Drink Beer!

Today, September 28, is National Drink Beer Day!  I know some of you may think every day is National Drink Beer Day, and I won't argue, but today is the official day.  I don't think it is any coincidence that NDBD falls in the same month as ITLAPD (International Talk Like a Pirate Day).  My husband and I are considering starting our own day:  International Drink Beer Like a Pirate Day.  Who's in?!

A week or so ago I did NOT feel like cooking dinner.  But I did, in fact, feel like drinking wine.  So we broke out the crackers and cheese (Trader Joe's has a couple of delightful options: pepper-crusted and syrah-soaked), some salami, and some good bread with olive oil and balsamic dipping sauce, and invited some good friends over.  As my friend Ed would say, "DEE-LISH!"

It really is the moments, not the days, that we remember.  And while NDBD may be silly, I think it is a perfect opportunity to create more memorable moments with people I love.  Cheers!

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

On the Rise

One of the things that I love about a career in real estate is that every client and every transaction is a new experience...no two are the same.  And there is no time to get bored.  If I'm not looking at properties or working on contracts or meeting with clients I can always work on lead generating or continuing education or improving my website.  Or writing a blog for that matter!

Here is a very interesting video about the current real estate market in the Reno/Sparks area:




If all of this sounds really exciting to you contact me.  I'd love to talk to you about your real estate needs or a career in real estate!

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

Some exciting things happened yesterday...

Some exciting things happened yesterday...

Ariel went home after a 6 day hospital stay.  She suffered some headaches but that is to be expected with a little increased activity and the swelling that is involved in the procedure itself.  The dosages of anti-inflammatory medications is a bit more potent than what she has at home.  But all is well and improving steadily.

I went for a 7.1 mile run.  The same run that I tanked the day before.  Tanking it was totally the right call.  From the very first step out the door I knew it was going to be a good run.  I tried not to overdo it because of all the pain and discomfort I'd felt on my first attemp and I felt like I was going soooo slow.  Turned out to be my second fastest time for that course.  I'm not saying I was fast...I'm saying I was fast for me.  And I'll take it!

And...drum roll please...the Atlanta Braves clinched the National League wild card!  Freddie Freeman slammed a two-run home run in the ninth to win it and we'll now advance to a strange little one-game playoff game.  The good news - it will likely be played in Atlanta.  While it is bittersweet that Chipper Jones is in his last season...it is awesome that he is going out in such grand style.  Go Braves!!

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

Going home

My niece is being discharged from the hospital today after a successful brain tumor surgery.  She will be going home later this afternoon and could not be happier.  Just check out this grin!

I could not be happier either!  I'm either thinking about her or worrying about her pretty much every minute of every day.  She has been an amazing motivator for me to get out and get in my runs.  Even when I reallllly want to stop and walk I keep going because I tell myself, "This doesn't hold a candle to the difficulty that Ariel is facing and she doesn't have the option of giving up."

So I was really disappointed yesterday when a quarter of a mile into a 7.1 mile run everything hurt and I quit.  I called it off and walked home.  My neck, my knees, my back, my hips, and, particularly, my left Achilles...everything.  I pouted all the way home and then decided to do something about it.  I got on the treadmill and walked until I felt pretty good again.  I took an ibuprofen and iced my Achilles.  And today I feel good again and am going to go out and give it another chance.  Give myself another chance.

I had just shared a quote with a friend:  Don't wait until you've reached your goal to be proud of yourself.  Be proud of every step you take toward reaching that goal."

Instead of beating myself up over my failed run I'm choosing to pat myself on the back for listening to my body's signals and preventing further injury.  Yay me!  I'm healthy to run another day!

And YAY ARIEL for clearing this hurdle in your trip toward being cancer free!  Be proud of yourself!

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

Flattery will get you everywhere!

I was reluctant to start a blog.  I thought it would be time consuming and I'd have nothing to say.  While I love writing and have often dreamed of penning a bestseller I was concerned that the pressure of posting regularly would suck the life out of me.  I was wrong.  I have plenty to say and the only thing that makes it time consuming is that I try to say too much.  And I find that the regularity of the process is actually making it easier and easier to do.  I am always thinking about things that could or should make the blog so I don't struggle for topics like I did when I started.

