April Showers Bring May Flowers, So Why Not Some Flowering Trees?

5 types of decorative trees to spruce up the yard.

by Alexandra Blahosky

Happy Earth Day!  To commemorate beautiful Mother Earth this year, I’m writing today’s blog on decorative trees for the yard.  We have had a chilly start to spring so far in Northeast Pennsylvania.  Nevertheless, I’m sure we’re all anticipating the vibrant hues of the season.  Below, is a list I have compiled of five trees suited for our hardiness zone which will add that pop of spring color to the yard.

One of the main trees I have seen throughout the course of my search is the flowering dogwood tree.  Dogwood blooms that sprout in the spring range from shades of deep pink to white.  These pretty trees prefer to stand in partial sun (Flanders, D., 2018, March 16).

Another popular tree is the red maple.  These trees are known for sporting something red all year long (n.d.). In the spring, that something red takes on the form of a multitude of wispy flowers (n.d.).  These robust trees make a great addition for a spicy pop of color not only in the spring, but also all year round.

Cherry trees with their signature pink flowers are common to the world of ornamental trees.  They offer a punch of cheery pink to brighten up our yards.  One of the most common kinds that grace front and backyards is the weeping cherry tree.  The dangling flowers on this tree can also sprout white (Noonan, J., 2015, July 08).  This is also one of my favorites.  I have even depicted this tree in my latest painting https://instagram.com/p/BhxaAhcBd-z/ .

The crabapple tree makes for a lovely decorative tree as well.  The typical ornamental crabapples are of the Asian varieties (2018).  They usually have pink blooms and small, reddish, round fruits known as the sour crabapples.  These trees can make for a brilliant addition to many landscaping styles.

Finally, I’m mentioning one of the favorites in our area, the willow tree.  Known for the weeping appearance of its branches, this large tree is happy to take center stage in the yard.  The blooms on weeping willow varieties utilize the green and yellow shades of the color scale (Marie, J., 2017, November 21).  These trees are suited for a more subtle addition of color to the yard.

Resources:

Flanders, D. (2018, March 16). Dogwood Tree Facts. Retrieved April 21, 2018, from https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/flowers-and-plants/trees-and-shrubs/dogwood-tree-facts

Red MapleAcer rubrum. (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2018, from https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeGuide/TreeDetail.cfm?ItemID=867

Noonan, J. (2015, July 08). 10 of the Best Trees for Any Backyard. Retrieved April 21, 2018, from https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/10-of-the-best-trees-for-any-backyard-49100#weeping-cherry

Flowering crabapple. (2018). Retrieved April 21, 2018, from http://www.landscape-america.com/landscapes/trees/flowering_crabapple.html

Marie, J. (2017, November 21). Decorative Weeping Trees for Landscaping. Retrieved April 22, 2018, from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/decorative-weeping-trees-landscaping-54168.html

A few more photos from our Equestrian Center

We had such a blast down at our Equestrian Center that I want to share a few more photos. I also want to say a special thanks to Joan for introducing us to all the horses.

Eagle Rock Resort’s own Cinderella, Rosie, standing next to Freckles

Sophie

Apollo (Sophie’s foal). This guy is only three months old!

Oscar

Pongo the pony

Cash

Neko

Apollo sharing some secrets with his mom

and another shot of Freckles

Eagle Rock Resort’s Own Cinderella

by Alexandra Blahosky

There’s a new face at Eagle Rock Resort’s Equestrian Center, and we are pleased to introduce her to you.  Please join us in welcoming Rosie, the latest addition to our Eagle Rock family!

Rosie is a stunning, chestnut mare with an irregular white star directly above her eyes in the shape of the African continent.  She is a sweet and well-mannered lady who fits right in with Neko, Freckles, Cash, and the other horses who call Eagle Rock home.  She is already exhibiting a thoughtful and intelligent nature, and she loves to snack on an occasional apple or two.

We are over the moon to have her, and she is in amazing hands with Joan, and the rest of the Equestrian Center staff and volunteers.  Rosie’s story truly mirrors that of Cinderella.  Once a neglected and abused horse, she found salvation in the loving folks at Central Pa. Horse Rescue (CPAHR) in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania.  From there, she has now become a permanent and prized member of our family here at Eagle Rock.

