September 2021
PRESIDENT'S CORNER
Hello Neighbors!
Summer is over and school is back in session. It’s hard to believe that in just 2 weeks it will be time for our Texas Night Out event at Rattan Creek park, taking place from 5pm – 9pm on October 5th. There will be performances to enjoy on the Grand Pavilion stage, food trucks and meet & greets with our local first responders and service providers. More details can be found on our website and Facebook page, with more specific info to be added as it is locked down. We’re so excited to see what this event can become, and hope to make it an annual thing. We’re also hard at work, getting three additional events scheduled before year’s end:
- the fall garage sale on October 30th,
- a concert on the Grand Pavilion stage in late October to Early November,
- and our annual Santa/Winter Holiday event in mid-December.
Watch for the dates on those last two within the coming weeks! It feels great to finally be getting some event dates on the calendar. We’ll continue to do our best to find ways to safely engage our members during this trying time. Over the next month or two, we’ll be laying out our event calendar for next year. So if you have any suggestions for us, whether it be improvements on recurring annual events or new events you think we should try out, we’d love to hear from you!
And please start thinking about ways that you may wish to volunteer, since we’ll be asking very soon. I can’t wait to see you all out there in the neighborhood once again!
– Christine Newman
PET CORNER
by Leighann Hurley
Flirt Pole Fun!
What’s a flirt pole? Think giant cat toy, but for dogs. It’s a great game to play—especially for dogs who get excited about moving things.
Click here to watch puppy Jovie play flirt pole.
Equipment
There are several options for creating a flirt pole.
Buy a ready-made flirt pole online
Buy a horse lunge whip from Amazon and tie a toy of your choice to the end
Buy a thin 6 foot leash and tie a dish towel to the handle end
I have the lunge whip version, but I’ve also used a light-weight flirt pole from Outward Hound that was nice for smaller dogs. The third option is great for puppies or fearful dogs that might spook at a large stick.
How to Play
Gather your flirt pole and some high value treats like tiny pieces of chicken or cheese
Hold the flirt pole by your shoulder
Ask your dog to Sit or Down
Say, “Get It”
Release and animate the toy for your dog to chase
After a few moments or rotations, allow your dog to catch the toy
Getting the Toy Back:
Take some of the high value treats in your right hand
Say, “All Done”
Put the treat right by your dog’s nose and lure him to your right side
While you’re luring, use the left hand to grab the toy. Do not try to lift the toy away by grasping the flirt pole handle.
IMPORTANT Safety Precautions:
***If your dog has ever shown aggression when you remove food or toys, do NOT play this game.***
Otherwise….
Play outdoors or on carpet. Do not play on hard flooring where your dog can slip.
Keep the toy low to the ground during chase so your dog is not leaping into the air to grab it.
Play BEFORE your dog eats a meal. Intense activity right after eating can lead to bloat.
For puppies: keep the chase spurts very brief and do not suddenly change directions. Tug is fine, but keep his head level with his spine and brace rather than tugging sharply back against him.
Store the flirt pole out of reach of dogs and children.
Countertops 101
by KRISTI COPELAND
by KRISTI COPELAND
When you decide to remodel your kitchen or bathroom, you will likely find yourself drowning in a sea of countertop choices. Whether you’re looking at magazines, at Pinerest, or at Houzz, you’ll see plenty of pictures of gorgeous kitchens and bathrooms and you might find yourself wondering which type of stone is the best choice for your home.
The three most commonly used stones for countertops are Marble, Granite, and Quartz. But which one is best for you? And what the heck is the difference?!
Well, wonder no more, because here’s a handy breakdown of these three types of stone to help you narrow your choices.
Marble, Granite, & Quartz
Marble
Marble is mined out of mountains (ever hear of Carrara marble? It comes from Carrara, Italy!) and is a completely natural material. It has been the go-to choice for architecture since time immemorial and used in everything from statues to bathrooms to state capitol buildings.
Most marble features beautiful veining and comes in a wide variety of colors. You can even find marble that is almost completely white, when it is free of any impurities or other stone.
As natural and beautiful as marble is, however, it’s extremely porous and will need frequent maintenance, making it less resilient to damage than other stones countertop options. Spill a glass of red wine on your marble countertop and that’s going to leave a mark! Marble is a soft stone that can be damaged easily, making it less common in high traffic kitchen areas and more appealing in bathrooms.
So, if you want to go with a classic, elegant, timeless marble, be prepared to spend dearly for the really good stuff and spend a fair amount of time protecting it from stains and damage.
Granite
Granite is another natural material that comes straight from the earth. Like marble, once it’s cut and shipped to a slab yard, it is then honed and polished to be ready for sale.
Countertops made from granite are some of the strongest and most beautiful surfaces you can find, and there is an almost endless selection of colors ranging from blacks, tans, grays, golds, and browns to peach, blues, whites, and more.
Granite is durable, stain-resistant, scratch-resistant, and heat resistant. While generally less expensive than marble and much more durable, keep in mind that granite – being a natural stone – still requires maintenance because it is porous. It needs to be sealed fairly regularly to prevent bacteria from getting into the tiny crevices (yuck!) and to prevent staining.