I especially love the feedback I get from family and friends.  And it is no surprise that much of it is in response to the recipes that I post.  But I got the very best compliment from Sylvia, one of the Burning Man crew that visited a couple of weeks ago...she actually made the carrot cake recipe!!

Here is an abridged copy the message she sent with this picture: 

I made the carrot cake recipe in the first week I got back and gave half to my bosses for their birthdays (which fall one day before the other in September, see attached), and half to my parents.

General comments were: "Out of this world." and "Don't hold yourself back from making this several times a year, please." And none of it lasted more than a day.  :)))

Delicious recipe!

Thanks Jerianne!!!! I'll be keeping this one in the arsenal for a loooong time!

You can't ask for a better endorsement than that!  Now I'm craving sweets!  Off to enjoy a chocolate chip cookie.  (Recipe to come soon!)

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

Brotherly Love

This picture of my nephew...clearly feeling a weight off his shoulders after visiting his little sister in the hospital...perfectly conveys how I'm feeling after hearing Ariel's voice today.

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

Horsey Goes to Hospital

I was hoping to write a really poignant post about Ariel today.  She had her surgery to remove the craniopharyngioma this morning.  But I don't have the words to properly describe all the emotions everyone in our family and circle of friends is feeling.  This may be the best way to convey the relief and gratitude we are feeling...the words from my sister with our first update:

Surgery went as well as can be expected. They say they got all of the tissue. Recovery now.

Ariel's dad sent this photo this morning with the caption:  Horsey has his own admitting ID!

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

Thank A Cop With Pie Day

When I was on Facebook on Saturday one of my darling neighbors posted that it was National Tell a Police Officer "Thank-You" Day.  So I thanked her husband, a state trooper, and I thanked her and her girls.  I think Micheal is a great cop and I attribute part of that to the support he gets from his beautiful family.  I had purchased ingredients for peach pie on Saturday so I decided to make one for them.  Evidently pie is like puppies - two is no more trouble than one!  I don't even remember the last time I made a single pie!

My neighbors were actually the inspiration for my pie making before the Thank A Cop part came into play.  Todd and I had been over at their house for some of the best smoked chicken and ribs you can imagine and we ended up talking about this recipe.  I'd told them the story about how Todd's mom had always made German chocolate cake for him for his birthday.  Because I love him and want him to be happy I gladly picked up the tradition.  Year after year I made a big fat German chocolate cake.  One year I decided to ask what he'd like for his birthday dinner and he replied, sweetly of course, "I don't care what you make for dinner, but could you please make something besides German chocolate?  I don't really like it that much."  Ha!! Ya think you know a guy!

When I told the neighbors that he requested a peach pie that my mom makes (he doesn't really care for cake - who IS this guy?!) we started talking about the recipe and the next thing I know I'm at the grocery store buying the ingredients.  This one is so simple and delicious you'll wonder why you haven't been making it every day.  The crust is less crust-like and more muffin-like, the peaches aren't overwhelming, and it is all topped with a fantastic cream cheese mixture.

Todd's Favorite Peach Pie
3/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 Tbsp butter
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1 3.25 oz pkg Cook 'n Serve vanilla pudding (NOT instant)
1 15.25 oz can peaches in heavy syrup, drained, preserve syrup
8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease 9" pie pan.  Combine first 7 ingredients.  Beat 2 minutes on medium speed.  Pour into prepared pan.  Place sliced peaches on top.

Combine cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar and 3 Tbsp of the heavy syrup from the peaches.  Beat 2 minutes on high speed.  Spread mixture on top of pie/peaches to within 1/2" of the edge of the batter*.

Combine the remaining 1 Tbsp sugar and the cinnamon.  Sprinkle over cream cheese filling.  Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown.  Let cool before serving.

* I find that the crust often puffs over the edge of the pan.  You can 1) use a bigger pan or 2) place foil or a baking sheet under the pie to catch any spillover.

I told Todd I'd made one for the neighbors and he said, "Oh!  So yesterday was Thank A Cop Day and today is Thank A Cop With Pie Day!"  Such a good idea I've put it on the family calendar!  What are you waiting for?! Get out there and thank a cop!  With pie!

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

Pumpkins and Peaches

I'm like any person you know.  I think I'm really busy.  And I am.  I work, I run, I cook, I play.  But I learned something about myself and my busy-ness on a trip to the grocery store yesterday.