We are as blessed as this lovely lady, if not more so, to have her in our stables.  Adopting Rosie has brought overwhelming joy to the resort!

It is truly unfortunate that not all horses get to have the kind of tale that Rosie has had. For many, the abuse and neglect lives on. There are the obvious sorts.  These include hitting, beating, and malnourishing horses, but there are other forms of abuse too that might not come to mind.

Take the horrific practice of soring as an example.  I just learned about this myself thanks to our Equestrian Center.  People throw corrosive chemicals at the legs of show horses in order to “teach” them to perform high steps.  Actually, one of our horses, Charmer, suffered through this terrible abuse before joining the Eagle Rock family, and he is left with permanent scarring from chemical burns.

A multitude of carriage horses perish everyday as a result of bearing loads in excruciating temperatures and because of accidents due to heavy traffic and careless drivers.  Hard street pavement is horrendous for their legs and delicate hooves, and the heavy harnesses usually leave them with permanent scars.  Plus, states have few to no regulations to protect them.  A lot of the rescued horses at CPAHR are in fact former carriage horses.

In the world of horse racing, there are individuals who ignore protocol and exhibit cruelty to horses as well.  For instance, Churchill Downs had to start scanning jockeys for illegal, electric shock devices that make the horses run faster.  Beforehand, some jockeys were smuggling them into races even though they knew they were outlawed and that they hurt the horses.  Furthermore, when retired race horses go to auction they can wind up in slaughterhouses if rescues are unable to win the bids for them.  After years of service on the racetracks, this is an unbelievably appalling fate.  Neko at our Equestrian Center is a retired racehorse who was able to escape this atrocious savagery.

Thankfully Pennsylvania has a no kill, volunteer organization like CPAHR.  This non-profit’s entire mission is “rescuing and rehabilitating equines suffering from abuse and neglect.”  Of course, the group would love to see every one of their rescued horses, like Rosie, get adopted into loving, forever homes.  For those that are not adopted, or are just unable to leave the care of the volunteers, CPAHR provides them a comfortable place to reside for the rest of their lives.  After everything these beautiful creatures have suffered and all the heinousness with which they have dealt at the hands of their abusers, they deserve every kindness this world has to offer.

You can help too.  Since CPAHR is strictly a volunteer run non-profit, every little bit helps.  Certainly, adoption is a magnificent option.  Still, there are other options for every one of us, no matter the means available to us.  Donations are always welcome.  CPAHR also has a sponsorship program.  You may not be able to adopt a horse, but you can still form a special bond with one of the horses at the rescue by sponsoring him or her.  The website lists nine families who have done just that!  You can even become a volunteer at CPAHR if you would like.  Even if you cannot do any of these things, you can follow a link on the website to ask Congress to pass the SAFE act and end the slaughter of horses for food.  Please visit https://www.centralpahorserescue.org/ or https://facebook.com/CentralPaHorseRescue for more information.

This Kentucky Derby, you can aid us in doing our part to support CPAHR too.  We are hosting an adults-only party at the Eagle Rock Base Lodge from 5-8PM on May 5th.  Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.  Don’t forget to wear your Sunday best and, of course, your fanciest hat.  We will be holding a contest for the most creative hats.  At the event, we will be serving light fare, and the specialty cocktail at the cash bar will be the Mint Julep.  There will be a huge viewing screen to watch the Derby, and optional betting/wagering in an effort to support the CPAHR.

In addition, we will be raffling off a Wheelbarrow of Cheer!  Tickets are $10 each, or you can get 3 tickets for $20.  All owners as well as the general public are welcome to buy tickets.  They are available for purchase with Jim Sebia in the Administration office, Brenda Corrado in the Land Sales office, Kathy Miesowitz at the Activity Center, Eddie Perrino at the Pro Shop, the Equestrian Center.  All the proceeds from this fundraiser will go directly to the Central Pa. Horse Rescue!  Not only will you be helping to save neglected and abused horses just like the fabulous Rosie, but you will also have the chance to win an entire wheelbarrow brimming with bottles of spirits.  Stop by for your tickets today!

