Hearty Corn & Rice Casserole

Written by Anita Bates
February 15, 2012 1:35 pm

3 cups cooked rice                          

 1 10-ounce pkg. frozen corn, thawed  

¼ cup minced onion                                  

2 cups grated cheddar cheese     

1 ½ cups milk                                  

1 ½ tsp. salt              

 ¼ tsp. ground pepper                     

¼ tsp. paprika

Combine all ingredients (except the paprika) in a large bowl and mix.  Pour into a well-buttered shallow 2-quart casserole dish.  Sprinkle with paprika and bake at 350 for 40 to 45 minutes.

Option:  For a main dish meal, add 2 cups cooked chicken or ham, diced.

Categories: Yum-m-m!!!

Comments Off

Got Heart?….

Written by Anita Bates
1:33 pm

Last year was the first Bates & Associates, Realtors team participation in the Heart Run.   We are excited to continue our involvement in this worthwhile charitable event that promotes heart health for adults and kids of all ages.  We would love for you to join us.  We’ll make it worth your while by providing you with a Bates & Associates Realtors Commemorative Heart Run T-Shirt and an invitation to the Appreciation Barbeque after the Run.   

This year, the Heart Run will be held on Saturday, April 28^th.  All you need to do is pay your registration fee, $15 for Adults and $5 for kids under the age of 18, which is tax deductible.  We will provide an email link so you can register on line.

Please email to anita@anitabatesrealtor.com or call 243-8777 to let us know you will be participating so we can include you in periodic email updates.  We need to have your commitment no later than Sunday, April 9^th so we know how many and what sizes of T-Shirts to order.

Categories: Company News

Comments Off

Current Statistics:

Written by Anita Bates
1:31 pm

Year-To-Date Active/Sold Overview (January 1 through December 31, 2011)

Year end statistics did not bring any surprises for the real estate markets in the 4 major south central Alaska communities of Anchorage, Eagle River, Palmer, & Wasilla.

Active inventory for the year in Anchorage was lower than last year, which was consistently the case throughout 2011.  Palmer also had significantly fewer homes on the market.   Wasilla exhibited a slight decrease in inventory while Eagle River continued throughout 2011 with higher inventory than in 2010.

The average sale price decreased by approximately 2% in Anchorage, 1.5% in Eagle River,  and 3% in Palmer.  Wasilla’s average sales price remained the same throughout the year.

The total number of sold properties was higher this year, while the number of days on market continued to trend downward.  The percentage of list price to sale price was a healthy 98% – 101%.

Although prices were slightly down, more houses sold more quickly with fewer competing properties.

Indicators for 2012 point to continued modest improvement with a stable market in each area.  There is no evidence of any major upward or downward trends.  We will continue to provide quarterly updates as they become available.

	Total Active	Days on Market	Total Sold	Ave. Sale Price*	% of List
	2010/2011	2010/2011	2010/2011	2010/2011	2010/2011
Anchorage	3741/3659	112/102	1922/1965	$329K/$322K	99/99
Eagle River	748/771	108/101	378/402	$338K/$333K	99/101
Palmer	673/595	146/127	282/303	$231K/$224K	98/98
Wasilla	1574/1542	143/141	688/724	$227K/$227K	99/99

 

*Rounded to nearest thousand of sale price.

Categories: Buying a Home,First Time Home Buyers,Home Sales,Selling a Home

Comments Off

Christmas Monkey Bread

Written by Anita Bates
January 4, 2012 10:15 am

½ cup chopped walnuts  

2/3  cup orange marmalade

¼ cup honey

1/3  cup butter, melted

½ cup chopped, dried cranberries

2 – 7.5 oz. cans refrigerated biscuits

Heat oven to 375.  Grease 9 or 10 inch tube pan or 12 cup Bundt pan.

Combine the marmalade, nuts, butter & honey in a small bowl.  Separate the refrigerator biscuits and cut each into quarters. Place half of the biscuits in pan and drizzle with of the marmalade mixture.  Sprinkle half the chopped cranberries over the top.  Repeat layers of biscuits, marmalade mixture and cranberries.  Bake at 375 for 25 minutes, or till golden brown.  Invert onto serving plate.  To serve, pull apart & pass the napkins!

