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The voices of treesIn the Douglas Fir and Alder forests of the Pacific Northwest, thetrees are tall enough to be in nearlyconstant motion at their crown. Evenlight breezes in the tops of hundredfoot-plus trees make the singletrunked trees sway ten feet in eitherdirection. The sounds they make while swaying with and againstone another are hypnotizing. Whooshing white noise, filled withthe crackle of twigs and the rattle of cones make the sounds offorests unique in every locale.If you visit the old growth Sequoias and Redwoods on the westcoast, you’ll hear their voices loud and clear. Some of them havebeen alive since the Assyrians destroyed Babylon, and are hometo fully developed ecosystems, including other plants, bugs, smallmammals, and birds. The sounds emanating from old growth treesblend the echoes of these co-inhabitants with the creaking andgroaning of the trees, and the wind whispering or sometimes roaring through their flattened needle leaves.Quaking aspens sing a distinctive soft, whispering rustle songwith every breeze. Their quiet refrain harmonizes with those ofPiñon, Ponderosa, and Lodgepole pines throughout the Rockies.Closer to home, most of us have learned the voices of the treesand woods around our homes the way we memorize the soundof our lover’s footsteps— without realizing it. The thickly foliated juniper’s sighing in the wind turns to a clatter of cracking andcreaking in an ice storm. Crossed branches at the top of an old liveoak squeak against one another in their daily undulations, and theirby Tim Thompsonfalling leaves rustle all day and all night for several weeks everyspring.In a larger sense, trees have much more to say than the randomsounds they make in their course of daily life. They speak to us ofthe longevity of life and of our part in it. They speak of the agesfrom whence we came and to which we all eventually go. Theyspeak the truths of many generations long past and of the hope ofgenerations yet to come.Horticulturist Tim Thompson has managed the garden center atKing Feed and Hardware for the past 25 years. They offer everything you need to have the garden of your dreams without stressing your budget. Pick up Tim’s Tips, free one page sheets on howto carry out dozens of gardening projects available only at KingFeed Nursery. Call Tim at 847-2618.by Jackie MaloyA strong offer brings the best resultsNo one wants to spend more thanthey have to on a property or to lose outon your dream home because of a weakoffer. Listed below are several ways tomake a compelling offer to sellers.A pre-approval letter from yourlender says everything: As a buyer itsays you are prepared, you have a plan,you have the money to buy the homeyou want. Sellers need to know that the pre-approval letter is notthe full financing story. The house has to appraise for the salesprice and the lender will require an acceptable survey. The pre-approval letter shows due diligence on the buyer’s part and a promiseof a closing.Decide on the right price: Real estate markets are localized,so the sale price of a home across town may have little to do withwhat a home in another area is valued or a house with acreage, orwater front. Find out how the property compares to similar homesnearby, called “comps”, by asking your REALTOR . Comps arean important part of determining price because they reflect neighborhood conditions and valuable amenities.Show sellers you’re serious: In today’s market, a full price offer may not guarantee the seller will accept your offer. HomeWimberley Valley News & Viewsby Jackie Maloyowners will consider the amount of earnest money in the proposedcontract, length of option period, whether the buyer will require aloan versus a buyer paying cash and buyer request for seller-paidexpenses like a new survey or closing costs.Be flexible: A closing date can mean more than money to aseller and sometimes to the buyer. Timing is everything. If you, thebuyer, can meet their timeline or offer the seller a lease back for acouple of days after you close, your offer gains strength.Stay away from contingencies, or make them as moderate asyou can. Why? Put yourself in the seller’s shoes. A slightly loweroffer may be more attractive than a higher offer that’s contingenton the buyers needing to sell their own home.Many terms are combined to make an attractive offer. YourTexas REALTOR can help construct an offer that gives you thebest chance of purchasing the home you want at terms that arefavorable to you. Sources: www.TexasRealtors.comResources: Real Estate investing101, Investing For Beginners:Joshua Kennon. The Millionaire Investor: Gary KellerJackie Maloy has been building trust with her clients for over 30years. Local knowledge. Global connections. Call 842-1272 oremail jackie@jackie maloy.comPage 5August 2016

