Meaningful Family Traditions

Is this month shaping up to be stressful and far from the meaningful time it could be? The key to changing that is simplifying. It's very had to spread joy and good cheer when we are stressed and feeling overwhelmed. All our good intentions to give the best to our children and to others will be doomed if we try to do it all.  The first step to making this time of year special is to just say 'no' to everything that feels obligatory.  Then pick a few traditions (not a huge list) that have special meaning or are particularly enjoyable. Perhaps you will continue traditions you have done in the past. Perhaps you'll add one new one this year or you may choose to pare it down. Whichever you choose to do the key is to "relax". Don't expect perfection, enjoy the ride no matter how messy it may be. Traditions gain meaning as you revisit them each year. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanuka, Kwanza or Soltice, here are some ideas for family traditions: 1. Watch seasonal movies and drink hot chocolate together as a family (This is, by far, one of our favorites! We do this several times during December.) 2. Cut snowflakes out of paper and decorate front windows or hang from the ceiling so that you can "walk thru" them. 3. Take a drive to look at the lights. Coordinate this around an extended family dinner so you can do it together as a caravan. 4. Decorate sugar cookies. 5. Make a gingerbread house or village together. 6. Act out the Nativity. 7. Sing songs together. Make up some of your own family actions to the songs. If you want, take your show on the road and go caroling. 8. Host a neighborhood party. 9. Have a special meal you eat only at this time of year. 10. Play secret Santa. 11. Buy a new children's book each year regarding the holiday and season. Read this book and the books from previous years throughout the month as a family. Be sure to hold the book up and show the pictures. Visuals make traditions even stronger. 12. Hang mistletoe and try to catch each other under it (or as we like to do, try to trick others into getting caught underneath it.)

The New Market Snapshot

What is it?

The Sears Team is offering East Layton Friends and Neighbors a fabulous new and free service! It is called 'Market Snapshot.' Market Snapshot offers a bimonthly analysis of current housing market conditions in a specific neighborhood.

 

How can it benefit me?

As a home owner or future home owner, it is important to keep up with current housing conditions. A home is usually one of the most significant investments a person owns. Taxes and other assessments are determined by the appraised value of a home. The appraised value is determined by the current housing market. If you plan on buying or selling a home, it becomes even more important to stay current on the local housing market conditions. Market Snapshot offers you an easy way to keep informed on what is happening in your neighborhood.

What's in it? 

Market Snapshot reports on current housing market activity in the neighborhood you choose to view. It includes data such as:

* Homes Sold     *Properties for Sale   * Inventory Counts    *Days on the Market     * Asking Prices    *Selling Prices    * Cost per Square Foot     *Charts and Graphs Showing Averages   * Addresses    *Photos   *Maps (Check out the Bird's Eye View!)    *Local Schools and Businesses    *Property Descriptions (Number of Bedrooms, Square Feet, etc.)  *Much, Much More!

Most sections of the report have areas that you can click on for more details.

How do I sign up?

It's quick and easy. Click on the link below. Fill in the blanks of the form using the address or zip code that you would like the information to be about. The Sears Team will sent you the information in an email. You can also sign up to receive an automatic update of the Market Information at an interval of your choice.

http://www.thesearsteam.com/fine/real/estate/marketsnapshot/custom

What if I need help interpreting the data? How do I calculate the current value of my home or one I wish to buy?

 The Sears Team can help you determine what the data means for you. There are many 'intangibles' behind this data, such as whether homes were fixed up or not, special amenities and the like. The Sears Team can get these details for you and help you determine where your home fits in the current market. The Sears Team has the expertise to help you interpret this information more fully and would love to do so.

 

East Layton Crossword Puzzle

Across                                                      Down________________________
1.  Place to work out on Fort Lane             1. Layton road named after a heathen,
7.  Divided by 2                                           2 words (last word is abbrev.)
12. In music, played with a bow                 2. With 44 down, a fruity road in
13. High school in East Layton                      Layton, 2 words
16. Prefix meaning not                              3. Medical professional, abbrev.
17. Trax line abbrev.                                  4. Native tree common in East Layton
18. A small state near Connecticut,            5. Layton avenue that runs parallel
      abbrev.                                                   to Antelope Dr.
19. Doctor or Arts degree, abbrev.              6. State north of Iowa, abbrev.
20. Initial abbrev. for underdeveloped           7. Obscured
22. A building used to store grain               8. Primary School with same name as a
24. Pit stop sign on door for males                  local canyon, 2 words, 2nd abbrev.
26. Slang term for a bad, sweaty smell       9. Popular appliance brand
27. Utah trapper from the 1800's with        10. Favorite recreation site in East Layton
      an East Layton creek and reservoir     14. A group of 3
      named after him                                15. Large military installation near East
29. Well-known College in Middletown,      21. East Layton street with a Jr. High 
      CT, abbrev.                                              named after it
30. 10-12 school on Wasatch Drive           22. Be Quiet!
33. Fruit with hard rind and juicy flesh       23. Sacred syllable uttered as a mantra
34. Talking horse, Mr. ____                      25. Golf course in East Layton
35. Reverse of  OR                                  28. Famous cooking show host
36. Bright, double star found in Orion        31. Elementary school in East Layton 

