Savannah Gourmet

We're Moving (and so is this blog!)

2012-01-07T13:23:00.007-05:00

View from my bedroom

The Pool!

Wilimington Plantation Condos
or "The Old Sheraton" as many people still call it!

The Fountain

It's a little chaotic around here because we're moving - AGAIN! We found a great new home on Wilmington Island in Wilmington Plantation. We are going from 3,000 square feet to 1500 - watch us go green and save money, yet still live in a beautiful place!

Please visit us at our new blog.....

And wish us luck with the move!!!

Find Environmentally Friendly Electronics Recycling Centers Locally

2011-12-23T21:54:00.000-05:00

Do you try to de-junk a little before the holidays? I did today, in part because of Christmas, and in part because we'r emoving soon. I found we had several electronics items, which my son had put in a "dump" box. I told him we don't take electronics to the dump; we recycle them, donate them, or give them away. I took a box to Good Will and took our plastic milk jugs and old newspapers to be recycled.

You might enjoy this link, to help you if you're de-junking or moving:

Find Environmentally Friendly Electronics Recycling Centers Locally

Thanks for dropping by!

Kim

Christmas Greetings from Wilmington Island

2011-12-19T21:53:00.001-05:00

Christmas List

2011-12-12T20:33:00.008-05:00

A quick trip to Barnes and Noble today to pick up a copy of Heart of Darkness for Ben was all it took to get my head filled with Christmas ideas!

Robbie sent me a text from college last night, asking what I wanted for Christmas. Creating a Christmas list for your kids is easy if you have your iphone with you!

So, here goes, Robbie and Ben, Mom's Christmast list:

Going Home by Harriet Evans

Beach Music by Pat Conroy

Savannah's Little Crooked Houses

And an Uglydoll!

I know, the last one's a little out there, but I just want one!

So, what's on your list?

Run Dan Ran Helps Savannah Family in Need, and Asks You to Help, Too!

2011-12-07T08:58:00.007-05:00

The following is reprinted with permission from a letter I received from my friend Dan. Dan is just the kind of caring person who would not only read about someone's misfortune and say, "oh, what a shame," but he would actually DO SOMETHING about it. So, please read the following, about a family in Savannah who recently fell victim to a fire...

On November 14th, a family of ten in Savannah lost their home & possessions in a fire. The plight of this family impacted me greatly. Gosh, can you imagine this happening to you or someone you know well? Times are hard enough as it is and something like this happening a week before Thanksgiving day and Christmas time is just brutal. I feel so sad for this family. I thought, what can we do to help this family out? I could comfortably give them $50, $100 but that's about it. How far would that take them? Not very since the parents have 8 children.

So, on Friday, November 24th I responded to a post that WSAV reporter Tuquyen Mach made on her Facebook page about this family. I asked what I could do to help them out. Ms. Mach quickly responded that the family was in need of food and clothing. She also provided a phone number for the family.

On Saturday, November 25th, I called the phone number and a lady answered the phone. I told her who I was and that I would like to help out in whatever way I could. This lady, Mrs. Tyson, said that they could really use some food and clothes. I asked her the sizes of clothes and the gender and she gave me a list. I told her I would do whatever I could to help out and she was very thankful.

That Saturday evening as I hung out with my family roasting marshmallows & making s'mores in the backyard I thought about the Tyson family again and my heart began to heart for them. I asked God what I could do to help them out and minutes later the idea of getting local runners involved in a race to raise money for this family in need came to mind. I thought about it some that night and on Sunday morning after running the Talmadge Bridge with a couple of friends I presented the idea of getting family and friends to sponsor their "runners" for an upcoming race and donating that money to the Tyson family before Christmas. The two friends that were with me, Marc Bigbie and Sarah Bland, liked the idea and we talked about it for awhile. It soon became clear that the race to shoot for should be the Reindeer 8k Run on Saturday, December 17, 2011.

So, here's the deal...

If you would like to be involved in this as a runner please do the following:

register for the Reindeer 8k that's taking place on Saturday, December 17, 2011.
download the runner sponsor form: <SponsorForm> (you may have to right-click & choose "save link as" to download).
please contact family and friends and ask them to sponsor you for the upcoming Reindeer 8k race. Please remember that any amount is better than nothing. These are tight times for many. So, if you can get lots of people to make small donations it will add up fast and will not be such a burden on one person or family.
After the race hit your family and friends for the pledges they made to you and get a money order for the total that you collected. Please email me the amount of money you collected and I'll contact WSAV to see if we can have all of the money handed to the Tyson family at one time while televised. Let's have the money ready to be given to the family by December 22nd. You can make the money order out to "Mr. & Mrs. Tyson". Please hold onto the money order until I speak with my contact at WSAV.
If you do not mind, I will post your name and the amount you collected along with your sponsors on this website. If you prefer not to be noted please let me know & I will not post your name. I figured having each runner solicit family and friends will make this process a bit more transparent than asking people to send the money to some back account that they have no idea is legit or not.
If you would rather donate food and clothing rather than money then please look at the list below of the Tyson children ages and sizes. The family said they needed food and clothes. They have little children, - so, perhaps donate toys as well.

The ages and sizes of the children are listed:

1 year old boy: 2g/3g
3 year old boy: 5t-6t
8 year old boy: 6-7 pants, 5-6 shirt
10 year old boy: 10 pants, 7 shirt
12 year old girl: 17-18 pants, medium shirt
14 year old boy: 20 pants, large shirt
17 year old girl: 5-6 pants, small shirt
18 year old boy: 33-34 pants, extra-large shirt

I do not understand those sizes listed above. I just jotted down the sizes as Mrs. Tyson stated them to me. Hopefully, you know all about children's sizes and stuff.

Mrs. Tyson said that the donated stuff could be sent to the following address:
Ms Wanda Ward
806 E. Park Ave
Savannah, Ga. 31404
912-323-0348

So, I appeal to all of you that read this blog, please help this family have a very memorable happy holiday season by taking up this cause and contacting family and friends to sponsor you as a runner for the Reindeer 8k or by donating money, clothes, food to the Tyson family directly.

If you do not feel like helping out this family, you still should consider doing this race as it is for a very worthy cause. All race proceeds go to support sexual assault victims, their families and friends and to provide prevention education for all ages.

Helping out your fellow man is our duty as God's children and just plain good for the soul.

