Clouds looming on the horizon

The clouds broke a little and the sun came out

The retro look

All in a day’s work.

Related articles

• Garhwal Diaries I – Haridwar Hopping (missionsharingknowledge.wordpress.com)
• http://missionsharingknowledge.wordpress.com/2013/06/17/garhwal-diaries-2-enroute-devaprayag/

Miss North Carolina 2013 Scholarship Pageant begins the first stage of competition on June 18th. On Saturday June 22nd, a new Miss North Carolina will be crowned. Good luck to all the contestants!

First, check out the book “Fifty Places to Bike Before You Die,” by Chris Santella (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, $24.95). Santella is more editor than author — he enlists advice from a hosts of cyclists, from advocates to tour guides to writers. It’s a great read, and for cyclists like us, it’s like reading a dessert menu that spans the globe.

For those of us sticking closer to home, I wrote a list of cross-state bike rides for the Boston Globe that I’m reprinting here. As avid cyclists know, nearly every state these days offers some kind of multiple-day ride. Many are staged by volunteers or advocacy groups and are quite affordable, though, yeah, you’re not staying at the Four Seasons. For you luxury-minded riders, I suggest a trip with a commercial tour company, of which there are zillions. For the rest of us, check these out or Google your way to rides in your favorite states.

Participants of the Ride the Rockies

RIDE THE ROCKIES

One of the most rugged cross-state tours, this year’s sold-out Colorado version (right), from Telluride to Colorado Springs, features three scenic mountain passes and 20,400 feet of climbing over 513 miles. June 8-15, http://www.ridetherockies.com (Some friends are about to embark on an awesome Colorado tour. I had to pass because of my work schedule. So sad.)

BIKEMAINE

Inaugural weeklong event kicks off Sept. 7 with a challenging 400-mile loop starting in Orono and including stops in Belfast, Castine, Bar Harbor, and Bangor, with a cumulative elevation gain of 24,000 feet. Routes will change yearly. http://ride.bikemaine.org/

RAGBRAI

The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, an annual seven-day, 470-mile ride in July, is the oldest (since 1972), largest, and longest bicycle touring event in the world. Day passes available. July 21-27, http://www.ragbrai.com (I did this in 2005.  What a blast!!!!!!!! Make sure you train for it!)

RIDE ACROSS WASHINGTON

This year’s tour, themed “Pines to Vines,” takes 250 riders from near the Canadian border north of Spokane south to the Hood River with about 21,000 feet of climbing and spectacular scenery. Aug. 3-10, http://www.cascade.org

Logo of the 2013 Bike Florida tour

BIKE FLORIDA

The 20th anniversary ride, in early spring 2014, will showcase northeast Florida’s back roads, trails, and beaches. Dates and stops to be determined. http://www.bikeflorida.org

Visited: Saturday, June 8, 2013 at 11:00 a.m.

The Outer Banks hosts a lot of travelers throughout the year, especially during the summer months, and you can bet that those travelers are thirsty and in need of caffeine. Many of them have traveled long hours to get to the Banks. In recent years we’ve seen a string of local coffee shops and roasters spring up around the barrier islands. One of the first we discovered was the Front Porch Cafe.

Front Porch has three locations around Manteo, Nags Head, and Kill Devil Hills. The company is home to Kill Devil Coffee roasters, and you can purchase the beans at the stores. Their chalkboard menus give you a complete list of the beans available and their sources.

The offerings are typical for coffee shops: a wide variety of drinks, plus smaller pastries and snacks.

We were just stopping in briefly for one of our favorite summer coffee drinks: an iced chai tea latte with a shot of espresso. Depending on who you ask, that’s called a dirty chai or red eye chai.

The space is bright and beautiful, without over-doing the beach themes.

We were stopping in for drinks on-the-go, so we didn’t take advantage of the spacious shop. But if you’re in need of a place to work or just relax for a while, Front Porch has the space.

They also have a big display of teas available. Overall, we’ve found Front Porch Cafe to be a very friendly and welcoming stop. It’s nice being able to support local businesses while we’re on the island, rather than running through a generic drive-through. If you’re passing through the area, or if you need some coffee beans for your vacation, stop on in!

