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@ CLOCK, @ TIMER, @ BOX @ND @ TR@SHB@G@ CLOCK, @ TIMER, @ BOX @ND @ TR@SHB@G@ CLOCK, @ TIMER, @ BOX @ND @ TR@SHB@G DEDEDE---CLUTTERING MADE ECLUTTERING MADE ECLUTTERING MADE EASY IN HOME ASY IN HOME ASY IN HOME

EXPLORE THE W@TER COEXPLORE THE W@TER COEXPLORE THE W@TER CONSERV@TION G@RDENSNSERV@TION G@RDENSNSERV@TION G@RDENS IN TRAVEL SAN DIEGOIN TRAVEL SAN DIEGOIN TRAVEL SAN DIEGO

@RLO GUTHRIE@RLO GUTHRIE@RLO GUTHRIE IN FRONT PORCH PICKIN FRONT PORCH PICKIN FRONT PORCH PICKIN’IN’IN’

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Visit us at www.LaTorta.com and click on coupon for the latest value meals and coupons.

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or send a note with your full name and address to: 8295 La Mesa Boulevard, La Mesa, CA 91942

FROM THE FRONT PORCH JOURN@L j[nu[ry/f_\ru[ry ]ontri\utors:

Front Cover Photography: ©Virginia Hamrick The Real Estate Brief A Note from Rosemary: Rosemary Joles Mortgage Memo: Carolyn Plummer Home: Judy Sullivan San Diego Adventure: Elle Schaeffer Travel San Diego: Barbara Allen Voyage the Globe: Elaine Allen Books or Blogs: Todd Joles Podsibilites: Todd Joles Techno-holics: Todd Joles Ingenious: Rosemary Joles Nitty Gritty: Susanne Romo Jacalyn Blank

DO YOU ENJOY READING

FROM THE FRONT PORCH

JOURNAL?

SIHAM MILLER Licensed Acupuncturist

Certified Yoga Alliance Instructor

phone: 619.303.9784 email: siham@acuyogawellness.com 8080 La Mesa Blvd., Ste. 208 La Mesa, CA 91941

Special!

Buy one massage at regular price, save $15 on your second massage.

For new acupuncture patients. Receive $25 off your first acupuncture

treatment with us. ($40 )

For more information on future specials, visit www.acuyogawellness.com

Annette Young Financial Advisor Vice President– Investments 829 Orange Ave. Coronado, CA 92118 619-435-4276 2366 Jamacha Rd El Cajon, CA 92019 619-660-1955 annette.l.young@wellsfargo.com home.wellsfargoadvisors.com/annette.l.young

Market’s Fluctuate Relationships Shouldn’t

Investment and Insurance Products NOT FDIC Insured NO Bank Guarantee MAY Lose Value

Wells Fargo Advisors is the trade name used by two separate registered broker-dealers: Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC, Members FCIC nonbank affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company. © 2010 Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. All rights reserved. 1110-4262 [74029-v2] A1015

Winner of the 2013 San Diego Five Star Wealth Manager Award

contents m[r]h/[pril ^_p[rtm_nts

4 the real estate brief a note from rosemary carolyn’s mortgage memo

5 home de-cluttering made easy

6/7 lifestyle experience sd theatre san diego adventure travel san diego

8 family corner voyage the globe out of the mouths front porch wisdom

9 et cetera where’s rosemary delish

10 eye candy del mar mesa road

12 minutia useless knowledge bravo and mia bites rosebud’s garden

13 upcycle trash to treasure

14 bits and pieces books or blogs podsibilities ponderings appaholics ingenious

15 sd outdoors sd sports park exploration-shelter island sd word find– north county coastal

16 nitty gritty non-traditional spring cleaning fannie-mae short sales enemy

17 sd concerts front porch pickin’

18 domiciles from east county to coast

8

4

From the Front Porch Journal Compliments of:

Rosemary Joles Realtor, CA DRE # 01095314 619·405·7673 Homes@LivinInSD.com www.LivinInSD.com 8295 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa, CA 91942

Follow our blogs at: LivinInLaMesa.com or

LivinInSD.com

Like us on Facebook at: Facebook.com/LivinInECSD

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13

G reat News!!! And just in time for 2012 income tax filings!!! New legislation recently passed by Congress has brought back a popular tax break on mortgage insurance

premiums.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 extends the tax break — which expired at the end of 2011 — allowing borrowers to deduct the amount they pay for mortgage insurance.

The mortgage insurance premium deduction is retroactive to January 1, 2012. This means that eligible borrowers who paid a mortgage insurance premium in 2012 will be able to use the deduction when they file their 2012 returns this year. The deduction applies to all loans*, including FHA, VA, USDA and conventional loans.