Do not hesitate to contact at all should you have any questions. Either leave a comment at the bottom of this blog or email me at: dlh14255@gmail.com.

Many, many thanks for all.

All the very best to you and yours.

Happy Holidays!

peace,

12/05/2011

Link to wsav article about this family's plight: Family of 10 Trying to Start Over After House Fire

http://danlhernandez.com/2011/12/05/3256/
--
Dan Hernandez

http://danlhernandez.com/

Fresh Market

2011-12-03T23:22:00.002-05:00

Today was the Savannah Bridge Run. I know a lot of my friends ran and I'm sure they enjoyed it, or didn't enjoy it, as it us pretty hard to run up the Tallmadge Bridge!

I, on the other hand, woke up, popped coffee into the Keurig, and got some paperwork done.

I made some more brochures for my listing at 18 Hopeland Drive, an adorable bungalow on Savannah's Southside. I then made a few calls for Jon and Lisa, my clients who are looking for a house on Tybee to use as a getaway, and to put in a rental program with Mermaid Cottages.

Later I headed out and got to see Dimpy for a little bit when I was at her old house on Hopeland Drive. She stopped by to pick up mail and couldn't stay long, because she was getting ready to have a big party at the new house I recently sold them on Live Oak Way. They seem to be loving all that extra space. It's a beautiful house.

After dropping the brochures off at Hopeland Drive and taking care of a few things there, I headed down Abercorn to Williams-Sonoma and Fresh Market.

I didn't find what I was looking for at WS, but did pick up a 20 percent off "Friends and Family" coupon that they were handing out. I told them I had just sent my parents and siblings their gifts from WS online, and wished I had the coupon then!

The past few years I have picked out one nice gift from Williams-Sonoma and sent the same thing to each family - my parents, my sister Linda and my niece Emma in Maine, my brother George and his family in Connecticut, and my sister Kim (we step-siblings are both Kim) and her family, also in Connecticut. It has simplified my Christmas shopping a lot.

I love knowing a beautifully wrapped gift of nice quality will arrive in time for the holidays with a gift card from me and the boys. Last year our gift was a panini maker, which everyone seemed to love.

What do you do to simplify your gift-giving?

After WS, I popped into Fresh Market to pick up a delicious chicken Caesar wrap for a late lunch. I also picked up my favorite Dilly Cucumber salad, a pound of tuna salad, and a pound of Asian pasta salad. I knew we were out of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, so I picked up a bottle if that, as well.

I discovered plenty of nice Christmas food gifts there, so stop in and have a look around when you are out and about. You might want to send someone Savannah Coffee Roasters coffee, for example, or give a friend a bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau. Do they have Savannah Bee honey at Frsh Market? I'm not sure. I found lovely skin pampering gifts for my sons' girlfriends, and very cute wicker baskets to put them in.

Fresh Market also has nicely decorated balsam wreaths. I would have picked one up, but unfortunately I didn't see them until after I had checked out.

I did not stop at Nadeau this time, because I knew I'd want to spend a long time in there, and I didn't really have the time.

Tonight Ben came home from his trip to Atlanta where he picked up THREE awards he won - a Gold Key, a Silver Key, and an Honorable Mention for films he made while at Savannah Arts Academy. I am very proud of him!

Robbie is busy studying for his upcoming exams at UGA. We can't wait for him to be back home for the holidays! He's done a nice job of getting through the first semester of school, which is a challenge for any freshman in college, I'm sure. I am very proud of him,

Happy holiday shopping, everyone, and thanks for stopping by!

New Listing on the Southside

2011-12-01T12:26:00.005-05:00

(Scroll to the bottom of the blog to turn off the Georgia songs)

Take a look at this beautiful 4 bedroom home for sale on Savannah's southside. This home is convenient to Armstrong and St. Joe's.

Take a look here: Virtual Tour - 18 Hopeland Drive

18 Hopeland Drive, Savannah, GA 31419

Enjoy living on Savannah's southside in this beautiful one story brick home in a great neighborhood. This home is very convenient to Armstrong Atlantic State University and the Savannah mall. Very nice split floorplan with three bedrooms on one side of the house, and one bedroom on the opposite side for a total of four bedrooms.

The great room has very high ceilings giving a spacious feel to the rooom. The wall-to-wall carpeting is in excellent condition and has just been steam-cleaned.

Enjoy cooking in your sunny new kitchen with convenient laundry room nearby and easy access to the two car garage.

The master bedroom is large and has a pretty view to the fenced in back yard. There is ample storage space in the two closets, so get ready to unpack and get organized!

After all that moving, you'll want to enjoy relaxing on the nice-sized screened-in porch which overlooks the lovely back yard. The back yard has fruit-bearing trees so you can get your antioxidants right from your own back yard!

This home is move-in ready and waiting for new owners to fall in love with it!

Call Kim Banks for a private viewing today. 912-655-3404.

nadeau....furniture with a soul

2011-11-28T06:31:00.013-05:00

(this pic compliments the Nadeau Savannah website, www.http://furniturewithasoul.com/store.php?location=savannah)

nadeau...furniture with a soul

If you've got a beach cottage to furnish, I've got one word for you... Nadeau!

I discovered Nadeau the other day after I popped into Williams-Sonoma. To my surprise it's been in Savannah for three years. You might miss it when you run into Fresh Market, as I had. Nadeau is next to Francesca's.

Apparently Nadeau started in L.A. and has shops in Charleston, Austin Texas, and several other locations throughout the U.S.

Best part about Nadeau? The prices! Check it out when you get a chance! I think you will love it.

Located on Savannah's Southside, here:

Savannah

5525 Abercorn St. Suite 50
Savannah, GA 31405
(912) 355-5944 tel
(912) 355-5998 fax
savannah@nadeauimports.com

Mon - Sat: 10am - 6pm
Sun: 12pm - 5pm

Rocking Weekend in Savannah!

2011-11-03T21:36:00.001-04:00

Our Tybee house is booked this weekend, as is every other house, room, hotel, motel, and inn throughout Savannah. What's happening? Just as the fabulous Savannah film festival winds down, the first ever Savannah Rock 'n Roll Marathon will be in high gear. Can you imagine? World-famous Victory Drive bedecked with marathon runners keeping pace not with their iPods, but with live rock bands - it's going to be so great!!! So grab your running shoes (or grab a Savannah Go-Cup!) and join the fun !

