Blog Posts

Ahoy There! Celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19th

It’s September and the 19th day of the month is International Talk Like a Pirate Day! Prepare to use some piratical language by brushing up on some vocab! Play around with words like “blimey,” “ahoy,” and “swab” to get ready to talk like a pirate this unique holiday. Today The Autumn Creek Apartments Blog has pulled together some resources for members of our apartment community here in East Amherst, NY — so read on and blow the man down! Talk Like a Pirate Day came from humble beginnings. While playing racquetball, John Bauer and Mark Summers began to talk to each other in “pirate-speak.” After leaving the court, they decided that there was a need to create a day for everyone to talk like a pirate. Their efforts remained localized until they contacted humor columnist, Dave Barry. The rest, as they say, is history. Read the original Talk Like a Pirate Day column . If you’re going to successfully talk like a pirate, you need to have the proper pirate-y words in your vocabulary. To that end, we have done some research, and we’ve discovered this gem of a glossary. And it’s not just any old glossary, but a pirate themed glossary with designations for areas of the ship, financial terms, sailing, pirate history, famous pirates, places, and more. We think you will find it very helpful in gaining the appropriate vocabulary, especially the phrases section. Here are a few definitions to help get you started with your piratical background and phrases: Pirate: Noun. One who robs at sea or plunders the land from the sea without commission from a sovereign nation; the opposite of a privateer. Privateer: Noun. A sailor with a letter of marque from a government. Technically, a privateer was a self-employed soldier paid only by what he plundered from an enemy. In this, a privateer was supposed to be above being tried for piracy. A privateer is theoretically a law-abiding combatant and is entitled to be treated as an honorable prisoner, if captured. Most often, privateers were a higher class of criminal, though many became pirates. Blimey!: An exclamation of surprise. It’s short for “God blind me!,” which is common to this day in Britain and which is sometimes shortened less to “Gor blimey” or “Cor blimey.” Sail Ho: An exclamation meaning another ship is in view. The sail, of course, is the first part of a ship visible over the horizon. We hope our community members have some fun with Talk Like a Pirate Day this month. Consider watching a pirate-themed movie from this list , which claims to be the “Complete List of Every Pirate Movie Ever Made.” It’s a great resource for finding movies and listening to a plethora of pirates speak. Check back on the blog in two weeks! Next time we’ll take a look at business center etiquette.

Koi

Here at Autumn Creek in East Amherst, NY we are pleased to number a koi pond and waterfall among our amenities . The combination of the waterfall, pond, and fish create a picturesque haven to get away from the busy clamor of everyday life. In today’s post, we’ll be sharing some info about the history of koi along with some fun facts. Koi fish, which today are ornamental varieties of domesticated common carp (Cyprinus carpio), kept in outdoor ponds or water gardens were once bred for food. That’s right, instead of simply being enjoyed for their beauty, koi were eaten. However, in the 20th century, the Japanese began experimenting with breeding rather than eating them, and two-hundred years later, selective breeding has created some amazing specimens. Today koi are kept for their elegance and beauty rather than their culinary value. Fun Facts About Koi ( Information from Just Fun Facts ) —There are more than 20 varieties of koi fish that differ in color, patterns, and type of scales. New koi varieties are still being actively developed. —Koi fish have a typical life span ranging from 30 to 60 years. There are authenticated cases, however, in which koi have lived over 200 years. —Koi are an omnivorous fish and will eat a wide variety of foods including insects, snails, worms, algae, plants, and fruit. Koi food is designed not only to be nutritionally balanced, but also to float so as to encourage them to come to the surface. —Koi fish can have many symbolic meanings, with two of the most popular being good fortune and overcoming adversity. The symbolism of the Koi fish comes from the legend that a Koi fish that is able to swim upstream, and all the way up the Yellow River Falls, will be rewarded by being turned into a dragon. Those are just some of the highlights. This quick read, The History of Koi Fish and Surprising Fish Facts , provides additional information about koi and how koi ponds became a part of the landscape of elegant design. While we do hope that none of our residents have the same experience Michael Scott did, we do want to invite everyone to enjoy our koi pond and waterfall this summer. So the next time you’re out and about, take a few minutes to enjoy the serenity it provides. Thanks for reading today’s post.

The Power of Reading

Exercising your body is important to maintaining good health. A parallel to that is the idea that exercising your mind is good for your mental health. We agree, and today in the Autumn Creek Apartments Blog we are taking a look at the long-term benefits of reading every day. Increase Vocabulary People who have a broad vocabulary are typically well-spoken and articulate, both attributes that will help you get ahead, whatever your vocation may be. Reading regularly naturally increases your vocabulary and deepens your knowledge base. Mental Agility Research studies have shown that an important advantage gained from consistently reading every day is mental agility in the long term. An ABC News article reports on a study that shows that regular reading, playing mentally challenging games such as chess, solving crossword puzzles, or putting together jigsaw puzzles slows the progress of diseases like dementia and alzheimer's. The advice to use it or lose it , definitely applies to the brain. Just like our bodies, our brains need regular exercise, and reading is a great way to get in a workout. Reduce Stress Reading reduces stress. Getting lost in a book is a good way to relax and reduce stress. A study done by Mindlab at the University of Sussex found that research subjects needed only six minutes of silent reading to slow down the heart rate, ease tension in the muscles, and relax. Also, according to the study, reading “ works better and faster than other methods to calm frazzled nerves such as listening to music, going for a walk or settling down with a cup of tea.” (Details about the study can be found here .) Reading is an awesome way to provide a “vacation for the mind” and go exploring — roam ancient ruins, navigate alien worlds, be a part of monumental moments in history, or forage into a dystopian future. Open a book and travel the world without leaving your armchair at Autumn Creek Apartments. Give yourself the benefit of reading every day. For additional reading resources visit your local East Amherst, NY area library.