37. Expression of surprise                       32. Popular East Layton game played

38. Tree Blood                                               a small white ball 

39. Cathode, negatively charged               36. A "hurry up" job

      electrode                                          44. With 2 down, a fruity road in

40. Used to make bread                                 Layton, 2 words

41. Prefix meaning to do again                  47. One, some or every,  49. to move

42. Prefix meaning 2                                50. Elementary school with the same

43. Symbol for a brand name                          name as this blog

45. In the event of                                    51. Singular article

46. City in CA with a famous bridge,          52. A popular golf course in East Layton

      abbrev.                                              54. ____ and Pa Kettle

47. Laugh sound                                      55. Road, abbrev.

48. Mutton ___________                          56. East west drive in Layton

49. Road named after a heathen                57. Authentic, ______ fide

50. Like, similar                                       60. Organization that developed the

51. Equally,  51. Made from elephant tusk       tornado scale, abbrev. 

53. Great place to hike in East Layton       62. Name of an insurance company

58. Satisfy                                               63. Road that runs east west in Layton,

59. Best city, 2 words, 2nd word abbrev.         2 words, 2nd word abbrev. 

61. Divide in pieces                                  65. Negative response

63. Used to indicate position                     66. Volcanic rock

64. Middle school in East Layton               67. Falsehood

70. Possessive form of you                       68. Form of the verb "to be"

71. To char, as in BBQ                             69. Container for peanut butter

72. Short for Evelyn                                  72. Pipes with a right angle bend

73. Place with trees                                 74. Active stage of sleep, abbrev.

76. Part of a fishing pole                           75. Avoid

78. Ready or willing                                  77. Prince in the Middle East

80. Reservoir in East Layton                     79. Lamb's mother

84. Nickname for Louis                             81. Measurement of heat

85. Primary school in East Layton             82. College degree, abbrev.

90. Just great!                                          83. Short for female sibling

91. Medical professional abbrev.                 86. Either

92. Name of the Best Real Estate Team     87. Corn Husker state, abbrev.

                                                               88. State with Richmond as its

                                                                    capitol, abbrev.

                                                               90. Symbol for the element einsteinium 

For a larger printable version of the puzzle, click on the link.  Large Version 

 

 

               For Answers to Puzzle, Click on the Link Below 
                                    Puzzle Answers

Adams Canyon: A Great Hike in East Layton!

Adams Canyon is a favorite day hike in East Layton. The trailhead is located at about 550 North Eastside Road which is just east of the water tank on Oak Hills Drive. Eastside is a frontage road off Highway 89 and can be accessed from 1200 North. There is parking off the road or in a little dirt area.

The first section of the trail rises 500 feet on a series of switchbacks taking it up to meet the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. The view of the valley as you travel is fantastic! At the junction, bikers turn off onto the Shoreline Trail. At this point you follow the path to Adams Canyon. The canyon is named after Elias Adams, a pioneer who settled and built a sawmill at the mouth of the canyon.

There is shade once you enter the canyon. Two of the favorite landmarks along the way are “Refrigerator Rock” and the “Giant Evergreen Tree”. A few places along the trail are washed out and rugged rock outcropping gives the trail its designation of being “moderately strenuous or difficult”.

Much of the trail follows the North Fork of Holmes Creek. Samuel Holmes was a trapper from 1849. There are two segments of the trail where you will need to cross Holmes Creek. You should plan on getting your feet wet. For safety reasons, hikers are encouraged not to enter the creek if the water is too high.

The trail takes you to a glorious 40 foot waterfall. It’s a great reward for your efforts. Take time to bask in the spray or even wade in the pool before heading back down the canyon. Hikers are warned not to drink the water at the falls or from the creek. You should bring plenty of water and you might enjoy having a light snack as you rest by the falls.

The trail continues above the waterfall for about 1/2 mile. Organized rescues have occurred in this upper section because it’s more dangerous that the rest of the trail. Most people only go to the falls and back.

The Adams Canyon Trail is not well marked and there are sections where people occasionally wander off and  lose the path. It’s best to bring someone who’s done it before or study and carry a hiking map or GPS. Round trip to and from the falls is over 3.5 miles and rises in elevation about 1220 feet. Fast hikers can do it in less than 2 hours. For an average hike, plan on 3-4 hours.

Dogs are allowed but they must be kept on a leash at all times. There are occasional rattlers that slither off the path and you don’t want your dog to chase them. The sand on the switchbacks can burn the feet of dogs if you hike in the heat of the day.

