Unfortunately, forecasters are predicting that the drought is not behind us. What now? Texas Parks & Wildlife has posted a fantastic resource, a “Drought Survival Kit” on its’ website, http://www.texasthestateofwater.org/, that offers valuable information about helping wildlife, saving our yards, and cutting our water bills. We hope you’ll visit.

Forecasters are also saying this will be a warm week, the perfect time to clear our yards of all those nasty weeds, mow, edge, trim shrubs, and return our neighborhood to the visual appeal that enticed us all to buy in Block House Creek.

To all our BHC residents who resurrect your yards soon (the sooner the better), our thanks! While it’s not all fun, it must be done!

May 4th and 5th for cooks; May 5th for residents.

Cooks! Sponsors! It’s not too early to let us know you’re in again this year or, if a newbie, that you wish to join in the fun.

Anyone with questions, please contact Michele or Pam via the Association’s website, www.blockhousecreek.org, home page, bottom right, or, on Facebook.

All! Let’s make the THIRD ANNUAL BBQ COOK-OFF the best yet!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Block House Creek Owners Association is hosting a wine tour at Walker House, March 3, 2012, 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Attendees will be treated to samples of locally produced wines while touring our historic Walker House and learning about the rich and colorful history of the House itself, Block House Creek, and our local community.

Wine samples will be shared by a winery located in Oak Hill that is cited as one of the first Micro Winery’s in the country and in the State of Texas. This winery specializes in producing custom wines made from the highest quality varietals and searches for the highest quality juice on the market. What is a varietal? That’s a wine made principally from one variety of grape and carrying the name of that grape.

The wines you will be sampling are expertly handcrafted on site in a state of the art Tuscan style winery using only the highest quality juices from the finest vineyards in the world. Such dedication allows this winery to produce a variety of the highest quality wines while creating a one-of-a-kind experience for both the novice and the wine expert.

Now that you’ve marked your calendar, please help us know how many wine goblets we need to have on hand by signing up with us via eventbrite—http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2953613337—or on this website’s home page, bottom right.

Your Association can’t wait to meet and greet you there! That’s Walker House, March 3, 2012, 4:00 to 6:00 PM, adults only.

Yes there is, but part of the solution depends on you being a responsible dog owner. For starters, ask yourself if your dog is a problem in the neighborhood.

• Does your dog run the streets? Chase children? Get into the neighbors’ trash or gardens? Please do know that in Block House Creek, dogs outside their home environments are required to be on a leash.
• Does your dog relieve itself in other people’s yards?
• Does your dog roam your yard unattended?
• Does your dog greet visitors with growling, snapping, or biting?
• Does your dog bark all night while people are trying to sleep?
• Is your dog left alone, howling out of loneliness?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, keeping peace with a complaining neighbor may require that you take the appropriate steps to keep your dog from being a nuisance to others.

• If you want to be a good neighbor, keep your dog off of other people’s property and from running at large and comply with the leash laws.
• When you take your dog a walk, make sure you are using the leash and don’t let your dog(s) relieve in a neighbor’s yard. Carry plastic bags, clean up, and make use of the doggie stations in place specifically for this kind of situation throughout Block House Creek.

Despite precautions, dogs do sometimes manage to free themselves from their environments. Should this happen and a neighbor complains about a problem your dog may have caused while on their property, you can do the following to help smooth the situation.

• Pick up any stool your dog may have left in a neighbor’s yard.
• Make minor repairs such as filling holes your dog may have dug or setting up plants that may have been knocked over.
• Offer to pay for any reasonable property damage your dog may have caused.
• Explain how your dog accidentally got loose and that it is your policy to keep your dog confined and supervised. Apologize for any inconvenience.

Dog training specialists also advise that you don’t let your dog be a menace by jumping on people. If your dog is not well socialized, take the time to introduce your dog to neighbors and visitors. When visiting neighbors don’t want to pet or visit with your dog, crate the dog or enclose the dog in a nearby room behind a gate. Teach your dog that it is normal to accept some strangers on your property occasionally.

