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Come on down to the Stonegate Golf Club and visit with Manny, one of our wonderful bartenders. Manny is busy mixing up his Signature Cherry Blossom Cocktail this month. If you love to play around at being a bartender, why not take a cocktail class. Solivita is hosting one and like all things Solivita does, it is sure to not only be a learning experience, but lots of fun as well. A while back Lee and I took a Vodka Class. I am still mixing up the recipe we learned for Cucumber Vodka Cocktails. Refreshing, and each time we mix one up, we recall the fun we had with the Solivita Staff and our neighbors and friends (AKA Fellow Students).

Happy Spring. Hope to See You Soon.

We generally have lots of Orchids in bloom, especially at this time of the year, but unfortunately not so this year. Over a year ago, we had a storm blow through our lanai, it blew all our orchids off the garden shelves leaving us with shattered pots, broken orchid stems and uprooted plants. We rebuilt the orchid bench, repotted, fertilized, and nurtured the orchids and hoped for recovery. We have had a few blooms, but unfortunately, we seem to have lots of unhappy orchid plants. Quite a few factors could be at play; the winter seemed cooler than normal, we have had quite a bit of rain; and our orchids did have a huge shock. Lee and I are giving our Orchids one last chance to regain their former beauty. Over the last few weeks, we trimmed the orchids back, repotted them again, and fingers crossed, so far our orchids seem to have a new vitality. We are looking forward to seeing beautiful colorful blooms. We do have some good Orchid News, our Chocolate Orchid is blooming, happy, and providing us with beautiful delicate blooms and a delicious chocolate fragrance.

Now that we are vaccinated, we are starting to go out and about. We are still maintaining social distance and wearing masks; but have lots of plans for “restart” back to life, we once called normal. I personally am looking forward to enjoying lunch in a restaurant outside, visiting the hairdresser, getting a manicure, and taking myself on a shopping spree without feeling anxious or worrying if my actions will result in illness. It has been a long time, and I have a lot of pent-up shopping energy. Hope the local stores are well stocked because here I come and am bringing Mom along too; she can’t wait!!!

As the bird population begin their journey north and west to their Spring and Summer Homes so do the Solivita Florida Snowbirds. We had an isolated winter due to COVID-19, but it was still a good winter. The sunshine kept us going, our lovely weather allowed for lots of quiet walks, cooking, and dining outside in the peace of our community. We enjoyed a swim early in the morning and late in the day when the pools were quiet, we took lots of rides on our bikes and in our golf carts, and now hope has arrived in the form of an amazing vaccine. Freedom is once again possible and with it comes many new opportunities for each of us to get out an explore and enjoy friends and family. Time to start Planning your next adventure in Florida. Our next Florida Adventure is to the Naples Botanical Gardens. This is the perfect time of the year to enjoy the gardens, the living plant collections are continually evolving and this beautiful 170 acre preserve features succulents, water plants, Asian and Brazilian plants and an orchid boardwalk. If you have your children with you, visit the children’s garden, it offers an interactive experience for children with colorful vegetables, blooming flowers, and butterflies. Lots to do and enjoy in the Naples, Florida area. If the gardens are not your thing, then head to the beach, Naples is the home of Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park or to Clam Pass Park, both spots have nice beaches and are naturally beautiful. You will probably even get to see dolphins swimming in the water. Lots of facilities, parking, bathrooms, beach rentals, and picnic spots. The water is clear and calm. If you choose Clam Pass Park, you will enjoy a tram ride through the mangrove forest to get to the beach. It is a pretty drive to a lovely beach, either of these spots are nice places to spend the morning or afternoon surrounded by the natural beauty of Florida.

Naples has some nice places to stay and some great places to enjoy a meal or two. Our day at the beach inspired us to enjoy a “Down the Shore” Dinner on our lanai.

Recipe for our Shore Shrimp Boil Dinner. Easy, tasty and a great option for a hearty meal that will feed a hungry beach crowd.

Take out your big Lobster Pot and combine the following ingredients.
4 Cups Tomato Juice
4 Bay Leaves
2 Lemons Halved and Sliced
1 Orange Halved and Sliced
¾ Cup Old Bay Seasoning
¼ cup salt
2 Pounds of fingerling potatoes, halved lengthwise
Bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are almost tender, 5 to 7 minutes.

Add:

6 Ears of Corn, shucked and cut into 2” pieces
1 Pound of Smoked Sausage (andouille or kielbasa) thinly sliced
4 Pounds of Medium size, whole head on shrimp.

Cook until the shrimp is bright pink, and tails are curled, 3 to 5 minutes. If you have a perforated steamer basket before you start the cooking process insert it in your pot and cook within the basket. If not, no worries, just use a spider cooking utensil to remove and serve dinner. Put some newspaper on your picnic table, hand out the paper towels, slice some fresh lemons, add some chopped parsley and you will have the perfect beach meal.

Recently quite a few of my clients have purchased homes in Solivita and the surrounding areas due to work. Are you a builder, a handyman, a medical professional, an experienced IT professional? Are you creative, inventive, or would you like to work in an office or a retail setting? Jobs are coming to Poinciana and the areas surrounding Solivita. Housing is booming, road construction is all around us, and companies are moving in too. Florida is not only Blooming, but it is Booming too!

In the past, most of our Solivita Clients came to BVR as part of their retirement plan, but lately many are buying in Solivita and our surrounding area, planning to work a few more years, and retire when they are ready. This is a great plan, you have an opportunity to get to know the community, make friends, and enjoy time in Florida as you wind down your work life. When Lee and I came to Central Florida, we too came to work and ease into retirement. Thus far, we are still working hard, and know easing into retirement will come sometime later. Marketing homes to buyer’s planning to continue their work life, is a market in Solivita we had not experienced in quite a few years, but with the recent job boom it has been fun seeing new folks move their families to Florida and establish a new life in a new neighborhood.

If you are 55 or over, Solivita is the place to be. Solivita has over 4,200 acres of preserves, lakes, ponds, pools, and parks. We are a gated community and a great place to make friends and enjoy visiting family. If you are under 55 years of age, and have school age children, this area is a great place to start life in Florida. Our area offers many new and resale homes at reasonable prices for families. Why pay huge rents, high mortgages, and property taxes when you can own your own home in Florida, find a good paying job, and enjoy all the benefits our surrounding communities offer.

Come to Florida and see how fabulous life can be. The sun is always shining, the weather is tropical, the plants are in bloom 12 months a year and Florida offers good affordable housing. What are you waiting for? Call a BVR Agent today to see all we have to offer.

Prices on homes are escalating all over the US, so the time to buy is now while the interest rates are low. If you have a family, now is the time to resettle into a good community, and get the children enrolled in school before a new school year starts. If you are working remotely and planning to move out of a city, the time is right to make your move. If you are looking for work, now is a good time to start the job search. Call a Bella Verde Realtor to find the home of your dreams.

Taylor Morrison is building a new Multi-Gen Community steps from the West Gate of Solivita. The perfect place for 55 Plus Residents and their families to build a life together. There will be schools, shopping, pools, activities and Grandma and Grandpa can own their own home up the street from their children. Now you really can have it all! A perfect set up for families looking to live in the warmth and beauty of Central Florida but not be too far from the families they love. Plans have been approved by the county and the State and the builders are moving ground as I write! The first homes in our new neighborhood will be ready for occupancy within one year, making this the right time to start planning your new life. Call a BVR Realtor and be in the know on the new Community in our neighborhood.