There are no restrooms. There are 3 primitive (non-sanctioned by the Forest Service) camping places along the way. Fire restrictions may apply in dry seasons. During the heat of the summer, it’s best to hike in the cooler hours of the day. Adams Canyon Trail is just one of the East Layton treasures you can find on The Sears Team East Layton Blog.

The Sears Team would love to hear about your hiking adventures in Adams Canyon.

If you wish to purchase a home in East Layton, or have a house that you wish to sell, The Sears Team is there to help you every step of the way.

Scrub Oak

The East Layton Bench is known for its little forests of Scrub Oak. The botanical name for Scrub Oak is Quercus gambelii. It is also known as the Gambel Oak named after William Gambel, an American Naturalist. The Gambel Oak is one of only three native Utah oaks.

It is a common species in many lower elevation foothills. The roots of a stand of Scrub Oak are all interconnected. The tree rarely grows from its acorns. It needs full sun. It can adapt to dry, rocky and alkaline soils. The wood is dense, very hard and heavy and makes good firewood. Like most oak trees, it is a slow grower.

Native Gambel Oaks are very difficult to transplant from the wild. They are available as container plants from local nurseries. Gambel Oaks are long lived trees with good wind resistance. They are a tough, durable tree with few serious pest problems. Occasional thinning and removal of dead limbs is usually all that is required.

A stand of Gambel Oaks will generally add to the real estate value of a property. Oak will also add aesthetic appeal and refuge to wild animals such as birds, deer and squirrels. Some local properties are required to maintain a percentage of their landscape in Gambel Oak (see The Oaks at Mutton Hollow).

Check out the local property listings with Scrub Oak on the property. You can find them on The Sears Team website.

East Layton Welcomes CAL Ranch Stores

East Layton Welcomes
C-A-L Ranch Stores

Residents of East Layton celebrated the opening of a new C-A-L Ranch Store on 88 South Fairfield Rd. (see Google Maps) The new location is the 15^th store for C-A-L Ranch Stores in Idaho, Utah and Nevada. It is open on Mondays through Fridays from 8 AM to 8 PM and Saturdays 9 AM to 5 PM. C-A-L Ranch Stores offer a variety of goods for home owners, ranchers, farmers and outdoor enthusiasts.

    §  Animal Health and Feed                      §    Lawn and Garden       

 §  Power Equipment                                §   Farm and Ranch Supplies

 §  Sporting Goods                                   §  Saddlery and Tack

 §  Clothing and Footwear                        §   Tools  

 §  Hardware and Home Repair                §     Pet Food and Supplies

 §  House Wares and Gifts                        §   Candy and Snacks

Layton Store Manager, Stuart Fessler, indicated that the choice of the Fairfield location was mainly a demographic decision. There was also the plus of a great rental agreement with the property owner who is a big C-A-L- Ranch Stores fan. Stuart invites everyone out for the Family and Friends Night Event on Friday, July 15^th from 3 PM to 8 PM. Check out the great discounts for that evening! Discount coupons will be available at the front desk.

C-A-L Ranch Stores was founded in 1959 in Idaho Falls, Idaho. As for the question inquiring minds want to know, - What does the C-A-L stand for? It is the first initial of the father, Clint and his two sons, Alan and Laurel.

Five Cool Summer Tips

The Sears Team shares five ways to Conserve Energy and Save Money while keeping cool this summer.

Keeping cool in the summer results in a high percentage of home power usage. Your local power company offers a multitude of energy saving recommendations to conserve energy and keep your bills lower. Here are five tips from Rocky Mountain Power.

1.   Clean your air conditioner filters regularly. It would be wise to clean them every month during the summer. If you can safely do so, clean the outside grill and spines of your unit. Keep vines, weeds and debris from clogging the vents of the unit for optimal operation.

2.   Use a thermostat that allows you to program the hours you want your air conditioner to operate. You can save a     lot by only operating the unit when you are home. If you will be gone, you can     set it to come on about 30 minutes   before you are scheduled to return               home.

3.   Stay in the shade. Plant deciduous trees to shade you and your home in the summer. Locate them where they will shade your walls, windows and roof during hot weather. (see Arbor Day Foundation, How to Plant Trees to Conserve Energy) Trees will add beauty and dignity to your   home as well.

4.   Whenever you shower or cook, utilize the exhaust fans to vent warm, moist air to the outside of your home. Be sure to turn the fans off when you are finished.

5.   Get a professional tune-up on your air conditioning equipment. A check up is recommended every five years. This will keep your system running efficiently and extend the equipment’s life.

Be Cool! Do your part to conserve energy and save money while you’re at it! If you want to sell or buy a home, you can count on The Sears Team to safely and comfortably help you through the process.