I had worked at the office until almost 5.  I needed to stop and buy some ingredients for pizza and a peach pie but was also in a hurry to get home for my long run.  I had skipped a run earlier in the week and was feeling particularly committed to get my 7 miles in.  I grabbed the ingredients I needed, some pepperoni and salami, some peaches and some pudding.  I decided at the last minute to grab some Gatorade and as I made my selection a very sweet and worried looking older woman came around the corner.  She looked so troubled that I asked if I could help her with something.  She was looking for canned pumpkin. She'd been all over the store and was afraid her bad knee was going to give out.  I abandoned my cart, ran up and down the aisle and, luckily, found the pumpkin.  She was so grateful it just about broke my heart.

I was on my to the checkout counter and something inside told me to go back and make sure this sweet old gal had gotten everything she needed.  She was still standing in front of the pumpkin, reading a recipe on the back of one of the cans.  When I approached to ask if she needed help with anything else before I left she took my hand to thank me for looking after her.  And she held my hand for the fifteen or so minutes that we stood and talked about pumpkin cookies and cream cheese frosting and the pumpkin roll-up recipe on the can.  Her granddaughter loves pumpkin cookies so she was going to make some...just plain, no pineapple or raisins or anything...to surprise her.

Turns out I'm never too busy to help a sweet old lady.

www.rnohomes.com

Jinx factor in action

I am a jinx of epic proportions.  When I was a kid my older brother, Marvin, got one of the very cool Evel Knievel jump sets.  He'd set up the ramp in the long bedroom upstairs and watch successful jump after successful jump.  Then he'd come get me so I could see its full awesomeness too. And Evel would wipe out.  Hard.  I never once saw him stick a landing.

So I probably shouldn't be at all surprised that on Tuesday, the day I couldn't make it to the game,  the Reno Aces beat the Omaha Storm Chasers in a 13-1 drubbing only for them to fall 9-6 last night when I was in attendance.  (I'd put a sad face here but my blog doesn't have emoticons...and after all these years I shouldn't let my jinxiness get me down.)  I will say that it was a great game and after the last two games we attended with 9th and 10th inning come-from-behind wins I was more than happy to hang in there until the very last out.  The Storm Chasers had the hotter bats hitting several out of the park.  I thought the 5th inning 3 run HR by Mike Jacobs was going to set us back on track, but alas that was not to be.

Still a really great night for baseball.  I went with my friend Deb who is also a Realtor with Keller Williams Group One Sparks.  We stopped for wine and tapas at Fuego.  If you haven't been there - go.  A nice Malbec, some garlic butter shrimp, some stuffed mushrooms and some asparagus straws...just the thing to prime you for some Aceball.

It is always more fun to take in a game with a friend.  Though I will say the Aces fans are such a great group you'd have a friend in no time even if you went alone.

It is almost unfair that I have so much fun at my job.  I get to work with great people like Deb, and Regina, Sandy and Jerry, and Ed, and Marie, and Dave, and Ray, and Jaime, and Jamie, and Emma, and Carrie, and JC, and Veena, and, and...and the list is too long to publish.  That is just some of the folks in my office...our sister office in Reno is just as full of great people, doing great things.  Insert a special shout-out to my dear friend and my own realtor Sharon here. Not only are they some of the best agents in the country (Awarded Highest Overall Satisfaction for Home Buyers and Home Sellers Among National Full Service Real Estate Firms 2012 by JD Power and Associates) they choose to be a part of this company because of the culture of family and giving that is Keller Williams.  We are currently organizing a book drive for one of the local schools; a blood drive...well, you know, for blood; and regularly hold fundraisers for KW Cares for all sorts of great causes.

Contact me if you'd like to learn more about how great it is to work for Keller Williams and how you can build a career that you can be proud of.

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

Ooo look! Shiny!

I don't feel that I have any sort of attention deficit problem.  But I do admit that I am easily distracted by shiny things.  And interesting things.  And round/circular things...I find that shape pleasing.  And funny things.  And cars.  And animals.  And vampires. Okay...maybe my attention span could be crisper.  Even the path that brought me to my attention span was circuitous and tangential.