What you need to know about luxury vinyl tilesby Shaun Danielsramic tile. Sweeping, mopping, dusting or vacuuming should bedone regularly to prevent any dirt or grit from leaving marks andscratches on your floor.The luxury vinyl tile is still new to the industry. But even thoughit’s new, it is already starting to get traction as a popular flooringoption by many home and business owners alike. If you are looking for a flooring option that feels great, has a lot of colors anddesigns to choose from and is highly durable, then luxury vinyl tileis your best choice.Shaun DanielsQuality you can stand on.For more than 30 years Shaun Daniels, owner of Quality Floors& More in Wimberley, has been selling and installing beautifulflooring in homes all over Hays county and the surrounding area.Phone: 512-722-3389 Address: 12111 Ranch Rd 12 #101,Wimberley, TX 78676 Website: QualityFloorsWimberley.comQuality Floors & MoreIf you want new flooring for yourhouse in the future, you may want to consider luxury vinyl tiles as an option. Butwhat is a luxury vinyl tile? Luxury vinyltile is a new type of flooring which cangive you the look of a ceramic tile floorand is developed to fit the demandinglifestyles of the people today.How good are the luxury vinyl tiles? When it comes to design,luxury vinyl tiles come in various colors and patterns which are allinspired by nature. You can even choose to add subtle design or adramatic variation between the individual tiles. They can also bemade to look more like a ceramic or stone if you want.Another good thing about this type of flooring is that it is alsovery easy to install. Installing luxury vinyl tile only takes half ofthe time you need to install ceramic tile!Luxury vinyl tiles are an excellent choice for those floor areasthat are exposed to high traffic like door entrances, living roomand kitchen. They are highly-durable and have a high resistance toscratches. These tiles are made from limestone and are developedto resist cracking and chipping.You will also feel very comfortable with luxury vinyl tiles because they are warmer to the touch than natural stones. They alsohave the ability to absorb sound which will create a more comfortable environment in your house. But what about the maintenance?They are very easy to clean and maintain. They are also guaranteed to preserve their vibrant colors much longer than vinyl or ce-Plaza Del Sol shopping center12111 RR12, Suite 101P.O. Box 3002Wimberley, Texas 78676512 722 FloorsWimberley.comCeiling fansCeiling fans were first seen in primitive form in the U.S. in the 1860’s. Theywere powered by water. It was not until1882, that Philip Diehl introduced thefirst electric powered ceiling fan.Now that we have a brief historyof the ceiling fan behind us, let’s fastforward to the present for some usefulinformation you can use to maintain your ceiling fan and a tip onhow your ceiling fan can save on your heating and cooling bill.First let’s talk about ceiling fans that wobble. A wobbly fan isusually caused by imbalance in the blades or the blade brackets.Just a slight variation in a blade caused by "play" in the mountingholes can cause a wobble. First, make sure that all the connectionsare properly aligned and tightly fastened. Check the alignment ofthe blades by holding a yardstick vertically along the edge; youmay be able to gently bend a misaligned blade holder back intoits proper place. If all the blades are aligned, a balancing kit canthen be used to pinpoint the culprit. You may buy a ceiling fan balancing kit at your locally owned hardware store. The kit includessmall weights that you have to attach to the blades one at a timeto determine which blade is not balanced. Balancing is a matter oftrial and error.Now let’s learn about how your ceiling fan can save you money.Wimberley Valley News & Viewsby Cary PalumboFirst most ceiling fans come with a reversible motor. In the summer, use the fan in the counter clockwise direction. The air flowproduced creates a wind-chill effect, making you feel cooler. Inthe winter, reverse the motor to the clockwise direction and operate your fan on low. This produces a gentle updraft, which forceswarm air near the ceiling down into occupied space. Using thereverse setting on your fan properly will help save energy andmoney.Cary Palumbo has been with Wimberley Ace Hardware for fifteenyears. He is the Assistant Store Manager. Wimberley Ace Hardware Annex is open and located at 14307 Ranch Road 12 (at theY) and open daily. Call 512-847-2356 or visit Facebook.com/WimberleyAceGift.Wimberley AcePhone: 512-847-235614307 Ranch Road 12Wimberley, TX 78676www.WimberleyAce.comThe helpful place.Canyon Lake AcePhone: 830-964-27971150 FM 2673Canyon Lake, TX 78133www.CanyonLakeAce.comUnbeatable Customer Service,Selection, Competitive Prices,and Close to HomePage 6August 2016

