Tag: zellwood

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WHY BLOG?

FAIR QUESTION! I probably should have had this be the FIRST blog I wrote but hindsight is 20/20 right?

This is me! not gussied up, no or little make up anyway, I think I have mascara on but that is all. If I am going to be real, you may as well see the good the bad and the ugly!

I used to write a blog years ago and life got too busy, and I think maybe I didn’t have much more to say so I stopped. I enjoyed it, sharing my thoughts “out loud” with others. I’m really not that complicated, I’m pretty predictable. I had developed a decent following and had good feedback from readers on the different posts I would write about, it was fun for me. Now it is 11-12 years later maybe, and my life is so different, we moved from Orlando to a 55+ community in Zellwood which I love. I retired from my full-time job of 28 years and am now a realtor, because I like to work and be with people.

People write blogs for lots of reasons, for me it is sort of a creative effort. I am not handy; I don’t do crafts because I have no talent for it. I admire other people’s work, but I am hopeless. When I write I enjoy the entire process. I try not to get into topics that are political or upsetting to others, I like to keep it positive and fun. I love feedback and ideas for future posts. I welcome that. And its ok if you tell me I am wrong; that is part of the process. I won’t try to change your opinion either! You can hit the subscribe button at the bottom and then you will automatically get my posts when I do a new one.

A lot of professionals use blogging as a way of marketing, and it is a great tool to do that. Most of them subscribe to a service within their industry so they can send relevant info on their markets. that way, they stay in touch with their clients on a weekly/monthly basis. Since I actually like to write my little, short stories, I am trying to accomplish the goal of my hobby, writing, and marketing at the same time. I prefer to write my stories about my life so people can get to know me instead of industry markets that change constantly. Also, most of my Real Estate Sales are in a niche market that only pertains to those people. So, it is wonderful for me to write about my community where I live and not real estate in general.

If I have learned anything these past few years, as people retire the adjustment is a journey. Some people embrace it and have a list of things they want to do and have a ball. Others flop around like a fish out of water trying to find their way. Having a passion or hobby helps; or at least a desire to find one. My personal experience is work. I don’t know how to not work. I have not found a “real” hobby like golf or pickleball that I love and must do. As I said, I’m not a crafter, I don’t cook and it’s FLORIDA, so a beautiful garden is not in my cards! It’s just too hot. I do like to walk, but once I do that in the morning I’m done for the day and there are still 16 hours to find something to do.

Our 55+ Community has tons of activities from classes to card games to golf. In writing this blog, I hope to try a lot of them to at least be doing stuff. I don’t expect to like them all, but I do hope to find a few I can enjoy that I didn’t expect to! Wouldn’t that be cool? And I also hope to make a few new friends along the way. I have it easier than some because I am not the least bit shy. I can walk into a room and just go, and I realize that is a gift. And I love hugs so feel free to hug me! And one more thing, I am not afraid to fail. I will try something I am pretty sure I won’t be good at, just for the experience. So, those of you that live on the golf course, watch out, I may be out there, my friend Fran does crafts, I will TRY once, I did pickleball a long time ago, I will try it again. Maybe I can be the MIKE ROWE of our 55+ Community! haha. If you are in charge of an event and want me to participate and write about it, let me know. I can’t promise I will say yes but I can promise I will listen and consider it.

Selling Real Estate is a great outlet for me because I love it. It is like a big puzzle to me, listening to what a buyer wants in their new home and then trying to match it up with what is available for sale or what I know might be coming up. When you find the perfect storm, and you see it in their eyes, THAT is the best feeling ever. Listing a home and presenting an offer that makes a seller happy, pure joy for me. I want to do a good job, I want to be someone people trust. Some of you will roll your eyes at me, and that is ok, but I KNOW that I do not do this all by myself. God uses me to fulfill His will, and I just go along for the ride. And this has been an amazing ride. I have been with my broker, Keller Williams for 7 years July 1, 2025. In those 7 years, I just found out I have closed 279 homes. (buyer or seller side), This is staggering to me, I never keep count, so I never know. I don’t compare myself to others because if I am working for God, none of the sales competition stuff matters. I just go where I am called and do what I feel is what I am being asked to do and let the rest fall where it may. So yes, I am very blessed. This little community where I live and work blesses me every single day and I do my best to bless it back!

