygmy goat farm. There are petting pens for visitors to get up close with donkeys, goats, and sheep. Their resale shop will be open and Levi Lemons will be barbequing! Washington State Park welcomes you with their cabins, Big River access, petro glyphs, swimming pool and beautiful Ozark trails that offer breathtaking views and an escape from the urban bustle. On Sunday, October 3rd the Fete De L’Automne is the definitive old-time French settlement celebration featuring crafts, skills, foods, costumes, weaving, caning, music, cakewalks, apple-butter making and rope making. It will be a joyous day that sets off this memorable weekend in an extremely unique way! Home Grown is an exhilarating weekend tour where agriculture, history and the pristine Ozark Mountains intertwine. This Autumn’s most unique Missouri cultural experiences features some of Missouri’s best farms and ranches, as well as local farmers markets, a live French settler celebration and local wines. Home Grown brochures can be picked up at all participating homes, farms and businesses. For more information about Home Grown, please contact Krista Snyder, Assistant Director of the Washington County Industrial Development Authority at 573-438-6196 or Connie Sayers at 573-438-4449. Information can also be found on Home Grown’s web site, www.homegrownfarmtour.com.█



Money

What Criteria Does a Credit Bureau Use in Scoring Your Credit?(Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian) Credit Bureau scoring models DO NOT consider: race, gender, religion, marital status, income, nationality, address, employment, position or title, length of employment or sexual preference. Scoring models DO analyze: all the credit information stored in a bureau’s credit file on an applicant at the time of the request. In today’s environment, credit scores are more important than ever. In the past the only impact your credit score had was on a loan you tried to acquire and the interest rate of that loan. The better the score – the better your interest rate. Unfortunately today, your credit score will impact your approval for a loan, your interest rate, your homeowners insurance rate, your auto insurance rate, employment eligibility for new and existing jobs, clearance in the military and much more… Unless you know the game and rules of how credit scores work, you may fall victim and be limited on what jobs and credit you will receive in the future. Over the next several issues,I will be discussing what affects your credit score and how much of an impact you can have in controlling that score. I will then be sharing with you many secrets I have personally discovered and have used to help hundreds of families increase their credit score. I will give you the tools to create a high credit score and keep it there for the rest of your life.

There are currently five areas that impact your credit score the most:• Past Payment Performance• Credit Utilization• Credit History• Types of Credit In Use• Inquiries - New Applications for Credit

I will spend time in this issue talking about number one - Past Payment Performance. This is the most obvious reason of the five and the one that impacts your credit score the most. Past Payment Performance is responsible for 35% of your score’s weight. The fewer late payments, judgments, liens or collections the better. Zero “derogatory (late payments over 30, 60, 90 days and more lates) entries” usually indicate lower risk. On most accounts that consumers have you will always see a monthly due date which is normally the first of every month (every loan varies). The majority of loans also have a grace period which is normally 15 days and if paid afterwards, you will have to pay a late fee. Although you may be more than 15 days late with your creditor and be required to pay them a late fee, you are NOT considered late with the credit bureaus until you are 30 days late or more. When that occurs, you will see that appear on your credit report and also see your credit score decrease. I have personally seen a credit score drop as much as 100 points due to one 30 day late. Recent late payments are more indicative of future default than those that occurred more than 24 months ago. A 30-day late today will have greater negative impact on the score than a bankruptcy 5 years ago with clean credit since. The myth

DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF INCREASING YOUR CREDIT SCORE!


St. Francois Winery

Open Daily11a.m. to 7p.m.CLOSED TUESDAY

1669 Pine Ridge TrailPark HillsJust off Hwy 32(573) 431-4294

www.stfrancoiswinery.com

Enjoy hand crafted wines & locally made cheese and sauage from our tasting room or outdoor patio in a scenic vineyard setting.Saving Starts Here.