Also, the mortgage insurance deduction has been extended until December 31, 2013. This means that eligible borrowers who pay a mortgage insurance premium in 2013 will be able to use the deduction when they file their 2013 returns in 2014.

To benefit from the tax deduction, homeowners must itemize the deduction on their federal tax return. Households with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of less than $100,000 per year can deduct 100% of their annual mortgage insurance premiums.

Those households with an AGI over $100,000 per year can benefit from the tax deduction but are subject to a sliding scale of benefits: The deduction is reduced by 10% for each additional $1,000 of AGI more than $100,000 per year, phasing out after $109,000.

If you would like to know more about the new legislation recently passed by Congress and how you may benefit, please contact me today at 858.550.2541.

*Certain restrictions may apply. Check with your tax advisor to find out if your loan qualifies. The above content is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a tax advisor. We are not a law firm, nor a CPA firm

the real estate brief a note from rosemary

carolyn’s mortgage memo - new legislation benefits homeowners

Carolyn lives in Rancho San Diego with her husband, teenage daughter and 2 dogs. She has lived in East County for the past 22 years and loves the sunshine and sense of community. Carolyn can be contacted at Carolyn.plummer@prospectmtg.com or at 858-550-2541. Equal Housing Lender. Prospect Mortgage, LLC, NMLS #3296. I am a licensed mortgage originator, NMLS# 300310, and am licensed to originate mortgage loans in the State of California. To learn more, visit my Prospect Mortgage website at: myprospectmortgage.com/cplummer

S pring is here, as I predicted in the last issue of From the Front Porch Journal. My meter for

spring is seeing the California Poppies blooming, along with the myriad of ice-plant blazing in purple, orange, fuchsia and red along our freeways. I

love this time of year! Our seasonal rains have made the hillsides green, and it’s the best time to show clients ocean view homes during the day and at sunset. Our coastline offers the most stunning blue water scenes during daylight and ultra-spectacular, vibrant colored sunsets at this time of year. It truly is magical and I’m sure it is why so many choose to live along or near our San Diego coastline.

Wow, our real estate market has really changed here in San Diego. To give you an idea how much our market has changed, lets transport ourselves to 2005 and take a look. At the peak of 2005 we experienced what we, as Realtors, thought was low inventory. It doesn’t even compare to today’s market, with nearly the same amount of closed sales, buyers have 30,834 less homes to choose from. 2013 does not look like it will change by much, my only concern is that interest rates have started to creep up. This will erode a buyer’s purchasing power. If you are considering selling your home now would be a good time to take the leap. With the still historically low interest rates, buyers are hot to purchase and as you can see from the chart you have very little competition. If you would like to know the current market value of your home give me a call at 619-405-7673. Until next time.

T he most expensive home that sold in San Diego County in the month of February is this 2003 built, 7 bedroom 8.5 bath, 11,207 sq. ft. home located on a 1.6 acre lot in Carmel Valley’s, neighborhood of Rancho Pacifica . The buyer paid $5,475,000

Year End New Listings Closed Sales

2005 *81,500 *37,885

2012 *50,666 *37,571

* Includes all property classes

home

D o you have your cup of coffee? Let's sit and talk about what I am learning about de-cluttering. This process

can be as complicated or simple as I want to make it. Personally, I like to keep things simple, so, this how I start:

Make A Plan: To begin my planning I decide upon a room. I think of it visually as the dial of a clock. I identify my "12 o'clock" that will be my starting point. Depending on how much time I have on a daily basis to spend de-cluttering I set my plan.

Another thing I like to think through is how to keep like-items together when de-cluttering a room. For instance—when I organize my closet, I keep all of my jeans together. The same goes for dress pants, jackets/blazers and shirts. For example, I organize according to color and type or sleeve length. There are many ways it can be done; it real-ly is a personal preference of what will work for you. The key is what will take the least amount of time to access and maintain. This same principle can be applied to any location whether closets, shelving, cabinets or drawers.

Whatever I use most stays within easy reach. The items I use less frequently are kept just a few steps away. And in a small space anything else should stored in another location (seasonal items for instance).

Kitchen Timer: This little item is one of my best motivators because one day I might have only 5 minutes; another day 45. I always work within the parameters of the time I have on a given day. This little gem keeps me focused. It is important to be brutally honest here with the amount of time I really have so that I do not overwhelm myself. Keeping projects simple and realistic will ward off the temptation to give up. If there is only time to do one drawer or one shelf; then I do the one drawer or one shelf. I will still be making headway. Nothing says I have to do it all in one day!

