I am proud to say that even before the Christmas tree was decorated this year, gift donations began to roll in. The One Plus One Giving Program for Foster Children is in full swing. We are always happy to visit with you and accept all gifts you would like to share with these wonderful children. Please stop by our office to deliver your unwrapped gifts to the Christmas tree. The children served by the One Plus One Giving Program are ages birth to 18.
What does One Plus One Mean?
For every gift donated, Bella Verde Realty donates a gift. You give one and we give one.
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Thanksgiving is a special day devoted to the bounty of the season and a special day to be thankful. I find cooking relaxing, and while I prepare our Thanksgiving meal, I reflect on the year and the wonderful life that Lee and I have. We would like to thank all our clients, friends, and our neighbors and let you know that each of you are appreciated. You have placed your faith and trust in us, and we don’t know what we would do without you all. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you. I am truly grateful to be surrounded by the love of a kind and gentle husband, a loving, supportive family, dear friends, and wonderful neighbors. Lee and I wish you a bountiful, happy, healthy Thanksgiving.
We have lived in Central Florida for almost 20 years and over those years feel blessed to be surrounded by such a caring community. We are truly humbled by the thousands of kind folks who volunteer their time to help others in Central Florida. A blessing in retirement is the gift of time, but a bigger blessing is that retired folks in Florida so generously give their time to others. Thank you Solivita and Central Florida for being so generous. Each volunteer we have met adds to our joy of living in this beautiful place. And of course, Bella Verde Realty is once again proud to sponsor a gift collection program for the over 500 foster children of Osceola County.
This recipe comes together in a snap and is a delicious treat for the Chef and the lucky diners.
- 3 cups chopped cooked chicken (a roaster from Publix will do)
- 1 cup (8 oz.) shredded Monterey Jack Cheese with Peppers
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 (4.5 Oz.) can chopped green chilies drained.
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 8 (8 inch) flour or corn tortillas
- Vege Cooking Spray
- 1 cup (8 oz) shredded Monterey Jack Cheese with Peppers
- 8 Oz of Sour Cream
- 8 Oz bottle of green taco sauce.
Stir together first 5 ingredients. Coat tortillas with vegetable cooking spray. Heat them in a sauté pan just for a few minutes to soften them up. Spoon chicken mixture evenly over each tortilla and roll them up seam side down. Arrange in a lightly greased 13 x 9 baking dish.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Add 2nd cup of Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese to the top of the Enchiladas and return to oven for an additional 15 minutes. Mix 8 Oz Sour Cream and 8 Oz. of Green Taco Sauce together and spoon over HOT Enchiladas and before serving or at the table. Sprinkle with any, or all, of the below toppings.
Serve with toppings: diced orange peppers, diced tomato, chopped avocado, chopped green onions, sliced ripe olives, and chopped cilantro.
If you really like “Kicked Up” Enchiladas add a diced Jalapeno to the first 5 ingredients.
Get ready because 2018 is flying by!
This year, Bella Verde Realty is once again proud to sponsor the ONE PLUS ONE GIVING PROGRAM FOR FOSTER CHILDREN with the Guardian ad Litem Program of Osceola County. Last year, Bella Verde Realty, with the generosity of our friends, clients, neighbors, and vendors, collected over 1,000 gifts and donated them to the children that are served and supported by the Guardian ad Litem Program. Together we brought joy to many children during the holiday season.
And this year, Bella Verde will be sponsoring the One Plus One Giving Program for Foster Children again. On Friday, November 9th, the Bella Verde Christmas Tree will be decorated and ready to start receiving all unwrapped gifts for children from the age of birth to 18. For every gift donated, Bella Verde Realty will match the gift; you give one, the children will receive two. This is a win-win program for the children, and for each of us who choose to participate during this beautiful holiday season. Please visit our office and donate to this gift giving program for children that will surely enjoy receiving a wonderful holiday gift and the knowledge that our community cares about them.
Halloween has become a huge holiday. It’s time to decorate the house, carve the pumpkins, and decide what to do on 10/31. A few years back we went to Universal Studios for Halloween Horror Nights with some friends, had a blast and enjoyed a frightful night. We are thinking this year may be a good year to “Do the Time Warp” and tiptoe down memory lane to see the Rocky Horror Picture Show. We will drag out the toaster and enjoy an evening filled with fun and share a toast to what was. Wondering, if after all these years, we will still find joy in the Rocky Horror Picture Show? I hope so. We may even be able to find a movie house showing the old flick, or a playhouse performing the show, but if all else fails we can always enjoy Rocky Horror Picture Show on our computer. The show may be dated, but we strive to keep current and have the latest software up and running.
Had the grandchildren in for a visit and we took them to Gatorland for some family fun. Our grandson was charmed by the alligators and crocodiles and our granddaughter loved the petting zoo and the action the animal shows provided. Gatorland is a throwback to “Old Florida”. The park is clean and fun and provides a great way to make special memories with friends and family. Gatorland is only 25 miles from Solivita on Orange Blossom Trail, or as the local’s call it “The OBT”. Florida residents can purchase an Annual Pass which will entitle up to 6 accompanying guests a discount from the General Admission. A nice, simple way to spend a day with the family without the huge cost of visiting one of the larger theme parks.
If you have older grandchildren (ours are still quite young), you may want to book the Gator Night Shine Adventure to experience the sounds of the swamp at night in Gatorland’s Alligator Breeding Marsh. Gatorland will provide a flashlight and when you point in toward the water you will be amazed as the glowing red eyes of the gators keenly look back at you while they thrash about. We shared the Night Shine Adventure when some of our older cousins visited and it was an “Eye Opener” into swamp life in Central Florida.