Savings | Money Market | CDs | IRAs

www.fscb.com

Wanting to save more in 2010? Stop by and see the team at your local First State Community Bank today.

that a bankruptcy will lower your credit score is often misunderstood. The late payments, and collections that happen prior to and leading up to a bankruptcy is what actually will impact your credit score and reduce it substantially. Collections will also have a negative impact on your credit score. When creditors report collections to the credit bureau, the collections will cause your credit score to reduce. Collections will stay on your credit report regardless of paid or unpaid for 7 years. I have also seen credit scores reduce as much as 50 points + as a result of a collections appearing on a credit report. Some of the most common collections I see on a daily basis are medical collections. The majority of healthcare providers (doctors, hospitals, etc…) report your unpaid medical balances as a collection to the credit bureaus, regardless of whether you have made a payment arrangement with them or not. Even if they agree to a payment plan, they still may report you as a collection account to the credit bureau. You can see by just controlling your payment performance on all of your debts can make a positive impact on your credit score. In the next issue, I will be talking in detail about another area that has a big influence on your credit score and that is Credit Utilization (balances on debt compared to credit limits). I have seen my personal credit score increase and decrease more than 100 points due to unbalanced credit utilization. For more information on credit score and financial education, contact Brad Cooper at Cooper Financial Solutions - www.cooperfinancial.com/aire or call 573-701-0702.


Local TekDEAR SMALL BUSINESS OWNER,This letter is written to help you understand the changes that are occurring which will have an effect on how you run your business and specifically on how you promote your business. The Internet is here to stay; historically small business has relied on legacy media, such as newspapers and radio, to promote their business as well as advertising only mediums such as billboards. These media types focus on one thing and one thing only, eyeballs. The question you have to ask yourself now is: Are there better ways to promote my business on the Internet? Is there something other than eyeballs that a business owner needs to think about? You are likely very comfortable advertising with your local newspaper, Yellow Pages and radio station; the same salesperson has been visiting you for many years. You purchase month after month; he talks about the number of houses delivered to and the number of listeners. Has he mentioned anything about the 92 percent of newspapers that have reported a drop in readership or the major drop in print Yellow Page usage? Before you think that you have a business that is immune to this shift or that since you do not sell a product online, promoting your business on the Internet is not for you, look at an example case where a business has grown by promoting itself online effectively. This specific small business, a 3 person pet grooming salon in rural Missouri, had never had a web site because they had never thought that a pet grooming shop would need online promotion. The yellow pages and local newspaper seemed the obvious place to advertise; everyone had been doing it for years, right? After someone came into their shop to discuss a small web site and targeted promotion on the web, they decided that having a web site might be “neat.” The company representative working with them also explained the concept of building the site to allow for targeted traffic that allows for higher customer conversions. This was a new concept to them; advertising had always been about viewers not necessarily focusing on targeted viewers that convert to customers. The pet grooming shop decided to move forward and purchased both advertising and a web site. The advertising was targeted by community. Also very important was the targeting of the web site that was developed for them;. it was developed specifically to receive traffic for pet grooming customers in their specific rural town. After just one month, the customer contacted their supplier and let them know that they had several new customers that let them know they found them on the web. What does this mean? It means that even in small towns, people are searching for offline businesses instead of going to the newspaper or flipping through the Yellow Pages. This is a group of customers that you, the small business owner, are missing. For many years, small businesses have complained about corporate America ruining community businesses. The same thing has the potential to happen on the Internet. How can you tell? First ask yourself how you use the Internet or think about how your potential customers use the Internet. If the first thing that you thought was that this does not matter since you do not use the Internet, the thing you actually need to think about is the second part of the sentence, “think about how your customers use the Internet”. One of the major mistakes many long time small business owners make is thinking that since they are not users of the Internet that their customers are not. Corporate America has had budgets to do marketing online for years, in many cases, if you search for a certain type of business online, in small and large towns, the large companies show up first in the search results. Why, because they know how to use the Internet to extend the reach of their business. These companies understood that people are using the web to find services and products locally. As a small business owner, you need to think about this as well. The topic that seems so technical is actually your marketing today. No longer can you think about your web site as a technical item; it needs to be looked at as a marketing tool. It is about


the site was not used as a marketing tool but simply as an item that was “neat”. It is important that you understand that your website is as important to your business presence as the sales people you have working with customers or the office space you have. It is your face to the public, but if no one ever sees it because it is hidden in a crowd, it does not matter if it is “pretty and nice looking”. You must optimize your web presence starting with the selection of your domain name and ending at the call to action to act once they get there. For more information feel free contact us and ask how you can help prepare your business to gain customers from targeted, effective, online marketing solutions from Localtek, LLC.

