House Activity

Latest email from Ana:

The house was shown by an agent from Atlanta over the weekend and I have already requested feedback from the agent. Most agents do not respond to feedback over the weekend so I am hoping to have an update for today. I also offered to buy a home warranty at closing.

My buyers decided to wait until after the Holidays due to too much going on and having company coming from out of town. I will follow up with them after Thanksgiving.

Audrey's buyers were not able to qualify because of some credit issues they are going to have to work on and it will take about six months to get them off their credit.

I also received another call over the weekend from the new minister of the Hispanic mission at the First Baptist church. We are going to meet after the Holidays.

The activity will pick up again after this week. Everyone is so busy now for Holiday celebrations.

I will continue to request feedback from the showing this weekend and get back to you ASAP.

Email from Ana

Just received this email this morning:

The house is cleaned compliments of Audrey. The couple she showed the house to is
still on the fence, they are looking into financing but Audrey talked to them last night and told them the house could get an offer this weekend so they need to be proactive if they want to get this home.
I won't be able to get feed back on the showing today until the other agent contacts me which sometimes can take a few days specially over the weekend.

My buyers are still not sure about when they can get over to the house but I am still trying to make it happen this weekend.

Hope you have a great weekend and hope we can make it better. :)

Update for this Week

Ana, our realtor, sent this email yesterday. (Audrey is her partner.)

The updates for this week are as follows:
1. The couple Audrey showed the house to are still deciding.

2. I received another call from a new prospect this week and am trying to coordinate a showing for this weekend. They are also interested in another of my listings in Fairburn but yours is the lowest price point.

3. I received a call from an agent in Atlanta/Remax who is going to show the house this Saturday in the morning so I want to do my showing either Saturday afternoon or Sunday so I won't have a conflict.

The price reduction has for sure increased the showings and interest on the house. I hope one of these prospects makes an offer by the end of the weekend.

Showing and Eagles

The showing happened on Sunday, and the couple asked for disclosure papers so they are at least interested that far. We will have to wait and see if it goes any further.

This last weekend was the GW Board Retreat Weekend. At breakfast on Saturday, Lynn Stieglitz had the devotion and it was about eagles. Specifically, Deuteronomy 32:10-12:
10He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.
11As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:
12So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.

We learned that an eagle gets its young to fly by destroying the nest and pushing the young out of it. But the young don't plummet to their death. No, the mother eagle flies beneath them to bear them up on her wings-- "spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings."

Moses was reminding the children of Israel how God had provided for them, even as the mother eagle. When they felt they had been pushed from the nest and were in free fall, God was bearing them up in safety.

And in verse 12, what a wonderful thought--He alone lead them--no other god was there to help. God through Moses says, I alone was the one to bear you up and take care of you.

We are know what it feels to be pushed out of the nest of safety and we've experienced the feeling of free fall, but we also know and trust the God who comes under us and bears us up.

Showing House this Weekend

We just received a call from our realtor. She has a couple that is interested in the house since the price drop. The wife is a nurse who works 12 hour shifts, so they can't come to see it until this weekend.

We appreciate your prayers and the loving care that we've felt from our friends and family. I just read this morning in Hebrews 10 how the new Christians took "joyfully the spoiling of their goods." I do not remember ever reading that phrase there before! And someone mentioned to me the other day that a house situation such as this really wasn't a large problem. And I would have to say she is right.

When people in Haiti are living in temporary tents (perhaps for the rest of their lives) with questionable water and food sources, little medical attention and fear of bandits and bullies, we live in a very nice little rental with all we need. And we have enjoyed good health, fellowship without persecution, the freedom to homeschool our children and even the freedom to vote people out of office!

So I just wanted to let you all know that we appreciate your prayers no matter what happens.

Enjoying a beautiful autumn day in Indiana,
Julie

Price Drop

Dear family and friends,

We have so appreciated your prayers and concerns for us during this last nine months of trying to sell our house. We just talked with our realtor and are going to drop the price another $20,000. We hope that this will finally get ahead of the market's downward spiral, get more showings and ultimately, an offer.

