This was posted this morning in an article I received from the Key West Citizen Newspaper in Key West Florida. That is where I was born and my dad owned the first Standard Oil station in Key West. Back then not everyone was fortunate enough to own a car. This is when our family purchased our first family car that was a Kaiser (I believe was a Mercury Brand).
I remember we as a family all worked at the service station. (My job was to carry my box out to the car at the pump, step up and clean the windows). My dad usually pumped the gas.That is back when someone would come out, pump your gas, clean your windows, check yourtires and oil; have a soda and gossip for awhile. If you didn't have money to pay my mom would keep a record of money owed in a little hand-written log book. Back then we didn't have credit cards. I don't remember a cash register, I think dad had a cigar box to keep the money in and a pickle jar to put change. My brother use to work in the back and helped change tires. I guess my sister just sat and looked pretty, don't remember her having any chores.
Just a few memories as life was back then.Now we pump our own gas, check our own tires, clean our own windows and pay at the pump or go inside, pay and pick up a snack. We are lucky if we see the same person next trip to the"Convenience Store" as we call it today.
This has not one thing to do with real estate, septic inspections, home inspections, swimming pool inspections, commercial inspections, condo inspections but it sure was fun remembering.
__If you are looking for a home inspection service to do all of the above that has to do with "inspections" please call Complete Inspection Service, Carl Winters, License #3630, Comal County Texas (we have been in business since 1994) Advanced Inspector, certified by TREC, NAWT for septic inspections and conduct new home phase inspections___/Localism: Canyon Lake, New Braunfels, Texas/July 1, 2009 Blog
All PEC office lobbies and drive-thrugh lanes will be closed on Friday, July 3rd, so that PEC employees can observe the Independence Day holiday. You can still make your payments on the web and check your billing information. Online www.pec.coop
PEC's 24-hours service crews will be on standby and available in case of electric service emergencies.To report interruptions -800-554-4732.
______Blog Info. June 29,2009 from your Hill Country Home Inspector Localism Tip____
Comal County Texas, Complete Inspection Service, Carl Winters, Advanced Inspector #3630 - We have served Comal County customers since 1994. 830-660-0131 .We conduct structural & mechanical property inspections, septic inspections for buyers and sellers for new homes, existing homes, first time home buyers, military. condos. Residential & Commercial.
Localism Informaton Blog for Comal County and PEC Customers. Membe of TAREI, NAWT (Septics), Active Rain Real Estate Network. June 29, 2009
Have a safe and fun Fourth of July Carl & Ceil Winters
Full Service Country Club & Golf - One more reason to move to Canyon Lake, Texas
Open to the Public
I did a home inspection in the area of Canyon Lake Golf Course & Country Club a few days ago and thought I would blog on this very nice golf course and club. However, I am not a golfer but I know many folks are and this may help them with a decision if they are thinking of moving to Canyon Lake, TX.
I am going to include the information from their website and here is the phone number for your future reference. 830-899-3372. The website is: www.canyonlakegolfclub.com
Located in the beautiful Texas hill country between San Antonio and Austin, Canyon Lake Golf Club offers a wide range of activities with facilities and staff to accommodate a variety of needs.
It is par-72 golf course boasts well-manicured fairways accented with rolling hills, live oak trees, and a lovely view of the lake. Several holes have been completely redesigned to challenge even the most avid golfer. New cart paths allow a smooth flow of traffic, while also preserving the fairway.
The clubhouse facilities are also available for parties, receptions, business meetings, banquets, or for just about any get-together you can plan! The formal dining room, complete bar, and two patio rooms overlooking the golf course provide an ideal setting for any gathering from 10 guests to 150!
Open 7 days a week, the golf course and clubhouse is available to members and outside players from 7am to dusk.
Here is one more reason to consider moving to Canyon Lake, TX.
About Me-If you buy a home and need a property or home inspection please call Carl Winters with Complete Inspection Service at 830-660-0131 or 830-899-2441. My license is #3630 and I have been in business since 1994. I do structural & mechanical inspections, septic systems inspections, new home phase inspections, condos. I am an advanced inspector licensed by TREC, NAWT Certified for Septic Inspections and Registered with TRCC for new home phase inspections.