Thanks,Bruce Marler and Joe CaldwellCo-FoundersLocaltek, LLCOffice: 800-647-2909

finding customers, not just having a website because it is “neat”. The next thought many small business owners will have is that their town is too small, no one is searching for services here. That is also not true and will be changing rapidly. The US government has approved a 7.2 billion stimulus package to drive broadband Internet access into rural America. This means that the way people access and use the Internet in these areas will change drastically. If your business is not prepared, those “corporate guys” will take business away because they show up in Google, Bing and Yahoo. Being small and rural does not matter anymore. Whether you are in New York City or Kearney, Nebraska the Internet is the Internet and people can find your competitors without having to drive to their doorstep. Here are some things to think about as you realize that having a presence online that actually draws targeted viewers looking for your service or product is important:• Targeted Traffic - Here is the best analogy to explain

this: Shotgun vs. Rifle. Think of newspapers and radio as the shotgun approach and targeted web traffic as a rifle. How you get that targeted traffic is the more complicated part. But it has been proven many times that targeted traffic converts at a much higher rate than traffic results from the shotgun approach

• Search Engine Optimization – “SEO” is the typical way this is said. SEO is the process of building your website in a way that draws the targeted visitors to your business presence online. Think about this, if the front door to your business is locked no one can get in. If your site is not optimized, the front door might as well be locked.

• Domain Name Selection - This is VERY important, it is not as simple as just going to Godaddy.com and picking a name. It is important to select something that describes your business and if possible be rich in words that describe what you are doing. This helps gain the targeted traffic that is discussed above. In many cases it is worth the effort and money to acquire this domain name from a third party who may own the name currently. You selected your physical space based on location; shouldn’t you also choose the best possible location for your online presence?

• Call To Action - Once they get to your website you need to make sure they take action to contact you or buy your product. Your site needs to be developed in a way that urges them to do this. This is most often the piece that is overlooked when developing a site along with SEO.

After spending time with small business owners, in both large and small towns and cities, it very common to hear the comment “My (insert family member here) is building my website.” In almost all cases the site has been done in a way that is not optimized and will never have a visitor because


Sportsmans Hunting and Fishing

You’re a hunter, and you’ve managed to hunt a lot of different animals in your time but never a rattlesnake. The thought didn’t occur to you until now. Here is some information to get you started. Rattlesnakes are called pit vipers because of the heat-sensitive organ between the eyes and mouth on both sides of the head called a pit. It’s this pit that tells the snake whether its prey is warm- or cold-blooded and how far away it is. There are several types of rattlesnakes in the United States. Rattlers found in the East include the Eastern diamondback, timber, pygmy and massasauga. Rattlesnakes found in the West include the sidewinder, red diamond, Western diamondback, rock speckled, blacktailed, tiger, Mojave, twin-spotted, ridge-nosed, massasauga and western (Great Basin prairie). Not every state is lucky enough to be home to a rattlesnake species, so you may have to travel to a place to hunt. Depending upon the species, rattlesnakes can be found in all sorts of habitats ranging from grasslands to deserts to forests. All snakes are cold-blooded and sensitive to external temperatures, so during the cold months, rattlesnakes may be found hibernating in underground burrows, rock crevices or dens that have been used for generations. In late March or April as ground temperatures rise, the snakes begin making their way out of the den to mate, bear young and find food.

Rattlesnake hunting methods vary. Some recommend using a shotgun, but with this method, you run the risk of ruining the skin and have to watch out for pellets when eating the meat. Others recommend freezing the snake after catching it. Some prefer the needle and thread method, which involves a long pole with a rope running its length and a noose dangling from the end through a hook. The goal is to catch the rattler with the noose and then tighten it to keep the rattler contained. This method offers some degree of safety and isn’t quite as hard as it sounds. However, you should practice the method before going out into the field. You need to be careful that you don’t catch the snake too far behind its head, or it could strike you. For individuals who aren’t faint of heart, using live bait is another way to catch rattlers. There are a couple of techniques for this. You may tie fishing line around a live white mouse and slowly lower the mouse into a snake hole. When the line goes taut, the snake has taken the bait. You should give it a couple of minutes to digest the mouse and then slowly pull the line out with the snake attached. You may then strike the center of the snake’s head to kill it. You may also use a funnel trap, a wire mesh cage with an opening large enough for the rattler to get in but not out. The live bait needs to be larger than the hole or in a separate cage in the trap to prevent it from escaping. You should plug the entry hole to prevent the rattler from getting out.