City Market - A Savannah Marketplace Mecca to Discover When You're Too Pooped to Look at Any More Real Estate!

2011-10-14T06:25:00.007-04:00

When we moved to Savannah ten years ago, City Market was one of the first places my family discovered. We used to take the kids to Belford's for a mini night on the town (if you can call going out with the kids a night on the town!) Once we discovered Belford's, we became unadventurous creatures of habit, going back to that same restaurant again and again, because it never failed to deliver the perfect combination of great atmosphere and delicious food.

Belford's is housed in an old brick building in the Savannah historic district. In nice weather, we'd sit outside for fantastic people-watching and an icy cold beer. There was always a great mixture of tourists and locals, with the tourists usually outnumbering the locals. If it was too hot, we'd sit inside where the ceilings are nice and high, and the tables aren't all jammed right next to each other so you never feel claustrophobic. The food was consistently delicious and the atmosphere lively and fun.

Here's a link where you can read more about Belford's in Savannah's City Market and take a look at the menu.

If you go to Belford's or any of the many restaurants in City Market, you can wander around after dinner, popping into the various upstairs galleries. Then you can catch a horse and carriage ride through the historic district. You'll feel like you've gone back in time when you see all the beautiful old homes and perfectly laid-out squares that make up Savannah. Enjoy!

Great deal on Tybee!

2011-10-11T21:07:00.002-04:00

Steve Jobs - RIP - You will be missed....

2011-10-05T20:32:00.007-04:00

Commencement speech - Stamford University 2005 (scroll to the bottom of the site to turn off the Georgia songs)

The coolest guy ever - I can't believe he's gone. When it first happened, I posted this movie because I didn't even know what to say. "You'll be missed," just didn't begin to cut it.

When I wake up in the morning, I check my email on my iphone. Later I do some work on my iMac. I take my ipad with me when I'm out showing houses or going on listing presentations. My email address is kimbanks@me.com.

Sometimes I'll just lie in bed at night, fascinated by google earth on my ipad. My kids send me text messages from their iphones. In addition to their iphones, they've each got an ipod touch (don't ask me why....). I listen to my ipod shuffle when walking. Apple products deliver a big bang at our house on Christmas morning.

My Savannah real estate website is made using iweb. I am pretty much an Apple fanatic, and sure as heck am not alone. Apple products are not only beautiful and technologically amazing, they're, well, cool.

Today when I was working on my website, I discoverd that the default link when creating a link from my site is now this. How cool was he, for thinking of that before he died? We love you, Steve Jobs!!!

2011-10-03T06:31:00.000-04:00

I just saw this video posted on Facebook, and thought, "What a great way to start a Monday!" Enjoy!

Important Message about Hurricane Irene

2011-08-24T21:26:00.003-04:00

OK, seriously, we do have to prepare, despite my last post...please scroll to the bottom of the page to turn off the Georgia songs...

earthquakes and hurricanes - be prepared! or, waste your time reading about paddleboarding / kiteboarding!

2011-08-24T20:23:00.007-04:00

And when you're ready to take a break from ...

filling your tank with gas

grabbing all the important documents you will ever need for the rest of your life, including bank statements, insurance information, photos of your entire house inventoried on CD or better yet uploaded onto a cloud, marriage certificates or, in my case, divorce decrees, all of which you have, properly filed in a carry-along file that sits right by the door

gone to the grocery store to buy a supply of water bottles and enough food to last two weeks, plus a manual can opener for those cans of tuna and spam, plus medications,

gathered the pets with all their proper vaccinations and collars, even for cats

loaded up on cash from the ATM (yeah, right!) and, oh, yes, don't forget the kids...

think about taking a break when this Irene chick has settled down, to do a little paddleboarding - on Tybee Island, of course! Here's a discount coupon for you, courtesy of Groupon...

http://www.groupon.com/deals/aok-all-out-kiteboarding?utm_medium=afl&utm_campaign=4022921&utm_source=rvs

If you're reading this blog months from now, just check out the site and sorry, you'll have to pay full price - but it will be worth it, just to chuckle at your spouse who thought it would be easy and now has a look of exasperation on his face!

Click here to visit tybee island paddleboarding / kiteboarding site.

(don't you love the name - AOK - All About Kiteboarding?)

And, if you're really excited to come try

Emergency Numbers | savannahnow.com

2011-08-22T22:09:00.000-04:00

Emergency Numbers savannahnow.com

Beautiful new homes in Southbridge, Savannah Real Estate

2011-08-18T23:03:00.004-04:00

New Home in Southbriddge Priced at $339,800

I ran over to Southbridge yesterday to check on my D.R. Horton new construction listing (above), and to check on the home my clients are building on Trail Creek. They are both coming along nicely. What a difference a little drywall makes!

Please feel free to call me if you would like to look at this or other homes in Southbridge or anywhere else in Savannah.

Kim Banks 912.655.3404

email: kimbanks@me.com

Please don't let your college kid "loft" his bed without bed rails!

2011-08-15T19:07:00.010-04:00

I'm decompressing after the college drop-off. Yup. It's official. My son is now a freshman in college. Suffice it to say he is doing better than I am! Letting go is not easy.

As I stood in my son's new dorm room, everyone (including my son's ER-doc dad) thought I was crazy when I said, "that's dangerous."

I was referring to the raised beds. The kids have the option of leaving their beds low or raising or "lofting" them. Lofting the beds provides extra storage space in the small dorm rooms.

Early this morning, or sometime in the middle of the night, a UGA student fell out of her lofted bed. She was found unresponsive and taken to the hospital by ambulance. She has a fractured skull. I am amazed that UGA allows kids to raise their rail-less beds. I am thinking the policy on this practice may soon change. Let us hope so.

I hope you will encourage your son or daughter that when considering to loft or not to loft, there are really just two choices:

1. lower the beds or
2. use bed rails, easily purchased at Walmart or Target.

Thanks. If this post will help prevent even one fall, then writing this post will be well worth the time it took to write.

Let's keep our kids safe!

ps As an update to this post, I have now discovered that you can call your student's residence hall and request that bed rails be installed. Wow. Who knew? UGA has the rails. You just have to ask for them.

Williams Sonoma Comes to Savannah - At Last!

2011-08-08T22:56:00.005-04:00

Now joining Fresh Market, Chicos, Talbots, Ann Taylor Loft, Handpicked, Nadeau, and Francesca's in Abercorn Walk is Williams-Sonoma.