Barking or vocalizing is also a common behavior about which a neighbor may complain. If left outdoors unattended for long periods of time, your dog’s barking may be a problem. Dogs are social animals who require companionship. When left by themselves, they frequently make noise to get the human attention they need. Don’t let your dog languish alone in your yard. Do the necessary work and train your dog to live in your house as part of the family.

While your dog(s) are playing outdoors (in your fenced yard), stay with them or supervise closely from the house. Avoid letting your dog(s) out late at night or early in the morning if possible. Even though barking is normal behavior, stop your dog(s) from excessive vocalization using the “no bark”or “enough” commands.

What may be music to a dog owner’s ears, may be nerve wracking to a neighbor. When a dog barks, it is communicating. “Oh look, there’s a squirrel in the yard.” “Wow those kids playing on the street in front of our house look like they’re having fun.” Or “Hey, there’s a delivery vehicle in our driveway.” All are appropriate messages about which a dog may bark. If your neighbor doesn’t want to hear what your dog is saying, then you may receive a complaint.

What can or should you do about your dog’s barking? First, know what the regulations are that relate to the noise of a barking dog. If a neighbor approaches you with a complaint about your dog’s barking, be prepared to deal with the issue in order to maintain a friendly neighborhood atmosphere.

• Be pleasant and diplomatic. Try inviting the neighbor into your home to discuss the matter. Offer refreshments and be a considerate listener.
• Make sure your dog is not barking too much and keep your dog quiet while you talk with the neighbor.
• Explain about canine behavior in a positive, non-patronizing manner.
• Find out what your neighbor’s expectations are. Is it possible to accommodate some? Apologize for the inconvenience they may be experiencing. Tell them neither you nor your dog intended to offend or disturb them.
• Remain calm and don’t allow the conversation to become an argument. No one wins in a neighborhood war.

The best method for not having a problem with a neighbor about your dog is prevention. Train your dog, obey the laws, scoop the poop. When you do, you will be both a good neighbor and a responsible dog owner and will demonstrate to your neighbors that your dog can be a good neighbor, too.

Content courtesy of  Lexiann Grant, Dog Writers Association of America award winner.

The opportunity to run is open to residents living within the boundaries of the Association. If those boundaries are unclear to you, refer to the website’s “Documents” header, Document Number 8, BHC Map.

Should you have an interest, and the members of your current Board of Directors sincerely hopes you do, the time to make your interest known to Nominating Committee Chair Ken Soule is now. You can make your desire known by e-mailing Ken via the contact block on the home page.

Your Board of Directors and the Nominating Committee are anxious to hear from you!

Your Board of Directors feels it of utmost importance to remind residents of and visitors to Block House Creek to exercise extreme caution, to drive slowly, and to be sure to watch for those who may be walking the three-mile loop. To the family of the injured person, we extend our hope that your family member will, in fact, recover quickly recover.

For Drivers: Texas Transportation Code 552.008, verbatim, requires drivers to exercise due care. “The driver of a vehicle shall:

1. Exercise due care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian on a roadway;
2. Give warning by sounding the horn when necessary, and,
3. Exercise proper precaution on observing a child or an obviously confused or incapacitated person on a roadway.”

Special thanks to our sponsors and residents who helped make Light Up the Night a huge success, to our Outdoor Decorating Contest winners who made sure the decorations were all in place with the lights shining bright, and to our photographers, Don Logan, Pam Phillips, Ursula Logan, and Cecilia Roberts.

Enjoy!

LUTN Photo Album (69)

Special thanks to resident Amanda Roberts for sharing this fantastic photo! Block House camera bugs, you are encouraged to share your photos, too!

It’s always uplifting for event organizers to receive compliments, opinions, suggestions! Your comments are always welcome and appreciated. Many thanks to the resident quoted above for the fantastic feedback!

Other residents, did you enjoy Light Up the Night as much as this resident did? Would you like to see Light Up the Night continue to be scheduled for New Year’s Eve? Let us hear from you!

Winners! We do hope you will leave your fantastic decorations in place and have all those lights shining bright for BHC OA’s Light Up the Night event, Saturday, December 31st.

2011 ODC Winners (97)