Vol. 9 Issue 4
Presented by: Dena Greenawalt
TRAVEL TIME
FLOWER POWER
Point Reyes National Park California
F
lowers were once more than just general symbols of beauty to admire. Each blossom had special, specific meaning based on traits such as variety and color. They helped people communicate feelings and messages – and still can. Are you well-versed in the language of flowers? Here are what some of the most popular flowers are trying to tell you.
Point Reyes National Seashore is a spectacular showcase of California’s coastal beauty. Boasting rocky cliffs, long stretches of sandy beach, grasslands, and even forested ridges, this natural wonder is ripe for discovery. Visitors can search for more than 1,500 species of plants and animals including tule elk, elephant seals, blue herons, and occasionally the California gray whale during migration periods. There are numerous hiking trails to explore as well as campsites for longer stays. The historic Point Reyes Lighthouse serves as a landmark for this National Park. Source: nps.gov/pore/index.htm
Daisies – These blossoming white flowers have been a mainstay for centuries. Appropriately, they represent innocence, purity, and loyal love. They also are the traditional floral gift for a five-year anniversary, an April birthday, or as an expression of thanks. Lilies – This is a flower that comes in many varieties, each signifying something different. Give a calla lily to someone you find beautiful and a tiger lily to someone who needs good luck in wealth. Stargazer lilies can show appreciation for those who are honest and pure of heart. Roses – Even though it’s the most popular flower of all time, many don’t know that the color of a rose can communicate very different things. Falling in love with someone new? Primroses are best. Have a passion built over years? Use red or coral roses. Want to celebrate a friendship? Yellow roses work great for platonic love. Hydrangeas – These versatile flowers can be good for multiple occasions, their meaning changing slightly each time. For a wedding, use hydrangeas to communicate heartfelt emotion and a sense of perseverance. But if you want to specifically say “thank you for understanding” to a friend or loved one, a hydrangea will also do the job. Carnations – Native to the Mediterranean region, this flower has been around so long it was mentioned by Greeks more than 2,000 years ago. Carnations also happen to be the perfect flower to give for Mother’s Day. Pink carnations express gratitude, while red carnations symbolize admiration. Dandelion – These delicate beauties are commonly known to help grant wishes and desires if you blow them away, but there’s more to their story. They truly represent happiness, which makes sense considering the simple pleasure of scattering theirs seeds to the wind. Now hopefully you are a little more fluent in the language of these wonderful creations. Keep in mind that meanings will vary throughout different cultures and communities, so it’s always a good idea to include a note letting the next person you give a flower to know what their floral gift is intended to mean.
LIFEWISE
GADGETS
YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU NEEDED
S
ure, we’ve all got the basics in our kitchen. But did you know there are certain kitchen tools that could make cooking easier and more enjoyable than ever before? Be sure to pick up these must-have accessories. You’ll wonder how you’ve cooked so long without them. Let’s start with some simple things. How about a pot with a built-in strainer lid? Sure makes draining pasta or potatoes a lot easier when you don’t have to look for separate colander. And it’s one less thing to wash, a plus in our book any day. Are you still cooking meat without a digital thermometer? A simple and inexpensive instant read digital thermometer probe is just what you need. This compact device takes all the guesswork out of cooking meats. Some will even beep when the meat reaches its proper internal temperature.
FLAVORFUL
Are you a waffle king? Why not make breakfast more enjoyable with a batter dispenser? Just mix the ingredients in the dispenser and squeeze out the exact right of batter for perfect pancakes and waffles. Clean up has never been easier. Speaking of breakfast: If you love eggs, it’s time to pick up a rapid egg timer which takes out all the guesswork on how long to cook hard or soft boiled eggs (It can even poach and scramble eggs). Just add water, push the buttons, and steam cooks the eggs to perfection.