Categories: Yum-m-m!!!

Comments Off

Pet Safety for the Holidays

Written by David
10:10 am

It’s that time of year when our schedules get a little disrupted and crazy!  Please remember that our pets don’t keep track of the calendar so they don’t understand our changing and frantic lifestyle.  All the decorating and holiday activities can be confusing to them.  Not to mention the extra entertaining, company, and holiday menus.  It’s wonderful to include our “best friends” in all of these activities.  Even dressing them up in holiday attire can be fun.  But if you decide to do so, please do a little preparation and training beforehand.  Before the big event, play with them, dress them up, teach them that this is fun so they will be used to the activity prior to the party.  Remember, your pet looks to you as the leader so it is important for you to be calm, patient and gentle at all times.

It is important at this time to try and keep to your pet’s regular schedule of feeding, exercise, playtime and training.  It is also important to insure their safety by making sure that they are not fed harmful foods like chocolate, sweets, onions, holiday greenery and other plants or foods that may be poisonous.  Also be sure your pet doesn’t get tangled up with (or eat!!) decorations, glitter, tinsel, lights, ribbon and wrapping paper.  Remember to keep a close eye on them when company is coming and going.  It can be very easy for them to slip out the door unnoticed and get lost!!

This time of year can be a very active and emotional time for our pets and us.  They often provide the comfort and support that helps us stay on track. Let’s be sure we give comfort and support to them also.

 

Here are a few things to keep in mind for the holiday!  Make sure your pets have ID tags.  Keep them on a leash whenever you are out.  Protect them from loud.  They can cause a panic in many pets.  Consider having a pet-only area during the hectic times with fun stuff for them and calming music.  Remember, they like their routines and don’t understand most of the strange things their goofy humans do.

Have a safe and happy holiday,

Categories: Pets

Comments Off

The Loss of a Pet

Written by David
November 29, 2011 7:55 am

This is from an article by Holly R. Frisby, DVM Drs. Foster & Smith Veterinary Services Department

The Loss of a Pet

Grief upon the loss of a pet is a normal response, and a very individual one. For some people, grieving for a pet that has died may be a more difficult process than grieving for a human loved one. One reason is that the support network of understanding and caring people may be smaller. If a person has lost a human loved one, the friends, family, co-workers, etc., will all understand. They may send cards, flowers, and offer food and companionship. This is often not the case when a pet dies. A funeral or memorial service for the deceased person will bring people together to provide mutual support and a sense of closure. Again, in most cases this does not occur upon the death of a pet. Hurtful comments such as “Don’t be so upset”, “It was only a cat”, and “You can get another one” may add to the grief and feeling of isolation and loneliness.

Stages of grief

We know that grieving is a complex process which includes a number of stages. These stages include: denial, bargaining, anger, sadness and resolution. The stages may come in a recognized sequence or they may appear as a complex series of emotions and feelings. The length of each stage varies with each person, and often among cultures. Some people may return to a particular stage, such as anger, time and again. Others may reach resolution quite quickly. It does not mean they loved their pet any less; it’s just their individual reaction to their loss. In most instances, the grieving process may continue for a few months to almost a year.

Denial: When we hear bad news, some of us have a tendency to deny it. We think it really isn’t true, that we didn’t “hear it right”, or “it can’t be as bad as that”. This is a defensive mechanism we use in an attempt to insulate ourselves from the emotional trauma we are, or are going to, experience.

Bargaining: When a human loved one is dying, many people may want to “bargain” with God. If you let my loved one live, then I’ll… Although this is not as common when a pet dies, many people still experience this stage of grief. Owners of a dying pet may also experience a different type of bargaining such as telling their pet, “If you recover, I will never scold you again”.

Anger: Anger is a common stage of grief that follows denial. Anger may be towards others such as the veterinarian or another family member. It may also be directed towards oneself in the form of guilt. We may say, “If I had only brought her to the veterinarian sooner, she would be okay.” Some owners may feel angry at the pet for leaving them alone.

