The House Hunt

The search for a house continues.

We received a counteroffer on the house we made an offer on in Hudson, Wisconsin.  Unfortunately, the woman only came down $5K and took the washer/dryer along with the water softener out of the mix. She even wants to dig up the dog fence and take that with her too.

The home is way over-priced and the comps in the area do not support her high sales price.  We were told that she can’t go any lower on the sales prices because she’s building a townhouse and needs the money to close on that.

We ignored her counteroffer and wish her well.

We hope to make an offer on our 2nd choice this Sunday.

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Outback Steakhouse in Woodbury, Minnesota

We have been to the Outback Steakhouse before and decided to try it again.  This time we had a little challenge in getting the food right.

Being a creature of habit, I ordered the same thing as I did before, the Outback Special which includes a 6 ounce sirloin with 2 sides.  I selected the Sweet Potato and the Blue Cheese Pecan Chopped Salad.

They always serve a wonderful warm bread with soft butter on the side.

Outback Steakhouse bread

Then the Blue Cheese Pecan chopped salad is served.  This is always one of my favorites.  It has the right amount of “bite” to it.

Outback Steakhouse Blue Cheese Pecan Salad

Lastly, the sirloin is served.  I always ask for it to be cooked well done — no pink!  When I received it, the first thing I did was cut into the steak.  Sure enough, it was not well done.  Back it went.  The manager personally delivered the next steak and kneeled next to the table while I cut into it to make sure it was well done.  Nope!  Back it went.  The third time they got it right.

The manager explained that they had a new cook.  
The sirloin was moist and was seasoned very nicely.  
Outback Steakhouse Sirloin with Sweet Potato

I always forget to ask them not to put brown sugar and butter in the sweet potato.  A sweet potato tastes fine with no added flavoring.

My husband ordered the steak fried steak that comes with green beans and garlic mashed potatoes.  I took a bite and it tasted fine.  Kind’ve reminded me of my mother’s Puerto Rican empanadas (steak coated in crumbled crackers and then fried).
Steak fried steak

When we received the bill, the manager had deducted the price of the sirloin.

Way to go Outback!
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Minnesota Living

Still waiting to hear on whether the offer we made on a house has been accepted.

I continue to believe we made the right decision in making a lower-than-asked-for offer.  Although the home is beautiful and has lots of updates, the comparable homes in the area are larger and one even took 2 years to sell because the seller priced it too high.  Just yesterday, a larger home came on the market just down the block from the one  we made an offer on — larger, with a pool and $120K less.  Ouch!

The seller can’t be happy, but God has affirmed our decision in the offer we made.  An answer to my prayer since I asked Him to guide us.

Thank you for the guidance Father!

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Minnesota and Wisconsin House Hunting

Last evening, we made our first offer on a house in Wisconsin.  It’s a tough choice to decide whether to live in Wisconsin or Minnesota but the home values are really good in Wisconsin right now although the taxes are a wee bit higher.

It felt strange to make this offer.  The house is gorgeous and the location is nice.  But the home values in this neighborhood are down as they are everywhere.  The seller has set their price really high.  And we made our offer based on sales in the neighborhood.

I vacillate between having done the “right” thing (a lower offer) based on facts and feeling like I’m insulting a seller (who unfortunately priced their house too high).

We’ll know soon if the offer is accepted.  Meanwhile, I hope the unsettling feeling of insulting someone goes away.

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Thanksgiving

Continue in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving.  Colossians 4:2

Every November I, along with millions of others, would sit around the table at what we call “Thanksgiving.”  I’d eat and laugh and reminisce on how another year has passed.  And yes, I would be thankful.  My tradition was to ask every person at the table to say what they were thankful for in the year gone by.

But how quickly I can forget the spirit of Thanksgiving.  As my life gets entrenched in the routines of the day, my mind wanders and the thankfulness is forgotten.

There are times when its brought back to my remembrance.  When a death occurs, an anniversary, a birthday.

The Scripture above reminds me to continue being thankful because I have been truly blessed.  It is comforting to know that no matter what happens, I can find something to be thankful for.

So I’m trying to live with a spirit of thankfulness every day.  Continuing to remember all that God has provided me in friendships, material things, health, family.  Each blessing unique and each one filling my heart with contentment.

Thank you Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

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Birds and Fish Still Dying

The phenomena of thousands of fish and birds dying continues as Sweden, Italy and New Zealand join the U.S. in the abnormality.

So far, we hear of scientists calling it normal but the reasons for the deaths sound absurd.

It Italy, the scientists say the birds died of overeating and indigestion.  So sorry Italy.  I can’t buy that either.

If it’s true that this is normal, I would like some of these scientists to point us to other dates throughout history where both the air and water have produced massive deaths caused by noise and indigestion (eating too many sunflower seeds), has occurred.

I will not hypothesize.  I do find it alarming and it makes me stop to ponder why our wildlife is dying in mass.  If these deaths were chickens that we eat every day, many would stop eating the chickens until a cause was found.

I pray that scientists will continue searching for the cause of these deaths.

Click here for article

For previous blog on this subject, click here

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Black Bean and Roasted Pepper Soup

When I’m told “I’m going to make dinner” and the person proceeds to get humongous amounts of red and poblano peppers, my eyebrows go up in “I don’t know about this.”

But, the meal was delicious.  This was not spicy like I thought it would be and was served with pumpkin cornbread muffins.  Very delicious.  Fresh cantaloupe on the side was also served.

Black Bean and Roasted Pepper Soup

You can find the blog and recipe information by clicking here.

Thank you Sam!

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Cafe Cravings in White Bear Lake, Minnesota

We went to Cafe Cravings in White Bear Lake, Minnesota for breakfast.

Cafe Cravings in White Bear Lake, MN

There was a special listed on the board of walnut apple pancakes for $7.45 which I thought sounded delicious.  I picked up the menu to see what else they had and noticed that the price for that same “special” was actually less.  When I asked the cashier about the discrepancy, I was told that the menu had changed.

Since there were 3 of us, I asked what else had changed and they told me they could tell us as we chose.  Hmmmm …. I expected them to offer the lower price for my menu item but no offer was forthcoming.

Then I asked if they had hot chocolate made from an espresso machine (the milk).  The gentleman said “We can do that.”  When I received my hot chocolate, it was the cheaper powdered one.

Batting zero for zero.

Apple walnut pancakes

The pancakes were pretty good although they were a little too moist, ie. a lot of butter was used.  I also tasted a hint of bacon and wondered if they had been grilled on the same griddle.

Blueberry Muffin

This was huge!  I didn’t taste it but my husband said there weren’t very many blueberries.

Cheesy Potatoes

The potatoes were fresh and not frozen.  I heard no complaints from the person who ordered this.

Garden Omelette

The presentation of this menu item was good.  Then I heard “I think I got the wrong thing.”  It was a good garden omelette, just a little different than what was expected.  Again, the potatoes were made from scratch.

Powdered Hot Chocolate

I enjoy hot chocolate.  So when I specifically ask if it’s from one of those old-fashioned machines that spew it out with water or if it’s powdered, and I’m led to believe it’s not, I’m disappointed.

This was my fault though for not being specific enough.  I thought my question was understood but those with me thought I could have been more specific.

The older I get, the more I want to get what I pay for with my money.

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