Sunday, February 13, 2022

A Big Week for Real Estate, But Not Much Reading


On Friday evening, we sat on the beach to watch the sunset and reflect on the whirlwind that had been our week... at least as it related to real estate. The short story is that the closing for our condo here is scheduled for early this week and the buyers have completed their final walk through. The other BIG news is that we have found a condo/townhouse in Connecticut, where we will spend summers, and are set to close on that in early March. Of course, none of this happened without drama... especially given the state of today's real estate market, but I'll spare you the details!


Recent reading//

The Ten Loves of Nishino by Hiromi Kawakami

As much as I love this cover, I won't go out of my way to recommend the book. My review is here.



Current reading//

 
Devil in the Grove by Gilbert King

With all the excitement last week, there was not a lot of reading. My Black History Month book is still in progress. Devil in the Grove is intense and sometimes difficult to read, but fascinating. I'm learning a lot about Thurgood Marshall, the NAACP, and the criminal justice system of the Jim Crow south. It's mind-boggling to realize that this case occurred right here in Florida. I expect to finish this read/listen combination later in the week.

I may add in another book today, too. As much as I'm enjoying this one, there are times when I'd prefer a lighter alternative.


On the blog//


In the kitchen//



I did try a couple of new recipes last week, with varying degrees of success. First I made this Creamy Red Pepper Pasta with Blistered Tomatoes from Pinch of Yum. I realized afterward that the creamy, yet creamless sauce is actually vegan and quite nutritious. The sauce is made in a food processor with a roasted red pepper (from a jar), cashews, olive oil, and water. It has an unusual but, my daughter and I thought, delicious taste. My husband said it was "weird." I will make this again on a night he won't be home for dinner.

Later in the week I made Skillet Chicken Bulgogi from Allrecipes. It tasty, easy, and, best of all, quick. Dinner was on the table in 30 minutes! I cut the cayenne way down, increased the sauce by 50%, and cooked some fresh broccoli in the microwave to add near the end. Next time I will consider adding either shredded carrots or red pepper, too.


The week ahead//

Tonight we're having my SIL over for dinner, but the Super Bowl is unlikely to figure into our afternoon/ evening plans. Later in the week there's a neighborhood gathering, which is always a good time. Other than that it's pretty much business as usual around here... just how I like it!

How was your week? What have you been reading?

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.
It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date.




49 comments:

  1. So where will you live in the winters? Still Florida, or will you be traveling more?

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    1. Nan - We will still be in Florida. After selling our NY house in 2019, we bought one here. We kept the condo to live in during house renovations, then used it as a "holding tank" for visitors during the pandemic. Now we need a place to go for summers instead... the heat, humidity, and hurricanes here are too much for me!

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  2. Congratulations on the condo buying and selling!

    I love that cover too but will pass after reading your review.

    I'm interested in reading Devil In The Grove. I lived about 20 minuets from there for about 20 years and have been there many times.

    I'm not a big fan of past but I love chicken so I'll be trying the Skillet Chicken Bulgogi.

    Have fun with your SIL tonight and at the neighborhood gathering!

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    1. Vicki - I don't think I've ever been in Groveland, but have driven through many of the other towns mentioned in the book. It's hard to believe that this happened in the late 40s and 50s. The skillet chicken dish was good, especially with the cayenne cut back to about a third. I've been trying more Asian-inspired recipes lately.

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  3. On our way to the nature refuge last week, we passed RV park after RV park, and they were all full. I commented on it to my husband and he replied, "Snowbirds." I don't think I realized how many people spend the winters down south. I guess they return home for the summers. That's a good way to live.

    I read two books last week for Black History Month, and they were both almost unremittingly grim. Native Son has to be one of the most difficult-books-to-read that I've ever finished. A lot to think about.



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    1. Deb - I guess you could say we'll be doing the snowbird thing in reverse! Will probably be out of here sometime in July and stay north through September. We'll see how it goes.

      Native Son was one of the books I considered this month, but now I'm kind of glad I went with something else. Devil in the Grove is excellent so far, but very intense...

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  4. Congrats on your real estate news! How great that you have found a spot to spend your summers. There is nothing I dislike more than buying and selling a home, so I understand the stress. I hope the remaining details of the closings go smoothly.