Sorrow and Sadness: Sadness is the stage we most often think of as grief. For many people, losing a pet may be one of the saddest experiences they will ever have. We mourn our loss. We may find it difficult to eat, sleep or concentrate. We may not want to be around other people; but in reality, this is when we need understanding people the most. Talking to someone who understands our grief is a way to help the healing process begin. Caring people there can listen and help. If you do not know of anyone to talk to, you may wish to call a pet loss hotline. There are also books available written by people who understand the pain of losing a pet.

Resolution: Resolution is the final stage of the grieving process. At this point we are able to accept that our wonderful friend has died. We start focusing on the wonderful memories we have and the times we enjoyed together. At this point we may consider looking for a new pet, not to replace our lost friend, but to have someone to enjoy life with. There still may be times when we experience deep sadness, anger, or guilt at our loss, but we can recover from these times faster, and look forward rather than backward.

In addition to these stages, other emotional reactions may be seen. People can experience shock if the death of their pet was sudden and unanticipated, and may experience an emotional numbness. If a pet is missing, the uncertainty of what may have happened to the pet can produce worry and anxiety. When a pet disappears, children may be especially fearful of becoming lost or separated from their family.

Ambiguous loss

In an ambiguous loss, the whereabouts or cause of the death of the pet is unknown. The pet may have runaway or been stolen, or the owner may have needed to surrender the pet a humane shelter. In these situations, there is seldom any “closure”. The owner does not know when or if the pet has died or, if lost, whether the pet will ever come back. As a result, when to stop searching and when to start the grieving process are unsure. There may also be additional guilt associated with this type of loss.

How grief is expressed

In the book, The Human-Animal Bond and Grief, the authors describe five manifestations of grief.

Physical: Crying, nausea and loss of appetite, inability to sleep, fatigue, restlessness, and body aches and stiffness are typical manifestations of grief.

Intellectual: When grieving, people often experience an inability to concentrate, confusion, and a sense that time is passing very slowly.

Emotional: As described above, many emotions can be expressed in the course of the grieving process. Irritability, a lowered sense of self-worth, resentment and embarrassment are also common feelings.

Social: Some grieving persons often withdraw, may be reluctant to ask for help, and feel rejected by others. Others may show an increased dependency on other people, or an increased need to “keep busy” and over commit to activities.

Spiritual: The death of a pet may result in a person bargaining or feeling angry with God. The grieving person may try to find some meaningful interpretation of the death, and question what happens to pets after they die and whether pets have souls.

Help and healing

It has been shown the when grief can be expressed; the time needed for healing is often less. Similarly, if the expression of grief is restricted or withheld, the healing process may take much longer.

In addition to talking with others, to do something often helps us work through our grief. By doing something positive during this time of sadness, we expand our focus by celebrating the life of the pet. Activities, which may help, include:

Planting flowers or a tree in memory of the pet

Making a charitable donation

Holding a funeral or memorial service

Drawing a picture, making a clay sculpture or doing needlework of something that reminds you of your pet (you could do this yourself, or have it done by a professional)

Placing your pet’s nametag on your key ring

Writing a poem, song or story

Composing music or a song

Creating a memorial photo album or scrap book

Writing a letter to your pet

Framing a photograph

Volunteering your time

Persons who have a pet who has died need to talk to someone. Often family members and friends are very supportive, but in some instances they may not understand how important your pet was to you. It is important to find someone who does understand.

There are certain circumstances that can intensify the grief. If a person has recently suffered other losses, feels responsible for the death or has never fully grieved an earlier death, the grieving process is often more complex. If the pet died of a disease similar to one which the owner or a loved one currently has or has had in the past, the grief can also be compounded.

If the pet has shared a significant event in the owner’s life e.g., was a gift from spouse, the pet alerted the owner of a fire or otherwise “rescued” the owner, or the pet has “gotten them through” a difficult period in their life, grief can be compounded. When the pet was a significant source of support for the person, e.g., the person lived alone; adjusting to the death of the pet may be extremely difficult.