I popped in there the other morning to pick up a closing gift for clients who are moving to the Landings. Not only can you sip an espresso while you feast your eyes on some killer kitchenware, but they will wrap your gift for you while you wait.

I've always loved a big box from Williams-Sonoma, beautifully wrapped!

getting the tybee place ready for guests

2011-06-18T20:57:00.005-04:00

Rent this great beach place!

My kids have gone to London with their dad, and I am busy getting the Tybee house ready for my first vacation renters in two years! The first summer I had the house I rented it out weekly and people seemed to just love it. This was very important to me! I tried hard to make it as nice for guests as possible. Of course there's always more you'd like to do if you had endless amounts of money, but still, I think it's pretty nice just the way it is.

After the vacation rentals I took a break and had a tenant in it for a year. I've decided I much prefer to have happy people on vacation in the house. That way my boys and their friends and I can use it when it's not rented.

I had moved the bunk beds out when the tenant moved in and they were still in our house on Whitemarsh Island. The woman (also named Kim) who will be renting the house with her family beginning tomorrow afternoon, said her daughter really wanted the bunk beds there. Kids love bunk beds. So, I miraculously found the right size Allen wrench, took the bunk beds apart, loaded them into the back of the Land Rover and headed down to Tybee. It took two trips and a whole Saturday, but I managed to get those bunk beds put together. I know, I'm amazed, too!

I have done much to prepare for these first guests, and tomorrow I go back down to do the last bit of cleaning. It has taken three days to get it back to vacation-rental-ready, but tomorrow it will be a nice place to call home for a week for a family from Texas. Yay!

A Passion for Flowers: Anna Ferrari's Garden - Conversations About Tybee Island, Italy, Gardening, and Real Estate

2011-06-09T08:02:00.019-04:00

A day or two ago I took a walk down Lovell Avenue on Tybee Island after an early evening stroll on the beach. I snapped a photo of a FSBO sign, and of the mailbox with the house number, not realizing two ladies down the lane were watching me and had no doubt pegged me as a real estate agent. I continued walking and then bent down to snap a photo of a beautiful flower. I love taking pictures of flowers. I no pro photographer, but I've gotten a few flower shots that I love, even with my point and shoot or iphone.

I still had my iphone headphones on, as I was listening to music during my walk, but somehow managed to hear, "Hey! You like flowers???"

It was one of the ladies who had been in conversation, and sure enough she was calling to me. She was shorter with me, had dark hair and one of the warmest smiles I've seen in a long time. This is what I love about Tybee - the people are so friendly. Everyone waves and smiles when they walk or bike ride by you.

"You like flowers? You come see my flowers I plant in my garden!" And so began a new friendship with Anna from Italy.

my cute hair guy shane and his new wheels

2011-06-03T20:29:00.007-04:00

I have the cutest hairdresser. I've been going to Shane (now at Hotheadz downtown) for about five years. He's not only a great friend, but he's always very entertaining. I love hearing all his stories. His best friend is this crazy red-haired girl Maureen who is quite sullen after her recent divorce. (Well, not really.) Look for her at the pool at Savannah Quarters. She'll be sitting with Shane, sipping cocktails (who cares what time???), with their key fobs placed upright on the table showing the brand of car they drive. Hilarious. Or you might catch them going down the giant Savannah Quarters pool slide. Later they might grab a golf cart and tool about the neighborhood, maybe swing by Greg Norman's 7 million dollar place...

If you're blond, you need to visit Shane. He'll take care of you. He used to be a model, was Mr. Atlanta once, and learned to do hair in Europe. This guy has stories, and he does an amazing job. People travel from Atlanta (four hours away) and other, more remote places so that Shane can do their hair. I only go every few weeks, and always tell him I wish he would make it look that good every day. His response? "For the right price...." Honestly, he would die if he read this, but my version of blow dry is, after showering, throw on clothes, grab keys, phone, purse, jump in car heading to first appointment with windows down! Voila! By the time I arrive I look - uh, well, at least my hair is dry! "It takes a little effort, ladies," he says!

He turns a quarter of a century (yeah, oldie!) Tuesday. Happy birthday, Shane! Love ya!!! And save me a spot at the pool!

Kim

Losing Biggie

2011-05-28T10:48:00.011-04:00

I lost a very dear, sweet friend this week. The friend was called "Mr. Biggie." His life ended in extreme pain, a fact which breaks my heart even more than losing him.

I would be lying to say our life wasn't a little turned upside down when Mr. Biggie moved in with us. I had tried for weeks to ignore him as he stood on our front steps begging for a scrap of - well, anything. "We have enough cats! Go on!" I told him in my gruffest voice.

To be honest, we were all almost as scared of him as he was of us. I didn't know if he was vaccinated against rabies, or was diseased, or what. He looked big and wild, and he even sounded kind of scary, with a sort of loud, gurgly breathing. Between the heavy breathing and the fact that he was three times their size, the other cats were quite terrifed.

One day, though, I thought to myself, "how are our cats so lucky to have have shelter and food and love on a daily basis, and this one is so unlucky to have nobody to help him and love him?" That was the day I gave him just a little food.

Well, he gobbled. So I gave him another plate full - outside, of course, on the front steps, and he gobbled again. He was the noisiest eater I've ever heard. Plate after plate after plate was devoured until finally he grew full and ran away presumably to sleep.

This is how it was for weeks. We'd only see him when he was hungry and he would do his dine and dash thing.

I posted his pictures on Craigslist. One man from Tybee called and was very excited, thinking it was his long-lost tiger cat. Mr. Biggie's appearances were like clockwork. He was there in the morning waiting for me to open the door, and appeared again at dusk for dinner. We arranged for the man to come at dusk, but Biggie let us down. He did not appear. Not to be deterred, the man tried again the next night, and Biggie showed up, but promptly ran away from the man. This was the wrong lost cat.

Finally one day I let Mr. Biggie in. It was getting cold out. By this time I could pet him and he would sit with me on the porch. He was so very happy to come in and be part of a family, I think he purred non-stop the next twenty-four hours.

But our other cats did not approve. One bit. Shadow took to hiding outdoors, Sandy to hissing, and Gray to disappearing in the cabinet in the living room. Our other little stray kitty, Peanut Butter Face, usually did her own thing anyway, but generally steered clear of Mr. Biggie. It went on like this for weeks.