- James Taylor

You guys, I’m home. Well, one of my homes. I have many, but right now, Chapel Hill feels a lot like home and man have I missed this place. It is SO good to be back in this beautiful town. I had an amazing 5 months abroad that I wouldn’t trade for the world, and all you college students thinking about studying abroad: DO IT DO IT DO IT. I had an amazing time and have made best friends I will treasure for the rest of my life.

Sunset on the river Lee near my *former* apartment in Cork. I will always love this beautiful place.

Nevertheless, I am loving the heat, the blue skies, the scorching sun, the endless tree cover, the ridiculous thunderstorms, driving my bug again, living in a proper house with a real kitchen and no flat mate, and did I mention the fact that it actually feels like summer? I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited for warm weather.

I actually go here. And yes, it’s actually this beautiful. (Not my picture)

Alright, enough gushing about how Chapel Hill leaves a stamp on your heart. You guys get the picture. I’ve actually been back for a solid 2 weeks if not more but it’s been a crazy time involving dance competitions, catching up with friends and family, birthday parties and readjusting to American life. This week is finally looking like it’s settling into normal life, so I figured I’d kick it off by getting back to blogging!

I’ve not really cooked much since getting home since my mother dearest is home and she is an amazing cook (thanks for nothing on those genes, mum) so she kind of just does everything for me food wise because she assumes my state of uselessness in the kitchen. I’m trying to do more, but it won’t be as frequent as when I was in Ireland. That being said, as a result of the various parties, I’ve done a fair amount of baking, which I happen to be really good at, so don’t be surprised to see some yummy baked goods in the next few recipes. I can’t promise they’re healthy but they’re really quite easy, and everything in moderation, right?

Alright, no recipes today because I’m still recovering from a tummy bug and don’t even want to think about food right now, so instead, I’ll leave you with picture highlights of my month abroad, and a little note that while I will try to post consistently over the summer, I’m actually leaving the country (again) for 6 weeks at the beginning of July! This time I’m off to Asia… but more on that later!

Cork at christmas!

St. Finbarre’s Cathedral in the winter

London in January snow

London from the top of The Shard over Easter, equally as cold as when I was there in the snow in January!!!

Heineken Cup quarterfinals at Twickenham!

Buckingham Palace, half mast for Margaret Thatcher

more London ( I could’ve gone on forever with my pictures from London, really, it’s probably my favorite city ever)

BEACH!!

Streets of Malaga

Streets of Malaga

Panorama Malaga from the Alcazaba- Moorish fortress

View of Puento Neuvo from El Tajo Gorge in Ronda. Prettiest place ever.

View of Granada from the Alhambra

St. Finbarre’s Cathedral in the Spring (this was actually late May so almost summer but it was the first time it felt like spring in Ireland!!!)

Celebratory post-finals drink at the college bar. Woo!

Found this barn in North Carolina over the weekend. It was a bit more red than the photo looks. I struggled with camera settings in the bright sunlight, and hubby was patiently waiting.

Linking to Barn Charm at Bluff Area Daily where you can see what others have found.

Slightly proud of my 90′s self for realizing this was Richie Rich’s house while i took this picture (later to be confirmed by the internet).

The Biltmore may be America’s best kept tourist attraction secret, and while I do think everyone should take time to come see a true American masterpiece, the not-so-crowded atmosphere while walking through the home only added to the welcoming visit I had. Unfortunately, I have a very clear and distinct memory of an overcrowded and unmanageable Versailles, but the incomparable emptiness of the Biltmore estate was a welcome change.

I’m a true sucker for anything with even an ounce of charm, and although the size of the estate may be a slight bit overwhelming, the Vanderbilt’s somehow managed to maintain an air of charm and homey-ness throughout the estate, especially in the gardens. There are several separate gardens on the property, including the rose garden, which brings me back to that nostalgia I was speaking about, making me miss a time and place I have no true recollection of. It’s reminiscent of a Jane Austen novel in England…. So simply put, it’s perfect.

The rose garden

An arch of roses….. yes please.

When you see a fence perfectly framing a garden, you take advantage of it. It’s like a life rule or something…

The house itself was every ounce of fancy you would probably envision when picturing a Vanderbilt mansion. There were intricate details and decorations in every room, including gold on the walls of one room and leather on another. The optional audio tour was definitely worth its cost of ten dollars. With it, you get more information and little tidbits about the Vanderbilt’s. It’s important to be able to appreciate travel and its purpose, and getting to learn the history that accompanies the home made the trip to the Biltmore all the more worth it.