I wanted to write about the Atlanta Braves.  I love them.  A lot.  But I haven't really talked much about my love of MLB, mostly just the Reno Aces, and I didn't want you to think that I got confused by the similar A logo on the jerseys.  So I thought I'd explain that, back in the day, I was actually a Pittsburgh Pirates fan.  I still am. (Hey!  At least I kept it in the National League!)  But my husband was a bigger watcher of televised games than me so the Braves games were always on.  And I always watched.  And back then they had such a class act on the field (does the name Terry Pendleton mean anything to you?!) that I couldn't help fall in love with them.

And I'm back to the Pirates!  I came to love the Pirates because I was a Steelers fan.  And I was a Steelers fan from the time I was about thirteen years old when they beat the Dallas Cowboys in the Superbowl.  My best friend was a Cowboys fan and, as most good rivalries tend to start, I had to cheer against her team.  The Steelers did right by me so I adopted the Pirates too.  I always thought Sid Bream was fun to watch...though perhaps not the most exciting guy on the field and certainly not the fastest!...and then he ended up on the Braves....

Pirates!  I was talking about Pirates!  September 19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day!  This awesome day of celebration and Scurvy-prevention-juice-drinking was started in my home state of Oregon.  Put it on your calendar and start planning your pirate party!

Wait!  I mean the Braves!  I wanted to talk about the Braves!  This is Chipper Jones' final year and he is making it a helluva year.  It would be great if the team were doing just a tiny bit better as an organization.  But there is still some season left.  Not much, I admit, but some.  Go Larry!

But the super-important news is the Aces!  They won game one of the PCL Championship series against the Omaha Storm Chasers 13-1 last night.  And I'm supposed to be going to get my friend Deb so we can go to the game.  We were driving around in her '70 Pontiac LeMans convertible today...pretty...red...

ACES!! I'm going to the Aces game!  I'll let y'all know how it went when I get home!

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

Home is where the heart is

People move for a lot of different reasons.  I moved here because of my husband's job.  If you had asked me even 3 months before we relocated if I was planning to move I would have said, "Heck no!" (or something like that).  Todd and I both loved the town we were in, the neighbors we had, the heart of the home we owned.  So many wonderful family memories were made there and we fully intended to retire there, to continue making those memories indefinitely.  For us, it turned out to be a very good move.  We are as happy here as we were in Cove.  Which makes me think that it isn't the house...it is the home that we make...that makes for a happy life.

My mother-in-law is facing a difficult phase in her life.  She recently broke her hip and after a short stay in a rehabilitation facility is now in an assisted living facility.  She now has more independence and companionship than she has had in years and her health is vastly improved.  She is able to do her own shopping, schedule her own doctor's appointments and arrange for transportation to those appointments.  She has made more friends in the past 3 months than she has in the past 13 years. And yet, all she wants is to go back home.

I get it.  I do.  As a person who worked for 13 years in health care.  As a realtor who sees every day how important a house can be.  As a person who loves her own home.  But as a daughter-in-law who who loves her mother-in-law I simply cannot wrap my  mind around it.  I know she has wonderful memories of the years spent there with her sons and husband.  But her sons are grown and her husband has passed.  Her memories are with her where ever she goes...so the house shouldn't matter.  Should it?  Shouldn't she embrace the opportunities that are now available to her?  Shouldn't she want to move closer to Todd and I, her family, to continue on that path of activity and engaged conversations?

There isn't a simple solution.  We want Mom to be safe and happy.  What she thinks will make her happy puts her in an unsafe situation.  If we insist she stay safely where she is, she insists she will be nothing but miserable.  There are so many other pieces of the equation that need to be factored in:  family issues, home care providers (good and very, very bad), mental status, medical concerns.  No spreadsheet or supercomputer can solve this one.  I'm not sure we can solve this. Whether she moves closer to us or back into her house we won't be able to stop worrying about her.

So as I get ready for bed, happy in my life and in this house, I wish for happiness for Claire.  I wish she could see that home truly is where the heart is.  She may not have chosen this current living arrangement but she can choose to be happy wherever she is.  We all can.

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

Old Spaghetti

Years ago I went to the Old Spaghetti Factory in Portland, Oregon with some of my family.  My brother Jeff had been there before and recommended the Spaghetti with Burnt Butter.  It was even better than he described.  For years I've tried to find a recipe that adequately mimicked the meal we had that day. And I have failed miserably in my own attempts to recreate it. It came to mind again recently so I did another search.  You can't know how excited I was not just to find a recipe, but one that even references the Old Spaghetti Factory!  I found this at www.cdkitchen.com.

