May Social Media Newsletter

Rainman Web Development's Social Media Department welcomes in May with the latest edition of the Rainman Social Media Newsletter. 


This month we feature a wide variety of insurance related topics, summertime safety tips, and an extensive content calendar. 


To access the May Social Media Newsletter, click here. 

National Pet Owners' Day

In honor of National Pet Owners' Day we have decided to feature a few of our staffers, along with their pets. We have a great collection of furry friends here at Rainman.

Kim

I have many pets. Some are typical like our dog and some aren’t so typical like goats and a donkey. I love them all, but I’ve chosen to feature our donkey Jasper. When we originally bought our farm retreat, he conveyed with the property. While he can have his softer moments, he is also ornery. I can tolerate his moodiness though because he is an amazing guard animal. If a dog or someone he does not know comes too close for comfort, he snorts in warning. When Jasper snorts, everyone listens. When our goats are nearing kidding time, I can tell. He becomes especially watchful over them. I am not making this up. His intelligence is both shocking and amusing at times. When someone crowds his food bowl, he turns and gingerly raises a hind leg in warning. The other animals get the point and move on. I never thought we would “inherit” a donkey, but we did and am happy with this fateful event. I’m sold on the merits of this animal even if I do have to wake up to the donkey alarm some days.  

Austin

I have two pets, a dog and a guinea pig. My guinea pig’s name is Mudhouse, and is about 2 years old. I also have a dog, Skittles. He’s a Jack Russell that likes to read to me, play ball, and climb ladders. He is still very energetic even for being about 16 years old.

Amanda

I have 4 “fur-babies”. I have a 5 year old Shih Tzu, Toby, who is not aware he weighs a mere 13 pounds. I also have a rescue dog Molly who ‘found us’ about a year ago, and an Old English Mastiff, Giada. Although Giada is only a puppy she already weighs about 75 pounds! Molly and Giada are inseparable, always playing in the backyard, snuggling with our 2 year old, or trying to crawl on the couch and watch TV. Toby is our trusty dog, while Molly & Giada prefer to lounge around in their bed all day. The latest addition to our crew is a dwarf bunny, Luna. Luna loves eating fresh treats out of our garden, and to taunt the dogs from the safety of her oversized cage.

Andrew

I have beautiful little dog named Buttercup. She is a half husky, half corgi mix who has a very playful spirit. She's six years old and a little grumpy at times but she still loves to be around people. She is one of the sweetest dogs I've ever known. 

National Garden Month: A Tomato Love Story

For those of us who enjoy gardening, it is prime planting time. This post deviates from the typical fare to talk about the joys of gardening in honor of National Garden Month.

Kentucky Wonder Beans, Red Asparagus Beans along with Roma, Golden Jubilee, Striper and my favorite, Cherokee Purple Tomatoes from last year’s garden

There is a resurging interest in gardening these days and the authors of this blog are among that growing population. Sorry about that pun.

For me (Kim), if I were given the choice of growing only one plant and one plant only, I would choose the tomato. Guy Clarke has a song “Homegrown Tomatoes” and subtitles it a tender love ballad. I agree.

One seed company breaks down their tomato seeds based on color as follows: Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, Striped, White, and Yellow!

I love to look at the names too.  I think my favorite name is the Mortgage Lifter. After crossing varieties for 6 years and selecting the best, the originator introduced this beauty that he named Mortgage Lifter in the 1940’s after he sold plants for $1 each and paid off the $6,000 mortgage on his house.

I’ve recently become enamored with varieties of tomatoes besides the traditional red. My current favorite to grow in the Texas Hill Country is the Cherokee Purple. It tolerates the heat well and is full of flavor.

If you don’t have a garden patch, tomatoes can be grown in a container on a patio or balcony. Beyond their delicious flavor, the other joy for me is watching someone’s face light up when you give the gift of a tasty homegrown tomato.