Architectural Corner – Jacobean
Lasting from 1600 – 1625, Jacobean architecture signified the 2nd phase of Renaissance architecture (following the Elizabethan style). It was named after Jacobus, Latin for King James I of England, and began shortly after his death. it was a shift from Elizabethan, incorporating more classical-style Roman features, and was heavily influenced by the Flemish and German immigrant craftsmen who constructed them. Although churches often exhibited great intricacies Jacobean brought the majesty to the homes of the wealthy
Flat roofs with open-work parapets, round-arch arcades, columns and pilasters were relied upon heavily, while other classical elements appeared more freely than in Elizabethan architecture. The style itself heavily influenced furniture design and decorative arts for years to come.
While this style of architecture was far too fanciful for the hard lives of the puritans who weren’t contemporaries, they are not unknown in the United States.
DFW MLS Statistics – December 2020
Storing those Holiday Decorations?
Storing those holiday decorations There’s nothing fun about cleaning and organizing, but hastily storing Christmas decorations can make the next year’s decorating a full-fledged nightmare. Growing up, my mom used ancient, rolled up newspaper to wrap Christmas lights around, and it was always fun reading articles from the late 70’s as I rewound the lights.
Here are a few tips that may help this year:
1) Storing Christmas Wreaths – Any container you use must be able to preserve its shape and prevent warping.
2) Labeling Boxes – Mystery boxes can be fun to open, but when you’re looking for a specific light, bulb, or decorating item, it can b e extremely frustrating.
3) Wrapping Up Lights – Do away with the tangled mess of years-past by organizing your Christmas lights before packing. As I mentioned before, a rolled up newspaper does a great job. Make sure to dispose of any lights that may have been damaged or are not working properly.
4) Storing Christmas Candles – Wrap candles in old, preferably washed socks to prevent scratching. Place them in a box standing vertically, and make sure to pack them snugly with newspapers or bubble wrap to prevent them from breaking.
5) Take Pictures Beforehand – If you’re fond of your decorating scheme, make sure to photo document it before putting everything into storage. It’s amazing how quickly your memory can fade in 11 months!
6) Storing the Christmas Tree – Using the original box may seem like a practical idea, but over time and use the cardboard begins to deteriorate. There are many different kinds of boxes, specifically designed for Christmas trees, that you can buy once the original box starts to wear out.
Architectural Corner – Tipi
The Tipi – and don’t ever accuse me of being non-inclusive in my architectural selections – is essentially a portable tent constructed of wooden poles and covered by animal skins. Used frequently by plains native American tribes, tipis were designed to be durable, comfortable in both cold and hot weather, dry and accommodating to the often nomadic nature of the tribes.
Ranging from 12-25′ tall and varying significantly in diameter accordingly (usually according to status in the tribe), tipis were usually wrapped in bison skin and decoratively painted on their exteriors. The skin did not form a complete roof, instead it had a slit above the entrance so that smoke could escape. Whole families could live in a single tip, with a central fire inside keeping them warm.
I would be remiss if I didn’t note that tipis were not unique to Native tribes. They were also used by the Sami people of Northern Europe. The Sami were also somewhat nomadic for reindeer herding.
Vague Specifics – November 2020
The election has come-and-gone, and the market didn’t miss a beat. We had a bit of quiet the first and second weeks of November, but nothing like it had been in previous years. Looking ahead, pending sales are up considerably from 2019, telling us that it will be a very busy November. December is normally among the quietest months in the year, but since when is anything in 2020 normal? It’s unlikely the market will scrape anywhere near the bottom that April and May were. After all, it’s really hard to sell real estate when you’re not able to leave your house.
It’s been a wild year thus far for property appreciation. Many ‘experts’ we worried the shutdown would lead to a collapse in prices, but it’s done the opposite. Bear in mind, average sales prices in DFW from October 2020 as compared to October 2019 were up 13%, but that doesn’t mean your property is suddenly worth 13% more. You have to figure in what area you live in (real estate is local) which varies wildly. MLS area 19 (my home town of Sunnyvale) is up an astonishing 43% (but again, if you live in Sunnyvale your home isn’t necessarily 43% more valuable than last year), while area 47 (Delta County) figured out how to drop 39%. My point being, ask me if you are curious what your neighborhood is doing.
