Christine Banks |Canyon Springs Homeowner

BANKS

Christine Aldrete Banks, CRS, SRS, RSPS @StoneOakLiving1 Realtor Since 1990 (210) 570-9530 (Direct)

RE/MAX Preferred, REALTORS

CAldrete@remax.net StoneOakLiving.com

CANYON SPRINGS

Elevate Your Lifestyle

The journey begins here...step in to your future with the perfect home.

Contemporary, Mediterranean, or Colonial, All visions are possible. Whether it’s a golf course jewel or a hill top estate, Christine Banks, CRS, SRS, RSPS has the expertise and experience to make your dreams reality. Enjoy 25+ yrs of premiere listing marketing and concierge buyer representation.

PURCHASE A NEW HOME GREATER VALUE, SELL YOUR EXISTING HOME WITH CHRISTINE IN THE SAME YEAR AND RECEIVE A REBATE OF 1/2 THE LIST FEE (3%).

Reverse rebate available for downsizing!

Vol. 4 Issue 7

Christine Aldrete Banks, CRS, SRS, RSPS @StoneOakLiving1 1846 N Loop 1604 W San Antonio, TX 78248

CELEBRATING FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT

Do The Wright Thing

For the Birds

Birdwatching Takes Flight

Field of Dreams Upgrade to a New Home: 1/2 Price Listing Fee L U X Move Up by Christine Banks, CRS, SRS, RSPS If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

Produced by DLP Marketing • (480)460-0996 • DLPmarketing.com

Dyersville, Iowa

Maynards Kitchen Bistro Salad

Exclusively Presented By Christine Banks, CRS,SRS,RSPS StoneOakLiving.com

Field of Dreams Dyersville, Iowa

BIRDING IS BIG The Joys of

Summer L

“Is this heaven? No … it’s Iowa.”

A place of fertile soil, traditional values and simple pleasure. And in Dyersville, Iowa, at the century-old Lansing family farm with its quaint, recognizable house, baseball still ranks as a favorite pastime for all ages. Field of Dreams, released in 1989, is a movie that has inspired millions and became an Academy Award nominee for Best Picture.

A tourist destination, yet so much more. There are as many different reasons people come here as there are people. Visitors love this home, this farm, this baseball field, this little piece of heaven on earth. Enjoy this place where reality mixes with fantasy and dreams can come true.

Source: nps.gov/MORU

ooking for something fun to do this weekend but don’t feel like heading too far from home? Though it may not sound very new, particularly modern, or super thrilling in our digital age, bird watching is actually a fun activity that is experiencing a new wave of interest. Who knew that some 47 million Americans identify as birders, according to the National Audubon Society? And the best part, birding is an activity that people of all ages can enjoy together. Fortunately, in today’s techie world, it’s easier than ever to identify birds online, locate birding hot spots, and connect with fellow avian enthusiasts.

One of the first steps people often take to get into birding is to set up one’s yard to attract some flying friends. Bird feeders with various seeds, suet cakes, and other homemade treats like peanut butter balls will get the birds’ attention. Once you see them feeding, the fun begins. Get your phone and cameras out and start taking note of your visitors’ size, colors, markings, and habits. Next, take note of the song and record it on your phone for future reference. You will be amazed at the variety and distinct sound each type of bird makes. You may be surprised how familiar these birdcalls will seem to you.

150 YEARS OF

THE WRIGHT STUFF

A

sk most people to name a famous American architect and one name typically comes to mind: Frank Lloyd Wright.

Born in Wisconsin 150 years ago, Wright had a long, prolific career and was a huge influence on modern architecture. Know that open floor plan that everyone loves in today’s homes? You can thank Wright for bringing that airy flow into homes way back in the 1930s. He was also committed to blending his designs into the natural world, perhaps more so than any other architect before or since.

Wright’s most famous buildings are iconic emblems of modern design. Fallingwater is Wright’s instantly recognizable home nestled into the woods of southwestern Pennsylvania. Built between 1936 and 1939, this architectural gem is as utterly modern today as it was the day it was designed. Fallingwater literally sits atop a waterfall, making the homeowners feel one with nature. The

When you’re ready to get beyond your backyard, a great place to connect with other birders and record the birds you have come in contact with is the app called eBird, developed and run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Once you’ve logged onto the app, you can record your sightings, follow others’ activity, and help provide Cornell with important migratory information to help protect and save our feathered friends. You’ll also be notified of sightings near you so you can get in on the birding fun.

Another online resource is BirdWatchingDaily.com, where birdwatchers can enter their state or current location and get a list of birding “hot spots” to perhaps get in on some rare sightings. The web site also provides information on bird festivals, bird magazines, and bird-related products. To determine if the birds you are seeing in your area are in danger of becoming extinct, log onto Audubon.org. The group’s Priority Bird Species list birds that have significant conservation needs. With all this information, we can’t help but think there’s never been a better time to be a bird lover. Happy birding!

YOUR LIFE

cantilevered balconies and terraces, horizontal lines and flat roofs, as well as plenty of glass, have become synonymous with Wright’s Prairie School style.