    I had to laugh about your husband's comment about the pasta with a vegan sauce. He and my husband would get along quite well, I'm sure. ;)

    I've been enjoying my current read (People of the Book) and have spent a couple of days doing yardwork. Got together with my girlfriends a couple of times to play Mah Jong and to learn how to play cribbage. We now play MJ, Tripoly and Cribbage. Great fun! Oh, and the weather has been simply amazing. Mid-60s yesterday and more of the same today!

    Have a great week, JoAnn!

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    1. Les - I have to say that buying and selling real estate has not been the most pleasant experience! Fingers crossed it's smooth sailing from here.

      I really liked that vegan pasta sauce, but my husband's reaction was pretty comical. He and Rod are probably both 'meat and potato' guys, lol!

      Glad you're finally having some nice weather - that yardwork piles up way too quickly! I'm hoping to join a local group soon to learn to play Mah Jong. After hearing you talk about it for years, I am more than curious. Finger crossed they start up again this season!

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  5. Congrats on making it through a stressful real estate week; it will be nice not having to rent a place in CT this summer. Will you be near the water? That pasta and tomato dish sounds yummy to me -- well, honestly, I might not be a good one to comment as I even love pasta and butter LOL - I'm not excite about the super bowl as I know nothing about either team but, my husband is interested. Have a good week.

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    1. Diane - It was such a headache finding a place to rent for the summer, so I'm thrilled this has worked out. We won't have a view of the water, but it will be the end point of my morning walk. I love pasta, too, and that dish was a unique (albeit unusual) combination... to bad my husband wasn't a fan. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow - good luck!

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  6. You should try your creamy red pepper pasta with some feta in as well! Delicious.

    Have a good week ahead!

    Elza Reads

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  7. I always enjoy reading about what you've been cooking. You try so many new recipes--it's inspiring because I tend to stick to my tried and true, but that gets repetitive!

    Congrats on getting your housing settled. That must feel like a big relief!

    Have a good week.

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    1. Thanks, Jane. I've always enjoyed cooking, but have found it to be therapeutic since the beginning of the pandemic. My goal has been to try a couple of new recipes every week. It's been a good creative outlet and my family have been willing participants!

      It is a big relief to have found a place. It'll be very convenient for our NYC daughters, too. They've agreed to keep an eye on things while we're in FL. Fingers crossed there are no last minute complications!

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  8. Devil in the Grove is on my list too. I have a couple of books like that I'm reading that I have to set aside from time to time because it just gets too much.

    Congrats on your new summer condo! Sorry the details were tough but happy it's working out.

    Those recipes sound delicious. My hubby doesn't enjoy tomatoes so I may have to make that one on a night he won't be home as well for me and my son. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Heather - Devil in the Grove is an excellent read. I'm not surprised it won the Pulitzer Prize, but it sure is heavy!

      We're thrilled about finding the place in CT. Now that our daughters are in NYC, it was very hard for them to get to our old house in NY unless they had a long weekend. Now it will just be a two hour train ride... easily doable for a weekend.

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  9. The pasta looks good! We are not doing the Super Bowl either. Have a great week!

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  10. Congratulations on both buying and selling a condo but that does sound stressful! Just think how much you'll love having your own space in Connecticut when it's all done. You seemed to love your time there last summer.

    I understand about needing a break from the more intense nonfiction. It can be so infuriating and heartbreaking all at the same time.

    Enjoy your week!

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    1. Jen - It was definitely a stressful week, but I'm confident it will all work out. We lived in CT for several years when we were first married and are thrilled to be going back after 30+ years.

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  11. all and all it sounds like a good week. hard to go wrong when you can watch a sunset on the beach. :-)
    sherry @ fundinmental

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  12. Congrats on the real estate deal. Hope you have a great week.

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  13. Congrats on getting all the real estate sorted! Things are definitely chaotic in that world right now so I'm not surprised you didn't have much time for reading. Hopefully this week will be a bit calmer!

    I want to try the Chicken Bulgogi. It sounds wonderful though I will probably cut back a bit on the cayenne as well. Have a great week!

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    1. Katherine - It really is a relief to have the real estate sorted out! It's been a multi-year process, but I think we'll finally be settled.