This has been a difficult decision, knowing that we won't have much to take away from the sale, but there isn't much choice in the matter at this point. Our realtors both there and here have discouraged us from renting it out, as it might only prolong the issue and probably cost us more money in the long run. (renting in a high crime/urban area, being landlords 11 hours away)

So, we are writing today to specifically ask for your prayers in this price adjustment--that our hearts can be stayed on Him who is Jehovah-Jireh, The Lord who Provides. That we can learn to trust Him to make bitter things sweet. That we can lean on Him and trust Him no matter what reality looks like.

G'Day Mates!

Recently we wrapped up our unit study on Australia, finishing with a week's worth of Aussie foods, including daily tea around 4 pm. Here are a few of the meals and recipes that we made.

Egg and Bacon Pie

1 17 1/2 oz pkg frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed (2 sheets)
8 thin slices Canadian bacon
6 eggs
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/4 c. finely chopped parsley or chives

On a lightly floured working surface, roll out one sheet of pastry 1/8 inch thick. Line a 9 inch pie plate with pastry sheet and press gently into place. (We used a 9 x 9 because our pie plates are in an undisclosed location in the garage.) Cover pastry with Canadian bacon, overlapping slices to form an even layer. Crack eggs onto bacon-lined crust and break yolks with a fork. Season with salt, pepper, parsley, chives or whatever spices Rachel thinks might be interesting.
Roll out second sheet of pastry to 1/8 thick. With your fingers or a pastry brush, lightly brush the lower pastry's edge with water. Gently place the second sheet of pastry on top of the pie. Press edges firmly together and cut off any extra pastry. Flute edges by pinching pastry gently between your thumb and forefinger (this supposed to make it look as professional as my mom's pie crust edges, but I don't think we quite got the effect). Cut a few small slits in the middle of the top crust.
Place pie plate on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes or until puffed and deep golden brown. Allow to cool before serving. (We rolled up the scraps and baked them too!)

We served Egg & Bacon Pie with mixed fruit:

Anzac Biscuits
1 c. rolled oats
3/4 c. unsweetened shredded coconut
(why used unsweetened when you can used sweetened? :)
1 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter
1 T. honey or light corn syrup
1 1/2 t. baking soda
2 T. boiling water
Preheat oven to 300. Measure the oats, coconuts, flour and sugar into bowl. Stir well. In a small pan over medium heat, melt butter and stir in honey or syrup. Place baking soda in a cup or small bowl. Pour boiling water over it and stir to dissolve. Add to melted butter mixture. Pour this mixture over oat mixture. Mix well.
Cover two baking sheets with kitchen parchment or aluminum foil (dull side up). Drop teaspoonfuls of dough 2 inches apart onto sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until evenly browned. Cool on baking sheet for 1 to 2 minutes and remove to wire racks.
4 doz biscuits
As you can see, "biscuits" look a lot like cookies--Yum!


Creamy Pumpkin Soup
(Don't knock it till you try it--we all loved it and voted it a keeper. The boys were arguing over the little bit of leftovers the next day!)

1/4 melted butter
1/2 tsp curry powder
1 15 oz can pumpkin
1/4 tsp. salt
2 c. half-and-half (we used evaporated skim milk)
2 1/2 c. chicken broth
1/8 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp. minced parsley

Place melted butter, curry, pumpkin, and salt and process until smooth. Add half-and-half or milk and process again until smooth.
Pour pumpkin mixture back into saucepan and stir in chicken broth, cinnamon and parsley. Heat soup slowly over low heat, stirring occasionally. Garnish with a dash of parsley.

Crunchy Fish Fillets
We had a recipe in the Australian cookbook we got at the library, but it was so similiar to Mark's recipe that we just used his. Dip fish fillets in beaten egg then saltine cracker crumbs (or bread crumbs), then bake in the oven. Serve with homemade tartar sauce (equal parts mayo and pickle relish).