Old Spaghetti Factory's Spaghetti with Burnt Butter

Serves/Makes:   4

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup butter
1 cup Mizithra cheese
pasta of choice

DIRECTIONS:

Browned Butter Procedure: Cut butter into tablespoon-sized pieces and place in a 2-quart sauce pan. Place the pan of butter on a burner on medium heat. Bring butter to a slow boil (about 5 minutes).

Once the butter begins to boil, stir constantly to prevent residue from sticking to the bottom of the pan. As the butter cooks, it will start to foam and rise. Continue stirring, otherwise the butter foam could overflow (about 5 minutes) and catch fire.

Once the butter stops foaming and rising, cook until amber in color (about 1 to 2 minutes). It will have a pleasant caramel aroma.

Turn off the heat and remove pan from burner. Let the sediment settle to the bottom of the pan for a few minutes.

Pour the brown butter through a strainer into a small bowl. Do not disturb the residue at the bottom of the pan.

The brown butter can be stored in the refrigerator and reheated in a microwave as needed.

Boil the pasta of choice until Al Dente. Drain pasta and divide into four servings. Spread 1/4 cup of Mizithra over each pasta serving. Top with 1/4 cup of hot brown butter.

This is a reasonably simple dish to prepare but is unbelievably rich and elegant.  I served it as a main dish but it would be well suited as a side to steak, chicken, pork, or a bold salad.  A little crusty bread with balsamic and olive oil dipping sauce and a nice wine and your evening is made!

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

Reno action

As I sit here in the comfort of my beautiful home working on real estate tasks on a Friday afternoon my mind is wandering to the weekend.  There are a lot of great activities going on and I'm trying to decide what I can squeeze into my schedule.  The two non-negotiable items are training runs today and tomorrow.  I let my schedule get a bit out of control when my friends and family were here and need to log some miles.  The other items on my wish list include:

A trip to South Meadows to visit a really great little wine shop there called Vino100.  I discovered it nearly a year ago while showing houses in that area.  My clients and I stopped for lunch nearby and stumbled upon this darling shop.  My husband and I bought a beautiful bottle of Pinot Noir there last week that we have yet to try.  It is almost too pretty to open!  Karen, the owner, is knowledgeable and friendly and the shop offers a wide selection of wines and prices as well as a cool assortment of gifts and accessories.

On that same showing adventure I spotted High Sierra Cycling.  It is in the same shopping complex on Steamboat Parkway as Vino100.  What caught my eye is that they are authorized dealers for both Giant and Kona bikes.  Which are the bikes my husband and I ride.  Again we encountered friendly and knowledgeable staff.  Eric, the owner at HSC, clearly loves what he does.  His enthusiasm and expertise shined during his visit with us and with other customers in the shop that day.

This is also Food Truck Friday at the Citicenter! We love Gourmelt and have wanted to check out the other food trucks.

We've been wanting to get out to the disc golf course at Rancho San Rafael park.  It is a great course and is FREE entertainment for all ages and abilities.  We haven't been for a couple of months and the cooler temps today might be a perfect opportunity.  It's also good exercise and offers beautiful views of Reno.

We've got Reno Aces playoff games tonight and tomorrow!  With any luck (and plenty of skill!) it won't go beyond that!

And, perhaps the most exciting, this is the weekend for The Great Reno Balloon Race!  I've seen many beautiful pictures and posters of this majestic event but would really like to get out and see it firsthand.  I'll be sure to post my own pics if we are able to attend!

Are you starting to see why we love Reno so much?!

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

Playoff update

As I mentioned  before the Reno Aces have won the Pacific North division title and are in the Pacific Coast League playoffs.  I may not have been that specific, but I did mention their playoff berth.  They met up with the Sacramento River Cats yesterday (Wednesday, the 5th) in Sacramento and came away with a 3-1 win on the road.  They are behind 1-0 right now in game two and I'm on the edge of my seat as my husband reads a play by play to me while I blog and look at new real estate listings.  (Life is good!)

Even more exciting is that they are coming back to the Aces Ballpark tomorrow night at 7:05. We're trying to decide which tickets to buy...the great seats we've had before or try a new section.  I'm tellin' you - there's not a bad seat in the house and it is very cool to get the different perspectives.