Need a little help with food prep? Pick up an inexpensive onion chopper. Simply place a chunk of onion on the box, close the lid, and diced onions appear in the box ready for cooking. You can also use it for other veggies, like tomatoes and peppers. Like pomegranates but hate all the work to get the juicy seeds out? Pick up a pomegranate tool. Just place a half a pomegranate on the tool, hit the fruit with a spoon, and the seeds will be released. Look for helpful gadgets for other tricky fruits and veggies such as kiwis, pineapples, mangoes, and avocado, too. Finally, what gadget could be better than a homemade ice cream maker? After all, who doesn’t love ice cream or frozen yogurt? Cuisinart offers a new ice cream, sorbet, and frozen yogurt maker that churns up delicious frozen treats in about 20 minutes. (Just make sure the bowl is frozen ahead of time.) With recipes included it’s a perfect and inexpensive way to treat yourself or anyone you love.
Dulce de Leche Banana Swirl Bread INGREDIENTS 3 large
Ripe bananas
3/4 cup
Brown sugar
2 cups
All-purpose flour
½ cup
Unsalted butter
1 tsp
Baking powder
2 large
Eggs
1 tsp
Baking soda
1 tbs
Vegetable oil
1/2 tsp
Salt
1/2 cup
NESTLÉ Dulce de Leche
1/2 tsp
Ground cinnamon
DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease and flour 9 x 5-inch loaf pan. Beat cake mix, coffee mixture, 1/4 cup butter and eggs in medium bowl on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed for 1 minute (batter will be thick). Pour half of batter into prepared pan; spread evenly. Top evenly with blackberries. Pour remaining batter on top. Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon and butter in a small bowl and sprinkle over top of batter. Bake for 60 to 65 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Place on wire rack and cool completely.
GoodNes.com
SEVA
Southeast Valley Cities Neighborhood Activity Report
April 2022
Market Commentary Month Over Month: We continue to see an increase in the list and sold pricing across the valley. The median price per square foot continues to climb. Inventory has increased in all areas over the previous month and year over year. As the Spring market gets into full swing, we are seeing high buyer demands. Interest rates are slowly creeping up. Therefore, if you’re in the market to purchase a home, now is the time! We have great lender partners who can help you understand your purchasing power. Let me know if you would like their information to get started. If you or someone you know would like to discuss either purchasing a new home and/or selling your current home, please let me know.
WHO YOU WORK WITH MATTERS!
Choose a REALTOR® with proven results,market expertise, and client satisfaction that is backed-up by our client’s testimonials! Call today to discuss how I can help you achieve your real estate goals! 602.980.6001
Active Listings are Up
Median Sale Price Per Sq. Ft. is Up
Months of Supply is Up
Median $/Sq. Ft.: $296.74 March 21: $233.25
Mos of Supply: .48 March 21: .37
Sold Listings are Down
17.6%
11.4%
Active Listings: 1,457 March 21: 1,239
32.7%
27.2%
Sold Listings: 3,007 March 21: 3,394
Median Days on Market is Down
14.3%
Median Dom: 18 March 21: 21
East Valley Highlights – All Areas – Zip Codes Chandler
Gilbert
Mesa
Queen Creek San Tan Valley
Scottsdale
Tempe
Average List Price
$647,585
$718,983
$471,937
$757,474
$494,943
$1,660,365
$512,667
Average Sold Price
$589,036
$656,752
$459,440
$655,446
$477,413
$1,114,425
$511,558
No. of Sold Properties
402
467
1002
225
306
853
182
New Properties for Sale
430
476
1040
209
240
1009
194
Average Days on Market
25
24
25
31
37
29
34
Statistics for 3/01/2022 - 3/31/2022
2020 REALTOR of the Year
Dena Greenawalt GRI, SRS, MCNE, CDPE, ABR
REALTOR®
602.980.6001
2021 Arizona Association of Realtors Regional RVP DenaG@DMGAZHomes.com 2020 WeSERV President DMGAZHomes.com | GETMyUniqueHomeValue.com 2019 SEVRAR President-Elect RE/MAX Hall of Fame 2018 725 W Elliot Rd #111 | Gilbert, AZ | 85233 2017, 2019, 2020 RE/MAX Platinum Award 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 RE/MAX 100% Award
Your AZ Real Estate Expert If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.
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