By the time you’re reading this, we’re past Thanksgiving. In all honesty, it’s been a tough one. I’m blessed to have Kacie – in fact I don’t deserve her – but being without the rest of our families has been hard. I do hope you were able to spend yours with loved ones. When you’re younger you think there will never be an end to the number of holidays you’ll celebrate. As time goes on, you realize that’s just not the case. Everything is temporary.
Holiday Weight Gain – Is It Avoidable?
Every year it’s a given that the holidays will be something that destroys all the weight-loss progress that people have made from January – October, and it starts with Thanksgiving. Does it have to be this way? Here are a few ideas that might help you keep your fat pants in the closet:
1) Be Prepared – Turkey Day and Christmas don’t sneak up on us, they’re the same day every year. In the days leading up, eat modestly but often. Your body responds most efficiently when you eat 5-6 small meals per day, or at least modest meals with a couple snacks sandwiched in between. On the day of the feasts, have a sensible breakfast and a modest snack leading up to your meals, you’ll ensure your body isn’t hungry and thus in starvation/gorging mode when you hit the buffet line.
2) Choose What You Eat – Yes, stuffing is delicious. And heck yes, dessert is too. But what else is the Holiday Season known for? Turkey. Ham. Chicken. Eat protein. Fill half your plate with it. Avoid the dark meat if possible, and keep the dressing to a minimum. If you fill up on protein, there’s much less room for that which can expand your waistline.
3) Portion Control – My nemesis. Eat one plate full of food. You may be like me, and be inclined to eat as fast as possible so you can be first in the second helping line, but DO NOT do it. Eat slowly and drink lots of water during the process. Water will help to expand the contents in your stomach (especially carbohydrates), and will help make you feel full.
4) Exercise Afterwards – Yes it’s the holidays. Yes family is in town. Yes the Cowboys are on. But your food is settling in your stomach, and in addition to drinking water, the best way to facilitate intestinal mobility (a fancy term for the obvious) is to at least go for a 20 minute brisk walk afterwards.
MLS Statistics – November 2020
Vague Specifics – October 2020
Historically, the months leading up to an election have been rather quiet. But what the heck, 2020 is unique for a lot of terrible reasons so it may as well be unique for a good reason or two.
Regardless of who is in the lead, uncertainty causes both businesses and individuals to hold their breath. September’s MLS stats proved that wrong, with pending sales an unbelievable 23% above those of September 2019 DESPITE a 48% reduction in for-sale inventory. Since 2014 I’ve heard people say, “I’m going to wait until the market peaks before I sell”, and I usually bit my lip. Not anymore. If you’re considering selling, now is a phenomenal time. There aren’t going to be as many buyers out there as there were in July, but the bump up in sales prices that the summer almost always provides has been apparent.
A new drink has captured my heart and is in the process of cirrhosizing my liver: Ranch Water. In my quest for an adult beverage with modest calories, this is certainly worthy of mention. Ingredients: 2 jiggers of blanco tequila, 1 jigger lime juice, large splash of Topa Chico. It’s a delightfully tart, slightly sweet, refreshing beverage with only 222 calories, and two certainly does the job.
Of the many vacations Kacie and I have enjoyed over the years, Montana has given us the worst “vacation hangover” of them all. One thing that we noticed in Montana was there was not one piece of litter anywhere we went. Friendly people for the most part (minus an outlier with a California license plate on his Range Rover), and everyone was respectful of the environment and one another. I asked a native Montanan if they ever got used to the beautiful scenery, she said she appreciates it every day.
This is the backyard view we had at our house at the Wilderness Club. It doesn’t do it justice.
Making It A Happy (Covid) Halloween!
I’m going to try to stay as upbeat on this as possible, but every time modern issues – be they social, political or even medical – serve to hinder or diminish what were some of my fondest childhood memories, it’s difficult to remain positive.
Halloween is almost upon us. Trick-or-Treat enthusiasm has diminished over the last 30 or so years, but it’s still been a thing lots of kids and parents have enjoyed. Unfortunately it would appear traditional Halloween in 2020 is cancelled, and here are a few Frown Upside Down alternatives thanks to our loving benefactors at the CDC:
- Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them
- Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
- Decorating your house, apartment, or living space
- Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
- Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
- Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
- Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house
Frankly, I’m all for pumpkin carving (or magic markering them if, like my mother in the 80s, your child can’t be trusted with knives and stabbing weapons), being festive, and dressing up in elaborate costumes, but not being able to go door-to-door and enjoy the Halloween spirit is frustrating to say the least.
But that’s 2020: the year that would never end.