Gather Boxes/Containers: Now I bring my containers/boxes into the room. Labeling helps make this next step super easy. I label the boxes—giveaway, store, new home, sell and of course the trash container. The "new home" box is for those items which I am keeping elsewhere in the room. Also the container/box used for storing items should seal well or close securely (we don't want bugs...yuk!). I have learned to label what is in each storage box when I am packing it then there is no digging through every box when looking for that something special.

All right, it is time to start de-cluttering! I set my timer and work on my first area.

Empty Sort Put away according to your plan * Only put back in this location what goes here * All other things will go in one of your boxes

When the timer goes off; I empty the trash and move any full boxes and containers out of the room. Give away goes right into my car, for easy access to drop off at my favorite thrift store. Lastly, I place the box marked storage in its new home.

Each day I follow my plan moving my focus around the room in a clockwise fashion until the whole room is done. With this process, even though it may take a few days (when time is at a premium), the room will get done and be in order as I continue around "the clock".

I have found this to be the easiest way to get a room done when I only have a few minutes a day to devote to de-cluttering. Remember this one rule of thumb: put things away where they belong when you are done using them and your room will stay uncluttered. Which translates in to a functional space that is simplified and easy to keep de-cluttered.

de-cluttering made easy Judy Sullivan

Exclusive Stager /Redesigner for The Joles Group Judy Sullivan

Simple Formula For How to De-clutter Your Home

Timer + Boxes + Trash Bags = De-cluttered Home

12 3

6 9

V isualize your room as the dial of a clock….

lifestyle experience sd theatre

Lamb’s Players Theater lambsplayers.org Pete ‘N Keely January 18-March 3

Mixtape Through March 30

Damien March 22-May 5

Fiddler On The Roof May 17-June 30

The Coronado Playhouse coronadoplayhouse.com

Ruthless January 25-March 3

Pageant April 5-May 12

The Old Globe theoldglobe.org

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder March 8-April 14

Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll House March 23-April 21

Other Desert Cities April 27-June 2

Broadway San Diego Broadwaysd.com Billy Elliot April 30-May 5

Green Day’s American Idiot May 28-June 2

San Diego Repertory Theatre sdrep.org The Mountaintop March 2-March 31

Federal Jazz Project April 6-May 5

Events provided by Elle Schaeffer - ENS Marketing Directions. Elle is a freelance Graphic designer and Marketing Consultant, specializing in small businesses. When not sitting at her computer, you can find Elle out Mt. Biking with her husband K.C. You can see more samples and get more information about these or any other events at www.ensmd.com. Contact her at info@ensmd.com or (619) 278-8635. Ask about having a monthly calendar of events created for your business!

April La Jolla Concours d’Elegance www.lajollamotorcarclassic.com 4/5-7 7:30 am - 4:30 pm

Carlsbad 5000 www.carlsbad.competitor.com 4/7 7:00 am – 1:00 pm

Del Mar Home Improvement Show www.showsusa.net 4/12-14 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Heartbreak Ridge Half Marathon www.hardcorpsraceseries.com 4/13 6:30 am

Taste of… Several communities are hosting their “Taste off's” this month: Julian 4/13 1:00 – 5:00 pm College Area 4/14 11 am– 3 pm Hillcrest 4/20 12 pm – 4 pm Poway 4/20 5 pm – 9 pm

San Marcos Spring Festival www.swingintospringfestival.com 4/14 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Lakeside Rodeo & Parade www.lakesiderodeo.com/ 4/19-21 10:00 am – 5:30 pm

CityBeat Festival of Beers www.sandiegomusicfoundation.org 4/20 2:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Fallbrook Avocado Festival www.fallbrookchamberofcommerce.org 4/21 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

The Point Loma Garden Walk www.pointlomagardenwalk.com 4/27 10:00 am

Encinitas Street Faire www.kennedyfaires.com/encinitas 4/27-4/28 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Adams Avenue Unplugged www.adamsavenuebusiness.com 4/27-4/28 10:00 am - 7:00 pm

Little Italy Art Walk www.artwalksandiego.org 4/27-4/28 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

La Jolla Shores 5K & Half Marathon www.lajollahalfmarathon.com 4/28 7:30 am - 9:30 am

May Santee Green Day at the Lakes www.santeelakes.com 5/4 8:00 am – 1:00 pm

Walk for Animals – Barkin Beach Bash www.sdhumane.org 5/4 7:00 Reg. opens

Fiesta Old Town CInco de Mayo www.oldtownsandiegoguide.com 5/4-5/6 Sat:11:00 am - 10:00 pm, Sun: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

