Wilmington, NC Real Estate Blog

 I received a Thanksgiving message that was, to me, a very profound and worthwhile message.  Some highlights follow:

 The true meaning of Thanksgiving, you have to agree, it is a pretty laid back holiday, not a lot going on .....no cards are exchanged, no presents exchanged, no partying....

 Thanksgiving celebrates whats important, food, family and friends and taking the time to enjoy it, and in most cases with a 4 day holiday weekend.  Thanksgiving encourages us - in its characteristically quiet and understated way - to take note of the things in our lives that are positive, which we are thankful for. 

  We celebrate Thanksgiving once a year.  If it's a good idea to have Thanksgiving once a year, why not
have it once a week? 

 How about consistently carving out one day each week where you avoid the "busyness" of life and sit back to enjoy a good meal and revel in the pleasure of spending time with people you love the most?

 Is there anyone so busy that they can't arrange at least one day per month for Thanksgiving? Would it not be wonderful to have Thanksgiving each week?  Of course the meal might have to change a bit....I heard that the average Thanksgiving dinner is 3000 calories.



Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Dick Beals

 I can't believe I'm doing this!  I like to cook, HOWEVER,  I have never, ever, never, ever have provided a recipe in written form to anybody.  Here now I'm blogging about it!  What is the world coming to?

 Happening upon a blog written by Karen Monsour, entitled My New Cookbook Group, I commented on my speciality, Baby Back Ribs and was enticed to provide the recipe....so here it is:

 I start with a six pack of  "The beer of NASCAR"  (Miller Lite) and pour it into a huge pot....don't even save any to drink (it tastes awful, and only true NASCAR fans would even admit to drinking it) add to the pot 2 chopped cloves of garlic, 1 chopped red onion, half a chopped jalapeno pepper, and a couple of bay leaves, along with a couple cans of chicken stock, in fact, if you have a 12 pack of Miller Lite throw it all in....it helps get it off the super market shelves.

 While the peppers, onion, and bay leave are enhancing the NASCAR beer, start rubbing the ribs with a dry mixture specifically made for ribs, salt, pepper, and let stand for an hour.  You could go to all the trouble of making your own dry rub, however it is a lot of wasted time and effort.

 Next gently place the ribs into the pot and bring to a fast boil, then turn it down to the lowest setting for about 3 or 4 hours or until the beer smells better than when it started. 

 Start the grill up, if it is not a cooker type, put some wet hickory chips into a disposable aluminium pan, cover it with aluminum foil, puncture a few holes in the top and place under the grates of your grill.  Wait for the smoke to start (the wet wood chips will burn a little, so keep a spray bottle of water handy to put out any flames)

 When the the smoke gets to the point your neighbors start to look out and see what's going on, again GENTLY place the ribs on the grill.  Resist the temptation to coat them with some kind of sauce, wait for about 10 minutes so your neighbors smell them.  NOW coat them with your favorite sauce, I use Rudy's Bar-B-Q Sauce from Texas, it is tangy and flavorful, and helps keep the ribs together, as they will be falling off the bone.  That is the only way to enjoy ribs....they have to almost fall off the bones, and be covered in goo (sauce).  Leave them alone for 20 minutes, again resisting the urge to play with them, turn them only one time.

 As an added enjoyment to your ribs, if you are a transplanted Yankee (like I'am) bring some over to your Southern neighbors and tell them you made these ribs, just for them, with their favorite beer.  After all they have been smelling this wonderful concoction all afternoon.  And ya'll know it is their favorite beer!  They might not even call you a "Damn Yankee" anymore.  ENJOY!

Dick Beals

One more week till Thanksgiving....sometimes I feel like a kid on Christmas morning, we really look forward to the "Trot" more info here.....Wilmington Turkey Trot for Habitat for Humanity

This next week is a real full week for us, and we just love meeting, conversing, and the good cheer that accompanies this true American holiday.  Habitat for Humanity is a great cause for REALTORS as it truly fits in with our dream of helping folks realize the American Dream.  If any AR participants would like to donate, feel free to go to the web site at http://www.wilmingtonturkeytrot.com/ and sign up. I will make sure that you receive an "official Turkey Trot T-Shirt"  and they are sure to become a collectors item, as only 500 will be passed out this year.  It is also a tax deduction, and you all know that it is for a worthy cause.  $15.00 is all it costs.....come on it is for Habitat for Humanity....show that you care  THANKS

Dick Beals

 November and the official start to "The Holiday Season"  This the season, and Thanksgiving is our favorite.

 Why?  Is it all those football games?....NO  Eating all that turkey?...NO  Getting together with family?....well yes.  Thanksgiving to us is "THE 3RD ANNUAL WILMINGTON TURKEY TROT"

 The Trot as it is now being called, is a fun Run/Walk at The Wrightsville Beach, NC Loop to benefit and raise money for the  local Habitat for Humanity.  Last years event, over 350 runners, walkers, and spectators joined in the festivities on an early Thanksgiving morning, and gave over $4000.00 to Habitat. 

 For many years our family started Thanksgiving off with a spirited run of 3 miles to celebrate the season.  Being from upstate New York many of those year's "run" were in conditions usually not conducive to a "run in the park" no matter what the cause.  We relocated to Wilmington, North Carolina in the mid '90's and decided that this was the perfect location to hold a "Trot" and the Habitat for Humanity is part of the Realty Executives Homes From the Heart Program

 Homes from the Heart Program is an international effort created to involve our agents and brokers in raising funds. These funds are used to support community-based organizations that provide housing opportunities to needy families, like Habitat for Humanity 

 As successful real estate professionals we are indeed very fortunate. We are able to earn a living by assisting home-buyers and home sellers with their transactions. Many individuals in our communities are less fortunate. Many are living in crowded, substandard housing. It is important that we give something back to the communities in which we do business. What better way for REALTORS® to give back to their communities then by assisting families who might otherwise never be able to own a home of their own?

 Aside from the satisfaction we receive by knowing that we are part of a large effort that will significantly impact the lives of those less fortunate, there are other benefits. We feel that by collectively embracing an important cause such as this one, more families can enjoy the American dream. 

 Oh, by the way, after a brisk run around The Loop, you sure do feel better about "pigging out" 

 Please join us this year by giving a donation (if you can't make the run) or just to be a spectator.  Sponsors have donated coffee from Port City Java, fruit and drinks from Harris Teeter and all sorts of participation prizes and awards.  Your $15 dollar registration goes to Habitat and you receive a free "Turkey Trot"  t-shirt!  Go to the Wilmington Turkey Trot web site for a list of all the sponsors, race details, secure sign-up form, and for more information, or call me Dick Beals at 910-431-2572

 See y'all November 22,  Thanksgiving morning 8AM at "The Trot"

Dick Beals