My Kimball, Artist Console Upright Piano Needs a Home

Because I am moving, I advertised my Kimball, Artist Console Piano Upright with Bench for $300. The value as listed in the link below ranged from $1000-1500 depending on the condition of the Piano. My ad had run for 2 weeks now, so far I have no response. The future buyer of my house casually mentioned she will buy the piano, but as of today I have not heard from her. I have an Estate Sale scheduled for either the 2nd or 3rd Weekend of June. After the Estate Sale if the Piano is not sold, it will go to the Dumpster. It will be a shame if this happens. 

Today, I have been asking relatives if they need a Piano. It will be free and available after my Estate Sale. So if you know of someone who may want my Piano (photo above), it will be available after my Estate Sale on the 3rd Week of June, otherwise it will be in the Dumpster on the end of June, when the buyer of my house takes possession of the house and the future owner of my home do not want it.       
 

For details on the values of Kimball Pianos visit this link:

https://www.digitalpianoreviewguide.com/kimball-piano-value/

Meanwhile enjoy this photo of my creation- a cacti terrarium to honor the Heroes of Memorial Day.

 

A Delicious Pinoy Lunch at Yuka and Alex Residence Today

On my last week in Fair Oaks, I finally had lunch at the residence of Yuka and Alex in Roseville, CA today. The menu is shown in the photo above. Yuka purchased these dishes from the Oriental Market in Harding Blvd. We have 2 kinds of calderetta ( goat and beef), beef soup, mongo with pork and pinakbet.  I brought with me our dessert of cassava cake ( prepared by my home-care aide) and pastillas de Leche, I purchased at Spohie's-a Pinoy on-line store.

Alex Jr, is getting more mature in behaviour and I was surprise to hear him say, Thank you Lolo for the Cake. Elena is also growing fast and starting to baby talk. Again, Thank you, Yuka and Alex for the delicious Pinoy lunch.  Here are a few photos of the occasion. 

   

 

This Week Real Estate Activities In Fair Oaks, CA

With the debt ceiling in limbo and projected US default and recession, I am worried that the current pending sale of my house here in Fair Oaks, may be still in jeopardy. I am worried that my prospective buyer may have financial problem in closing the sale, so I did some Google Search and here's what I learned about the future owner of my home. 

The prospective buyers of my house are a couple in their early 70's ( my guess on how they look). They owned a bigger home, 6BR, 4Bath and a 2-story, not too far from Treecrest. I checked this morning and learned that their house was sold 10K above the listing price of 600K.  That answer my questions about the financial capability of the Buyers of my house.

In addition, I had a chance to talk to their agent. Their agent informed me that besides the equity on the sale of their house, the buyer had additional resources to pay my house. Their agent informed me why they are downsizing and why they like my house. They prospective buyer hurt his knee and their 2-story house is a Pain in the A--, so my one floor ranch-type house is perfect for him.  His wife also loves plants and indicated that all my potted plants outside will be included in the sale of the House. 

As of today there are 123 single homes for sale in the 95628 zip code ( Fair Oaks). There are 59 Pending Homes including my own. The price ranged from 425K to 1.6M. The mortgage rates is still hovering 8%. for a 30yr fixed mortgage. 

Who can afford a house with the mortgage interest so High? Not too many, unless you are downsizing or rich.

In April 2023, Fair Oaks home prices were down 3.6% compared to last year, selling for a median price of $623K. On average, homes in Fair Oaks sell after 9 days on the market compared to 7 days last year. There were 34 homes sold in April this year, down from 46 last year.

Meanwhile here are some of my garden Plaques for Sale:

 

 

I Have My First Taste of Blood Orange Today

Types of Oranges: Photo Credit: freenology.com
 

I saw that Blood oranges were on sale the other day in our neighborhood Safeway Store. I have never tasted blood oranges before because I prefer Navel oranges. But with the sale I ordered a couple of blood oranges because I am just curious. It is not as sweet as my favorite Navel variety, but the blood oranges have more nutrition and health benefits as described in the link below: 

Here's a brief summary from Wikipedia.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia: Blood Orange Slices
 

The blood orange is a variety of orange (Citrus × sinensis) (also referred to as raspberry orange) with crimson, almost blood-colored flesh.