Art in the Pines Spring Festival www.torreypine.org 5/4-5 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Fiesta de los Penasquitos www.rpcouncil.com/fiesta 5/5 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Spring Sprint Triathlon & Duathlon www.kozenterprises.com 5/5 6:45 am – 10:30 am

Carlsbad Village Faire www.carlsbad.org 5/5 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Ridiculous Obstacle Challenge rocrace.com 5/11 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

SD Botanic Garden Chocolate Festival www.sdbgarden.org 5/11 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

North Park Festival of the Arts www.northparkfestivalofarts.com 5/18 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Escondido Downtown Street Fair www.escondido.org 5/19 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Bay Bridge Run/Walk www.navylifesw.com/bridgerun 5/19 8:00 am - 11:00 am

Santee Street Fair www.santeestreetfair.com 5/25 10:00 am – 7:00 pm

Events provided by Elle Schaeffer - ENS Marketing Directions. Elle is a freelance Graphic designer and Marketing Consultant, specializing in small businesses. When not sitting at her computer, you can find Elle out Mt. Biking with her husband K.C. You can see more samples and get more information about these or any other events at www.ensmd.com. Contact her at info@ensmd.com or (619) 278-8635. Ask about having a monthly calendar of events created for your business!

Need more information? Email Elle:

info@ensmd.com

travel san diego

The water conservation garden By Barbara Allen

Barbara Allen is a freelance writer. She has written educational materials for the past 15 years and currently writes reading assessment items for an e-learning company in Virginia. Barbara loves to travel, explore new places, and write about them. Check out her blog: bicoastalbarb.wordpress.com/ about her cross-country travels.

W ould you like to have a beautiful lawn and garden, but don’t want a high water bill? Then visit the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College to get great

ideas for ground covers, water-wise plants, and decorative hardscapes. Situated on five acres, the garden began in the early 1990s by the Helix and Otay Water Districts to help the public save on water for their landscaping. Cuyamaca College provided the land for the garden, and the gardens opened to the public in 1999. At the entrance, a volunteer welcomes you with a visitor’s map, outlining the many themed gardens and exhibits. Drought-tolerant plants from six different continents are featured. To the right of the square when you enter is a seasonal plant nursery, where you can purchase plants. Past the gift shop, view different paver configurations for hardscapes or patios, as well as ground covers. Do you have only a patio or balcony? Check out the container garden for planting ideas to spice up your space. If you

would like a lush, green carpeted lawn, but are unsure of which type of grass to plant, the Turf Exhibit displays seven different kinds of turf and their water requirements. Does your grassy backyard require too much water? Stroll over to the Water-Wise Backyard Exhibit and see how reconfiguring your green space can reduce your water usage by 18,000 gallons a year.

Take a break from your routine, pack a picnic lunch, and bring the kids. Let your children explore the Children’s Discovery Trail and Jurassic Garden, where they can play in a sandbox, check out the potting shed, look for hidden animals along the trail, and

discover footprints of long extinct animals. Eat lunch beneath a canopy at the site of the future butterfly garden, while a hummingbird sucks the nectar from red cape honeysuckle. Sit on a bench in the gazebo next to camphor trees and listen to the breeze rustling their leaves. Lounge beneath the draped canopy of the Patio Garden Exhibit as a butterfly playfully flits about you as birds sing to each other across the gardens. At the Dorcas Utter Sensory Garden, listen to the gentle sound of rainfall, created by a rain stick, as you open and close the purple gate and enter. Wind chimes tinkle in the breeze as you touch and sniff the leaves of juniper, eucalyptus, and fragrant geraniums. Explore the gardens on your own, or take a docent-hosted tour on Saturday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Admission is suggested by donation. Classes are also offered to the general public. Visit the garden at 12122 Cuyamaca College Drive West in El Cajon. For more information, visit their web site: www.thegarden.org/ See more photos of the garden at bit.ly/TRAVELSD

All photos courtesy of Barbara Allen

voyage the globe family corner

If you recall, from our last issue of From The Front Porch, we are going to look at places many folks have on their "Bucket List" to visit. Alaska is on

many folks list and offers some of the most majestic sights and magnificently landscaped areas in the world. So in answer to the most commonly asked question about Alaska, "When is the best time to visit?" My answer, "It depends on you and what you want to see."

Having spent three seasons working in Alaska, my personal favorite time to be there was late May to early June and late August, early September for many reasons. First and foremost, the weather all seemed to be the nicest. And while never a guarantee, of course, it was during those times I most often found the weather to be sunny and warmer ~ yes more than even during the July and August timeline.

Not to say you can't get the sun and warm weather then or rainy and clouds during these times; it just seemed better at the beginning and end of the Alaskan cruise season.