Although there were many touches of old-world charm, the Biltmore’s surroundings make sure you remember you’re in America and not the English countryside. The Blue Ridge Mountains surround the estate, giving a truly picturesque and dream-like view in any direction you look. When driving through the 8,000 acres that the estate sits on, you can also feel the American roots come through, with many animals roaming the grounds including horses and deer.

I would just like to make a point and say that this view pretty much surrounded the house. It was majestic and amazing.

Yet another perfect view

           Antler Hill Village is on the estate but just a quick little five-minute drive away from the house. The use of the term “village” is not misguided, nor should it be replaced by ‘town’ or ‘center’. It’s a true little village, with gift shops, a winery, and restaurants.

A little part of Antler Hill Village

In the wine cellar that lead into the winery.

The food options in Antler Hill Village can get a bit pricey, but we chose to eat at Cedric’s Pub. Named after one of the St. Bernards owned by the Vanderbilts, Cedric’s was warm, quaint, and the food was absolutely delicious. They handed out complimentary pretzel bread with a butter and mustard dipping mixture that was far and away the best pretzel/mustard concoction I have ever had (sorry Hofbrahaus, I still love you).

Antler Hill Village is also home to a farm, which I unfortunately didn’t get the opportunity to visit, but WAS able to be in the company of some very uncharacteristically rambunctious but adorable sheep that were running around while I was watching the sunset. Yet again, the Biltmore estate was able to make me nostalgic for a place I have never been, but I’d like to think that Ireland is just filled with similar sheep in spacious, green open fields.

It would be a slight understatement to say that the Biltmore estate pleasantly surprised me. I was completely in awe of its unexpected European charm, transplanted into the backdrop and setting of the heart of America, and making it a true work of art.

This is the sun rising over Hatteras Village. I was headed out to go deep sea fishing with my little brother who works on a charter boat out of Hatteras. It doesn’t get any better than this. It just doesn’t.

Sunset at the southern end of Hatteras Island

This is my little brother holding my son and a wahoo he caught.

This pretty girl is Maisy. She goes out to sea every day with her dad on the Hatteras Fever.

We always stay at a house on the soundside and I like to have my morning coffee on the dock. The water is so still in the early morning sometimes.

The Orange Blossom Bakery is legendary. They make a thing called an Apple Ugly that is fried dough and soft apples. It is enormous and delicious and well worth the calories and the 13 hour drive to get one.

Every day we go down to the dock to see my brother and his catch for the day. These are mahi mahi and they are deeeeeeeelicious!

This is my dad. He’s been fishing the waters off Hatteras, both charter and commercial, since he was 15. He knows every fish, bird, crab, rip current, tide pool, oyster bed and inlet in these waters.  This year my kids met him at the dock and climbed aboard his boat. He showed them how to feed small fish called fatback to the pelicans.

My mom’s friend has chickens and she let the kids come over to gather the eggs and feed the chickens. It was actually one of the highlights of their beach vacation.

This is the beach where I spent many an afternoon as a child. I learned to swim here and later how to surf. On nice days, the water is a clear green. I know there are turquoise waters in the tropics, but nothing is more majestic to me than the green of the mid Atlantic.

And finally, what was almost a family portrait. But Hunter fell asleep inside and missed it!