Curry (can use what meat you have--beef, chicken or pork. We used pork loin)

1 1/2 lbs meat
3 T. veg oil
2 large onions, peeled and finely chopped
(we compromised--only 1 onion, peeled and pulverized)
2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
(if you've never used fresh garlic, you gotta try it. It makes you feel like a real chef. Only put the cloves in the micro for 8-10 secs first, then you can peel them easily. The kids will love to use the garlic press for you too. Just remember to rinse it right away because stuck on garlic bits will steal the joy you just experienced!)
Where was I? Oh yes...
2 tsp. finely chopped fresh gingerroot
(I read that this is very different than the stuff in my spice cupboard, so I was all set to try it, but Kroger only carried Organic for $7. Hmmm, maybe we'll delay that experience for another time.)
1 1/2 T. curry powder (well, they don't call it curry for nothing)
1 t. salt
1 large tomato, peeled and chopped
1 1/2 c. canned beef stock (I used broth--guess I'm not a real chef, I don't know
the difference.)
1 T. soft butter
2 T. flour

Trim any fat from the meat and place in casserole dish. Preheat oven to 350. Heat oil in a skillet over med-high heat. Add onion, garlic, and gingerroot, and cook 2 to 3 minutes.
Stir in curry and cook another minute or two. Add salt, tomato and beef stock. Bring to a boil while stirring.
Pour the curry sauce over the beef and cover with lid or heavy duty foil. Bake 1 1/2 hours or until very tender.
When curry is almost done, place butter in a cup and sprinkle 1 T flour over the butter. Mix flour into butter forming a paste. Then mix the second tablespoon of flour in.
Remove the dish from the oven and return curry to the skillet over medium heat. Add butter paste to curry to teaspoonful at a time. Cook, stirring constantly, until liquid thickens.
Serve with rice and a selection of condiments. Suggestions: peanute, sliced bananas, golden or dark raisins, diced pineapple, sliced or chopped hard-boiled egg and bottle chutney.
[Curry was orginally an Indian dish, but became popular in Britain during British colonization of India in the 1700s and curry soon became a favorite in Australia as well.] Sorry forgot to take a picture!


Glazed Kiwi Tart (a nod to New Zealand)

1 9 in unbaked pie shell

Filling:
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese, at room temp
2/3 c. sugar
1 1/2 t. vanilla
3 T. heavy cream
3 ripe kiwifruit

Glaze:
1/4 c. apricot preserve
1 T. water

Prick bottom and sides of pastry shell and bake according to package directions.
Combine cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream. Stir until smooth. Spread cream cheese filling in cooled pastry shell.
Peel kiwifruit and cut into thin slices. Arrange slices on top of cream cheese filling overlapping them in circles.
To make glaze, combine apricot preserves and water in a small saucepan and heat until preserves melt. Cool slightly, stirring occasionally. Spoon glaze over kiwifruit and chill tart until ready to serve.
A beautiful creation:


Lamingtons
[These cakes are named after Baroness Lamington, wife of the governor of an
Australian state at the beginning of the 1900s. They are still a favorite with
Australian children.]

4 eggs
3/4 c. sugar, divided
1/2 t. vanilla
3/4 c flour
1/4 t. salt
1 t. baking powder

Preheat oven to 375. Grease 9 x 13 inch pan and line with wax paper so that the bottom and sides are covered.
Separate the egg yolks and whites into two bowls. Add 1/4 cup of the sugar and the vanilla to the egg yolks. Blend and then set aside.
Beat the egg whites with the electric mixer. Gradually add 1/2 cup of sugar. Beat until stiff peaks form. (Lesson: soft peaks are when you lift the beaters, and it looks like mountains with peaks that fall over. Stiff peaks look like mountain peaks that stand up straight.)
Fold the egg yolk mixture into the whites. Add the flour, salt and baking powder. mix until the batter is smooth.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake about 12 minutes or until the center springs back when touched. Allow the cake to cool for a few minutes, then turn it out onto wire rack. Allow it to cool for a few minutes more, then remove the wax paper carefully. (Loosen all the edges first, then peel off the paper in strips)
Cut the cake into 12 or 16 squares depending on how big you want them. Allow them to cool completely.