Quartz
Unlike marble and granite, which can be mined, honed, polished, and sold, a quartz countertop is manufactured.
But wait…isn’t quartz a natural stone? Yes, quartz is a natural stone, but what is sold as quartz countertops is actually about 90% natural quartz stone that has been ground up and mixed with around 10% polyresin.
Since quartz countertops are manufactured, the appearance can be customized to mimic marble, granite or any other color. Most quartz countertops are heat resistant to about 650°F, stain resistant (because they are non-porous), chip resistant, typically less expensive than most marble and granite – and they NEVER require sealing. And to top it all off, you get a consistent look with quartz that you can’t get with a natural stone.
Some of the most popular brands of quartz countertops are sold as Silestone, CesarStone, HanStone, Cambria, MetroQuartz, and AmeriStone – as well as many other brands.
So, Which One Do You Choose?
Countertops are a critical part of every kitchen and bathroom, but which one to choose? Here’s the nitty-gritty:
If you want a countertop that may requires more upkeep but looks incredible and super high-end, marble may work for you.
If you want stone countertops that come in a variety of colors and patterns, is fairly low maintenance and very durable, then granite is a great choice.
If you want low maintenance, doesn’t require sealing and comes in almost infinite colors and designs, then quartz is the choice for you.
No matter which stone you choose for your kitchen or bathroom countertops, you are sure to have a beautiful result!
Pro Tip: a good fabricator makes all the difference. Make sure to ask around and get recommendations before hiring just anyone to fabricate and install your countertops. Imagine it’s like buying luxurious hand-spun silk and then hiring a novice seamstress to make a dress. Hiring a pro who knows how to work with various stone materials will make all the difference when it comes to the final result!
Happy Renovating!
Baking with someone who doesn't typically bake
by Velisia Escobar
by Velisia Escobar
CHEESY SCONES
My daughter loves all things cheese, so we made these and they were a hit.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ⅓ cup cold butter cut into pieces
- 1 ¼ cup Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar shredded
- 2 eggs beaten
- ¾ cup heavy cream
INSTRUCTIONS
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Preheat oven to 400°F.
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Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add cheese and stir to combine.
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Combine eggs and heavy cream. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and stir just until it forms a dough.
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On a lightly floured surface, knead dough by folding and gently pressing dough for 10 to 12 strokes until nearly smooth. Pat dough into an 8-inch circle and cut into 8 wedges.
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Place wedges 1-inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Brush with milk.
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Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden. Remove scones from baking sheet. Let cool slightly.
Hurricanes next season is in 2022 – learn more here: https://hurricanes.swimtopia.com/
SCOUTS
The Scouting movement in Rattan Creek is alive and well, even through times of COVID-19. Scouting is a great opportunity for our neighborhood youth, both male and female of almost all ages, to participate in a social activity with their peers to learn life lessons and build leadership capabilities. There are several opportunities for various ages in our neighborhood:
Cub Scout Pack 159 – Chartered on October 1, 1971, Pack 159 is one of the older and more established Cub Scout packs in the Northwest Austin area. Many of our scouts attend Pond Springs Elementary or Jollyville Elementary. We welcome scouts and families from all different backgrounds. Pack 159 is open to boys and girls in Kindergarten through 5th grade.
Online: pack159.org | Facebook: facebook.com/pack159tx
Scouts BSA Troop 259 – Troop 259 serves male youth aged from 11 to 17. Many of our Scouts attend from junior high schools such as Deerpark, Grisham, Canyon Vista, Pearson Ranch, and Cedar Valley along with high schools such as McNeil or Westwood. We meet weekly, camp monthly, and attend summer and high adventure camps annually. We are firm believers in giving back to our community through service. You will likely find our Scouts involved in local school and neighborhood activities.
Online: scout259.org | Facebook: facebook.com/scout259
SCHOOL CORNER
Find out what's happening in the neighborhood schools of Jollyville, Pond Springs, Deerpark and McNeil!
Find out what's happening in the neighborhood schools of Jollyville, Pond Springs, Deerpark and McNeil!
- 9.22 – General Meeting – Topic: Managing Middle School Math – Sign up to get the zoom link here (flyer attached)
- 9.27 – Teacher Appreciation – more details to come
- 10.13 – PTA Power Hour – Refreshing your Resume with Xavier Cano
- 11.05 – Reflections Submission – More details here
You don’t have to have a child at Pond Springs Elementary to support the PTA!
We were lucky enough to get copies of all the old RCNA newsletters! Every month we’ll include something that was in a past newsletter in the same month or time of year. Enjoy the history lessons!
Below is a gardening article from September 1990! It still applies today!
HELPFUL LINKS TO NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS
HELPFUL LINKS TO NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS
- North Austin MUD 1: https://northaustinmud1.org/
- Rattan Creek Neighborhood Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RattanCreekNeighborhood
- Rattan Creek Neighborhood Buy Sell Trade Give: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RCNBuySellTrade
- Rattan Creek Buy Nothing: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bnplosindioshunterschaserattancreek
- Rattan Creek Tots Playgroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/766011216785046
- Rattan Creek Pokemon Go: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1378225265618880
- Rattan Creek Women’s Book Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rcwomensbookclub
- Rattan Creek Tabletop Games Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rattancreektabletopgaming