Loganville, Dacula and Bethlehem Real Estate

Who Doesn’t Like Banana Pudding?

Posted by Anne Rains On July - 16 - 2009

Gooey. Creamy. Tasty. Easy. Those are the words I would use to describe this banana pudding recipe! It’s so simple to make yet so delicious that you better watch out or you may eat the whole thing! The great thing about this recipe is that it makes a huge amount. It serves at least 12 people so it’s great to take to the next family gathering or the potluck supper at church on Sunday.

Banana Pudding

INGREDIENTS:

1 bag of vanilla wafers or 2 bags Peperidge Farm Chessmen cookies
6 to 8 bananas, sliced
2 Cups milk
1 5-ounce box instant French vanilla pudding
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 12-ounce container frozen whipped topping, thawed

DIRECTIONS:

Line bottom of a 13×9x2-inch dish with cookies and put bananas on top.
Blend milk with pudding mix well with a handheld electric mixer.
Beat cream cheese and condensed milk together in a bowl until smooth; fold in whipped topping.
Add to pudding mixture, stirring until well blended.
Pour mixture over cookies and bananas; cover with remaining cookies.
Refrigerate.
Eat, eat, eat!

Okay, a few quick notes about this recipe: if you want to make a lighter version of this (so you can eat more *smile*) then use skim milk, neufchatel cheese (it’s the low-fat version of cream cheese–tastes the same) and light whipped topping. It still tastes the same I promise!

Also, I think that crushing the cookies for the top layer makes the presentation prettier. And I think this recipe is better if it’s made a day in advance and has time to chill in the refrigerator for several hours–I believe it makes the texture better because the cookies get soft and gooey.

ENJOY!
You know, I would really enjoy any wonderful dessert recipes you have…leave your best recipe in the comment section please

(This recipe is found in Paula Deen’s cookbook: “The Lady & Sons: Just Desserts”)

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It’s a great time to buy a home in Georgia, whether you’re a first-time home buyer or not, and I would love to walk you through this process. If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today: 404.357.2231!

Misc., Recipes

The Vet and the Duck

Posted by Anne Rains On June - 2 - 2009

Here’s a funny story to bring a smile to your day.

Duck

A woman brought a very limp duck into a veterinary surgeon. As she lay her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird’s chest. After a moment or two, the vet shook his head sadly and said, “I’m so sorry, your Duck Cuddles has passed away”. The distressed owner wailed, “Are you sure??” “Yes, I am sure. The duck is dead,” he replied. “How can you be so sure,” she protested. “I mean you haven’t done any testing on him or anything. He might just be in a coma or something.”

The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left theroom, and returned a few moments later with a black Labrador Retriever. As the duck’s owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put its front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He then looked at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head. The vet patted the dog and took it out, and returned a few moments later with a cat. The cat jumped up on the table and also sniffed delicately at the bird from head to foot. The cat sat back on it’s haunches, shook its head, meowed softly and strolled out of theroom.

The vet looked at the woman and said, “I’m sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely,100% certifiably, a dead duck.” Then the vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman. The duck’s owner, still in shock, took thebill. “$150.00!!?” she cried, “$150.00 just to tell me my duck is dead!!??” The vet shrugged, “I’m sorry. If you’d taken my word for it, the bill would have been $20, but with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan, it’s now $150.00.

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If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!

P.S. I’m not sure who was the original author of this joke because it was e-mailed to me. Also the photo is by: tifotter

Misc.

Take Down the Bird Feeder

Posted by Anne Rains On March - 10 - 2009

**Please note: I did not write this; I received it in an e-mail and thought the analogy behind the poem was a good one. Not sure who the author is, except that the beginning says “Maxine” tells it like it is.**

Photo By: *clairity*

Take Down the Bird Feeder

The analogy is absolutely right on . . .

Maxine tells it like it is!!!!

I bought a bird feeder. I hung

It on my back porch and filled

It with seed. What a beauty of

A bird feeder it is, as I filled it

Lovingly with seed. Within a

Week we had hundreds of birds

Taking advantage of the

Continuous flow of free and

Easily accessible food.

But then the birds started

Building nests in the boards

Of the patio, above the table,

And next to the barbecue.

Then came the poop. It was

Everywhere: on the patio tile,

The chairs, the table ..

Everywhere!

Then some of the birds

Turned mean. They would

Dive bomb me and try to

Peck me even though I had

Fed them out of my own

Pocket.

And others birds were

Boisterous and loud. They

Sat on the feeder and

Squawked and screamed at

All hours of the day and night

And demanded that I fill it

When it got low on food.

After a while, I couldn’t even

Sit on my own back porch

Anymore. So I took down the

Bird feeder and in three days

The birds were gone. I cleaned

Up their mess and took down

The many nests they had built

All over the patio.

Soon, the back yard was like

It used to be…. Quiet, serene

And no one demanding their

Rights to a free meal.

Now let’s see.

Our government gives out

Free food, subsidized housing,

Free medical care, and free

Education and allows anyone

Born here to be an automatic

Citizen.

Then the illegal came by the

Tens of thousands. Suddenly

Our taxes went up to pay for

Free services; small apartments

Are housing 5 families; you

Have to wait 6 hours to be seen

By an emergency room doctor;

Your child’s 2nd grade class is

Behind other schools because

Over half the class doesn’t speak

English.