Next reason, late May, early June the majestic mountains offer gorgeous views of stunning snow-

capped peaks. End of season, the salmon run is bringing sights many will never experience any other way, and the run brings the bears out into view too.

And last but not least, the crowds are less these times of year. Alaska has many ships in each port each day! That means there are a lot of people wandering the area. Its nice to be there when it is a little less crowded and get a better feel for the "real" Alaska.

Now, no matter when you go, the whales offer a sight to behold. Many of us have been to SeaWorld of course, but to see whales in the wild, breaching, bubble feeding, diving ... oh my gosh it is indescribable.

The excursions in Alaska just can't be beat ~ the best in

out of the mouths...

M oira was struggling to get the

ketchup out of the bottle. As

she fought with the bottle the

phone rang and her 4 year old daughter,

Mia, answered it saying, ‘Sorry, mummy

can’t come to the phone at the moment

because she’s hitting the bottle.’

You were born an

original. Don’t die a

copy. John Mason

front porch wisdom

Come Come Sit Sit

for a for a SpellSpell

almost any other part of the world. No matter what you chose they are incredibly memorable. My favorite ~ a helicopter ride to the top of a glacier with a landing and hike. Breathtaking!

So what do you want to see in the Last Frontier? Want more tips about Alaska? Is getting to Mt. McKinley important for you to see, want to see the pipeline, go gold panning, see the big five in Denali Park? Check in with me to help gain more info on what will make your Alaskan adventure a memorable one.

A trip of a lifetime-Alaska

After working on cruise ships for 10 years, Elaine Allen has settled back in North Park, San Diego to enjoy her grandchildren and garden that abounds with hummingbirds and butterflies. She wants to make sure each trip she plans brings enjoyment and enrichment to her clients. Elaine can be reached at: Phone: 619.564.7088 email: elaine.allen@avoyatravel.com www.avoyatravel.com/expert/elaineallen

Denali National Park

Photo courtesy of im9.eu

Helicopter Rides

Photo courtesy of prosaring.com

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delish

where’s rosemary?

In every issue of From the Front Porch you’ll find a photo of different places that I’ve been in San Diego County. Your goal is to figure out where I took the photo. Be specific and submit your guess as fast as you can (You have competition!!!) The first correct answer will win a $25 Visa Gift Card! You can email, call or facebook us at: 619-405-7673, Homes@LivinInSD.com or www.facebook.com/LivinInECSD. Thanks for playing!

et cetera Creamy Thai Sweet Potatoes and Lentils

Los Penasquitos Lagoon Del Mar ,CA

Congratulations Maureen Brown of Santee, CA

won a $25 Gift Card to Mimi’s

where was rosemary?

Ingredients 1 cup lentils, rinsed

4 cups chicken broth

2 cups sweet potatoes, peeled and diced

1 tsp. turmeric

1 Tab oil

1 Tab butter

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 onion, thinly sliced

1/2 head green cabbage, thinly shredded

1 jalapeno, ribs and seeds removed

Preparation Instructions

1. Pour lentils, broth into a large pot. Bring to a boil and then simmer on low for 15-30 minutes, add sweet potatoes, turmeric, tomatoes and ginger to the pot and cook for another 10 minutes or until sweet potatoes are tender.

2. Heat the oil and butter in a large skillet. Add garlic, onions, and jalapenos. Sauté for 2-3 minutes. Add the cabbage and cook for 10 minutes, or until cabbage is cooked through.

3. Add cabbage to lentil pot and stir in coconut milk. Top with cilantro.

2 tsp. fresh minced ginger

14.5 ounce can fire roasted tomatoes

2/3 cup lite coconut milk

Cilantro for garnish (optional)

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5104 Del Mar Mesa Road.· San Diego· CA· 92130 $2,299,000-$2,399,000

5+ Bedrooms, 5 Baths

5631 Square Foot, 48,787 Square Foot Lot

4 Car Garage

Premier Del Mar Mesa Location

Elegant Travertine Flooring

Gourmet Kitchen

Décor, Bosch and Sub-Zero Appliances

Breakfast Nook

Elegant Wrought Iron Staircase

Master Suite Features Stone-cast Fireplace

Dual Master Walk-In Closet

Master Suite Private Balcony w/ Outdoor Fireplace

Stunning Pebble Tech Vanishing Edge Pool & Spa

Built-in Stainless Steel BBQ and Refrigerator w/Island

Professional Landscaping to Enhance Views

Gated Entrance Features a Paver Circular Drive

W el Mar Mesa Custom Home

Rosemary Joles In Harmony With Your Dreams Residential Sales · Short Sales · Leasing 619· 405· 7673 Homes@InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com

Benjamin Franklin was one of America’s most prolific inventors, but he refused to profit financially from his work and never filed a single patent. A few of his inventions were the carriage odometer, lightning rod, Franklin stove, swim fins, flexible urinary catheter and bifocal eyeglasses.