Award Winning Autumn Creek Apartments

Autumn Creek Apartments here in East Amherst, NY has been recognized by apartmentratings.com as one of 2016’s Top Rated apartments. This award, presented to the cream of the crop among apartment homes, is only given to about five percent of the apartments listed on the site. See all the ratings here . The Top Rated Award criteria includes: 10+ total reviews 5+ reviews in 2016 Overall recommended score of 70% or greater. We want to say Thank You to our residents for ranking us so highly! We love having you as members of our apartment community. It is your unique strengths, personalities, and characters that make our community what it is — a place for sharing, caring, and living in the heart of a vibrant area. Here are a few comments from recent reviews : Great Location. Staff is always around when you need them and surrounding area is safe, clean and friendly neighbors. Love it here. — Dana S . Very nice place to live and dog friendly. Great place to take a walk and join in activities. Great sense of community due to functions put on by office staff. — Edward O. Would not want to be anywhere else. Loving our life here at Autumn Creek. We have made many friends . . . . Our apartment is beautiful and with the many windows the natural lighting makes you feel happy. we love all the activities that are planned for us, there's always something to look forward to. We enjoy the heated pool which is always kept clean . We love our manager Jean ..you can talk to her about anything she is always very open for ideas and friendly .. you can tell she wants the best for us residents . our Maintenance team led by Jeff is great if you have any maintenance issue it is taken care of right away. We love it here. — April S. We are pleased to provide beautiful living spaces, finished with attention to detail that makes our apartments a home. Our community amenities enrich our community and provide opportunities for our residents to get to know one another. Our staff is dedicated to providing superior service to our community through 24/7 customer service, 24-hour emergency service, and our online resident portal. Thank you for trusting us to be your team!

Cell Phone Courtesy

Cell phones — smart phones — have become an indispensable part of our everyday lives, and all too often we find ourselves feeling lost without that familiar rectangular device in our back pocket. New York is fast-paced, East Amherst can be too, and our mobile devices are a big part of that, yet, it’s still important to interact with others around us and not use the wonderful technology we have to isolate ourselves or annoy others (especially fellow members of our apartment community). Today, the Autumn Creek Blog takes a look at cell phone etiquette. Cell Phone Tips Use cell phones to communicate, but don’t let them rob you of the opportunity to have face-to-face conversations and interactions with others. In fact, it may be a good practice to put your cell phone away at mealtime, during family time, and when you’re engaged in a social activity — and invite others to do the same. Use the ten-foot rule, if you must take a call in public (or a shared space in our apartment community): move at least ten feet away from others to speak. This helps prevent the awkwardness of overhearing conversations that are better kept private. Along those lines, if you need to make or take a call and you’re at a church, library, concert hall, the theater, or restaurant — step out to use your phone. If you must keep your phone on, turn it to the silent or vibrate mode, excuse yourself to take a call, and be as brief as possible. This is especially important in business meetings, when you are out on a date, or having a family dinner. Focus instead on the in-person conversation. A word about content. Our smart devices enable us to share photos, thoughts, and messages instantly — but be wary and smart about what you share, because once it’s in cyberspace it becomes fair game. For example, do you want pictures of yourself at the last party you attended to be floating around the internet, and perhaps show up in a background check? Be aware and avoid embarrassing moments by not posting sensitive, vulgar, or questionable content. Don’t text and drive — and be aware of the local laws in East Amherst, NY when it comes to talking and driving — besides, It’s better to arrive safely; the text message can wait. What do you consider to be the most important advice when it comes to cell phone etiquette? Please share in the comments. Thanks for reading today!

Tips for Cleaning Stainless Steel Appliances

Autumn Creek Apartments feature functional, fashionable, modern kitchens, which have an option for a stainless steel appliance package. To keep your stainless steel looking shiny and new takes some effort, and in today’s blog post we’ve got some tips to make it a simple, easy task. To begin with, we will let you know what NOT to do when it comes to cleaning your stainless steel appliances: — DO NOT use products that contain chlorine (bleach for instance). — DO NOT use oven cleaners. — DO NOT use any type of abrasive scrubber; that includes steel wool, steel brushes, etc. because using an abrasive scrubber can damage the finish and leave scratches or residue that can lead to rust. — DO NOT use a pumice stone or abrasive cleaning products such as cleanser on brushed stainless steel. Now that we have the do-nots out of the way, follow these tips to keep your stainless steel appliances looking like new: Let your oven cool down before you clean it. It shouldn’t be hot, or even warm. Wipe the appliance in the direction of the “grain,” moving from top to bottom. Make it a habit to wipe down your appliances with a warm, soapy dishcloth every time you do the dishes. Be sure to rinse off the soap and finish by drying with a soft, terrycloth towel. Use a mild detergent, hot water, and a nylon scrubber to remove heavy grease or baked-on foods. Be sure to rinse and towel dry. For persistent stains make a paste of baking soda mixed with liquid dish soap and scrub with a nylon scrubbie or old toothbrush. If stains are persistent, try using undiluted vinegar, scrubbing with a soft brush. Remember to rinse thoroughly and towel dry. Periodically, buff your appliances using a stainless steel polish or a silicone-based spray. Be sure to apply the polish in the direction of the grain with a lint-free cloth; buff and dry with another lint-free cloth. Sit back and enjoy your wonderful shiny appliances, and then head out to your favorite Amherst, NY restaurant for dinner, because who want to mess up the kitchen? Thanks for reading today’s blog post!