I'm a little jealous that Sacramento has a mascot that actually is a River Cat.  Even though I have no idea what a river cat is.  And even though his name is Dinger.  Our mascot is Archie.  He's a mound with a glove.  Our friend jokes that he looks like a polyp and I have to agree.  But he's growing on me.  (I guess that's what polyps do!)  I suspect that's because the poor soul is housed in that furry costume puts his heart into his job.  He is energetic, gets the crowd pumped up and really engages the fans (especially the kids). Even in this picture that I took from a wall above the outfield warning track a half hour before game time he looked up and waved.  He might be a polyp, but he's MY polyp!

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

The right realtor for YOU!

Am I the right realtor for you?  Probably.  Because I'm awesome.  And you're reading my blog so I know you're awesome!

I shouldn't even joke about that because finding the right realtor is important for so many reasons.  I bring this up because I mentioned in yesterday's post that we bought a completely different home than what we had lined out for our realtor.  And over dinner last night our neighbors shared with us some of what they love about their realtor...she returned all calls, she advocated for them even when they were looking at rentals, she treated them respectfully even though they were young, she explained the realtor/client relationship thoroughly.  (I'm not even a little surprised to learn that she is a Keller Williams agent!)

Your home is likely the single largest purchase you will ever make.  It is also one of the most emotional and is a decision you literally have to live with for many years.  Finding the right home can be frustrating with the wrong realtor when it should, in fact, be a fun adventure.  Selling your home is a large financial and emotional undertaking as well.  Even if you want to move it is a mixed bag of anxiety and excitement.  If you don't want to move and you have to because of a short sale, foreclosure or business relocation it can be downright painful.

When you're shopping for a realtor some things are fairly obvious.  You want to choose someone you can communicate with.  Someone you enjoy spending time with.  Your realtor doesn't have to be your best friend...though that may come to pass...but it has to be someone you feel comfortable discussing your wants and needs with, your finances, your work and family situations, etc.  You need to trust them with all this personal information.  Even if you have all of these pieces in place there is one thing people often overlook:  You can CHOOSE your realtor.

Many of my clients became my clients by randomly calling the number on a Keller Williams sign.  I'm grateful for this opportunity and do everything I can to help them meet their real estate needs.  But you really have more options than that when looking for someone to assist you with one of life's great decisions.  Ask your friends and family.  Ask local business people that you trust who they trust.  Do a computer search for local real estate offices, go to their web sites and read the staff biographies, learn about customer satisfaction.  And when you have found a few agents that you think you'd be interested in working with call them.  You'll learn from the phone call if you have a personality fit.  Interview your top picks. Make them earn your business.

And after you have selected someone to represent you hold up your end of the deal.  Be a good client.  Answer questions honestly.  Provide documentation by the deadlines you're given.  Understand that your agent will accommodate your schedule as much as possible, but avoid calling them at 10 pm or on a Sunday morning.  The relationship, like any, requires a give and take to be successful.

Finally, don't assume that you're stuck in a relationship for eternity.  If, after a period of time, your agent doesn't seem to be representing you in a manner you're comfortable with...cut your losses and find another agent.  Tell your current agent why you're doing this and move on.  It isn't fair to you or your agent to continue if you're not able to see eye to eye.  Don't stress about this...there really is someone for everyone.

If you have questions, don't hesitate to give me a call.

Jerianne Whitacre

Keller Williams Group One Sparks

5050 Vista Blvd, Suite 105

Sparks, NV  89436

541-975-4226

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

Each Keller Williams office is independently owned and operated.

Crazy...but a GOOD crazy!

I've had a crazy couple of weeks.  My friends and their friends were here on there way to, and from, Burning Man.  My brother and his family overlapped with that group.  My husband and I did a couple of nice training runs and took in some Aces games...after we did enough yard work to deserve the reward.  Tonight we're having dinner with our adorable neighbors.  So things have been crazy, but a good crazy.

HOME:  We had between 6 and 8 houseguests at one time.  We thought it was silly to buy a bigger house when we moved to Reno.  After all, we'd be farther from family and friends than ever before.  But we've had more guests than ever and we love it!  To prepare I did the usual dusting, bed-making and vacuuming.  I also did a sod patch in the yard.  My first attempt at that.  The test bed seems to be taking.  We'll try some of the larger areas that need help now that Todd is home to run the shovel!