Todd Joles known as Todd the “Toolman,” is a handyman by day and business associate of his wife Rosemary, a passionate luthier by night, mandolin/bluegrass aficionado by choice, chief cook and bottle washer because he loves his wife and a purveyor of this useless knowledge. If you are in need of handyman services you can contact Todd at: 619-985-5017. He may even share some useless knowledge with you. You can find more useless knowledge at: Facebook.com/LivinInECSD

rosebud’srosebud’srosebud’s gardengardengarden

"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace.” ~Milan Kundera

Bravo and Mia are the fur-children of Rebecca and Shayne Johnson. They are the grand puppies of Rosemary and Todd Joles.

bravo and mia bitesbravo and mia bitesbravo and mia bites

uselessuselessuseless knowledge knowledge knowledge

Rosemary Joles is passionate about low-water gardening in San Diego. She loves creating gardens that look like lush water thirsty gardens, yet need very little moisture to maintain them. Her other passions include real estate, lattes spending time with family and friends, reading, music and laughter!

botanical name: Aloe polyphylla common name: Spiral Aloe Likes: Sun to Part Shade Hates: Cold Blooms: Red Negatives: Finicky Note: Overhead watering damages leaves

minutia

Photo compliments of: Rebecca Johnson

Photo compliments of: Thompson-morgan.om To see more about this plant go to: www.LivinInSD.com

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“There is always music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it.”

-Marie Aumonier

upcycle

From Trash to Treasure

What You’ll Need 1 Old light shade 3 Ball Chains cut to desired length 1 S Hook For Hanging 3 ‘A’ Couplings 1 Split ring 3 Bell pendants

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8329 La Mesa Blvd. La Mesa, CA 91942

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4695 Palm Avenue · La Mesa · CA · 91942

bits and pieces

podsibilities

if the average human life span was 40 years, how would

you live your life differently?

ponderings

From Marcandangel.com

techno-holics

books or blogs

ingenious

Cut open toilet paper rolls or old wrapping paper rolls and

use as a cuff to save your wrapping paper.

Source: Pinterest

In our spotlight this issue is Nelson DeMille, bringing us “The Panther.” The author

that brought us “The Charm School” and “The General’s Daughter” is back in one of his most explosive thrillers to date. This story outlines the fictitious account of the mission to assassinate the man behind the USS COLE bombing. Our hero uses himself as bait to draw out the bad guy terrorist in a cross country excursion through the tribal territories of Yemen. This tail is filled with betrayals and alternate agency agendas and will

keep you guessing right up to the very end.

W here I come from a Goat Roper is someone who wears $500 boots, a $400 hat, drives a customized jacked up 4x4 that’s never been off road and who doesn’t know a heifer from a bull. You put more than two of them together at one time and you got a Goat Rodeo. I must admit that I REALLY wanted to dislike this one just because of the name, but these tracks are truly AWESOME. Yo-Yo Ma on cello, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, banjo and mandolin (originally from North County), Edgar Meyer on bass, piano and gamba, Chris Thile on mandolin, guitar, fiddle, gamba, and vocals (originally from North County), and lastly Aoife O'Donovan on vocals. The combination of classically trained musicians and bluegrass artists playing a roots classical fusion really works. I can’t stop listening to them. Check out this track “Attaboy” on youtube.

youtu.be/d-31e8Nlujw

saving your wrapping paper

B ye, bye, desktop. Hello, thumbtop?

Dell has been a household name for years and they are looking forward to a continued future with “Ophelia.” Ophelia is a modern computer experience for less and it runs on only 1 watt of power cutting power consumption by 299 watts! With a tentative price point of $50-$100, Ophelia is a thumb drive sized force to be reckoned with. Imagine walking up to a work station consisting of a touch screen television or monitor and plugging in your Ophelia. Your apps automatically appear on the screen. Your programs and data are all stored in the cloud so they are safe and secure and can never be lost. This is all done with the added benefit of NO MORE DESKTOP!

SD Sports

sd outdoors

Shelter Island

Shoreline Park

Shelter Island drive

San Diego, CA 92106

T he Padres adopted their name from the Pacific Coast League team which arrived in

San Diego in 1936. That minor league franchise won the PCL title in 1937, led by 18-year-old Ted Williams, the future Hall-of-Famer who was a native of San Diego. The team’s name, Spanish for “fathers”, refers to the Spanish Franciscan Friars who found San Diego in 1769.