Corn Flakes now come in a

Bilingual box; I have to

‘press one’ to hear my bank

Talk to me in English, and

People waving flags other

Than ‘Old Glory’ are

Squawking and screaming

In the streets, demanding

More rights and free liberties.

Just my opinion, but maybe it’s time for the government

To take down the bird

Feeder.

If you agree, great; if not,

Continue cleaning up the poop!

Photo By: aussiegall

So, how do you feel about the poem’s message?

Thank You for Reading!

If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!

Misc.

A Word Riddle: Can You Figure it Out??

Posted by Anne Rains On March - 5 - 2009

Well, this was sent to me in an e-mail and I thought everyone else may like a shot at it as well. Here it is:

What nine letter word in the English language is still a word when each of the nine letters is removed one by one?

(The answer is in the video or you can scroll down to see it typed out)

STARTLING

Remove the “L”–STARTING
Remove the “T”–STARING
Remove the “A”–STRING
Remove the “R”–STING
Remove the “T”–SING
Remove the “G”–SIN
Remove the “S”–IN
Remove the “N”–I

Pretty neat, huh?

If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!

Misc.

A Little Late, I Know…Meaning of Twelve Days of Christmas

Posted by Anne Rains On December - 30 - 2008

Well, I know that Christmas is over (regrettably) and the New Year is approaching, but I still feel in the Christmas spirit (probably because I still have all my decorations up…I know, I know…it’s bad luck to have them up after the New Year, or so my Gran would say, but I just can’t seem to take them down…they make the home feel so cozy and warm and I just love my Snowflake Tree!)…anyways, I’ve digressed…

Before Christmas my grandmother sent me an e-mail with the true meaning to the Twelve Days of Christmas song. At the time, I thought, oh this is interesting and would be a great thing to write about…but then there were presents to wrap, parties to throw, Christmas lights to see and cookies to make…so I’m a little late.

So you’ve probably wondered what maids a milking, lords a leaping and french hens have to do with Christmas? I know that I’ve always thought it a little strange, but there’s actually a lot of history and meaning behind the song. You see, in England from 1558 until 1829 Roman Catholics were not allowed to practice their faith openly. So, in order to teach the young Catholic children the true meaning of Christmas, someone wrote this song. Only the church members knew what the partridge in the pear tree, five golden rings or any of the other elements really stood for.

Here are the real meanings:

Partridge in a Pear Tree is Jesus Christ

Two Turtle Doves are the Old and New Testaments

Three French Hens stand for Faith, Hope and Love (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Four Calling Birds are the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

Five Golden Rings recalled the Torah or the Law, which are the first five books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy

Six Geese A-Laying stands for the six days of Creation (Genesis 1)

Seven Swans a Swimming represents the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership and Mercy (Romans 12:6-8)

Eight Maids a Milking are the Eight Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10) *(See the bottom of the post for these)

Nine Ladies Dancing are the Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control (Galatians 5:22)

Ten Lords a Leaping are the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) *(See the bottom of the post for these)

Eleven Pipers Piping stands for the eleven faithful disciples: Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James bar Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas bar James (Does not include Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus)

Twelve Drummers Drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed *(See the bottom of the post for these)

**Eight Beatitudes:
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit
2. Blessed are those who mourn
3. Blessed are the meek
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
5. Blessed are the mercifun
6. Blessed are the pure in heart
7. Blessed are the peacemakers
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake

**Ten Commandments:
1. You shall have no other gods before me
2. Do not make an idol
3. Do not take God’s name in vain
4. Remember the Sabbath Day
5. Honor your father and mother
6. Do not murder
7. Do not commit adultery
8. Do not steal
9. Do not bear false witness
10. Do not covet

**Twelve Points of Belief in Apostles’ Creed:
1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth
2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord
3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary
4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell (the grave).
5. On the third day, he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
6. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
7. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
8. the holy Catholic church,
9. the communion of Saints,
10. the forgiveness of sins,
11. the resurrection of the body,
12. and life everlasting.

Did you have any idea that that one little song could have so much meaning to it? It teaches a lot about the Christian faith and I’m sure helped the young children remember these key points. I hope everyone had a wonderful, healthy and happy Christmas with their family and friends. And I want to wish everyone a prosperous and healthy 2009.

Happy New Year!

Misc.

My Little Vent About Taxis…

Posted by Anne Rains On September - 11 - 2008

I have decided that taxis are a complete rip-off…let me explain why. We are here in Miami for Matt’s technology course and we thought we would save money and just take a taxi places instead of renting a car, boy were we wrong! Our hotel is only 5 miles from the course location and the taxi fare is $20!! Does that sound ridiculous to you? It does to me.

Yesterday after checking into our hotel we had to come to the course location for Matt to set-up and make sure everything works right…so $40+tip down the drain right there–you can understand why we stayed at the hotel and ordered in a pizza for dinner. Then we had to do the same thing again today…

I think next time we come we will rent a car, that has got to be a more economical way to go. We would like to see some sights while here; however, we’ve been told the drive from our hotel (near the airport) to South Beach would be a roundtrip of around $70!! I guess sightseeing around Miami will have to wait until the next time we come…

Misc.