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Monthly Archives: May 2019

New and Improved Computers!

Brand sparkling new.

I have had a struggling battle with the miniMac computer that I started with about 2 and a half years ago. Some days it would boot right up, other days I would sit and stare at the screen for 30 minutes waiting for it. It was very obvious that I was overwhelming its capabilities. I’m sure it wasn’t really designed for what I was using it for and all of the storage I had on it. So it has been not working well for quite a while.

Lee brought me this big, fancy computer [thanks to Sue Ann telling him to]! One big box that had a picture of the monitor on it. I said, “Awesome! Is this the whole thing?” He said, “That’s it. That’s the whole thing.” He was going to set it all up with the plugs, etc, but since he remembered that I set up the mini I could set this “one plug and done” machine up no problem. I did it! Yay! Then he ran through programming it and getting it ready to use. It was really slow just coming out of the box and being ran for the first time, but let me tell you! Once it had a chance to really wake up, this thing runs like its hind end is on fire! Almost intuitive. And Siri scared the bejesus out of me this morning.

I was sitting here, minding my own business, talking to myself like normal.

“Hmm. I wonder how to make the fonts bigger.”

Strange lady’s voice from nowhere – “Would you like to ask me a question?”

I spilled coffee on myself. But I did ask her though. I thought you had to say, “Hey Siri” first, but then I realized I had opened Siri in the background so she was already listening. Apparently she doesn’t run all the time though. I just asked for good music and nothing happened. Or maybe she thinks good music is silence. I do sometimes.

This is just a quick update on Mandi’s Fancy New Computer! Siri and I are going to get back to work now.

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Hermann’s House Is Here and We Are READY to Host Meetings

Hermann and his house!

We got all our necessary permits. Since then, we have been waiting for the rain to let up long enough for the little house we’ve bought to store things at the Hermit Haus to be delivered. That day has finally arrived, and Mandi and Lee had the fun of watching it get all set up.

Mandi said the installation went surprisingly smoothly, perhaps because they had a huge empty lot to put the building on. That’s a lot easier on a very large truck, wouldn’t you think? We located the cottage next to the covered carport, so offer some shade for parked cars, and to cover up a mysterious hole in the ground. Hole? What hole?

From what I hear, the delivery driver was really nice and knew what he was doing, so there were no surprises, just set up what the house sits on, and sliding it on. As you can see, our Hermann with a lantern watched the whole proceedings very carefully, which makes sense if he’s supposed to be living there and guarding the place!

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Russet Valley Is BACK

It’s back!

Sometimes sales fall through during the option period, and that’s what happened with our previous Russet Valley buyer. And the backup had already found something else, so…it’s back!

We’ve already had some positive feedback from showings, including this nice compliments;

This was a nice one to see not sure it will work, but keeping it on the list. They certainly did some very nice work. Wish they had purchased the home next door and remodeled it in their beautiful work!

We aren’t worried that it will sell, since this is a great time to be on the market, right after school gets out, and it’s a great house. If you know anyone interested in a house in Cedar Park, please share this link!

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Improvements at Travis

As you may know, the house where we used to have our Cameron office is now occupied by our friends Mike and Martha.

We are really lucky that Mike is quite the handyman, because he’s done some nice stuff, like repairing the deck and adding a pergola.

You hardly recognize this deck!

He’s been doing woodworking, which is also fun. We are so lucky to have an example of wood turning at our house.

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Rehabbing Older Properties – Worth It?

Artist’s Rendering of the house we stayed at.

During our vacation, we visited my hometown of Gainesville, Florida for a couple of days. I just like to check in on my favorite trees, my old house, and such.

We were lucky enough to be offered to stay at a house one of my friends from high school, Vincent Vesuvio, renovated a few years back and is now using as a rental property. He has two apartments on the ground floor, and a vacation rental (1-2 bedrooms) on the second floor.

The actual house today.

He bought the house in a wonderful area full of houses built from the late 1800s to the 1930s, the Southeast Historical District. They had mostly become rundown, but after the house across from my grandmother’s became a successful bed and breakfast, people bought up dozens of houses there, and it’s now called the Bed and Breakfast District, with signs and everything! They are great for parents visiting their children at the University of Florida or people coming in to do business who want a more homey situation.

Renovations to This House

My guess is the house was already divided into apartments before they got the house, but it’s well set up. There were former sleeping porches upstairs, and other lovely surprises, like two fireplaces. We were told that there was a scary bathroom on the second floor, which got converted into a very functional kitchen/dining area, and two new bathrooms were created, one for each bedroom. There are also two living areas, so that they can shut them off and rent the part with the kitchen separate from the other bedroom and living area. Good thinking!

One of the living areas.

The rooms have picture rails, which are a great historic touch. The original staircase is preserved, though a couple of walls were removed to make the upstairs more open. They trimmed everything out really well, and then decorated the house with comfortable furnishings that remind you of the house’s age. There’s even a “before” photo of the house.

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