I live at Canyon Lake, Texas but my service area is San Antonio, Texas, North to New Braunfels, Northwest to Boerne, Blanco, Bulverde, Seguin and Wimberly.
Blog: June 26, 2009 Localism Info. For Canyon Lake Texas
Two items in this blog are for your information if you are a Pedernales Electric Coop customer.
This first item is important and we want to make you aware that some folks are not fortunate enough to have air condition that live in our area. Pedernales offers a gift program, much like buying a gift card. If you know someone or even someone in your own family is having a birthday and you don't know what to get them, you may consider a Give-A-Watt gift check.
If you're searching for the perfect gift idea, look no further. PEC's Give-a-watt gift checks are easy to buy and easy to use. You can go to one of the PEC www.pec.coop offices or click on the website for informatin.
Also is some additional information regarding your ability to get account information from Pedernales Electric website. Hope this is helpful. June 23, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE We need Rain!
PEC debuts MyUse Energy Analyzer conservation tool
At its June 20 Annual Membership Meeting, Pedernales Electric introduced its newest online conservation effort, MyUse Energy Analyzer. The tool will allow PEC members to view their daily electric use in kilowatt-hours and dollars so they can better monitor and manage their monthly electric consumption, budget accordingly and reduce their environmental impact. Members also will be able to subscribe to mid-point notification e-mails detailing their current unbilled kwh use.
"PEC's MyUse Energy Analyzer is an exciting tool," PEC General Manager Juan Garza said. "We encourage members to conserve electricity, and with MyUse, they will have the ability to view their daily use and change costly electric habits. This is just the first in a continuing series of beneficial products we hope to be unveiling in the future."
To ensure the tool would serve its members, PEC conducted focus groups and used member feedback to guide the development of MyUse. "It is important for us to gather member input, and we've utilized members' specific ideas to improve MyUse," said PEC Communications Manager Michael Racis. "We've married emerging technology and member suggestions to create a conservation tool PEC members can benefit from."
The tool will be available online at www.pec.coop for all PEC members to utilize beginning in July 2009. For more information about PEC's MyUse Energy Analyzer, call us toll-free at 1-888-554-4732.
I know this isn't the most exciting blog I have ever done but it is necessary; we all have one, two, three and may four in our home.
Most folks are pretty good at replacing the inside items that need to be replaced from time to time. No Problem...
Now does your "throne" rock? I recently inspected a home that had the most, we'll say "not level" toilet I have ever seen. Just in case some folks don't know it can be easily fixed. You can call a plumber or you can do it yourself. Here are a few tips if you want to try your handy work.
•1. Remove the tank. Modern style toilets have Two bolts that hold the bowl to the closet flange
•2. Remove the nuts from these bolts. If you have a 4 bolt type, remove all.
•3. Ooops, I forgot make sure the water is turned off.
•4. Now pull the toilet straight up and set down on some newspaper.
•5. Clean off the closet flange and inspect for damage. If the flange has sunk below the flooring, you will need a flange extension or a double seal. No big deal. If the flange is above the floor, you will either need to shorten the pipe or cut out a piece of plywood in the shape of the bowl to build it up. If it's minor, you can put some Plaster of Paris down and set the bowl in that to build it up.
•6. Place your new wax seal around the hole on the bottom of the bowl, and carefully lower over the bolts. You can buy one of these at the big box store (in the plumbing department).
•7. New bolts are a good idea if you are going to all the trouble.
•8. Use an extra nut to hold the bolts firmly to the closet flange.
Now Test:
Sit on the bowl a few minutes to compress the wax and then put the nuts back on the bolts. Sit again and retighten. Do not over do it. Follow the same instructions in tightening these bolts as you did for the Close Couple bolts. The bowl should not rock or move. If it does, try some wedges, or the Plaster of Paris tip above.
Applause! No More Rocking Throne
*First Time Home Buyer? Moving to Comal County? San Antonio or surrounding counties? Need a home inspection? Septic system inspection, condo inspection?...I am an Texas Advanced Home Inspector, License #3630 and have been in business since 1994___For questions you can reach me at 830-660-0131.