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  14. I am always impressed with the delicious treats you make. Yum! I am not much of a cook these days, heading off to a restaurant or two instead, but perhaps I will try a few things in the future. Inspiration comes from your blog and others.

    I am impressed by your real estate events. Enjoy your new condos! I need to grab some books from my shelves for black history month!

    Enjoy your week.

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    1. Laurel-Rain Snow - I've never minded cooking, but since the pandemic it has become more of a creative outlet and hobby. Now I need to develop more of an exercise hobby, lol!

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  15. Congratulations on the closing and finding a summer place! Nothing goes as smoothly as we hope it will, does it? I am glad it seems to be working out for you. My reading was down this past week too. I am glad you are enjoying what you are reading though. Have a great week!

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    1. Thanks, Wendy. The closing here is tomorrow and my fingers are crossed we have no lats minute glitches!

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  16. Glad you got through all your real estate transactions. They never seem to come without issues. Both of the recipes you shared sound good. Enjoy your time with family and friends!

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    1. Gretchen - Real estate transactions are always stressful. Hoping no problems crop up!

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  17. Congrats on the real estate front! I hope things settle down now and you'll get some nice books to read this week

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    1. Thanks, Emma. I set everything aside for over an hour this afternoon and just read - heavenly!

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  18. Congrats on the condo situation! How exciting! Enjoy your reading and have a great week!

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  19. Your condo purchasing/selling is all very exciting. Real Estate price sin our area have sky rocketed and for a while houses were selling in one day, site unseen. It seems to have calmed down a little bit.

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    1. Helen - It's the same down here! We got three offers on our condo here and prices have risen dramatically in the past year, too. Unfortunately, that was the case in CT, too, so I suppose it's a wash for us.

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  20. How nice that you guys will have a condo up north for your trips in summer/early fall! And I do understand about the buying/selling and keeping an extra place thing. Sigh. I was working on our taxes yesterday and all the real estate stuff we had in the last year made it more than a bit complicated. However, I think we're done with that. Now if our renovations here could get started I would be so happy - ha!

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    1. Kay - These real estate transactions will definitely make taxes more complicated next year, but it is such a relief not to have to find a place to rent! We may have to do a bathroom renovation in CT, but nothing as extensive as the house. Sure hope your project is underway soon... so frustrating!

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  21. I'm glad your real estate transactions are nearing completion. I'm sure it will be nice to have a settled place for when you want to leave Florida for a while. Your recipes look good too. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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    1. Kathy - Selling a house up north, buying a house in FL, then selling condo in FL and buying a condo up north has been a multi-year project. We needed to flip flop living quarters as we spend more time in the south. Hopefully this is the end of it!!

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  22. Good luck with the condo! I'm crossing my fingers that everything goes smoothly for you.

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    1. Thanks, Aj... we'll take all the finger-crossing we can get!

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  23. How exciting to find a condo in Connecticut! Is it near water or have views? I hope you love it. It sounds great too that you're selling your one in FLA. What a busy time but it will settle. We have a weekend away to Vancouver to see relatives coming up Feb. 25 -- so trying to finish things before then. good luck with the closings.

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    1. Susan - We will be close to the water, but no view... other than on my walks. We're pretty excited. Enjoy your upcoming weekend getaway!

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  24. Congratulations! I'm especially happy that you'll be reverse-snowbirding in CT. :) I've seen other recipes for that cashew "cream" sauce and it always sounds intriguing. And I love roasted cherry tomatoes so this sounds like one to finally try. One of my favorite pasta sauce recipes has raisins in it and everyone I've ever made it for has said that it's weird! So now I make it only for myself.

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    1. Thanks, Audrey! We're pretty excited about it... and hopefully we'll be able to get together again one of these days at a bookish event in CT. The cashew "cream" sauce is definitely worth trying. If you click on the recipe, it has links to other variations ... though I really liked the roasted red pepper. I've never heard of raisins in a pasta sauce! Doubt my husband would ever go for that, but I'm intrigued!

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    2. The raisins add a little bit of sweetness, and if you use golden raisins people might not know they were in there. The secret is not to tell anyone! But yes, it is a little weird. :)

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