We are loving October and the fresh air blowing through Central Florida. Time to get out on the golf course and play a few rounds in the afternoon since the heat has been turned down. Lee is the golfer in the family and he loves to play on the two Championship Golf Courses in Solivita, but he is also happy to accept the challenge of playing on many of the other golf courses convenient to Solivita. Lee has kept a tally of the courses he has played over the last two years, and so far, his count is over 30. Florida has wonderful golf courses, and a round on a good course does not need to cost a fortune, we can usually find a discounted course by going to: www.teeoff.com and looking at their offers.
Golf on my friends and swing away in Solivita style.
Add a statement tablecloth. Pick a color that will coordinate with your décor but will create a different look in your room. For a traditional room, add a table cloth that is bright and patterned, but blends with the surroundings. If you have a beige room, try adding a patterned orange tablecloth for a pop of color or a black patterned cloth to create drama.
A simple fix – Reorganize your bookshelves. Restack the books in a non-traditional fashion. Perhaps arrange them by color and add a few green plants in white pots for interest.
Board with Your Built-ins. If so, add a dramatic color. Paint the back wall of your built in with a color that will pop, then stand back and wait for the compliments. Or, if you are not ready to get out the paint can, purchase some contact paper in a color you love and paper the back of the shelves for a new look.
Switch Up Your Vibe – Replace one piece of furniture in a traditional room with something modern, perhaps two acrylic chairs or a modern glass or acrylic coffee table.
Add a playful pattern to your bedding. You can mix and match patterns, colors, and textures, or you can add a collection of old textiles to your bed. Have fun with it and be inspired by the decorator lurking within.
Add a Turkish Rug Runner to your hallway. A new floor covering will add drama and interest to the area; and will be soft on your feet.
Designing and redecorating your home should be fun and will bring out your creative side. As you make small changes, you will become more comfortable and begin to experiment with color and design. It is fun to change up your look, embrace the change and enjoy your new look.
Lee and I enjoy a salad for dinner in the summer weather, and we find this salad to be delicious and satisfying and really good when followed by the Blueberry Swirl Treat below.
Pear and Endive Main Course Chopped Salad
2 Tsp Sherry Vinegar
2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 Heads of Endive (about 1 Pound total) halved and sliced into ½ inch half moons
1 Cup Parsley Leaves
2 firm but ripe pears, cut in quarters, cored, and sliced
½ cup chopped pecans, toasted
1 – 4 Oz Wedge Blue Cheese sliced.
Salt and Pepper
In a large bowl whisk vinegar, oil and ¼ tsp each salt and pepper. Add endive, parsley, and pear. Toss to coat in dressing. Arrange on 2 plates and top with pecans and blue cheese.
Blueberry Swirl Ice Treat
2 cups blueberries, frozen or fresh
2 Tablespoons honey or agave
2 cups Vanilla Greek Yogurt
Blend the blueberries in a food processor or blender until nearly liquified to a smooth consistency. Pour the blueberry liquid into a large bowl. Stir in the honey or agave. Add the yogurt and gently mix together. Leave patches of blue and white. Taste and adjust sweetener. Freeze in popsicle molds. This is a good recipe for a sweet treat.
We recently took an overnight trip from Solivita to St. Augustine and had a wonderful evening at the St. Augustine Lighthouse enjoying a sunset moonrise tour. We saw a spectacular sun set behind the city while the moon rose over the Atlantic, for a really nice evening. We had purchased tickets a few months ago and our ticket included a champagne toast supplied by San Sebastian Winery and hors d’oeuvres provided by the Reef Restaurant. This tour is only available one day per month. If you wish to go, please purchase your ticket in advance. For the balance of this year, this tour will be held on the following days; Monday, September 24th, Wednesday, October 24th and Saturday, December 22nd.
Cassadaga, the Psychic Capital of the World :
Who knew that we not only live near the Entertainment Capital of the US, but the Psychic Capital of the World as well? If you’re looking for a different experience, visit Cassadaga! Cassadaga is about 75 miles from Solivita, north of Sanford. The town is a throw back to the days of Mayberry, set in the backwoods between Daytona and Orlando and is a sanctuary for mediums, healers, spiritualists, psychics, new agers, and a religious group. The religious group runs a non-profit organization and operate a camp and the new agers use tarot cards and provide readings in the Cassadaga Hotel. If you go to Cassadaga, make an appointment, and go with an open mind as you never know who may want to send a message to you, or the direction of your reading. Our reader was Misty and she had some interesting thoughts. She seemed to know us quite well for a lady who knew nothing about us. It was puzzling how she zoomed right in. Some of the folks we were with left Cassadaga amazed, and some were amused, but we were all entertained. The town is interesting and is a nice drive from Solivita. While you are waiting for your reading, or for your group to gather after a reading, the restaurant in the Hotel offers a delightful menu, including liquid spirts, and is the perfect spot to discuss your experiences in Cassadaga. You can take a tour, take a class, have a reading, experience a healing, or just enjoy a meal, but whatever you do here you will certainly have an interesting time.
The Cassadaga Hotel is allegedly haunted, and if you are interested you can schedule a Ghost Tour while in town or spend an evening at the hotel. We did not personally experience any spirits while we were there, that is, except for the spirits in our drinks at the hotel. Cassadaga is a fun experience and certainly made for an interesting afternoon. If you would like to see what Cassadaga is all about, visit the following websites: http://www.cassadaga.org/ or http://cassadagahotel.net/.