Now You Know

Find the answers at www.LivinInSD.com/ws

San Diego North County Coastal Word Search

park exploration

Cardiff by the Sea Carlsbad Carmel Valley Del Mar Encinitas

Fairbanks Ranch La Costa Leucadia Oceanside Olivenhain

Rancho Santa Fe Santa Luz Solana Beach Sorrento Valley

portofsandiego.org/shelter

-island-shoreline-park.html

nitty gritty non-traditional spring cleaning

S pring brings new life all around us. Trees are bursting into leaf, daffodils

in Julian are starting to show up and it’s staying lighter later at night. Spring is also the traditional time for, well, spring cleaning. It usually involves going through your closets, getting rid of your old clothes, shoes, books, etc. But it’s also a good time for non-traditional spring cleaning.

Take a few minutes and go through your old paperwork. Shred or recycle old insurance statements, bills that are not tax-write offs, magazines that, let’s face it, you are never going to read.

Look over the garage. Are there old paint cans, pesticides or cleaning products that shouldn’t go into the trash? You can go online to sandiego .gov/environmental- s erv i c e s/miramar/hhwtransfac.shtml to find your

local household hazardous waste recycle site.

Start a recycling program at home. Go to wastemanagementsd.com/env/recycle.asp to get tips and guidance on what is, and more importantly, what isn’t recyclable. If non-recyclable items end up in the recycle bin, the entire truck can end up going to the dump instead of being recycled.

Reuse, repurpose. Perhaps that school project foam board can become the basis of your vision board. Crushed eggshells make very effective snail deterrents. Coffee grinds are excellent fertilizer…in fact; your local Starbucks often has bags that you can have.

Consider starting a backyard vegetable garden, or just sneaking some vegetable plants in between the flowers. If you have children, let them grow mammoth sunflowers and pumpkins.

Instead of throwing your kitchen scraps away or grinding them up in the garbage disposal, consider compost-ing. sdcounty.ca.gov/dpw/recycling/composting.html has helpful hints and discounted composting bins for San Diego residents.

Organize your photos. I found an affordable slide/negative scanner at Best Buy, and have been able to scan old photos into my computer and save them remotely. This provides security in case of fire, and also preserves memories before the negatives can degrade.

We all have a junk-jumble drawer. Go through it and see what you could get rid of.

And lastly, don’t forget about the electronic waste. We all have old cell phones, computer monitors, other electronic devices, and batteries etc that need to be recycled. recyclesandiego.org/services/ electronics-recycling has a list of items that can be recycled for FREE.

Eliminating clutter and creating space not only gives a sense of accomplishment, it can mentally free you of stress. Your home will be organized and you will be able to find the things you want quickly and easily,

Susanne Romo, LUTCF has been working in insurance since 1986. Her passion is showing her clients that there can be a vast difference between just ‘having’ insurance…and being properly insured. She can be reached at 858 751 0956 or sromo@farmersagent.com

Did you know that Fannie Mae's government bai l-out is

estimated to cost tax payers $224–360 billion in total to "right the ship"? What’s more, it was AFTER this bail out that Fan-nie Mae became the m o s t d i f f i c u l t investor of them all.

Here's the breakdown:

In 2010, they changed their in-house modification program to a floor rate of 5%, when it had previously 2%. This became known as the "worst modification" offered by any investor.

In 2009, they changed their guidelines for foreclosure postponement stating that only a property in an active and APPROVED workout (modification or short sale) would get the sale date postponed.

In 2010, they cut the amount they

would pay to 2nd lien holders through a short sale. Fannie Mae was now among a small handful with an amount to 2nd lien holders less than the HAFA amount.

In 2012, they told servicers to counter a short sale for MORE than it was worth. Once a BPO was received, the servicers were given a "reconciled market value" that they should counter the agent at. Fannie Mae became the only investor countering above fair market.

More in 2012, Fannie Mae changed their value dispute process. The new dispute process had a less than 5% effective rate for agents disputing a value on file.

In 2013, Fannie Mae declared that all BPOs would be ordered by them and then reviewed by them. The order process can take up to 15 business days. This increases the number of “unapproved" short sales that will go to foreclosure.

How can this be? How can Fannie block the assistance they have promised as a condition of receiving their bail out money? How can they demand more than fair market value for houses and expect no one to notice that they are creating a new housing bubble? The foreclosed home getting held in Fannie Mae REO portfolios get released to market once a short sale buyer has been "suckered" into paying over market value for a home, so that Fannie Mae makes more money on both short sales and REOs. The home owner and the real estate agent are the ones who suffer.