Needless to say, I have times when I am super busy, and times when I have nothing to do. I find that I need to be social, to be with people. I gravitate to activities that are social and when I come home, I enjoy the peace that is home. I am learning more about this community as I go to activities I haven’t tried before, which also gives me ideas that help my sales experiences. It’s impossible for me to separate the two because I am either ALL IN or ALL OUT. I’m learning to not automatically turn my nose up at something. I had a dear friend once that told me to go to a movie alone, which I was not about to do. When I said I wouldn’t like that she asked if I had ever done it. hmmm no. So, she made me do it. and you know what? I love it. I’d rather go alone. Until I try an activity, I need to remember just because I don’t think I will like it, doesn’t mean I won’t. I didn’t like pea soup either, until I tried it. (but NEVER mushrooms!)

MY HOME

And this is my happy spot, my patio. I do like succulents and they seem to like me back!

I do enjoy sitting on the patio in the evening and listening to the birds and enjoying the quiet time. Golf carts traveling up and down the road, waving hello! Sharing a smile. Our little slice of heaven. Thank you God.

Posted on in Daily Life, Uncategorized

Istanbul, Saffron and Lori!

WAY BACK in October 2023, we went on a cruise to the Mediterranean; we flew to Athens, spent a couple days there and then got on the cruise ship and went to Istanbul, Mykonos, Naples, Florence, Rome, Caan, and Barcelona. It was a wonderful trip, highly recommended! As I write my blogs, I will probably be referencing our travels and experiences as they are a part of my life. Which is kind of the entire point of the blog right? And I can already see that food is going to be a big part of the blog as well, not because of my cooking (God Forbid!) but the lovely people I meet along this journey!

This trip was planned well in advance and then the Isreal / Hammas war started October 7, 2023; we were due to leave a couple weeks later. Do we stay or do we go? Cruise line, airline, governments etc didn’t cancel so we didn’t either. We probably had a heightened awareness of our surroundings but otherwise everything was fine.

Until Istanbul. in order to KNOW ME, I have a really vivid imagination, and it doesn’t take much to get my brain going. The cruise ship gives an informational talk on each port the day before, so we all know what to expect and one of the things they said was ” if you see a big crowd developing, go AWAY from it” so of course that got me started. Big chicken, foreign country… cluck cluck cluck!

We did not have a tour scheduled as we initially docked at 4pm and would be there a 2nd day so we had decided we could be on our own and go to the world market. That would be plenty for day one. They assured us we could take public transportation with no problem. However, because of the war, the cruise ships going to Israel were diverted to Turkey; and instead of getting 3 ships, 5 arrived. An additional 10,000+ people all in port at the same time. Add to that, locals said it was the first beautiful clear day Istanbul had been given in a week. There were people EVERYWHERE in a city of 15 MILLION PLUS people. Avoid crowds, impossible! Our phones didn’t work, public transportation was very kind to take our credit card money and not share a ticket back, tick tick tick goes my mind! We decided to walk, because we were told it wasn’t that far; so “in for a penny, in for a pound” we will die here anyway! There were 6 of us walking and walking and no market in sight. And the more we walked; I relaxed a bit. There were people everywhere, but the city was interesting. It was also intimidating. None of us knew where we were going, except THAT WAY. Not much further… I think we walked 200 miles (LOL not really about 5!) and finally found a very nice man who spoke English and could actually help us. We were not going to make it to the market before it closed so we decided to go back to the port. In hindsight we should have found a place to eat and then gone back to the port but that did not seem to be an option at the time. This kind man helped us get 2 taxi’s and back to the port we went.