1. Freedom Park - I grew up in the Myers Park area, a five-minute walk from Freedom Park and I still consider it one of the most beautiful places. The amount of times I rollerbladed around that lake…
2. Queens Road West (or Myers Park)- The most beautiful road and neighborhood ever, with some of the most beautiful homes in the South. I drove down this street pretty much everyday growing up and I am still blown away by it when I go back.
3. Southerners - You don’t realize how nice people in the South are until you live in NYC. People in Charlotte really are good, patient people with lovely accents. 
4. Harris Teeter (Or big grocery stores in general) – Everyone in NC knows that this is the best grocery store known to man and anyone outside of NC has no clue what this is. I miss the HT chocolate chip cookies. 
5. Bojangles - It’s Bo Time! Seasoned fries people. 
6. Grits - What I would do for some cheese grits right now…
7. Bruegger’s Bagels - I do love NY bagels, but I always hit up Bruegger’s when I get the chance. I went here at least twice a week in my teens and their bagels rival New York City’s.
8. SouthPark Mall (or malls in general) – One thing about living in Manhattan, you don’t really have a single mall. I kind of miss “going to the mall” after school and begging my mom to buy me the latest fad from Limited Too. Now a very different mall than what I remember with a Hermes, Tory Burch, Michael Kors and an Apple Store, this was the classic mall growing up – where the coolest stores were Abercrombie and The Gap. 
9. Caribou Coffee - Now in many states, stores and K-cups throughout the country, but growing up, Caribou was a Charlotte thing. The cookies and cream Coffee Cooler was just ridiculously good. I loved nothing more than sitting outside the East Blvd. Caribou after school. 
10. Discovery Place - I’m sorry, but that was the coolest place ever when I was a kid. I can still see myself doing those crazy scientific and interactive exhibits with my sister. 

Photo and Design by Lori Harris

There is an essence of spirit and enlightenment observing them in their natural habitats.

So, this is what you’re missing if you’re in Raleigh and you’re not here at The Pourhouse right now. Don’t be a “poor” fan (pun intended) … come see our classic New Orleans style tearing up yet another gorgeous Southern city.

http://www.brooklynartsnc.com/

Photo and Design by Lori Harris Photography

This beautiful historical church is now one of Wilmington, North Carolina’s main entertainment venues. Highly recommended and full of amazing vibes and aura!

DramaLikeTheDJ.com

Born Sinner in stores 6/18/13

1. June 17th is Eat Your Vegetables Day… Do you need a special day to celebrate veggies? Your favorite veg?
No, I eat veggies but I much prefer fruit! My favorite vegetables is probably green beans.

2. How did you spend your Father’s Day? Or for those who don’t have Father’s Day on June 16th, what did you do this weekend?
My dad lives in Arkansas so I never get to see him for Father’s Day. I had a great weekend though! Including the Blue Ridge BBQ Festival, a Khaled Hosseini book reading/signing, dinner at Farm Burger, an afternoon at Twin Lakes, dinner at The Green Room, seeing the play Evita!, babysitting my adorable niece, watching the movie This is the End, and making southwestern chicken salad for dinner!

3. June 18th is National Splurge Day… If you were (are) going to participate what would/will you splurge on?
Traveling!

4. What is the farthest you’ve ever traveled from home?
I’ve been all the way around the globe…

Bonus question for blog hoppers to answer:

5. What’s on your summer bucket list?

When sellers market their homes properly, buyers will find that home and buy it!

Many people are excited about the continuously improving real estate market around the country as well as in the Triangle. With demand up and the supply down, the housing market has finally moved back in the favor of the seller. More homes are selling for at or above list price and some even have multiple offers on them. This is still rare in this market, but the right property can see multiple offers. With all of that said, is it still difficult to sell a home in this market?

If you are not prepared to sell your home and make your home stand out, it can still be a challenge. We are not in a market where every home is selling, no matter the price. Those days are probably gone forever…and for good reason. Today, the appraisal process is more difficult so unless you are paying cash, you have to take this into account when selling your home.

Some basics of the home selling process has not changed and will not change, no matter the housing market. Your home has to be well positioned if you hope to sell your home. If you don’t believe me, check the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and see all of the homes that have not sold and are either expired or withdrawn. The odds are up that you will sell in 2013, but it is still not a sure thing.

Differentiate from the competition

It is important to make your home stand out among the competition. It may not be something big, but it should be something that most of the homes you are competing with do not have. For instance, I had a townhouse listing in a large community. Many of the town homes in this community were virtually similar to the other, with the major difference being price. My client did a couple of things to ensure that her home would sell quicker than the competition. First, she did not wait for the Home Owner’s Association (HOA) to refresh her deck, she did it herself. She sanded and stained the deck to make it stand out. Additionally, she had a high-end refrigerator that she considered taking with her. Since most of the competition had very simple refrigerators, this made a huge difference in getting a buyer for her home. Of course, it was included at no additional value, but she obtained her goal of selling her home quickly and at fair market value.