Do you want to explore the option of doing a short sale give Jacalyn a call.

Jacalyn is the owner of a Short Sale Negotiation company called Short Sale Solutions, located in Clairemont. She currently lives in La Mesa. She has enjoyed living all over San Diego county and getting to know the different communities. On the weekends she enjoys going to her son’s basketball games or going to the local Famer’s Market. Jacalyn and her short sale negotiation team can be reached at 866-593-7755.

fannie mae-the short sale enemy?

san diego music from

classical to

bluegrass

front porch pickin

sd concerts

4/4 In The Mood Location: Escondido Price: $15-$49 Time: 3:00 pm & 7:30 pm Info: artcenter.org

4/9 Arlo Guthrie Location: Downtown Price: $29.50-$48 Time: 7:30 pm Info: sdbalboa.org

4/12 Songs & Stories by the Legendary Ian Tyson Location: Normal Heights Price: $35-$62 Time: 7:30 pm Info: amsdconcerts.com

4/13 Elephant Revival Location: Normal Heights Price: $20-$47 Time: 7:30 pm Info: amsdconcerts.com

4/18 Steafan Hanvey Location: Normal Heights Price: $20-$47 Time: 7:30 pm Info: amsdconcerts.com

4/19-4/20 The Five Browns Location: Copley Symphony Hall Price: $20-$85 Time: 8:00 pm Info: sandiegosymphony.org

4/20 Trippin’ The Sixties Location: Normal Heights Price: $20-$47 Time: 7:30 pm Info: amsdconcerts.com

5/4 The Lincoln Trio Location: Escondido Price: $30-$47 Time: 7:00 pm Info: artcenter.org

5/5 Hot Club of Cowtown Location: Normal Heights Price: $20-$47 Time: 7:30 pm Info: amsdconcerts.com

5/11 Incendio Location: Normal Heights Price: $20-$47 Time: 7:30 pm Info: amsdconcerts.com

5/16 Tom Rush Location: Normal Heights Price: $35-$62 Time: 7:30 pm Info: amsdconcerts.com

5/24 –5/26 Joshua Bell Location: Copley Symphony Hall Price: $20-$96 Time: 8:00 pm , Sunday 2:00 pm Info: sandiegosymphony.org

Arlo Guthrie The Lincoln Trio Joshua Bell

The San Diego Reader has a comprehensive list of concerts by venue check it out at: sandiegoreader.com/music

Coastal Lifestyle · Carlsbad Village · $529,000-$569,000 3 Bedroom 1 Bath · 962 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Heart of the Village · La Mesa · $375,000 2 Bedroom 2 Bath · 1445 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Beautiful Remodel · Rancho San Diego· $499,000 4 Bedroom 2.5 Bath · 2433 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

domiciles

Balcony Dolphin Watching · Oceanside · $859,000 2 Bedroom 2 Bath · 1200 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Retire Here · Lake Hodges · $399,000-$429,000 4 Bedroom 2 Bath · 1700 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Stunning City/Bay Views · Downtown · $799,000 2 Bedroom 2 Bath · 1263 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

from east county to the coast

Elegant, Golf Course View · Solana Beach · $579,000 2 Bedroom 2 Bath · 1344 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Gorgeous 2 on 1 · Lakeside · $459,900 5 Bedroom 4 Bath · 2400 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Premier Location · Kensington · $850,000-$899,000 4 Bedroom 3 Bath · 2272 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Meticulous Home · El Cajon · $699,000-$724,900 4 Bedroom 2.5 Bath · 3124 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Entertainers Backyard · Meadows Del Mar · $2,595,000 5 Bedroom 6.5 Bath · 5538 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Beach Bungalow · Oceanside · $430,000 2 Bedroom 1 Bath · 800 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

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very home is a masterpiece

Low real estate inventory, multiple offers, many buyers…means higher prices for sellers. If you are thinking of making a move give us a call. We have buyers for your home.

Rosemary Joles In Harmony With Your Dreams

Residential Sales · Short Sales · Leasing 619· 405· 7673

Homes@InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com

LEASED · Little Italy · $1950 1580unionst.com

SOLD · Vista · $20,000 sunrisecircle.info

Pending · El Cajon · $269,900 garfieldave.info

Pending · Paradise Hills · $199,000 livininsd.com

Contingent · Eastlake · $300,000 livininsd.com

Contingent · Poway · $375,000 rollinglendrive.com

Active · La Jolla · $899,990 livininmynewhome.com

Active · Carmel Valley · $1,159,000 livininmynewhome.com

SOLD Your Home Here!