I must observe, after the fact, that us American’s are so stupid and trusting. We go to a foreign country, where we don’t speak the language, know little to nothing about the cultures and trust that these total strangers are actually going to help us. And you know what, they do! It’s just amazing. (By the way, maybe that is just ME that is so stupid and trusting! Other people might actually research places before they go).

Back to the story, day 2 we have a tour guide! YAY and we see this wonderful city of Istanbul and the Mosques and find out this is where “Cherry Races” were held. (It was Chariot Races, but I am a bit hearing impaired and I don’t necessarily hear things right. When things don’t make sense and I ask, I gain an entirely new understanding!)

The first picture is the bridge we went over, the 2nd I think is Hagai Sophia but I could be wrong and the third is the Blue Mosque. Do not ever allow me to be your official travel guide. I never know where I am going or where I have been!

On to the MARKET we go.

It was fascinating and CROWDED and overwhelming. This was, by the way, the SPICE MARKET. I believe the smaller market. We passed through the big one and that was HUGE and packed!

Saffron is where my story continues. Most people know Saffron is the most expensive spice and it is “reasonable” here in Turkey. So, I bought a lot. My brother loves to cook so I got a jar for him and a jar for me. I bought nuts and candy and other spices so I could not begin to tell you how much it all cost. It is like play money to me. And to tell you the truth, I have no idea why I bought it. I do not cook. But it was there and I had to have it.

Bye bye Istanbul, it was fascinating and scary and a nice adventure. and no, I didn’t die there!

Fast forward to 2025! I still have the unopened jar of Saffron, and it is obvious that I am never going to use it. I don’t know how long it lasts but I certainly do not want it to go to waste, I want someone to have it that appreciates what it is and will actually use it and enjoy it.

My friend Lori is known to be a wonderful cook. I see Facebook posts of people who join her for dinner and rave about her cooking and dinner parties. She is a super friendly person with many talents, and we all know Facebook doesn’t lie right! I talk with Lori and ask if she cooks with Saffron and she assures me she does, so I decide to give her my beloved saffron from ISTANBUL. My only request is that she make a dish using it and share it with John and I so that I can at least learn what it tastes like. (I didn’t want a dinner party, just bring me leftovers, I’m good with that!) Lori agrees. She is a very busy lady and I knew she would keep her word and did she ever! She called to see our likes and dislikes and made arrangements to cook our dinner for Wednesday.

I have to tell you I was so excited, not only that I didn’t have to do dinner, but that Lori was! I anticipate things and blow them way up, so it is not easy to meet my expectations. All day I dreamed and savored what might be coming. I knew it was a chicken dish, otherwise, saffron.

One other side note, when we were in Barcelona, I ordered paella, which has saffron. Only it has octopus too. Euuuu. I took a big bite of what I thought was chicken, and it was octopus, which grossed me out and I spit it back in the plate (literally, I did that) and the meal was over for me. I could only tell you saffron tasted like octopus!

And now the big finish!

Here comes Lori with her beautiful casserole of chicken and yellow rice that she prepared, and I am so happy and excited. It smelled so good and looked amazing.

Lori is so gracious and kind, and I think genuinely excited to share her cooking skills. She featured the saffron in the rice so we could really get the flavor out of it. As soon as I tasted it, I recognized the flavor, but not as pronounced as this, in a good way. More than likely, restaurants don’t use much because of the expense of the spice. This was wonderful, and I am unable to compare it to anything I had ever had before. (And it didn’t taste like octopus! LOL) The chicken has green and red pepper, tomatoes I think, and beautiful tender chicken thighs. Red pepper flakes gave it a nice kick but not too much. It was perfect. I do not know what Lori did to prepare the rice, but it was so tender and delicate and YUMMY! I am not a culinary person, so Identifying flavors is not really something I do, but I tried really hard to focus, and Lori told me what was in it. LOL.

John, my hubby, is not as picky as I am but close, and he loved it too.

and YES! Lori was so very kind to write down her recipe for us so any of you who want to enjoy this treat can make it yourself!