The Guggenheim Museum in New York City is perhaps the next most instantly recognizable Wright design. Taking some 16 years for Wright to complete, the Guggenheim is a striking white spiral form from the outside with the look of the interior of a nautilus shell on the inside. Foregoing floors and stairs, a spiral walkway leads museumgoers gradually up and down the gallery.

Heading westward, in Scottsdale, Arizona, stands Taliesin West, Wright’s winter home and desert studio retreat, now home to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and School of Architecture. Wright lived here until his death at age 91. Taliesin West, Scottsdale’s only National Historic Landmark, is open for tours, including stops at Wright’s private residence and art collections. The Night Lights tours and “Junior Architects” tours are must-see for all Wright enthusiasts.

But these famous buildings are merely a few of the 500 or so houses and buildings Wright designed and constructed throughout his illustrious career.

Wright fans often travel the country to see and tour as many of his projects as possible.

And quite a journey they will find themselves on: his designs can be found in 38 states.

Talk about a prolific builder! With six Wright buildings in Wisconsin alone, the cheese state has created a Frank Lloyd Wright Heritage Trail to help travelers see all the sights. Web sites also abound helping travelers navigate around the country to see the buildings. Some even allow overnight stays. Road trip anyone?

Bistro Salad INGREDIENTS

FLAVORFUL

TRAVEL TIME

¼ c ¼ c 10 1

Applewood bacon slab Bacon fat Bread croutons Soft-boiled egg Whole milk for dredging Breadcrumbs for dredging

¼ c ¼ c ½ oz 1 tbsp 2 tbsp

Baby kale Frisée lettuce Red onion, julienned Fine herbs, chopped Fine herbs vinaigrette Salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Slice the bacon into half inch strips. Invert the strips and cut half inch pieces. Place the bacon fat into a heavy-duty sauce pan and warm until melted. Add the bacon, bring to a simmer and turn down the heat right before it is fully sizzling. Continue cooking until the bacon is dark in appearance and slightly chewy, but very tender. Reserve the bacon fat to fry the croutons in. Cut the bread into 1 inch squares. Toss in bacon fat and bake until lightly golden but dry throughout. Reserve for later. Reduce oven temperature.

Warm the bacon in a small pan in the oven. Dredge the egg in milk and panko, fully coating it. Fry the egg until golden brown and drain on paper towel.

Combine the kale, frisée, onions, herbs, croutons and dressing in a salad bowl and toss well. Add salt and pepper as desired. Neatly arrange the salad on a plate or bowl and top with croutons and warm lardons. Carefully cut the egg in half with a bread knife, sprinkle with sea salt, add to salad and serve.

MaynardsTucson.com

Field of Dreams Dyersville, Iowa

BIRDING IS BIG The Joys of

Summer L

“Is this heaven? No … it’s Iowa.”

A place of fertile soil, traditional values and simple pleasure. And in Dyersville, Iowa, at the century-old Lansing family farm with its quaint, recognizable house, baseball still ranks as a favorite pastime for all ages. Field of Dreams, released in 1989, is a movie that has inspired millions and became an Academy Award nominee for Best Picture.

A tourist destination, yet so much more. There are as many different reasons people come here as there are people. Visitors love this home, this farm, this baseball field, this little piece of heaven on earth. Enjoy this place where reality mixes with fantasy and dreams can come true.

Source: nps.gov/MORU

ooking for something fun to do this weekend but don’t feel like heading too far from home? Though it may not sound very new, particularly modern, or super thrilling in our digital age, bird watching is actually a fun activity that is experiencing a new wave of interest. Who knew that some 47 million Americans identify as birders, according to the National Audubon Society? And the best part, birding is an activity that people of all ages can enjoy together. Fortunately, in today’s techie world, it’s easier than ever to identify birds online, locate birding hot spots, and connect with fellow avian enthusiasts.

One of the first steps people often take to get into birding is to set up one’s yard to attract some flying friends. Bird feeders with various seeds, suet cakes, and other homemade treats like peanut butter balls will get the birds’ attention. Once you see them feeding, the fun begins. Get your phone and cameras out and start taking note of your visitors’ size, colors, markings, and habits. Next, take note of the song and record it on your phone for future reference. You will be amazed at the variety and distinct sound each type of bird makes. You may be surprised how familiar these birdcalls will seem to you.

150 YEARS OF

THE WRIGHT STUFF

A

sk most people to name a famous American architect and one name typically comes to mind: Frank Lloyd Wright.

Born in Wisconsin 150 years ago, Wright had a long, prolific career and was a huge influence on modern architecture. Know that open floor plan that everyone loves in today’s homes? You can thank Wright for bringing that airy flow into homes way back in the 1930s. He was also committed to blending his designs into the natural world, perhaps more so than any other architect before or since.

Wright’s most famous buildings are iconic emblems of modern design. Fallingwater is Wright’s instantly recognizable home nestled into the woods of southwestern Pennsylvania. Built between 1936 and 1939, this architectural gem is as utterly modern today as it was the day it was designed. Fallingwater literally sits atop a waterfall, making the homeowners feel one with nature. The

When you’re ready to get beyond your backyard, a great place to connect with other birders and record the birds you have come in contact with is the app called eBird, developed and run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Once you’ve logged onto the app, you can record your sightings, follow others’ activity, and help provide Cornell with important migratory information to help protect and save our feathered friends. You’ll also be notified of sightings near you so you can get in on the birding fun.