Learning to love itA home-décor sage helped me whenI was making decisions for my very firsthome. I was on a young teacher’s budgetand she advised me to, “Change what youcan afford to change and learn to love therest.” Her wise advice helped me relax asI accepted certain imperfections and really fell in love with the overall look ofmy comfy, new home. Yes, we all find that accepting a few flawsin favor of enjoyment is a good choice, no?The same goes for summers in Texas. Any Texan will tell youthat if you brace yourself against the heat of our summers, you willhave a miserable four months, so we might as well try to learn tolove it. And though I thank heavens every year that air conditioning and I were born about the same time, I also always jump at thechance to eat and play outside in the summer. Floating in the river,picnicking, enjoying plays at the EmilyAnn or a fun movie at theCorral are things about summer that I have learned to love. Howabout you?by Temple WynneTemple Wynne is the owner/buyer at River House, 104 WimberleySquare. River House specializes in customer service, offering giftregistry, beautiful accents for home and table, ladies’ jewelry andaccessories, fine paper and the best toffee ever! 512-847-7009 orRiverHouseWimberley.com.ssentialsEHWimberley Valley News & ViewsGraciousill Country LivingOpen Daily847-7009Big Ol’ Summer SaleCool Discounts Storewide!July 15th - August 1104 Wimberley Square www.RiverHouseWimberley.comBe aware of heat stress this summerYou aren’t the only one that dreadsthe dog days of summer; your plants suffer from the heat too. Did you know thathigh temperatures alone can cause significant damage to you plants’ health? Hightemperatures reduce photosynthetic ratesfaster than they reduce respirations rates.The result: carbohydrates produced byphotosynthesis are used faster than they can be replaced – an imbalanced budget! Higher temperatures increase the loss of waterthrough stomates in the leaves, thereby increasing the demands onthe root system to take up water in order to cool themselves viatranspiration. (Usually high temperatures are also accompanied bylow rainfall – insult to injury.) Cellular membranes also becomeunstable and result in ion leakage within the leaf cellular structure.So how do plants cope with high temperatures? One way isthrough the formation of heat shock proteins (HSPs). HSPs arefound in humans and other animals as well and perform the samefunction as in plants: maintain the integrity and function of proteins in high heat. HSPs are formed in response to rising temperatures and help to stabilize proteins to ensure cell functioning.HSPs help to moderate metabolic reactions that would otherwisespeed up and cause an imbalance of metabolites and acidificationin cellular tissue. Calcium also plays a critical role in temperaturestress adaptation by modulating enzyme activity and stabilizingmembranes. There are physical adaptations as well, such as increasing leaf hairs and waxes, changing leaf morphology to reduceforby Steven Austinlight interception and changing leaf orientation.Preparing plants for heat stress consists of the horticultural basics: plant properly in high quality soil, manage soil fertility andproperly irrigate.A Wimberley resident, Steven Austin is a member of the TexasChapter of the International Society of Arboriculture and is anISA Certified Arborist and ISA Tree Worker/Climber Specialist.His expertise includes integrated pest management of trees andshrubs and state-of-the-art organic treatments. He holds a commercial pesticide license with the Texas Department of Agricultureand is Texas Oak Wilt Certified by the Texas Forest Service. Stevenis an Arborist Representative for Bartlett Tree Experts and can bereached at 512-392-1089 or toll-free at 800-443-8733.Steven E AustinArborist RepresentativeISA Certified Arborist#TX-3616AT1324 Old Martindale Road,San Marcos, TX 78666bartlett.comSAustin@bartlett.comp 512.392.1089f 512.392.7398Page 7August 2016

Service call checklistAs with any major appliance, a water softener can occasionally have problems which are beyond the abilities ofthe homeowner. There are some simplethings you should check before scheduling a service call. They could save you anunnecessary expense.First, make sure that the unit is plugged into an outlet that haspower. Sometimes a tripped breaker or GFCI can cut power to thesoftener. Often, houses are wired so that one GFCI outlet can cutpower to several other outlets, so the reset button could be in adifferent location. The next item to check is the bypass valve. Thistakes different forms depending on the type of softener you have,but is typically a quarter-turn valve, or a plunger style handle. Thebypass valve should be in the “service” position for soft water.You should make sure that there is salt, or potassium, in the brinetank. It is important to know that, if the unit should run out of saltcompletely, it can be several days before the softener will get backon track. You can initiate a manual regeneration to speed up theprocess. You should never have to add water to a brine tank, as thesoftener is set to add a specific amount of water during the regeneration cycle. On a related note, if low flow is the issue, be surethat your whole house pre-filter (if you have one) is not clogged. Ifyou have checked these basics, and still have a problem, it may betime to contact a licensed professional.It’s worth noting that there are two basic types of service pro-by Randy Lawrenceviders: technicians and parts-changers. The technician truly understands the technology and function of the appliance, and actuallywants to determine the source of your problem. The technicianalso cares to make sure that you understand the problem, whatcaused it, and how to avoid future issues. Unfortunately, muchmore common, the parts-changer is simply repeating learned actions in hopes of solving a problem. This can prove to be costlywhen unnecessary parts, or equipment, are replaced.Randy Lawrence is the owner of ProQuality Water Systems, afull service water treatment company. He is one of only six ClassIII Certified Water Treatment Specialists in Hays County (LIC#WT0002693). With over 15 years of experience he has servicedWimberley and surrounding areas for over a decade.