In order to make new friends or build on the friendships you have, sometimes you have to take risks. It helps to be kind and unselfish as well. I was never going to use that Saffron so why not share it with someone who would truly enjoy it? And why not ask for a sample of her cooking expertise? The worst Lori could say was no and the best she could say was yes! Which she did. The kindness I knew of her rang through in her smile and her cooking. And I think I increased a friendship that I might not have ever had. I am so grateful that Lori allowed me to share her talents in my blog. If she ever invites you to a meal say YES!!! You won’t be disappointed!

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TUESDAY NIGHT IS MUSIC BINGO

Bingo is a big deal everywhere from Churches, cruises, gambling ships etc. If you want to find a place to play I think it will take about 5 minutes to find a game close to home. Funny too because all ages like it; men and women alike; And our community is no different. We actually have 3 nights of bingo here which fits all budgets!

MUSIC BINGO is my favorite because it is LOUD and lively and so much fun! Granted it is not for everyone, but nothing is, right?

This is Henry and Jerry. They are our hosts and they do a great job volunteering for us each Tuesday night. There are tons of behind-the-scenes volunteers that bring this thing together and we are extremely grateful for each of them, but Jerry and Henry are the faces that run the show! You might be thinking why is Jerry wearing a Parrot hat? Well, that is his thing. He has tons of unique hats and each week he has a new one. I think people give him hats when they find one that they don’t think he has! Henry runs the computer and keeps us straight with the songs played and Jerry is the MC. He keeps the crowd happy.

Music Bingo is the same basic format as any other bingo game except there are song titles on the sheets instead of numbers. Henry plays a song, and we mark it on the sheet. Pretty simple!

I know some venues of music bingo do not announce the names of the songs after they are played but Henry does. I like to guess the name of the song to see if I am right, keeps my brain ticking! But most everyone uses a music app to get the song titles without guessing. The above sheet is a normal sheet before the game starts. Below is the normal look of MY sheet when the game is finished!

I don’t win very often but, for me, it’s more about the music and the game than the win.

Our restaurant is the HUB of our community. Each night we hold a different event. It is more than just Bingo or the other events. This is our gathering place. There is a routine to it, most of us have our general table (area) where we sit at each week, kind of like church! You can always spot a newcomer; they are at the door with the deer-in-the-headlights look on their faces. Everyone helps them find their peeps, old or new. Music Bingo is a very popular activity, and the rooms are full but there is always room for one more! We celebrate our life’s moments with each other which makes us more like a family.

Dancing is welcomed. Whether it is on your feet or in your chair the point is to have fun. People love to sing along at their tables and remember when these songs were special to us. There are so many categories, each week is a bit different. Jerry roams around the room looking for people who want the microphone to sing along. Most people are singing at their table with all they have until the microphone gets to their mouths and then nothing comes out! It is definitely not karaoke! (THAT is another night!)

Our girl here not only took the mike, but she also gave it her all. She was AMAZING.

Music Bingo is all about the music, our love of music. General categories are normally from the 50s to the 80s, Country (old and new) ELVIS, and Henry adds Theme Songs and commercials too. Once they reversed it and did the ARTISTS as a category, I loved that one but I’m thinking I was probably the only one, I don’t recall it ever being done again. I can be a weirdo! I don’t know how Henry designed the program, I just know it is great fun and we all enjoy it. And yes, the entire room explodes when Henry plays Sweet Caroline, or JUMP, or Celebration, or SHOUT! You get the picture. Just because we are 55+ doesn’t mean we don’t move our feet!

My hubby, John, and I, make it an evening. (full disclosure, he’d rather stay home, but he does join me anyway!) We go up early for dinner and visit with our friends until the music starts. When we participate in these social events, we get out of the house, meet new people and it lifts our spirits. So if you ever see me at music bingo, or anything else, please join me. I’m so glad to welcome you to our little slice of fun and heaven.