Our house became divided. Mr. Biggie had one side and the other cats the other. I felt it very unfair to have a scary cat live with the others, but kept thinking over time they would adjust. Inevitably the door which kept them divided got left open by mistake, and soon a fight would ensue. There is no sugar-coating it - as sweet as my Big Teddy Bear was to me, he was a big bully to the other cats. He stalked. The day he went after Sandy with claws fully extended was the day I took him to be declawed. "Once his defenses are gone," I reasoned, "they'll all be on the same playing field."

Looking back, I believe he didn't feel well the day before he died. He meowed a few times, which he usually didn't do, and I remember bending down to where he sat on the chair by the door, saying, "What's the matter, Biggie? What's wrong?" He wasn't lethargic and didn't behave in any other way that would have made me think he was sick or that - God forbid - it was his last day on earth.

He had a funny reflex which made us laugh. If you tickled his back, his head moved back and forth as if he were in a trance of some kind. Then he would lick his front paw. Every time.

On the day that Biggie died, he lay on my chest for an extra long time. "I've got to do some work Biggie, I've got to get up," I said, and heaved his large body to the side so I could get out of bed.

Later my son Robbie said, "Mom, Mr. Biggie isn't walking right." I called Mr. Biggie and couldn't get him to show me his funny walking, but told Robbie I'd be on the lookout next time he got up and walked around. He looked fine, sitting on an open magazine on the coffee table, right in the center of the action. (He was quite social, and liked being where his people were. When I sat at the computer, he was always there - between the keyboard and the screen, snoring away.)

Not five minutes later I walked into my room to get something and there was Mr. Biggie, with his head on my shoe and his back legs oddly stretched out behind him. I knew immediately that something was terribly wrong, but didn't know what. He was panting, panting, panting, and his eyes were huge. I picked him up and brought him to the living room. You don't know why you're doing anything when you're in a sudden emergency. You can't think.

"Something's wrong with him, Robbie! You were right! Something's wrong with Mr. Biggie." I put him down on the couch and he nearly rolled off. I picked him up again. "Drive me to the vet," I said and Robbie got his keys.

On those same front steps where I'd fed him so many times, Biggie twisted his head around and bit my hand, good and hard. He was in pain. He was mad. The pain was making him crazy. My hand gushed blood.

We put him on the floor in the back of Robbie's car. I dialed the vet on our way there. "Bring gloves. He's biting," I said. "He's panting and can't move his legs.'

"It's OK, Biggie, it's OK, Biggie, It's OK Biggie," that's all I kept saying over and over for the next hour, from the car ride to the sterile table where Biggie lay stretched on his side, still panting, while the vet tried everything he could to make Biggie's pain go away. I pet his head gently, gently, but just enough so he would know I was there, and the petting was in sych with the words, "It's OK, Biggie...It's OK...."

"It's not a stroke," the vet explained to my dumb self, "because strokes happen to the brain. It's a Saddlethrombosis." If you're reading this blog and have a cat, please google this because I want you to know what it is. If I had any idea that the "state" I found Biggie in was simply a cat in horrific pain, I would have gone even faster to the vet. I just didn't know if it was a seizure or something that would resolve itself in a minute. Now I know and will never forget.

"Oh, Kim," said the vet, finally, as I kept saying those words, "It's ok Biggie..."

"I think I would put him to sleep. His feet are cold. There isn't any reflex at all...."

I nodded, yes, to no more pain, no more pain, and kept up the petting and the soft words, "It's OK, Biggie," until he took his very last breath.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A special word of thanks to Dr. Mahany and his supberb and caring staff at Islands Vet Clinic.... thank you so very much for all you do for our pets every single day....you don't know how much you are appreciated and loved!

Kim

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

2011-05-26T18:07:00.002-04:00

Sundae Cafe - Deliciousness!

2011-05-19T20:11:00.003-04:00

OK, so shoot me because I have no pictures, but I had the best dinner at Sundae Cafe on Tybee last night. So, here's what I recommend:

Southern Spring Mix Salad

Pan-Fried Pecan Chicken

Glass of Merlot

It was fabulous! Highly recommend! Make sure you make a reservation! All for now - incredibly busy day...cannot believe Robbie is graduating from high school on Wednesday!

Thanks for visiting!

summer reading ideas...

2011-05-06T13:56:00.007-04:00

Will you be grabbing a spot at the beach this summer? Visiting Tybee Island? Here are a few book ideas from the New York Times....

'The Boy in the Moon'

By IAN BROWN
Reviewed by ROGER ROSENBLATT

In this memoir, the journalist Ian Brown tries to understand his profoundly disabled son.

Excerpt

Also in the Book Review

'The Year We Left Home'

By JEAN THOMPSON
Reviewed by JONATHAN DEE

In this sympathetically witty novel, which spans 30 years, a Midwestern family struggles for economic and emotional stability.

'The Constitution of Liberty'

By F. A. HAYEK
Reviewed by FRANCIS FUKUYAMA

The definitive edition of the economist Friedrich A. Hayek's monumental work, which argues that no central government can know enough to organize society as efficiently as the market.

'Netsuke'

By RIKKI DUCORNET
Reviewed by MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM

As his wife chases after beauty, the narrator of this novel, an aging psychoanalyst, obsessively sleeps with his patients.

'Music for Silenced Voices: Shostakovich and His Fifteen Quartets'

By WENDY LESSER
Reviewed by EDWARD ROTHSTEIN

A critic speculates about what Shostakovich was really expressing in his string quartets.

'The Silent Land'

By GRAHAM JOYCE
Reviewed by KEVIN BROCKMEIER

After an avalanche, a couple on a skiing holiday notice changes to their existence, in this eerie fantasy of isolation, marital love and the afterworld.

'Founding Gardeners'

By ANDREA WULF
Reviewed by PAULA DEITZ

A history of the founding father's passion for agriculture and botany, and how those pursuits reflected their political ideas.

'The Age of Deception'

By MOHAMED ELBARADEI
Reviewed by LESLIE H. GELB

Mohamed ElBaradei, the Nobel prize-winning former director of the International Atomic Energy Agency and a major player in the revolution in Egypt, describes his quest to stem the atomic tide.

'The Great Night'

By CHRIS ADRIAN
Reviewed by LAURA MILLER

Chris Adrian's novel is a loose retelling of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," set in contemporary San Francisco.