“When you want quality, call a pro.”ProQualityWater SystemsRandy LawrenceA512-618-1334(830) 822-3533full service water treatment company specializingin customer service&integrityCertified by the Texas Commission for Environmental QualityClass III License # WT0002693www.proqualitywater.comRanchwerksLand and Ranch improvements512-762-0337 Ranchwerks.net Ranchwerks@gmail.comDripping Springs, TXCedar/brush removal Roads Welding Bobcat work Fencing Tree trimming and planting Field mowing General clean-ups Landscape lighting Pump systems Sprinkler repairsLicensed & InsuredWimberley Valley News & ViewsPage 8August 2016

Planning for fallAdamsReal Estateby Lindley PondI’d first like to say to all of the folksthat had damage from the flood ofMemorial Day, I express my sincereapologies. Hopefully this finds thingslooking a little brighter!This summer has not been like anyother I can remember in recent years.As I write this, we still have not hit100 degrees and things are still green. What a difference a yearmakes. August, in my book, is one of those months when we knowit will heat up and we are better off making plans for a fall garden or hammering out details on hard scrapes, even implementingthem if the war chest allows.Bones are a good thing to get in place for cooler temperatureswhich are coming our way. I tried something different in my veggie garden that really simplified my life and made the whole experience really satisfying, as well as super productive. Cattle andhorse troughs along with rough cedar raised beds made for spacewith nothing but the best soil. No rocks, which has always beena problem.Another great late summer project is a really good clean up/hair cut. What worked, what didn’t? Keep that which speaks toyou and discard that which is either too maintenance hungry ordoesn’t work well with your plan. If you start now with a plan andsome help, your dreams coming true are just around the corner.We’re here if you need that help! Thank you.Nancy Adams, GRI, CNE512-847-1331www.nancyadams.realtorDedicated to getting results for YOUeagleMountain Flags & Flag Poles Patriotic giFts knives & cutlery512-847-0010 800-385-5605Mon-thu 9-5 Fri til 3 333 FM 2325 WimberleyeagleMountainFlag.comRebecca MinnickRealtor Whether you’re buying or selling,let me put Sotheby’s incomparableservice to work for you!Serving the Dripping Springs AreaWe’re here to help fulfill your “outside dreams.” Call us for a freeconsultation and design. Lindley Pond is owner of Lindley PondLandscaping. We are here to make things out of your reach happen. Don’t hesitate to call or email. We’d love to help you designthe shady spot you deserve. We’ve been helping folks in CentralTexas for over 15 years. Give us a call for design and installationof your new “lawn.” Contact us at ealty.comDedicated to the Extraordinary. The Exceptional. The Unique.TECHNOLOGY SERVICESDONE RIGHT Lindley Pond512.775.1629Call, email or visit my website to requestAlindley@landscapesyoulove.comcomplimentary consultation and design lindleypond171@gmail.comTo help you enjoy your outdoors!512.322.9519 Wimberley Valley News & Views171 Wren RoadJohnson City, TX 78636[512] 982 . 4114TECHNICITYPC.COMPC & Mac Repair Sm. Businesss ConsultingPhone & Tablet Screen RepairPage 9August 2016

CUSTOM WINDOW COVERINGSAT AFFORDABLE PRICESBeat TheHeat. Solara& CompleteCellular Shades lineThe bestfor ourTexas heat!NowOfferingof insulationCustomDraperies!Beautifulnew–Window Save energyStay coolTreatments, Blinds, Shutters, Great colors,styles,and pricesWovenWoods,CellularShades and More. Fast availabledelivery andinstallationMostin twoweeks or less. BetterBlinds,serviceShades,&ShutterslowerWe’ll have you covered!prices than thebig box stores.by AJ HarwoodFree estimates512-847-8970Superior service before and after the saleMadeintheShadeof Wimberley.comAre you Flying Solo?Come fly with us.Community Singlesare welcome!2nd & 4th Fridayof each monthFlying SoloFood FunFriendship & Fellowship www.FBCWimberley.com Wimberley2x3.pdf6/6/07847-9035Activities & Location Varies.Car-Pooling

If you are thinking about selling, call us for a free consultation. Melinda Everett, Broker Associate 512-695-5963 Traci Maxwell, Broker Associate 512-393-9996 Zach Adkisson, Sales Associate 512-217-4776 Molly Wendt, Sales Associate 512-940-1711 Clay E Ewing, Broker Associate 512-922-7475 Heather Wiley Evans, Sales Associate 512-618-7500 201 .