Other ways to differentiate your home would be curb appeal. It’s not a highly expensive task and a do-it-yourself project, but it can make the difference. Do you know how many buyers do not even walk into the front door if the curb appeal is poor? If you cannot get them in the door, you will not sell the house.

Many of the things you can do to differentiate will not add value to your home. So, I caution not to go overboard with this project. For instance, when my wife was selling her townhouse, which was priced in the low $100,000s, her neighbor had the same floor plan and was similar in many ways. However, the neighbor had granite countertops and my wife had laminate. What made my wife’s home sell quicker? She had replaced the carpets and did touch-up paint throughout the unit where the neighbor had some very loud colors in her home. Both homes sold, but the other sold only after our’s was already off the market. Caution: your upgrades should be typical for your community and price point to get the best bang for your buck.

De-Clutter

Nothing turns off buyers more than a cluttered house. I have seen perfectly decent homes stay on the market until the clutter was cleaned. For example, I had a listing when I first got into business. The sellers had several children and the home was a complete clutter mess. I had informed the sellers that it would be difficult to sell the home until the clutter was cleared up. As with many sellers, they did not listen to me and the house sat on the market for several months. It wasn’t until my clients actually moved out of the house and thus, taking the clutter, that is sold. It actually sold quickly after they had left.

Clutter also makes the house look much smaller and the clutter is not just trash. For instance, I showed a large home in one of the nicest communities in North Raleigh. As we walked into the house, there was so much furniture that barely an inch of wall space did not have a piece of furniture in front of it. There were probably six grandfather clocks and this home that was around 4,000 square feet looked very small. The house was clean, but all of the furniture acted like clutter and my buyers could not get past all of the furniture. They wondered if their own furniture would fit in the space even though they didn’t have nearly as much. It took the home quite a while to sell. If you have a lot of furniture that you do not want to get rid of, put it in storage until you make your next move. You may not mind the excessive furniture, but a buyer will.

Remove offensive items

This can be a very sensitive area to address, but one that must be addressed if you are to sell your home. Unfortunately, in our society, everyone it seems is easily offended. This is no different in the real estate business. If you are a hunter and have stuffed prey or deer heads, remove them and put them in storage for your next home. You never know who will walk in your home as a prospective buyer and they may get offended by this display of trophies. Even if the buyer does not get offended, it is a distraction. When my wife and I were looking at homes, she was turned off by all of the stuffed animals and deer heads. In fact, she came within a couple of inches of kissing a deer head because the sellers had so many, they placed one at the top of the back staircase and she was distracted while walking up the stairs. She turned just in time and nearly gave the deer a tongue bath. She is not offended by hunters, but it turned her off.

Additionally, if you smoke, you should refrain from smoking in your house while you are trying to sell it. You should even get a company in to remove the odor from your house. As sensitive an issue as smoking is for many people, if someone who is anti-smoking walks into your home and smells the lingering effects of cigarette smoke, they are likely to turn around and leave without looking at the house. I have seen it done by clients, so remove the odor and smoke outside. I realize it is an inconvenience, but you are trying to sell a product, your home.

This may not be offensive, but rather distracting, but you should remove anything that may be a distraction for the buyers. For instance, while my wife and I were looking for a house several years ago, we went into the home of the producers of the “Golden Girls”. She is a huge fan of the show. Unfortunately for the sellers, they kept all of the memorabilia and awards from the show on display. My wife could not tell you five things about the house after we left it, but she could recall all of the memorabilia she encountered. Some agents will take this to the extreme and inform their clients to remove all family photos. I don’t think this is a requirement, but the number of photos should be limited. For example, my personal home has many family photos mounted on the up the staircase and several in the hallway at the top of the stairs. When we sell, we will have to remove the majority of these photos and caulk and paint over the holes. This can be a major distraction for many buyers.

Sweeten the Deal

Often, in a competitive market, you need to sweeten the deal to ensure the potential buyer will select your home. In the current market where there are fewer listings, this is not as imperative, but if the competition starts to strengthen, you may have to consider it. This could be anything from offering to pay some of the buyer’s closing cost to simply offering a home warranty for the buyer. As housing values have tightened throughout the bust, many sellers may not be able to pay for the closing cost of the buyers, but simply adding a home warranty, which cost between $300-400, is an easy way to encourage a buyer to select your home.