By Ronda Addy


Rattlesnakes are deadly even after death, so keep children and pets away from the carcass. Touching the rattler can trigger a fang reflex (even if the head has been removed). When you are ready to start cleaning the snake, make sure you keep the head firmly on the cutting surface. Cut about 1/2 inch back from the head to avoid hitting the venom sack. To ensure the venom is totally destroyed, burn the head or wrap it in multiple layers of paper or plastic and dispose of it in a garbage can with a lid that animals and children cannot remove. Snakes can carry salmonella, so after handling one, wash your hands with soap and hot water. Once you have skinned and cooked the meat, completely soak it in a salt brine to make it safer to eat. You may have heard that snake meat tastes like chicken, but truth be told, how you prepare the meat determines how it tastes. Prepare it like fish, and it’ll taste like fish. Prepare it like chicken, and it’ll taste like chicken. There is no right or wrong way to cook rattlesnake. Most, however, agree that the meat is somewhat on the stringy side. For an experience, there is nothing like rattlesnake hunting. However, it can be dangerous. You must be careful and watch where you are going. You must also be prepared for any emergencies that may arise. If a rattlesnake bites, seek medical help immediately. Don’t try to suck out the venom, don’t ice the wound and don’t use a tourniquet. Do treat the victim for shock and remove tight clothing or jewelry from the bite area. Most importantly, get to a physician or hospital fast. █


Automotive Minute

Most of us know that regular maintenance is key to a well-running vehicle. That’s why we get our oil changed, have our tires rotated and so forth. Another important part of the regular maintenance schedule is the tune-up. Because the internal workings of vehicles have changed so much over the years, the definition of a tune-up may vary from the simple replacement of spark plugs to the complete overhaul of several areas within the vehicle. Most experts agree that the best tune-ups involve an inspection of several areas, including the battery, engine mechanical, powertrain control, fuel, ignition and emissions. Not every shop defines a tune-up in this way, however. Generally, the more involved the tune-up, the more it costs. When scheduling a tune-up, it is important that you find out what it will entail and how much it will cost. Be wary of really low estimates; chances are the shop is pushing for your business and the final bill for the tune-up will be much higher. The best shops understand that not all drivers know what a tune-up is and request one on the assumption that it will fix whatever is wrong with their vehicle. They will ask why you think your vehicle needs a tune-up and go from there. You may discover that what you really need are new battery cables rather than new spark plugs. Once you have several estimates, sit down and compare them. Select the shop whose estimate includes a fairly thorough inspection at a fair price. You want to make sure that when you drive away from the shop your vehicle is running smoothly and efficiently.The term “tune-up” means different things to different people. Keep that in mind as you shop around for estimates. Know what you are getting before you take your vehicle in, and if you are getting a tune-up for any reason other than maintenance issues, relay that information to the shop. If you don’t, you could end up paying for a tune-up plus a repair. █

By Tresa Erickson


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DIY

It wasn’t that long ago that you installed new vinyl flooring in your kitchen. Unfortunately, you came home one day to find a small rip in it. The felt pads on the bottom of one of the table legs fell off and the metal foot caught on the vinyl as your teens were sliding it over to make room for their buddies. You weren’t real happy, but rather than get upset about it, you decided to throw down a rug for the time being. Now that you’ve got some time, you’d like to patch the tear. Here are some instructions. Supplies:

• Scrap vinyl • Utility knife• Painter’s tape • Straightedge• Putty knife • Vinyl adhesive• Vinyl seam sealer • Rags

Directions:1. Take your scrap vinyl and cut out a piece to match the pattern in the damaged area. It should be about four inches wider and longer than the damaged area.2. Match up the new piece of vinyl to the damaged area and tape it down. 3. Using a straightedge and a sharp utility knife, cut around the new piece into the damaged vinyl underneath. If needed, score the vinyl and cut it a few times.4. Remove the tape, set the freshly cut patch aside and take up the old vinyl that has now been cut. Use a putty knife to break up the adhesive underneath.5. Clean off any remaining adhesive and dry-fit the patch. Trim the patch if necessary and bevel the bottom edges to make it fit better.6. Use a putty knife to apply adhesive to the back of the patch. Press the patch into place.7. Clean up any adhesive that squeezes out from under the seams with a damp rag.8. Set a heavy object on top of the patch to prevent curling.9. Allow the adhesive to dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 10. Apply a vinyl seam sealer to the seams to bring them together and make the patch nearly invisible. If you do it right, your patch should blend right in and be hard to detect. Only you and your family will know where the rip was. Good luck!. █

NEARLY INVISIBLEBy Tresa Erickson



There is a field, with two horses in it.

From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse.But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you willnotice something quite amazing. Looking into the eyesof one horse will disclose that he is blind. His ownerhas chosen not to have him put down, but has made agood home for him.

This alone is amazing.

If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear thesound of a bell. Looking around for the source ofthe sound, you will see that it comes from thesmaller horse in the field.