'The Immortalization Commission'

By JOHN GRAY
Reviewed by CLANCY MARTIN

John Gray, a philosopher, explores a century or so of investigations into immortality by mystically inclined intellectuals.

'Idea Man'

By PAUL ALLEN
Reviewed by GARY RIVLIN

The Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen charts his uneasy relationship with Bill Gates during the software giant's early years.

'You Are Free: Stories'

By DANZY SENNA
Reviewed by POLLY ROSENWAIKE

Race, class and gender affect the identity struggles of the nuanced characters in Danzy Senna's story collection.

'This Life Is in Your Hands'

By MELISSA COLEMAN
Reviewed by MEGAN MAYHEW BERGMAN

A memoir of a family sundered by their return to the land in the 1960s.

CHILDREN'S BOOKS

'Hooray for Amanda and Her Alligator!'

By MO WILLEMS
Reviewed by PAMELA PAUL

Mo Willems's latest picture book features a little girl and her stuffed animal. But in contrast to his Knuffle Bunny series, this one is told from the toy's point of view.

www.SavannahMoves.com

ele - you have to go there! best restaurant!

2011-05-04T22:58:00.019-04:00

My dad and Betsy were in town last weekend on their annual pilgrimage from Florida to Maine. We were dying to go to Sundae Cafe on Tybee because the food is sooooo good there, despite the fact that the cafe is located in a strip mall (complete with gas station), but alas, Sundae Cafe is not open on Sundays (I know - what the heck!?)

Bets googled restaurants in Savannah and came up with Ele - Fine Fusion on Wilmington Island. It opened the summer Miley Cyrus was in town filming The Last Song. I read that Miley liked it, so I figured if it was good enough for Miley, it's good enough for me. Like Miley, I LOVE sushi! But only one kind - tekka maki. I didn't end up having sushi, though, which is a great reason to go back again soon.

Betsy and I shared a bottle of Pinot Grigio. "I'm the designated driver," she said. This confused me ever so slightly, as she had just ordered a whole bottle of wine for the two of us. To clarify, she said, "I'm not having a martini."

"Oh, I said," and took another sip of wine.

Dad ordered a martini.

"Extra dry," he told the waiter, then added, "without olives."

We ordered a spring roll appetizer to share, and it was delicious.

After asking for salmon at North Beach Grill the night before and being told to try the Talapia instead (no thanks), I was thrilled to order my favorite fish at ele. When it arrived, I was not disappointed. Served with a green curry sauce, the salmon was beautifully presented, and beyond delicious.

This restaurant is tres chic and lovely, and the food amazing. The service was perfect. Betsy had seafood of some kind, as did Dad. Yup, there I was, the allergic-to-shellfish kid (hey, age is relative, right?) plopped smack in the middle of a crab and a shrimp.

Not to worry - I was in a zen-like state of bliss with the sounds of a soothing waterfall in the background, and a nice glass of Pinot in my hand.

Before I knew it, the meal was over and we were sucking down some palate-cleansing lemony sorbet (me) and creme brulee (Dad and Bets) while we sipped coffee and discussed the effects of evening caffeine, and whether we'd be able to sleep or not (zzzzzzz........ - this turned out not to be an issue in the least....)

Dad "settled up," while we ladies headed to the loo to check out the fancy glass sink bowls and the Marilyn Monroe picture above one of the toilets. "COOL," I said. There's something about being with my parents that makes me feel like a teenager again, and I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but no matter...

I don't know which I liked better, the bathroom or the sushi bar we passed on the way out, with its color-changing lights. (Actually, you may want to verify this, as I may have been hallucinating...)

All in all, it was a great time and a most amazing dinner! Highly recommend!

What Happens on the Boat

2011-04-29T21:26:00.002-04:00

Snapped this photo while having a nice lunch at Crab Shack on Tybee~

French Onion Soup a la Vidalia Onion - ooh, la, la!

2011-04-05T07:53:00.013-04:00

Last night while I wrote the Vidalia Onion Museum post, I sent my adorable step-sister Kim a FB message that said:

"Quick! What's your easy French Onion Soup recipe?"

Gotta love that girl for quickly sharing her home-made-not-really-a-recipe recipe for French Onion Soup!

(I inserted the paragraphs to make it easier to follow!)

French Onion Soup

Gotta give credit where credit is due...this is actually Alan's creation I don't ever follow specific directions (THERE'S a surprise), but here are the basics:

Saute thinly sliced, mild onion & garlic (lots of both) in butter (lots!) until they're soft.

Add 1 can beef consomme (not broth...the consomme is the trick to making it rich and yummy),

red wine (a few cups),

salt/pepper/ thyme (just a pinch)

and let it simmer for about 20 mins.

I'm sure you know the rest...

pour the soup into crocks and top with a piece of TOASTED french bread (if you don't toast the bread, it will break apart in 10 seconds)

and

Gruyere.

Pop the crocks under the broiler until cheese is bubbly...et voila: zee soup est finis!

Visit Kimberly's blog here.

I like these.

Thanks, Kim - love ya! (And yes, we're both Kim, though she now goes by Kimberly). If anyone makes this soup, please report back to me! I'd love to know how you like it!

Thanks for stopping by! Heading out to grab some Gruyere!

Kim

Vidalia Onion Museum Grand Opening April 29th in None Other Than VIE - day - lia

2011-04-04T22:15:00.010-04:00

When I first moved to Georgia I misprounced "Vidalia." A friend said, "no, it's VI (rhymes with high) day-lia." I think I can honestly pronounce the place correctly now, or at least in true Georgia form.

Mandy Sewell of Langston Libby Group sent me a reminder that the Vidalia Onion Museum will be opening this month. She'd like to get the word out and have lots of people visit the museum on opening day, which is April 29th, in VI day-lia.

Vidalia always makes me think of Priscilla, Founder of Prissy's, Inc, who turned a passion for volunteering and cooking into a thriving business. Try some of her Peach Preserves, Vidalia Onion Jelly, or Vidalia Onion Mustard. So yummy!

Here's what Mandy sent me about the big day - the big onion day!

Soon Vidalia onion enthusiasts around the country will be able to explore the history of Georgia’s beloved state vegetable and the growing region that has made it so famous with the official opening of the Vidalia Onion Museum on Friday, April 29, 2011. The noon event is slated to include high-profile chefs and offers attendees a fascinating look into what makes the Vidalia onion so special.