With most home warranties, if you purchase one while you are selling it, you pay for it when it closes and you are covered while it is on the market. Basically, you get a free warranty while you are selling your home and if it doesn’t sell, it didn’t cost you anything. Most warranties have a $75 service charge when you bring out a handyman to repair something, but this is minimal compared to what it could cost you. I always consider this to be a no-brainer.

Move-in Ready

I consider this to be imperative if you want to sell your home quickly and for the most money. If your home looks like the buyer can move in right away, then it will stand out among its competition. The walls should be at least touched up if not completely painted and the carpets should be in pristine condition. The colors should be more neutral, but that doesn’t mean boring. Warm, neutral colors are always best and the bright reds and blues should be avoided at all cost; even in the children’s bedrooms. If the home is positioned for the first-time homebuyers, then having move-in ready conditions is even more important. Many first timers do not know how easy it is to paint the walls and will discount your home if they believe they will have to do it.

I equate this to buying a new or used car from a dealer. When you walk onto a lot to buy that used car, what is the condition of that car? In most cases, that car is in the best condition and looks like brand new. Quality used car dealers know how to market their cars to appeal to the masses. The car is usually very clean and detailed with everything working properly. Of course, there’s no guarantee how long it will stay that way after the purchase, but while it’s on the lot, it is marketed to sell. Your home is no different. The best marketing for your home is the condition of that home. This goes with the inside as well as the outside.

Curb appeal

I have already mentioned this, but this shows how important curb appeal is. It has to look like a home before people will go inside to see the interior. The lawn should be mowed weekly and the hedges should be trimmed. Look at your house from the street and try to think like a buyer. If you were buying your house today, would you purchase it based on the curb appeal?

Buying a home is an emotional decision. I have seen it many times that when a buyer finds a home that evokes an emotional response, they will buy that home. When it becomes an emotional attachment to your home, they will also be less likely to negotiate the price down too much as they don’t want to lose the house. I have had several buyers who did very little negotiating on price or terms because they ‘love’ the house and have to have it. It all starts at the curb. I typically park the car on the street when showing a house so my clients get the full benefit of the curb appeal. If they don’t love the exterior, they will already be skeptical about the house when they walk into the front door.

Pricing it Right

Price is the number one reason a home sells…period! This sounds simplistic, but think about it. The buyer has to be able to afford the house based upon their income. The item that is negotiated the hardest is typically the price. Unless the buyer is paying cash, the house has to appraise for the sales price or they will not be able to get the mortgage approved. They may fall in love with the house, but if you cannot come to an agreement on price, it will not sell.

Now, here’s the dirty little secret. Sellers don’t set the price, the market does. If you don’t price the house competitively, it will sit there with little activity and no offers. Buyers will not overpay for a house, especially after so many were burned during the housing boom. They are cautious of overpaying. What’s more, if you are overpriced to begin, studies have shown that you eventually sell for much less than had you priced it right at the beginning.

How? I’m glad you asked. It’s as simple as this. Most of the activity you will see on your home will be when it is first listed. This is when you really know if you are overpriced. If you don’t get showings, it means the buyers think it is not priced well. After you have been on the market for several months, you will eventually decide you need to reduce your price to sell it. Then, you may be competitive after the reduction. However, now the potential buyers will see how long your home has been on the market and will begin to believe you are getting desperate to sell. This will lead to lower offers for your home. Eventually, the home will be sold for much less than it should have been. Perception is reality. Whether you are desperate or not, this will be the perception and the buyers will act accordingly.

In the Raleigh market, a home that is priced right typically sells for 97-98% of list price. However, homes that are overpriced eventually sell for about 80% of the original list price. This is not just a Wake County trend, but a national trends. So, where ever you are selling your home, you need to be priced correctly.

When I list a home, I tell my clients that we are testing the market. Once all of the marketing is in place, it becomes about testing the price. Once we get the price where the market demands, it will usually sell; especially in a good market.

If you have had difficulty selling in the past several months, you should look to these as potential reasons why it didn’t sell. In good markets, there is typically a buyer for every product, but again, this is not a guarantee. Price it right and it should sell!