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4 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | FEBRUARY 2021 By Teri Collett Winter weather can wreak havoc on our landscaping, especially after the scorching summer months. Trying to keep greenery green can be tricky to say the least. Here are a few tips to ensure your grass stays happy and healthy through the winter months. While you don't need to do it quite as frequently, a regular mow schedule is still necessary. It is recommended to change to a once or twice a month mowing schedule. For optimum grass health, you should raise the blades on your mower a little higher than usual and avoid mowing while wet. This will also help guard against unwanted winter insects. Winter is a great time to improve the structure of your soil. Make sure to first test the pH of your soil. You can do this either by bringing a sample to your local cooperative or by buying your own home test kit. If the pH needs to be altered, you can do so by adding different ingredients, such as fertilizer or compost. Some types of grass, specifically cool-season options, do very well when they're fertilized in the winter. Lastly, you should make sure to aerate your grass. Aerating the dirt is very important because it can get too compressed and make it impossible for tree and plant roots to breathe. Winter is a perfect time to do this, as your soil won't become overly dry. Property Service Manager's Report By Teri Collett The last few months have been challenging to say the least. We have a new board, some changeover in staffing and what feels like a weekly fluctuation in guidelines and recommendations. All this information can be hard to keep up with and overwhelming at times. The Solera Diamond Valley website is a great informational resource for the community and management. Tired of having to search through your emails to find the one you need? We add important community information in the "announcements" tab. Wondering when the DRC will meet or when the next "Coffee with the GM" will be? All that and more can be found on the "Association Calendar." Need the updated contact information for your Board of Directors? Check out the "Board Meetings" tab where you will find contact information, agenda's, minutes, and the latest info on COVID-19. The Solera Diamond Valley website is an informative and fun way to stay connected to your community and neighbors. You can register for your profile at www.soleradiamondvalley.com, if you're having any trouble please call the office at (951) 652-5766 for assistance and we will do our best to help you. SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY WEBSITE By Cindy Ponce de Leon, Resident Two years ago, I remember attending a seminar concerning arthritis at the SDV Lodge. This event was one of the most attended I've seen. That led me to believe that many people are like me, in that as we age, we experience food allergies or sensitivities, joint pain, arthritis, Lupus, Crohn's, celiac disease, diabetes, etc. For me personally it's been a 10-year journey of battling RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis). I remember reading Dr. Bernard Jensen's Death Begins in the Colon so I've always been conscientious about what I ate. I realized there were foods that triggered my level of pain, so I began avoiding them. I had to eliminate baked goods, beef, scallops, and fried foods. The hardest was avoiding baked goods. Being a mom of five, I had eaten cookies every day while raising my kids! I tried eating gluten free foods, but even gluten free still gave me pain. I tried paleo, but foods with nitrates were also something I had to avoid. So, no bacon! Finally, I found research on lectin- free eating. As I looked for recipes to replace my favorite baked goods, I stumbled on Annabelle Lee's cookbooks. She is a former model, raising four boys, and had been battling lupus when she began her own journey toward helping others. Annabelle started a company because she realized there were many people like her with autoimmune diseases and they felt better once they eliminated grains, refined starches, and sugar from their diets. I own and cook from her books and highly recommend them. Coincidentally, Annabelle lives locally here in Temecula! Aging And Diet

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