“We have worked for five years to unearth each unique layer of the Vidalia onion story and then portray those layers creatively for visitors,” says Vidalia® Onion Committee Executive Director and Museum Chairperson Wendy Brannen. “When we first hired a museum consultant, they asked, ‘Really, an onion museum?’ But they quickly realized we’re not just any onion, and this isn’t just any story!”

So head on down to Vidalia head on down to Vidalia to learn about those deliciously sweet Vidalia onions! (And God forbid, don't pronounce it like a Yankee!)

cute little tybee beach house

2011-03-26T21:42:00.022-04:00

This is what I love about my job - stumbling on to great finds - like this!!! Hope you're all having a fun weekend. Here's to springtime, and the beach!

scenes from savannah - early march

2011-03-10T22:37:00.012-05:00

clouds at the trail

more clouds at the trail

crape myrtle with their heads chopped off

rose with spanish moss

view from savannah arts academy

"fishun" - whose car is that, anyway? Cap'n Judy's?

bay street

lyman hall road

spanish moss in wind - why can i not post this under the picture, blogger?

anyway, thanks for stopping by. i hope you are having a lovely early spring!

Savannah Real Estate - Unsellables!

2011-03-07T09:41:00.005-05:00

I'm helping Carly of HGTV find "Unsellables" in Savannah! We're looking for homes that are cluttered, outdated, have wild paint colors, etc. Owners must be under 48, preferably young families; house must be owner-occupied and not a foreclosure or short-sale, and homes must have been on the market at least 30 days. Please contact me if you know of any homes that fit the bill! kimbanks@me.com. Thanks!

friday afternoon closing

2011-02-25T22:39:00.005-05:00

Had a closing for a Merritt condo today. It was one of those days... you're driving to the closing, thinking everything is going so smoothly, despite the last minute change in date and time of closing....when all of a sudden the phone rings!

"MOM!"

Oh, no.

"The bus left us! We can't get to our tennis match in Effingham County. We need a ride!" This call came in precisely 20 minutes before the closing. I made the quick decision to change directions, head to Savannah Arts Academy to pick up Ben and his friend, who were inadvertently left stranded while the rest of the team sang merrily on the bus all the way to Rincon. (Where's Rincon? Put it this way, I saw a lot of land today!)

I dropped my forgiving clients off at the law firm, headed to Rincon, and then back to the law firm to pick them up. So, yes, I missed the entire closing. Did they mind? Not at all! They just signed and signed without me.

That, my friends is the beauty of having a closing with your children's grandparents! They were very understanding, and are loving their new condo -- a nice place to hang their hats when they come visit. Yay!

trail, trail, trail, i love you!

2011-02-22T23:18:00.005-05:00

Whenever I need a getaway, I have to go no further than "The Trail," which is where I went this morning for a nice six mile walk.

Cheers!

build a home in southbridge - or buy this model!

2011-02-22T06:40:00.015-05:00

This is the D.R. Horton model home in Southbridge. I would love to show you around. It is priced in the low 300's, and is within walking distance of the pool and fitness center. You can have a frozen drink while lounging at the Southbridge pool, or grab a bite to eat poolside. The slide is great and I guarantee your kids will love it! You will totally feel like you're in a resort when you sit by that pretty pool. If you have very little kids, you'll love that they can wade in without having to use stairs. Oh, but back to the model house. I personally could move right in. You can also get the house furnished. Wouldn't you love to leave your old stuff behind and start fresh? I know I would! This house has a master on the main level, and three other bedrooms on the same level, but separated from the master. The kitchen is great, and opens to the living room and dining room. There is also a separate office or sun room, and a back patio. Upstairs there is a huge bonus room. The ceilings are very high, and there is a ton of light! (My kind of place!)

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

Kim

Savannah Real Estate Open House Tomorrow!

2011-02-19T22:40:00.002-05:00

I will be holding an OPEN HOUSE tomorrow, Sunday February 20th from 2-5 pm at 105 Rachel's Retreat. This great house is NEW construction and the price is unbelievable! Listed at just $156,400! Conveniently located! Furnished model in Southside. Bright open floor plan, sitting room in master, 2 car garage. Additional lots available; 6 different floorplans, pick your style and colors. Builder to pay $5000 to closing costs! Hurry! Buy it before I do~ This is a model home. There are several others for sale, too!

Directions:

Montgomery Crossroads to Edgewater Rd. Drive 1/2 mile, turn left into Creekside Sub. Third house on the right.

happy valentine's day from em the beauty geek! (my niece)

2011-02-14T22:23:00.005-05:00

(scroll to bottom of page to turn off music)

tybee cam - live!

2011-02-10T20:41:00.002-05:00

I love this live streaming video from Tybee. Not much action when I checked tonight, but just to see those palms swaying in the breeze....well, that's pretty much heaven! Can't you feel yourself relaxing? I can!

sunday house showings

2011-02-08T17:40:00.009-05:00

A client and I looked at this bank-owned property listed by Steffany Farmer of Coldwell Banker on Sunday. The house is in the Mosswood subdivision in the Berwick area. As you can see, it was nice and sunny in Savannah!

We then headed to the Enclave, also in the Berwick / Southbridge area, where we looked at another home.

Busy with contract class today, and tonight Ben's basketball game (which he plays after tennis practice!) It's one of those unfortunate nights where both boys have a game at the same time in different locations. Robbie's dad will go to his game, and I'll go to Ben's. Fingers crossed for two wins tonight!!!

To my friends up north, hope your snow disappears soon!

* * *

Later

Things have a way of working out, don't they? Ben's game was cancelled, and I went to Robbie's. Great game with tie score 43-43 and 44 seconds on the clock. Then, Robbie scored! Yes! A win for St. Andrew's - the crowd goes WILD!!!!!

Just released....this month in real estate

2011-02-04T16:38:00.002-05:00

(Scroll to bottom of page to turn of GA songs)

craving tybee....

2011-02-01T10:53:00.004-05:00

I don't know about you, but every once in a while I get the urge to head down highway 80 to Tybee Island....do you?

OK, grab your flip-flops, and I'll meet you at the pier!

xxoo have a great day!