I wanted to give you this link which is an excellent source for information if you have a Septic System in Comal County TX.
This website will give you some very good information. It is important your system be maintained - whether it is a brand new system or a system that wil come with an existing home you are about to purchase. Why is it important to have your system Inspected and Pumped...it can save you from having costly repairs or even replacement. Simple maintenance can save you money and aggreviation.
Here is some helpful informatin:
Without regular pumping of the septic tank, the system can overflow. Sometimes overflow can lead back to the house, where your toilets and drains belch what's supposed to be in the septic tank.
Overflow can also lead to a sudden deluge of unprocessed waste flooding the drain field. When this happens, water can seep above ground, which leads to a flooded yard and run-off into nearby water bodies like creeks and rivers. Below ground, this flood can cause further damage, tainting groundwater. Together, these intrusions of waste can contaminate the water people use and drink. The waste introduced into the water supply can carry harmful bacteria and disease. (Additional information can be acquired from CCEO (www.cceo.org)
_____Moving to Comal County? Need a Home Inspection? Need a Septic Inspection?___Call Carl Winters with Complete Inspection Service, TREC License #3630 since 1994. NAWT Certified for septic inspections and TRCC Registered for New Home Phase Inspections...830-660-0131 www.home-inspection4u.com
If you should need a septic tank pump you can contact David Winters Septic/All Pro Puping at 830-935-2477. David is a licensed septic installer. email: www.allyoursepticneeds.com "all your septic needs"
Blog Information: Localism Canyon Lake TX
We service Canyon Lake, New Braunfels, Blanco, Wimberly, Boerne, San Antonio, Seguin Texas
Have you noticed that some of the tree's are dying from lack of water?
Both the oak tree and cedar that are popular in this area can usually go without water for a substantial length of time. Stress is beginning to catch up. We noticed this year not as many leaves in the spring and the trees are beginning to look pale. What once had a huge canopy is now sparse. Pray for rain so we won't loose our trees.
Worst hit is Central Texas and the Hill Country, where exceptional drought, the most severe designation, has persisted for months and is the driest area in the U.S.
To manufacture food, plants need: The nutrients + soil moisture from water + Carbon dioxide from the air + the sun's energy.
A mature oak tree can draw up to 50 or more gallons of water per day. Trees take up water through their root system. Some of the water evaporates from the leaves in a process called transpiration. I had no idea these trees needed so much water.
*In the population program if you don't select all the nutrients and all the water required for proper growth, the tree leaves will grow yellow (more yellow the less water and nutrients). Under these conditions, the acorn production will only reach a percentage of their full potential. At some point because of lack of nutrients and/or water, the trees will not grow at all and will not produce any acorns. After looking at the previous table you now know that lacking a specific nutrient affects a different aspect of the tree development. Also, when not enough water or not all nutrients are available, the trees will grow much slower and smaller but will not stop growing
______Moving to Comal County, New Braunfels, Canyon Lake, Bulverde______
.Need a home inspection? Call Carl Winters, Advanced Inspector, Complete Inspection Service at 830-660-0131. We have served this are since 1994. We also conduct new home phase inspections and setpic inspection. I am licensed #3630 by Trec, Registered by TRCC, NAWT for septic inspections.
Thank You Carl & Ceil Winters
God Bless Texas
Blog June 23,2009 Localism News for Canyon Lake, New Braunfels Texas
Even home inspector's have to call in the professional. The kitchen sink started draining slower and slower and slower. The kitchen drain goes to a small, we call it grease septic. After almost 40 years why would it begin to act up? So I called in the professional, fortunately since he is my youngest son I had to be put on a waiting list. Finally Ceil called him and said it had to be done this week. Well, when mom speaks theylisten.
Tree roots was the culprit. I'm sure you can see all the oak tress we have in the background. The job is done and now Ceil is happy again. A small job well done. Thank goodness it was "not" a major problem.
Thank you David
Started with a pump The Dig to uncover the septic lid to make ready for the pump truck when it arrived.
I wanted to plant some flowers in the vegetable garden to add color and maybe bring in some bee's. I planted some marigolds and zennia's and "sunflowers". Stop and think how important sunflowers are to us not only for beauty but part of human consumption.
