Totally off Topic......

Ok, we all have heard that Comp USA is closing, right? Well, I was looking around in there today and come across a couple of desktops I have coveted before...and now that my current computer is really nearing the end of it's usefulness, I was a little excited to see the reductions in price over there. I am toying with either getting something as inexpensive as I can do with the computing needs I have, or......getting either an HP Touchsmart........which seems really neat or a Sony Vaio all in one (also really neat). They are both marked down enough that they would compete with the less expensive models I was considering; but of course, the less expensive models are...well...less expensive. Any technical gurus out there who can go beyond the "really neat" synopsis and offer some guidance? Trying to be frugal here.....but they're just so...neat!

A Neighborhood in Mourning

Last night started as one of those nights here in the neighborhood that makes you proud to live here. The Dickens Carolers sounded sweet, and neighbors were gathering from all over to hear, and also gather for some sweets at another neighbor's house. What I love about these events is that once you have been here for just a short while, you seem to know almost everyone you pass in some capacity. It's a real neighborhood, as opposed to one thrown together with a homeowners association which forces you to participate in things. These people gather because they like each other, and they all have at least one thing in common; they love Seminole Heights and the history behind it. One of our greatest assets in that department (and many others) was Steve Gluckman. He was the first person I started talking with before I even moved here, he was very welcoming and by the time I met him in person at my first preservation meeting, I felt as though I already knew him. It's hard to say what our neighborhood would have been without him, but fortunately, due to his hard work, we do know what our neighborhood will be in the future because of him. I guess I am grateful I was able to chat with him for one last time last night. Still, it ended all too soon. I am still a bit in shock over Steve's passing, and it will be hard to pass his house without knocking when I am out delivering bread to neighbors for Christmas. But we are all fortunate to have known this man, and we will continue to reap the benefits of his work. Rest in peace, Steve....

Happy Thanksgiving

I want to wish everyone who happens upon this a Very Happy Thanksgiving.....I have so much to be thankful for, even though it seems sometimes that there is more bad than good......it feels good to step back and say "wow, I'm so fortunate!". I'm sure many of us who are extremely busy and stressed feel the same way. Don't forget to take a step back and relish all you have to be thankful for........you deserve it!

Some New Old History on my House

We attended the neighborhood meeting last night, it went very smooth....there was speculation that a group of people against the Hampton Terrace historical designation would raise a ruckus. Only one question arose in relation to that and it was handled quickly and appropriately. We were sitting across the table from Jeff & Helen Harmon, who are very active in our community (Jeff is Vice President of OSHNA). He was talking about our house and mentioned COW RUSTLERS. Apparently, as many towns had in earlier times, Seminole Heights had a population of cows, and they were led down to Lake Robert to graze, and on their way back from this task, the cow rustlers stopped by our house for some........um.....appreciation. This reinforces the "bordello" rumors floating around, although I thought they were always referring to the "crack/boarding house" era when the house was home to many businesses, including drugs and prostitution. This is way earlier.....I don't know when the cows ceased making their trip to Lake Roberta, but I suspect it was way back.....the 30s, maybe the 40s...maybe not even that late. Everyone who has been in the neighborhood long term knows about the spring and the spigot out front....and a few know about the water tower in back there between 1915 & 1928. This was the first I had heard about the house being an actual Bordello. I'm dying of curiosity over who built it and for what.....could it have been built as a bordello/saloon? Records are difficult to lookup prior to 1920, so we may never know. I have some hope with the neighborhood documentary in progress, someone might remember some more history......I may have to grill Jeff some more......in the mean time, what an inspiration for a Halloween party!!

OMG! It's October!

Wow, Time flies even when your not having fun! I haven't got many house items to report, been really busy driving kids around and working.....there are not one, but two truckloads of mulch on our driveway, I guess we got a little ambitious and figured we'd have all this free time to shovel much.....we'll get it moved, eventually. The weather has finally cooled down a little so it should be a more comfortable job (if moving a mountain of mulch could ever be comfortable). The mornings have been absolutely beautiful and the house actually cools down to a level below our thermostat setting. That great news for the electric bill, which became a complicated matter after fixing the A/C hot water leak sprung up under the house.....creating high electric AND water bills.....eventually, the entire house will have been fixed or replaced, so when we do go on the market, we will look good! The market is so horrible right now, we are holding off officially going up for sale.....I can't bear the thought of having to keep the place "show ready" for over a year.....
We started Halloween decorations on the front porch; nothing fancy.....one of the great things about living in an old house is the fact you can pretty much just throw up some cobwebs and put a black bulb in the porch light and VIOLA! Creepy Old House!