THE OUTLOOK
NEWS FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE DOMINION
CHILDREN’S ‘GINGERBREAD HOUSE DECORATING PARTY’ IN THE GARDENS
In the spirit of the traditional Christmas that predates our modern celebration, the history of gingerbread houses became very popular in Germany. The Brothers Grimm wrote the story of Hansel and Gretel, making gingerbread houses a very special treat, and quite popular. This tradition became common in early America, and, gratefully, our ancestors continued the art. as do we today. On December 7th, a typical December afternoon, more than a dozen young children in The Gardens met to decorate Ginger Bread Houses at the home of Dr. Richard and Nancy Philbert. Once they stepped inside their beautiful home, the children were greeted with the joy of seeing almost 2 dozen miniature Gingerbread houses, which Nancy had earlier baked, sitting on tables covered with white tablecloths; each with the four sides of the little houses, roofs, doors, and windows having been “glued” together with snow-white icing, ready to be embellished and completed by the children with their individual tubes of icing and little bowls of different color, sizes, and shapes of gumdrops, chocolate kisses, M&Ms, candy canes, Santa Clauses, etc. What fun it was watching them create their own unique and beautiful little Gingerbread houses, wrapping them, and taking them home to share with their family. (Did I mention that some mothers and adults made Gingerbread Houses too, and enjoyed the experience just as much as the children did?) This was a ‘first’ for The Gardens, but not for Nancy. She began learning her baking skills while working with her father in his bakery a long time ago; and since has developed her own superb culinary skills into a real art that she is happy to continually share with her friends and neighbors. And what’s more beautiful is that she finds great delight in sharing these creative talents and skills with our latest generation of youngsters here in the Gardens too. And as a Grandmother today, Nancy feels that spending time with children is ‘never’ wasted time. What a delightful afternoon shared with a delightful group of precious children. Thank you, Nancy. Copyright © 2014 Peel, Inc.
VOLUME VI ISSUE I
January 2014
NOTARY SERVICE
Stop by the HOA office during regular hours to have documents notarized as a free service to our residents.
HOLIDAY SAFETY
Happy Holidays! Please keep yourselves and your valuables safe this season. Keep your vehicles locked and remove anything from plain sight that would tempt a thief. If you are out shopping for the holidays please store purchases out of sight. Keep your homes locked and use your alarm system if you have one. Report any thefts that happen on property to security. Let’s have a safe and secure holiday season.
LOST PETS
Every week, a number of lost pets end up at the Dominion Security North Gate. Those pets that carry external identification are reunited with their owners almost immediately. Unfortunately, most pets picked up within the Dominion do NOT have identification, and finding the owner can take days, even when the pet carries a microchip. Many pet owners insist that their pet does not go outside the house or yard, and so does not need identification. However, an accidentally open door or gate is all that is needed for a pet to get out and wander into unfamiliar territory. To assist in the return of your pet should it get lost, please equip your pet with a collar and identification (ID) tag which clearly displays your name and at least two working phone numbers. Collars and personalized identification tags can be purchased at most pet product stores, and at many animal shelters. Cost for one basic ID tag is approximately $7. If you would like more information regarding ID tags or micro chipping, please call our neighborhood Dominion Animal Advocates Group at 210-854-8055 or 210-744-1200. The Dominion HOA would like to thank all of our residents for their efforts in helping to locate lost pets. Reminder for pet owners, (Continued on Page 4) The Outlook - January 2014
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