Even though it is the state flower of Kansas , we certainly have our share here in Texas.
Sunflowers were primarily used as a decorative plant until the mid-1900s when they began to cultivate them as an oil crop.
I had always heard sunflowers were easy to grow, correct, also some grew quite large, correct, sunflowers are used in bouquets and a good food source, correct. Sunflowers grow extremely well in Texas. Carl gets excited when he sees a sunflower field because the birds love sunflower seeds and he and Brutus are bird hunters.
Here is some additonal information:
Culinary
Sunflower seeds are a popular snack. (we buy the little packets in the grocery store that are salted and roasted)
Sunflower oil is a healthy cooking oil and often used in salad dressings and an ingredient in some margarine product.
Medicinal
The sunflower's seeds and oil are high in vitamin E, anti-oxidants, and polyunsaturates (especially linoleic acid).
Sunflower oil can also be used in lotions and shampoos.
Now if you go to buy sunflower seeds here is some things you need to know:
Buy the right seed. Tell your garden center helper you're looking for a sunflower that will produce "confectionery" or "non-oil" seed. These are the familiar black and white seeds used for human snacks (like we see in the grocery store). Some are salted or roasted.
. All black, "black oil seed" is used to produce sunflower oil, animal feed and bird seed. Hybrid varieties change from year to year but choose varieties spotlighted as suitable for human from seed catalogs and display racks.
These big, rough-leaved giants can grow six to eight feet tall and their blooms (which are actually a system of flowers) can measure from eight inches to more than a foot and a half across, depending on variety. Plants will mature after about two months. Plants should stand until the seed-heads turn completely brown. If the bloom droops in the heat of day don't worry they will pick that head back up and look chipper before the day ends.
Something new has been added to our vegetable garden and the birds think I planted them just for them. They are colorful and easy to grow and love this Texas heat.
___________ Moving to Comal County TX, plant a vegetable garden and add some flowers ________ If you are selling your home a vegetable garden and flower garden will certainly enhance your property. If you are looking for a home inspector, please call Complete Inspection Service, Carl Winters, License #3630. Carl is an Advanced Inspector and has been in business since 1994. 830-660-0131. TREC Certaified, TRCC Registered for new home phase inspections and NAWT for Septic Systems. We live in Comal County but also serve San Antonio, Boerne, Seguin, Wimbely, Blanco.
I'm tired of talking home inspection news, tired of talking economy but when I saw this it made me think how little things in life can brighten your day (even if it is a sausage on a stick). It makes me think of summer, fun, good food, family, vacation and writing a Friday Night Blog on Active Rain.
It's Friday night and Ceil is waiting for Facebook something or other to get a name. I came across this photo and thought how German and how Texas could you get. Now this is right now my alley, a meal on a stick but with a Tater Twist. I would call it a
Carl Winters 830-660-0131 Advanced Inspector, License #3630 Complete Inspection Srvice serving New Braunfels, Canyon Lake, San Antonio, Boerne, Wimberly since 1994. I live and work in the Texas Hill Country. Existing homes, New Homes, Condos, Septic Systems
Localism: New Braunfels, Canyon Lake TX Blog June 12th.
Have a great weekend and enjoy the wonderful Tx weather when tubing down the Guadalupe or having fun at Schlitterbahn.
www:home-inspection4u.com
The inspection is the examination of a home or business. The standard inspection includes a review of the heating and air-conditioning systems;
plumbing and wiring; roof, attic, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, foundation (structural & mechanical).
Buyers, Sellers, New Home Phase Inspections are encouraged to have the inspection.
Service Area: San Antonio, Texas and Surrounding Counties (San Antonio, New Braunfels, Boerne, Wimberly, Bulverde, Schertz-Cibolo, Spring Branch, Blanco). Carl Winters, Advanced Inspector, License 3630...830-660-0131
(Since 1994)
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Carl & Ceil Winters
We need Rain!
Most folks are pretty good at replacing the inside items that need to be replaced from time to time. No Problem...
Started with a pump 
The Dig to uncover the septic lid to make ready for the pump truck when it arrived.
;)
;)
