House Fire

A close neighbor had their home burn down on early Tuesday morning. They were in bed around 1:00 a.m. when they smelt smoke and realized the house had caught fire. They managed to get themselves and their pets out but the home was a total loss.

Three volunteer fire fighting units responded to the fire which incidentally belonged to the Deputy Fire Chief of our little towns volunteer fire department. Which only shows that tradegy can strike anyone at anytime.

Our hearts go out to this young couple. We have them in our prayers. Although their lives were spared they loss everything. All their photos, heirlooms, keepsakes and belonging were lost. Luckily they have insurance and their home can be rebuilt or replaced. But the personal effects that are lost cannot.

Please take the time to do an assessment of your home. Are you prepared for a tradegy like this? Here's a few tips to prevent fires in your home and keep your family safe.

Make a fire escape plan for your family. Find two exits out of every room. Pick a meeting place outside. Practice makes perfect – hold a family fire drill at least twice each year.

Install smoke alarms on every level of your home. Put them inside or near every bedroom. Test them monthly to make sure they work. Put in new batteries once a year.

Know how to put out a small pan fire by sliding a lid over the flames.

Teach every family member to “Stop, Drop and Roll” if clothes catch fire.

Consider having a home fire sprinkler system installed in your new home, or when you remodel.

Learn how and when to use a fire extinguisher.
If you have a fire in your home, once you get out, stay out.
Do not go back inside for any reason.

Some good Links:

Home Safety Council Resource Center,

Home Safety

Home Electrical Safety Tips

Friendships

A friend brought a couple horses over to our place to help eat down our overgrown pastures. One of his horses was a brooding mare with a young colt. I enjoyed watching as our dog, Sushi, got to know the new addition. Sushi is normally a little shy around the other horses around here but she has never experienced being around a new colt.


Their process of getting to know each other wasn't a whole lot different than that of their two legged masters. Here's a few photos of their budding friendship and a few pointers on making friends. Maybe there someone in your class, office, or neighborhood that you'd like as a friend. Afterall, todays a good day to start that friendship!

1. The quickest way to make a friend is to smile. When you smile, people think you are friendly and easy to talk to. Just remember that people would rather talk to your smiling face or your usual face than an angry or scared looking face.


2. Start a conversation. One easy way to start a conversation with someone is to say something nice about them. For example, you could comment on what a great answer they had to a teacher's question, how good their yard looks, how much you like their car, etc...Think about how great you feel when someone says something nice to you. Doesn't it make you want to keep talking to that person?

3. Ask your new friends questions about themselves. Who's their favorite singer, where do they live, who's their teacher, what do they do after school are all good questions to start a conversation. It's not really nosey to ask questions about people. It's the only way to get to know what they're like. AND, it's the only way they'll know that you are interested in them.

4. Make sure you have something to add to the conversation too. When someone asks you a question, do have an answer for them. Nobody knows you better than you!

5. Shy people often have some trouble with complements. When someone says something nice, us shy folk will often freeze in our tracks and say nothing. This leaves the other person wondering if they said something wrong. The best and easiest reply to a complement is a simple "Thank You".


6. Be a friend. People who show an interest in other People and who are kind and friendly make good friends. Remember, everyone wants to be around people who like to do similar things and people who are nice to them.

ON FRIENDSHIP:

We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everyhwere."
---Tim McGraw

"Never forget the days I spent with you. Continue to be my friend, as you will always find me yours."
---Ludwig Van Beethoven

"I believe that friends are quiet angels who sit on our shoulders and lift our wings when we forget how to fly."
---Unknown

"Trouble is a sieve through which we sift our acquaintances. Those too big to pass through are our friends."
---Arlene Francis

"The best part of life is when your family becomes your friends, and your friends become your family."
---Danica Whitfield


"Go through your phone book, call people and ask them to drive you to the airport. The ones who will drive you are your true friends. The rest aren't bad people; they're just acquaintances."
---Jay Leno