Attached to the horse’s halter is a small bell.It lets the blind friend know where the otherhorse is, so he can follow.

As you stand and watch these two horses, you’ll seethat the horse with the bell is always checking on theblind horse, and that the blind horse will listen forthe bell and then slowly walk to where the otherhorse is, trusting that he will not be led astray.

When the horse with the bell returns to the shelterof the barn each evening, it stops occasionally andlooks back, making sure that the blind friend isn’ttoo far behind to hear the bell.

Like the owners of these two horses, God does notthrow us away just because we are not perfect orbecause we have problems or challenges.

He watches over us and even brings others into ourlives to help us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided bythe little ringing bell of those who God places inour lives.

Other times we are the guide horse, helping othersto find their way....

Good friends are like that... you may not alwayssee them, but you know they are always there.

Please listen for my bell and I’ll listen for yours.

And remember....be kinder than necessary – everyoneyou meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply,Love generously,Care deeply,Speak kindly......Leave the rest to God

Two Horses

Inspiration


TEAM SORTINGSundays on:

August 22September12September 26October 10

BEGINNING AT 5:00 PM weather permitting

Arnoldi Road, Doe Run, MOfor more information, call

573-330-8407Concessions Available


Across1. Respected leader in national†affairs10. Back15. Natural hollow containing water16. Blender button17. Working hard to promote an enterprise18. Firing19. Sandler of “Big Daddy”20. Apple spray21. ¿ la king?22. ___ publica23. Sow again25. 18-wheeler26. Store department29. Affirmatives31. Fix, in a way32. Circus cries34. Siloxanes used in lubricants, ad-hesives, coatings, synthetic†rubber and electrical insulation36. Nazi Germany secret police40. Funny41. Enacted43. Banquet44. “Skip to My ___”45. An official lan-guage of South Africa47. “Check this out!”50. “___ for the poor”52. Faker54. Anderson’s “High ___”56. Person who hopes58. A chorus line

59. Back of the neck60. Marble61. Italian patriot whose conquest of Sicily and Naples led to the formation of the Italian state63. “Eat!”64. Something emitted65. Lilac, e.g.66. Informal group singings of popular songs

Down1. Utter obscenities2. Two-seater3. “Relax, and that’s an order!”4. Course5. Energy unit6. Buy-one-get-one-free item?7. Kind of crew8. Jones and Smith, maybe9. Localized death of living cells10. Bandy words11. Semiformal evening†dress for men12. Perennial herbs with flowers that resemble asters13. Assigning a new name to14. Loose dressing†gown for women24. Raised marks on the skin produced by the blow of a whip

27. Do, for example28. Herring-like food fishes that migrate from the sea to fresh†water to spawn30. Thick, sweet, sticky liquid33. Make a parody of35. Tight-fitting head-dresses36. Belonging to the most virtuous knight of the Round†Table37. Relating to the sci-ence of ecology38. Tax on the amount of timber cut39. Shocks42. Large egg-shaped structures of gray†matter that form the dorsal subdivision of the diencephalon46. Ran faster than48. Leader born in Georgia49. Person in charge51. Arrive, as darkness53. “Nothing ___!”55. Control, symboli-cally57. Grant occupation of under a term of contract59. Alliance acronym62. ___-relief

AlmondAspicBaklavaBalmBasinBeatBoilBroomBunCanChop

CoalCoatCollopDillDrawerEgg boxEgg cupFennelForageGas Geyser

GigotGooseGoulashHamHerbsJugKettleLarderMainsMildMop

OlivePanPicklePizzaPlatePorkPotageRackRareReduceRelish

SableSaladSmartTamaleTeaTinTomatoTrayTubTunaUrn

VealWaferYolk

E G G B O X H S A B L E C F SG A I C H O P A U S B R O O MG S G O O S E T M K P T A R AW G O U L A S H R B O I L A RH E T I N L T O M A T O C G TI Y O L K A P I C K L E T E TS S H R E D U C E L A R D E RK E E E T A M O P A Q B E H AO R R L T D O L I V E L E B YD A B A L M E L Z A A G P A NR P S I E N G O Z M A I N S TA L M O N D G P A T K U N I VW A F E R E C T O C T U G N EE T F U R N U P A A B U K G AR E L I S H P R U N J D I L L

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6. To love deeply in one direction makes us more loving in all others.Lucky Number: 12

7. There are plenty of promises and hope floating around you.Lucky Number: 19

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Documents

August-September 2010 Aire Magazine