The distinctive dark flesh color is due to the presence of anthocyanins, a family of polyphenol pigments common to many flowers and fruit, but uncommon in citrus fruits.  Chrysanthemin (cyanidin 3-O-glucoside) is the main compound found in red oranges.  The flesh develops its characteristic maroon color when the fruit develops with low temperatures during the night. Sometimes, dark coloring is seen on the exterior of the rind, as well, depending on the variety of blood orange. The skin can be tougher and harder to peel than that of other oranges. Blood oranges have a unique flavor compared to other oranges, being distinctly raspberry-like in addition to the usual citrus notes. The anthocyanin pigments of blood oranges begin accumulating in the vesicles at the edges of the segments, and at the blossom end of the fruit, and continue accumulating in cold storage after harvest.

^{For Complete details of the health benefits of Blood Oranges read:}

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/blood-orange-benefits#3.-May-support-healthy-pregnancy

https://freenology.com/orange-a-healthy-diet-with-some-benefits-and-disadvantages-2111 

Meanwhile, here's a recent photo from my album

My Beautiful Centerpiece- Papaya, Mango, Apple, Tangerines and a Blood Orange

Meanwhile, enjoy this recent photo from my collection:

 

Money Trees- Pachira Aquatica-one of my Favorite House

Plants

 

Social, Dining and Property Amenities of The Heritage Downtown, Walnut Creek

The Rose Garden near the Pool and Spa at the Heritage Downtown, Walnut Creek

Besides the property amenities, two other amenities that made my decision easy  to move to an independent senior living facility (THD) are the social and dining amenities provided to the residents. During our last week visit/tour Jenny gave Dodie and I, a copy of the Newton's Restaurant menu for that week.

There is always a choice of seafood, chicken or meat dishes for the Entry. That day one of the main entry was Curry Lamb Stew. By pure coincidence I had Lamb Curry prepared the Pakistani way the day before. Newton's restaurant is rated as a 5 Star dining facility.

Dodie and I also got a copy of the highlights of the Social Calendar that week as follows: 

THD has bridge twice a week-one for beginners and one for advanced players. It has also activity for mahjong beginners. There is a Cinema in the Compound showing old classic movies five days a week at 7PM. There are writing workshops, poetry readings and Film Studies as well as Sunday Shopping. This place is like in a Cruise Ship except you are in the Land of Beautiful Gardens and Surroundings.

I am really getting excited for my move scheduled for the first week of June. Here are the property amenities as advertise in the facility brochure.

Here's the latest photo of Part of My Patio Compared to the Old Patio Photos

 

  

 

The Photographs of Peter Dombrovskis and Others in David E Collection

Tasmanian Wilderness by PETER DOMBROVSKIS (1945 - 1996)

Peter Dombrovskis was born in Wiesbaden, Germany in 1945 of Latvian parents. He emigrated to Australia in 1950 with his mother Adele and started taking photographs in the 1960's. He was strongly influenced by Lithuanian-Australian pioneer, conservationist and photographer Olegas Truchanas, who became a father figure to him. He was equally influenced by landscape photographers of mid-century America such as Ansel Adams, Edward and Brett Weston and Eliot Porter.

In February 2003, Peter Dombrovskis was inducted into the International Photography Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, now in St Lious Murori, United States of America. Peter is the first Australian to be accorded this honour, and one of only 58 people to be inducted over the 200 or so years of the history of photography. Peter's work is also represented in the collections of the National Library, National Gallery of Australia, Australian Heritage Commission, National Gallery of Victoria, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, the Wilderness Gallery and many private collections.

Some of Peter's photographs have been instrumental in the conservation of various Tasmanian wild places including the prevention of the damming of the Franklin River. Peter's works have been published over 35 years in the form of books, calendars. cards and posters, and his wife Liz continued publishing until July 2009.

Peter's photography has now moved to a new phase of public access. The National Library of Australia has acquired the archive of Peter's transparencies so that future generations may view and enjoy his photography.

On 28th March 1996, Peter died while photographing in the Western Arthur Range in southwest Tasmania. He is survived by his second wife, five children and two step-children.

All Peter's photographs were taken with a large format Linhof Master Technika 5 x 4 inch flatbed field camera. He used three lenses; a 90mm Nikkor F4.5, a 150mm Schneider Symar-S (standard lens), and a 300mm Nikkor MF9. He sometimes used a polarizing filter.

Here are other photos in David E. Collection 

 

1. The Signed Framed Photo Titled: Marine One Departing the White House by Don Cannavaro

 

2.Carenna Katague Thompson- Leaping Leopard-$100

2a-Back of Carenna's Photograph

3.The Oakland-San Francisco Bridge at Night Time