Another online resource is BirdWatchingDaily.com, where birdwatchers can enter their state or current location and get a list of birding “hot spots” to perhaps get in on some rare sightings. The web site also provides information on bird festivals, bird magazines, and bird-related products. To determine if the birds you are seeing in your area are in danger of becoming extinct, log onto Audubon.org. The group’s Priority Bird Species list birds that have significant conservation needs. With all this information, we can’t help but think there’s never been a better time to be a bird lover. Happy birding!

YOUR LIFE

cantilevered balconies and terraces, horizontal lines and flat roofs, as well as plenty of glass, have become synonymous with Wright’s Prairie School style.

The Guggenheim Museum in New York City is perhaps the next most instantly recognizable Wright design. Taking some 16 years for Wright to complete, the Guggenheim is a striking white spiral form from the outside with the look of the interior of a nautilus shell on the inside. Foregoing floors and stairs, a spiral walkway leads museumgoers gradually up and down the gallery.

Heading westward, in Scottsdale, Arizona, stands Taliesin West, Wright’s winter home and desert studio retreat, now home to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and School of Architecture. Wright lived here until his death at age 91. Taliesin West, Scottsdale’s only National Historic Landmark, is open for tours, including stops at Wright’s private residence and art collections. The Night Lights tours and “Junior Architects” tours are must-see for all Wright enthusiasts.

But these famous buildings are merely a few of the 500 or so houses and buildings Wright designed and constructed throughout his illustrious career.

Wright fans often travel the country to see and tour as many of his projects as possible.

And quite a journey they will find themselves on: his designs can be found in 38 states.

Talk about a prolific builder! With six Wright buildings in Wisconsin alone, the cheese state has created a Frank Lloyd Wright Heritage Trail to help travelers see all the sights. Web sites also abound helping travelers navigate around the country to see the buildings. Some even allow overnight stays. Road trip anyone?

Bistro Salad INGREDIENTS

FLAVORFUL

TRAVEL TIME

¼ c ¼ c 10 1

Applewood bacon slab Bacon fat Bread croutons Soft-boiled egg Whole milk for dredging Breadcrumbs for dredging

¼ c ¼ c ½ oz 1 tbsp 2 tbsp

Baby kale Frisée lettuce Red onion, julienned Fine herbs, chopped Fine herbs vinaigrette Salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Slice the bacon into half inch strips. Invert the strips and cut half inch pieces. Place the bacon fat into a heavy-duty sauce pan and warm until melted. Add the bacon, bring to a simmer and turn down the heat right before it is fully sizzling. Continue cooking until the bacon is dark in appearance and slightly chewy, but very tender. Reserve the bacon fat to fry the croutons in. Cut the bread into 1 inch squares. Toss in bacon fat and bake until lightly golden but dry throughout. Reserve for later. Reduce oven temperature.

Warm the bacon in a small pan in the oven. Dredge the egg in milk and panko, fully coating it. Fry the egg until golden brown and drain on paper towel.

Combine the kale, frisée, onions, herbs, croutons and dressing in a salad bowl and toss well. Add salt and pepper as desired. Neatly arrange the salad on a plate or bowl and top with croutons and warm lardons. Carefully cut the egg in half with a bread knife, sprinkle with sea salt, add to salad and serve.

MaynardsTucson.com

BANKS

Christine Aldrete Banks, CRS, SRS, RSPS @StoneOakLiving1 Realtor Since 1990 (210) 570-9530 (Direct)

RE/MAX Preferred, REALTORS

CAldrete@remax.net StoneOakLiving.com

CANYON SPRINGS

Elevate Your Lifestyle

The journey begins here...step in to your future with the perfect home.

Contemporary, Mediterranean, or Colonial, All visions are possible. Whether it’s a golf course jewel or a hill top estate, Christine Banks, CRS, SRS, RSPS has the expertise and experience to make your dreams reality. Enjoy 25+ yrs of premiere listing marketing and concierge buyer representation.

PURCHASE A NEW HOME GREATER VALUE, SELL YOUR EXISTING HOME WITH CHRISTINE IN THE SAME YEAR AND RECEIVE A REBATE OF 1/2 THE LIST FEE (3%).

Reverse rebate available for downsizing!

Vol. 4 Issue 7

Christine Aldrete Banks, CRS, SRS, RSPS @StoneOakLiving1 1846 N Loop 1604 W San Antonio, TX 78248

CELEBRATING FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT

Do The Wright Thing

For the Birds

Birdwatching Takes Flight

Field of Dreams Upgrade to a New Home: 1/2 Price Listing Fee L U X Move Up by Christine Banks, CRS, SRS, RSPS If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

Produced by DLP Marketing • (480)460-0996 • DLPmarketing.com

Dyersville, Iowa

Maynards Kitchen Bistro Salad

Exclusively Presented By Christine Banks, CRS,SRS,RSPS StoneOakLiving.com