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3 Eggs
1 ½ cups sugar
1 ½ cups pumpkin
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons canola oil
1 ½ tsp vanilla
2 ¼ cups flour
1 ½ tsp baking soda
1 ½ tsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp salt
1 ½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp ground cloves
¼ tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp nutmeg
Zest of One Orange
¾ cup chopped pecans

Beat eggs and sugar together well. Add pumpkin, oil and vanilla; mix thoroughly. Sift flour, soda, baking powder, salt and spices. Add to pumpkin mixture and beat. Add pecans. Pour into two well-greased loaf pans and Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Dried Cranberries are a delicious substitute for the nuts. These loafs freeze well too and make a great breakfast with a cup of yogurt or fruit.

Our friends, neighbors and clients have been raving about the new train station in Poinciana. This train station is right up the road with lots of parking for everyone. A welcome addition to our community, as we can now “get out of Dodge” for the day without the hassle of a long drive. My mom and her friend Marilyn took the train to Sanford. The ladies enjoyed a nice, inexpensive ride to Sanford. Upon arrival they hopped on the free downtown trolley, kindly provided by the City of Sanford, between the Amtrak Auto Train and the Sanford SunRail Station.

The town of Sanford has a thriving art community, shops, brew pubs, restaurants, a beautiful lake and is a nice spot to spend an afternoon. Sanford is the perfect stop for a Delicious Lunch and Mom and Marilyn could not resist stopping for lunch at Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Café. Upon their return from Sanford the reviews were glowing, they shared an outdoor table and a delicious meal of schnitzel, warm German potato salad and wurst.

When we lived up north one of our favorite restaurants was the Mountain Brauhaus in Gardiner, New York, near New Paltz at the base of the Shawangunk Mountains. It was a beautiful drive through farmland and mountains to an authentic German dinner in a quiet, country location. Mom said that lunch at the Willow Tree Cafe brought back many fond memories of shared family dinners in Upstate NY. Lee and I have now put the Café on our radar, and we are looking forward to sharing a delicious German dinner soon. I will keep you posted.

Recently we enjoyed an evening in Ireland, at Disney Springs. No planes, passports, or lines involved. We were in Disney Springs on a Sunday afternoon enjoying the nice weather when we decided to have a bite to eat. Expecting nothing more than a good glass of Guinness, and an order of fish and chips, we walked into the Ragland Road Irish Pub. Before we even had the chance to open our menus the music started. The entire pub sang, laughed, clapped and enjoyed the Irish Fiddle and Celtic Harp, traditional music of Ireland, plus a step dancing performance, complete with costumes. Sometimes the best things in life are the unexpected and unplanned. Disney Springs is about a 30-minute drive from Solivita and a nice way to spend an afternoon or evening.

We have some great big planter boxes on our lanai and happily we just put in a crop of Early Sprouting Broccoli, Marion Market Cabbage and Leaf Lettuce. This weather is perfect for growing vegetables, and when growing them in a controlled environment, such as your lanai, the work involved is all pleasure. A small amount of weeding, a daily sprinkle of water and before we know it we are harvesting the fruits of our labor. Lee also is growing pineapples in the lanai. I must say they do not grow large, but they sure are sweet.

Happy Holidays to all of our neighbors, clients, friends, and family. Another year is coming to an end and we are happy to celebrate the holidays in sunny Central Florida. We plan on having a fun Christmas Eve shared with family and friends and a beautiful, quiet Christmas Day. Not traditional, but lovely – I am folding up my apron and letting Santa Claus take us out for dinner on Christmas Day. A holiday without dishes, what more can a working girl ask for? Well, I know we can ask for more, but why? We are lucky to live in the award-winning community of Solivita, surrounded by the beauty of nature, and every day are thankful not to be shoveling snow, chopping ice, or defrosting car doors just to get to work. We so enjoy the Florida lifestyle and suggest, if you are considering a move, you give it a try too! With so much entertainment in Central Florida, life is certainly nicer in the warmth, safety, and beauty of Solivita and Central Florida.

Lee and I hope that each of you enjoy every moment of the holidays. We wish you a happy and healthy New Year and hope the beauty and wonder of the season brings joy, health and peace to you and yours.

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. We are proud to say our 2018 One Plus One Giving Program for Foster Children was a Huge Success. This year 4 carloads of gifts and gift cards were donated for the Children in the GAL Program of Osceola County. Our Holiday Sleigh (AKA Cars with Wheels), successfully delivered piles of gifts to the GAL Offices in Kissimmee where they were graciously unpacked and will be distributed to the children during the 2018 holiday season.

December is a busy month with parties, special dinners, celebrations, galas, house guests, and New Year’s Eve Celebrations. We are looking forward to a wonderful holiday season filled with good will, fun and peace. I am keeping our decorations minimal this year thereby allowing time for more fun with less fuss.

Sales in Solivita are heating up now that our weather is cooling down. This is the perfect time to list your home as the snowbirds are in; if you are thinking about selling your home; this is the time of year to put your home on the market. Call us and we will be happy to do a market appraisal on your residence and sell your home!

Of course, if you are interested in buying a home in Central Florida, Bella Verde Realty is the Brokerage for you. We sell homes all over Central Florida and we are happy to show you a home that matches your desires in your price range.

Retirement dreams only come true when you make them happen. Call Bella Verde Realty today, and together we will make your retirement dreams happen.