In some instances, when the pet dies, the owner also loses a significant activity. For instance, when a working dog dies, the owner has lost not only a pet, but also a co-worker, someone who has shared activities with the owner many hours of the day. Persons who lose an assistance dog may lose their independence and the ability to even perform simple daily activities.

Some children or adolescents can’t remember life without the pet. For them, too, loss of the pet may be especially difficult, and professional help may be indicated.

In all of these situations, talking to a professional experienced in grief counseling (bereavement counselors, clergy, social workers, physicians, psychologists) is often advised and can assist the healing process. Support groups, pet loss hotlines and books on pet loss can also be helpful.

Should I get another pet?

When or if you should get another pet varies with the individual and the choice is a personal one. Some people may want to find a new pet almost immediately. Sometimes they may have unrealistic expectations of the new pet, especially if they are getting a young, rambunctious animal after an older, mature one has died. Others need longer to work through their grief before they are physically and emotionally ready for another pet. In either case, we all know you are not replacing your pet, but finding another animal with which you can share life. Some people may find it is just not possible for them to have another pet. You need to do what’s right for you.

In general, you should give children some time before getting another pet. Getting a pet too soon may cause the child to feel guilty or disloyal, and they may have difficulty bonding to the new pet. The child may also think that if something happened to them, they would soon be forgotten and a substitute would be found. They need to understand that friendships can’t immediately be replaced.

Do animals grieve?

We all know of animals that have stopped eating, playing or interacting when another pet in the household has died. They are experiencing a loss of their own, plus they often sense the owner’s sorrow as well. After a pet dies, we can help the other pets in the household by keeping their routines as unchanged as possible. Increasing their activity through going for walks or playing with toys may be helpful. This will not only benefit your pet, but help you too.

If they are acting depressed or are not eating, be careful not to reinforce or reward their behavior. Giving them extra attention or different food when they behave this way may actually cause them to start using those behaviors as ways to obtain more attention or get special treats. The book When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals by Susan McCarthy and Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson discusses the many emotions of animals and you may find it an interesting and valuable resource.

 References

Beck, A; Katcher, A. Between Pets and People. Purdue University Press, West Lafayette IN; 1996.

DeNayer, S; Downing, R. Ease their pain: A soothing approach to euthanasia cases. Firstline. 1998 (April/May):14-18.

Hart, AH; Hart, BL; Mader, B. Humane euthanasia and companion animal death: Caring for the animal, the client, and the veterinarian. Journal of the American Veterinary Association. 1990;197(10):1292-1299.

Lagoni, L; Butler, C. Children and pet loss. Perspectives. 1994 (July/August): 43-48.

Lagoni, L; Butler, C. Facilitating euthanasia decisions. The Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian. 1994 (Nov):1469-1475, 1489.

Lagoni, L; Butler, C; Hetts, S. The Human-Animal Bond and Grief. WB Saunders Co., Philadelphia PA; 1994.

Rosenberg, MA. Companion Animal Loss and Pet Owner Grief. ALPO Petfoods, Inc., Lehigh PA; 1993.

Ross, CB; Baron-Sorenson, J. Veterinarian’s Guide to Counseling Grieving Clients. American Veterinary Publications, Inc. and Veterinary Medicine Publishing Group, Lenexa KS; 1994.

Soares, CJ. When a child’s pet dies… Supplement to Veterinary Economics. 1996 (August):10-13.

Categories: Pets

Comments Off

Current Statistics:

Written by Anita Bates
7:52 am

Year-To-Date Active/Sold Overview (January 1 through September 30, 2011)

The chart below represents year-to-date activity in the 4 major south central Alaska communities compared with the same time period in 2010

Current active inventory in Anchorage and Wasilla continues to remain lower than last year.  Palmer, which showed higher inventory in the first 6 months of 2011, now has fewer homes on the market than last year.  Eagle River continues to have higher inventory than 2010.

The average sale price has decreased in all areas except Wasilla, which is demonstrating a gradually improving market.

The total number of sold properties is higher this year, while the number of days on market is lower in all 4 areas and the percentage of list price to sale price continues at a healthy 98% – 102%.