While you’re at it, feel free to take a ride down and visit our Equestrian Center to get to know our staff, our volunteers, and our horses a little better!  Plus, we offer boarding services if you have a horse of your own.  Even if you don’t, we would be happy to have you come on down.  If you’re lucky, you can catch a glimpse of our Eagle Rock horses.   You might even get to meet the beautiful newcomer and Eagle Rock Resort’s own Cinderella, Rosie!

*Sources for this article include Eagle Rock’s Equestrian Center, the Central Pa. Horse Rescue, the Humane Society, and PETA.

Salvaging Your Score

 

Tips on improving your credit.

by Alexandra Blahosky

It happens. Sometimes people are ready for that next step, for committing to a mortgage. However, when they try to get a loan, they are turned down due to poor credit scores. Of course, this can be quite the blow, especially if there is no one to cosign and paying in full upfront is not an option. If you are someone who has been turned down by a lender due to credit, there are ways to improve your score. In this blog post, I will discuss some tips to help make this happen.

First and foremost, if you do not have a credit card, now might be a good time to get one. Definitely look for one with the lowest interest rate you can find. Just having the credit card and proving you can make payments (at least double the minimum) every month can bolster your credit score. You may only be approved for something small like a hundred dollar limit, but that is a great place to start, especially since it’s important for the balance to never be too high.

Financing an asset like a car and paying your bills on time and in full every month is another way to improve your credit score. A mortgage company may not budge when it comes to a mortgage lien, but perhaps a car dealership can find a bank to work something out for you depending on how low your credit score is. The interest rate would most likely be higher than normal and you would probably be afforded a smaller amount of time to pay the car off, but in the long run, the struggle can help your credit (as long as you can handle it and aren’t putting yourself in a bad position) and get you a little closer to your ultimate home ownership goal.

On the flip side of the coin, make sure you are not taking on too much. The whole point is to be able to pay down a credit card or car bill every month. If you wind up overwhelming yourself with too much debt and are not able to make payments, this would certainly harm your credit. I have a friend who decided to only take on a credit card with a small limit and that alone proved to be a positive decision. In the same vein, having too many credit card accounts open is a bad thing too. I myself only like to have one credit card in addition to my checkbook.

So, there has to be a gentle balance between looming debts and your ability to pay those debts down on a monthly basis. For a good credit score, you basically need to establish a history proving that you can have debt but at the same time pay that debt down on time and consistently. By beginning with these few tips, you can get yourself into good habits and start to build up a better credit score.   In addition, you need to just be patient with yourself and know that you are capable of getting there in time with the proper effort.

Easter at Eagle Rock

How we celebrate the season.

by Alexandra Blahosky

Happy Easter from our Eagle Rock Real Estate family to yours!  We hope that you are all enjoying the holiday and partaking in your most beloved Easter traditions.  Here at the resort, we have some yearly traditions of our own for our home and property owners arranged by our Activity Center.

One of the big favorites is Breakfast with the Bunny.  Mr. and Mrs. Bunny Rabbit join us every Easter Saturday at the Base Lodge.  Of course, we serve a scrumptious breakfast prepared by our talented chef, but in addition to that, our guests have plenty of photo opportunities with Mr. and Mrs. Bunny Rabbit.  On top of that, we hold a coloring contest for all the children in attendance.   We have prizes for those who take home first, second, and third place.

Then, after breakfast, we host our Annual Easter Egg Hunt.  Next year will actually be our sixth!  Children under twelve are welcome to register for the hunt.  They just need to bring themselves and Easter baskets in order to collect their spoils.  Mr. and Mrs. Bunny Rabbit even make appearances at our Easter Egg Hunts too for more photo opportunities.

On Easter Sunday itself, we host a brunch down at the Base Lodge with a wide selection of culinary choices.  The options range from omelets to salads to hardier meals like Salmon Florentine.  Easter brunch hours today are from 9AM to 3PM to be a little more flexible for any property or home owners attending church services.

So, if you already have a house here, or are thinking of becoming an owner at our resort, don’t forget that we have holiday fun every year right here on property.  On Easters, you never even have to drive past our security gate for a hot meal, to meet and greet with the Easter Bunny, or to find a few Easter eggs of your own.