A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman It is not too late to indulge in a final bit of escape fiction before you launch into your serious Fall reads. For this last gasp of summer, I recommend the utterly charming novel, A Man Called Ove by Swedish author Fredrik Backman. Ove is a curmudgeonly ... [Continue Reading]
The Strangler Vine by M. J. Carter
The Strangler Vine and The Infidel Stain by M.J. Carter In the tradition of Holmes and Watson, Jeremiah Blake, a cynical ex-employee of the British East India Company and William Avery, a young soldier, are the sleuths in M. J. Carter’s series of Victorian mysteries. The first novel, The ... [Continue Reading]
How My Starbucks Mobile App Keeps Me Honest!
How My Starbucks Mobile App Keeps Me Honest! My new favorite thing is my Starbucks mobile app. No more standing in a lengthy line for my tall iced coffee. With a few swipes, I order in advance, and my chilled drink is waiting for me at the counter. The obvious advantage of this is that it ... [Continue Reading]
Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
At the conclusion of the first chapter of Lauren Groff’s Fates and Furies, I can already predict the storyline. A golden couple meet at an Ivy League school, marry and move to a grungy apartment in Greenwich Village where despite a lack of funds, they are blissfully happy. In time, they move ... [Continue Reading]
Dissolution by C.J. Sansom
Dissolution by C.J. Sansom My cousin Harriet introduced me to the Matthew Shardlake Tudor mysteries. If you liked Hilary Mantel’s Thomas Cromwell trilogy, you’ll enjoy these as well. Unlike many Tudor stories which concentrate on the dramatic Anne Boleyn years, author C.J. Sansom begins his ... [Continue Reading]
How Much Paint Do You Need?
Paint is the cheapest and fastest way to spruce up a room, but buying too much or too little paint can derail what should be a speedy, one weekend project. So from Houzz here is a quick guide to calculating exactly how much is enough! How Much Paint Do You Need? ... [Continue Reading]
Home Sales Middle Tenessee
HOME SALES MIDDLE TENNESSEE June 2016 According to figures provided by the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, there were 3,869 homes sold in the month of June. That figure is up 1.7 percent compared to the 3,804 closings reported for June 2015. Year-to-Date Sales Year-to-date closings ... [Continue Reading]
Home Sales May 2016
Home Sales May 2016 Home sales in the region were brisk in May, and the average home price continues to rise. But not all neighborhoods are Sylvan Park (or 12S or parts of E. Nashville), and sellers and buyers should temper their expectations accordingly. The supply of homes priced ... [Continue Reading]
RIP: The Backyard
You remember THE BACKYARD? That grassy oasis located at the rear of your house. The site of birthday parties, Easter egg hunts, family picnics, Campouts and cocktails, Tire swings and jungle gyms, forts and fireflies. Remember? There aren’t many of these leafy green spaces ... [Continue Reading]
It’s Not Just the House; It’s the Stuff
Every real estate transaction involves STUFF--- and a lot of it. And thus far Apple hasn’t created an app to transport your sofa from Belle Meade to Germantown. But it’s not just moving the stuff; it’s deciding what to move, give, donate, sell, or store. THE CHOICES You generously offer a ... [Continue Reading]