If you're looking to buy or sell real estate in the Reno area, let me know!  I've learned through my own experiences and those of my clients that the house you put on paper in a wants/needs/hates list often has nothing to do with the house you purchase.  Contact me to discuss where you are in your real estate needs and we'll figure out the best fit for you together.  www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

RUN:  Todd and I have upped our average run length and, delightfully, also improved our pace(s).  We are still hoping to go to Lompoc to run the Valley of the Flowers half marathon later this month.  As I mentioned in a previous post we are waiting to hear about our niece Ariel's surgical needs.  After additional conversations with her medical team there is a possibility that she may not have to have the surgery and radiotherapy may resolve her problem.  We just learned today about a local 5k that is held the same weekend as the Valley of the Flowers so if we don't do the half, we have a backup plan.

RECIPES:  Since we couldn't be entirely sure when the Burners would return from the desert or who would be hungry we made a taco bar.  We eat a lot of tacos in our house.  Because they are delicious!  And I had promised my best friend and his brother that I would make a carrot cake.  When I love a certain food I keep trying recipes until I find the exact version I'm looking for.  I've found it in this recipe!  I found this on www.food.com and I promise you it will be the best carrot cake you've ever had.  Don't let the word "buttermilk" scare you...it is actually a delightful caramel glaze with a boost.

Blue Ribbon Carrot Cake (with Buttermilk Glaze)

Buttermilk glaze

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/4 cup butter (one half stick butter)
• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cake

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
• 2 cups grated carrots
• 3 1/2 ounces shredded coconut
• 1 cup seedless raisin
• 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Frosting

• 1/4 cup butter (1 half stick butter)
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 teaspoon grated orange peel

Directions:

1. For Buttermilk Glaze:.
2. In small saucepan over high heat, combine sugar, baking soda, buttermilk, butter, and corn syrup.
3. Bring to a boil.
4. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
6. Set aside until cake is baked.
7. For cake:.
8. Preheat oven to 350.
9. Generously grease a 9x13 baking dish or 2 9" cake pans.
10. Sift flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt together.
11. Set aside.
12. In large bowl, beat eggs.
13. Add oil, buttermilk, sugar and vanilla and mix well.
14. Add flour mixture, pineapple, carrots, coconut, raisins and walnuts and stir well.
15. Pour into prepared pan.
16. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
17. Remove cake from oven and slowly pour over buttermilk glaze over hot cake.
18. Cool cake in pan until buttermilk glaze is totally absorbed, about 15 minutes.
19. For Frosting:.
20. In large bowl, cream butter and cream cheese until fluffy.
21. Add vanilla, powdered sugar, orange juice and orange peel.
22. Mix until smooth.
23. Frost cake and refrigerate until frosting is set.
24. Serve cake chilled.

My advice is to pay special attention to steps 9 and 18.  I not only well-oil my pan, I also use a piece of parchment paper in the bottom of the cake pan.  On step 18 I recommend you get that glaze-soaked cake out of the pan as quickly as possible.  Go NO longer than 15 minutes or it can bind the cake to your pan and you'll be eating from the pan with a spoon.  Not that that is the worst thing that could ever happen to you...but the presentation is less than ideal!

HOME-RUN-RECIPES:  The Reno Aces baseball team is headed to the playoffs!  Their final home series against the Tucson Padres was great.  You can check their web site or my previous post about them for photos and details.

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

It's not just baseball!

It's Aceball!

I said Todd and I were planning to take in a game or two this weekend. Would have loved for it to be more, but I take what I can get.  We made it to the game on Saturday night.  Won it in the bottom of the 9th.  The biggest thrill for me was seeing Brett Butler.  Players like him, all talent and class, are why I fell in love with baseball in the first place.  To see him passing that down to future generations leaves me nearly speechless.

We also saw them win...in the bottom of the 10th inning this time...on Sunday!  What a great game!  And what a great team to watch!  We couldn't have asked for better weather, we had some delicious ballpark food, and we had excellent seats both nights.

At one point my husband said, "You know, if, when we lived in Oregon, someone had told me to describe my perfect city, I would have described Reno!"  What a blessing to get to live in a place you can say that about!

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com