Icing:
2 c powdered sugar
1 1/2 T. butter, melted
3 T. cocoa
about 4 T. boiling water
about 2 cups coconut

Mix powd sugar, butter cocoa and enough boiling water to make a runny icing.
Using a fork, pick up a square of cake and spoon the icing over it to cover all sides. Allow the icing to drip for a few minutes, then place the cake ina bowl of coconut. Coat the cake with coconut, then place it on a plate to dry.

Repeat the process until all the squares are covered. Lamingtons can be refrigeratored or frozen.
A bonzer treat!


Bread and Butter Custard
(The ultimate in comfort food!)
1 to 2 T. soft butter
4 slices white bread
1/2 c golden raisins
2 eggs
1 c milk
1/2 c heavy cream
3 T. sugar
pinch of salt
1 t. vanilla
ground nutmeg

Thinly butter bread and cut each slice into four. Arrange half in buttered 1 quart casserole dish. Sprinkle raisins over bread and cover with remaining bread.
Beat eggs with milk, cream, sugar, salt and vanilla. Pour eggs mixture over the bread. Let stand 30 minutes to allow milk mixture to soak into bread.
Preheat oven to 350. Sprinkle nutmeg over dessert. Bake 40 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm, either by itself or with canned fruit.

Roast Leg of Lamb
Directions: Go to supermarket. Look for Leg of Lamb. Find Lamb Ribs for $20. Go home without Leg of Lamb. Pull out Mom's recipe for roast. Make and enjoy.

Damper
This classic bush tucker is the type that contestants in Australia Day bush cooking competitions might prepare. Bushmen baked their damper right in the campfire, but you can make it in your oven.
Directions: Check out ingredients and recipe in the book. Remember the round loaf of sourdough bread in the freezer. Pull that out and let thaw. Bake and enjoy warm with butter.

Pavlova
(We lova it!)
This is the best-loved dessert in Australia. It is as light and delicate as the famous Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, for whom it is named. It is best on the day it is made, and it is a favorite dessert on a summery Christmas Day.

4 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 c. sugar
1/2 t. vanilla
3/4 t. white vinegar
1 c. heavy whipping cream
kiwifruit, strawberries, bananas, passion fruit, or other fruit

Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil dull side up. Using a bowl or plate, trace a 7-inch circle on the paper or foil. Preheat oven to 250.
Using an electric mixer, beat egg whites with salt until soft peaks form. Add 1/3 cup of sugar and beat until sugar is dissolved and mixture is very thick. Add rest of sugar one or two tablespoons at a time, beating well after each addition. When all sugar is dissolved, and mixture is very stiff, add vanilla and vinegar. Beat well. This mixture, called a meringue, should be thick and glossy.
Spoon meringue into circle marked on the foil. Using the back of a spoon, spread meringue out evenly within the circle. Build up the sides to form a bowl shape.
Bake for 1 1/2 hours, or until firm to the touch. Turn off the oven and allow to cool in the oven with the oven door ajar.
In a chilled bowl, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form. (But not too much because cream that's whipped too much becomes butter!) Spread over the top of the pavlova. Wash and slice fruit, using one kind of fruit or a combination. Arrange attractively on top of whipped cream. Cut in wedges and serve immediately.


We learned several enjoyable Aussie songs as well. Here's part of one we wanted to share with you:

Now, when Italians meet, they all go crazy
The folks all like to hug each other, too
The Yanks invented "Hi!" and "see ya later"
While the Pommie will shake your hand and say,
"how do you do?"
Now watch out for a Frenchman, for he'll kiss yer
The Spaniards go for "Hola!" and "Ole!"
But in the land of the cockatoo
Cork hats and the didgeridoo
When you meet an Aussie, ten-to-one,
here's what he'll say...

CHORUS:
G'day, G'day, how yer goin'?
Whadya know? Well, strike a light!
G'day, G'day, and how yer go-o-o-in'?
Just say g'day, g'day, g'day and you'll be right!