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Earl Aagaard’s opinions about everything that interests him. Og also enjoys gardening, travel, reading, woodbutchery, and lots of other stuff.

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Tuesday, February 15, 2011

ROSEMARY ROASTED POTATOES, SAGE-ORANGE YAMS, and PUMPKIN BREAD PUDDING

Oh, I had SUCH a good time today—and all three recipes came out GREAT!  Here’s a (terrible) photo of the Rosemary Roasted Potatoes:
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Posted by Earl on 02/15 at 01:09 AM
Family MattersCOOKINGComments

Sunday, February 13, 2011

THE HOUSE WITHOUT CURB APPEAL…..AND IT COULD BE OURS!

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There it is…..from the other side of the overflow channel that takes excess water from Chico Creek to Butte Creek.  At the time I took this photograph, Sandy hadn’t mentioned that it was for sale, so it’s pure serendipity that I got this - from the second floor of a different place we were looking at. 

The stucco house on the far left over there across the canal was built in 2007, then lived in a fairly short time before being foreclosed on.  The bank finally got it in late October, 2010 and it’s been on the market ever since.  We understand that they got one offer, but that’s been it.  To the left of the house are three lots, and the one next door has sold and will have a house on it fairly soon.  All of the big oak trees to the left and behind the house are in a Blue Oak Preserve that will never be built on, so we “own” the views front and back.

There are some problems - drainage water from the section of the Preserve behind it runs through the property, and the builder (now reportedly fled the country after a mortgage scandal of some kind) dispensed with drains for the downspouts from the roof, so that adds to the hydrology difficulties.  And the “street” in front is actually a private road, and we would own and be responsible for 1/7 of it.  It’s also a fire lane, meaning there is no parking along the “curb”, and that’s why the “front yard” is a parking lot - two spaces required.  Furthermore, the sewer system would belong to us, too….1/7 of the pipes, tank, sewer lift pump, etc. 

It’s really no wonder people didn’t want the house very much at $225.00/square foot, it’s approximate original price.  By the time we got there, it was down to about $155/foot, and we offered about $137.  The bank wanted more and countered, but two days later they thought better of it and accepted the offer.  You might ask why WE want it, with all the problems (there are more, but they appear relatively minor and we’ll know more after the inspection next week.)  The first three reasons are, as with all real estate, “location, location, location”.....it’s on a private street with a Preserve behind and a canal lateral in front, so our views will never be marred by more houses!  It’s about a mile from two of Gail’s brothers, where I will install my garden and work on a small orchard.  And it’s two blocks from the lovely house that Laura and Leslie are renting, along with the two grand-girls!
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Posted by Earl on 02/13 at 01:30 PM
Family MattersCHANGE.....NEW HOUSE IN CHICOComments
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