The market continues to be fairly stable through the 3^rd quarter of 2011.    The slight variations in inventory, number of sales and sale prices are not necessarily indicative of any major downward or upward market trends. 

We will include a year- end statistical overview in our first issue of 2012.

	Total Active	Days on Market	Total Sold	Ave. Sale Price*	% of List
	2010/2011	2010/2011	2010/2011	2010/2011	2010/2011
Anchorage	3034/2993	112/96	1355/1366	$329K/$321K	99/99
Eagle River	668/698	108/95	270/325	$343K/$332K	99/102
Palmer	587/540	150/122	201/228	$227K/$220K	98/98
Wasilla	1523/1504	154/120	568/580	$224K/$227K	99/99

*Rounded to nearest thousand of sale price.

Categories: Anchorage,Buying a Home,Home Sales

Comments Off

Saying goodbye…

Written by Anita Bates
7:47 am

At different times in our lives, we all say goodbye to someone we have cared for deeply.   We are sad to announce that we said goodbye to our dear little Mr. Mac in September.    Although he was not that old, he had severe kidney failure and acute pancreatitis, both conditions irreversible and fatal.

 

I will miss him playing “soccer” with his Mickey Mouse ball in the back yard.   He’d run it so hard, pushing it with his muzzle, and make it bounce against the fence, high in the air so it would land in the flower beds.  Then he would bark at us to go get his ball out of the garden because he knew he wasn’t allowed to get it himself.  Other times, when he chased the ball so it got stuck in some far corner of the yard, he’d come “ask” for help in finding his “lost” ball.

 

I still see him lying in the cool green grass, his little black eyes squinting against the sun and his little black wet nose busily sniffing all the interesting scents that came through the yard.  I loved watching him.  He was always ready to play and have fun, and always happy to see me.

 

Unfortunately, in the grand scheme of things, we have to accept that our time with our pets is limited and we never know when or how they will leave us.   While they share our lives they bring us great joy, and that is why we miss them so much when they are gone.   All we can do is love and care for them while they are with us, remember the special times we had together, and cherish the memories they leave behind.

Categories: Company News,General topics

Comments Off

Grandma Gillespie’s Savory Oven Ribs*

Written by Anita Bates
November 28, 2011 12:15 pm

3 lbs. boneless pork ribs                                

1 medium onion – chopped                           

½ cup chopped celery                                               

3 Tbsp. lemon juice                                        

½ cup water                                                   

2-4 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce                    

1 Tbsp. margarine or bacon fat

1 Tbsp. vinegar

1 Tbsp. sugar

½ Tbsp. mustard

2 tsp. salt

Dash of cayenne pepper

 Wipe spareribs with clean damp cloth & cut into 1 ½” pieces.  Place in shallow baking pan, sprayed w/non-stick coating and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Sauté onion in margarine or bacon fat for 5 minutes.   Add celery, vinegar, sugar, lemon juice, mustard, water, salt, cayenne and Worcestershire sauce and simmer another 5 minutes.

Pour over spareribs and bake another hour, basting occasionally.  Serve with mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles.

*David’s mom, Aileen Gillespie, made these for us when she visited us this summer.  They make a great dish for a fall dinner!

Categories: Yum-m-m!!!

Comments Off

Salmon Fettuccine Alfredo

Written by Anita Bates
August 25, 2011 3:10 pm

¾ lb. Fettuccine

2 cups flaked cooked salmon

2 cups halved grape or cherry tomatoes

2 – 3 garlic cloves, minced

1 – 16 oz. jar Alfredo sauce

2 – 3 Tbsp. butter

Grated parmesan

salt & pepper

Cook fettuccine according to package directions. Drain.  Sauté minced garlic in butter over medium heat 2 – 3 minutes.  Add tomatoes and sauté 3 – 5 minutes longer, until tomatoes are soft and juicy.  Add Alfredo sauce, reduced heat and simmer for 3 – 5 minutes, until heated through.  Gently fold cooked salmon into sauce and allow to warm over low heat.  Toss sauce with pasta and serve with grated parmesan.

Good with crisp green salad!

Categories: Yum-m-m!!!

Comments Off