Westbrook Villas at Savannah Quarters

2011-01-29T18:13:00.002-05:00

Model home curently listed at $369,000

The lovely Molly Bridges showed my clients and me these great villas at Savannah Quarters today. What a great day to be house hunting in Savannah. End of January and nearly 70 degrees with plenty of sunshine! What a fun day!

realtor open house for 5.2 million dollar wilmington island estate

2011-01-24T13:54:00.016-05:00

Morningside Drive

showing houses and being social!

2011-01-23T22:00:00.007-05:00

It was another busy weekend in Savannah! I showed many properties in Savannah Quarters and Southbridge. It's amazing how much new construction is going on in those two areas!

I then headed down to Tybee Island where I met some friends.....

at Social...I love Tybee in the off-season - no blistering heat, no scorching suburns, and no crowds...I did miss having sandy feet!

It was fun to take a minute from our busy lives and have a glass of wine with friends!

Hope you all enjoyed your weekends, too!

busy, busy, busy!

2011-01-20T11:57:00.006-05:00

Hi all, I've been swamped lately and not posting as much as I'd like. I like to post to make connections with you, and to hear all the latest news in your world.

Besides listing and selling houses, here are a few of the things I've been working on:

1. Optimizing my SavannahMoves website. OK, I'm no SEO-guru, but there is still lots that I can do to help my site move up in Goggle search. I've been doing keyword research with google's keyword research tool to find all the ways people search for Savannah real estate. I do have a company helping me, though they haven't started yet. They will be writing some keyword-rich "hidden" articles to insert info the site (which reminds me, I have to ask Point2 if they will allow the SEO expert FTP access to the site...) Anyway, I'm hoping they are going to get some great backlinks for me, too, and maybe start a pay-per-click campaign. In the meantime, I am changing the generic words that came with the site to more Savannah-specific terms, for example "Savannah Swim and Tennis Communities," and "Long Point," instead of something generic like "Subdivisions."

2. Answering questions. Daren Blomquist, from Realty Trac, asked for my help yesterday. He's writing an article about local market conditions, and this one focuses on Georgia. Here are the questions he asked and some of my answers....

* * *

1. How would you describe the foreclosure situation in Georgia/your local market?

Savannah has been affected like everywhere else. Appraisers are now counting the foreclosures they once disregarded. With so many foreclosures infiltrating neighborhoods, they must be included in the comps. Obviously foreclosures have a negative impact on the value of surrounding homes.

2. What is happening in the real estate market overall in Georgia / Savannah (sales volume, prices, etc., attitudes, anecdotes)?

The hardest hit areas appear to be historic downtown Savannah and Tybee Island. We still aren’t seeing much activity in either of those two areas, which is unfortunate for sellers, but an incredible opportunity for buyers, especially with interest rates as low as they are. If you are interested in searching for homes in a particular neighborhood, you can visit my site, “SavannahMoves.com.” You can also search by such parameters as “duplex,” “investment,” or “commercial,” at SavannahMoves.com

3. What types of buyers are most active in the local market, and why do you think this is the case?

I have seen a lot of relocations lately, job transfers, military, etc. It seems many would-be investors are still on the fence, waiting for further drop. Interestingly, many of those who are buying are using cash. We caution those waiting to keep an eye on interest rates, because they are already starting to creep up. I expect interest rates in 2011 to be in the 5’s. You can sign up for alerts at Bankrate.com. Every day I look at interest rates in our area when they are sent to my phone. Also speaking of alerts, you can sign up with Google to have alerts sent to you on any subject, such as “REO Savannah,” or “Tybee foreclosure.”

4. What advice would you give someone interested in buying a foreclosure in your local market?

Unless paying with cash, I would say the first thing to do is to find a lender and get pre-approved. Everything has to fit perfectly into the lender’s box of requirements. If something is off, they say no because the loan won’t be salable. So get pre-approved before you do anything else.

Courthouse Steps

First Tuesday of every month in Savannah – You’ll need to thoroughly research the property you plan to bid on prior to auction day to be sure you don’t get stuck with a big lien to pay off. You can have title searches done, but this can get expensive if you’re bidding on several properties. You can look up each property on the website GSCCCA.org, or you can visit the courthouse to do your research there.

On the day of the auction, bring cash or certified funds (made out to yourself), as payment in full is required once bidding is complete. It’s better to bring smaller amounts (say ten $10,000 checks rather than one $100,00 check) because they won’t give you change at the auction. You will get change, but it sent to you in a few weeks.

It takes two or three months to get full title to the property. Some investors wait to do repairs after they receive full title.

Auction House

If you are buying through one of the popular auction houses like Williams and Williams, you find out how much you need on auction day. You can usually put down a small amount with certified funds, and then finance the rest. The purchase is not contingent on financing (or anything, for that matter!), so be sure to get pre-approved before the auction. You can then finance it quickly, which is a good thing, since they usually tack on a per-diem charge if you can’t close within 30 days. Check to see if the bank who is selling the property is offering financing. Often they will have a favorable rate for their own properties, and will expedite the process because they are “in the loop” as to the type of sale occurring.

You can also bid online at auction.com or williamsauction.com. Do read the fine print before you bid, and use a credit card instead of a debit card to place your bid. You can bid yourself, or have your Realtor bid for you. Your winning bid amount won’t be affected by a real estate commission. You will be charged a “buyer’s premium” with or without a Realtor, so factor that into the purchase price and know your top number before you begin bidding.

REO’s

In today’s climate, one of the best ways to buy foreclosures is to buy them when they are bank-owned (REOs) Your Realtor can find these for you. We have many bank-owned listings at Keller Williams. Bank-owned properties are a much safer buy because the banks take care of any liens, which may have been attached to the property, and pay back HOA dues and taxes. You also have the opportunity to inspect the properties before purchasing them. You have time to decide how much to spend, without getting caught up in the frenzy of the auction.

One more note is that the properties sold on the courthouse steps are sold “as is” and are often not available for inspection prior to the auction. With REO’s and foreclosures bought through the auction houses, it is usually stated that they are sold “as-is, where-is,” but today more than ever banks are willing to do some repairs. They might do a kitchen, for example, to make the property habitable, if it is a “lender required repair.” Houses in Savannah must have at least one fully functional kitchen and one fully functional bathroom in order to obtain a certificate of occupancy.

5. What do you think 2011 and beyond holds for the housing market in Georgia/Savannah?

I am extremely optimistic for long-term growth. The stock market has recovered nicely, companies are flush with cash, and the population continues to grow.

6. Please describe your involvement in the housing market (agent, broker, buyer, investor, etc.) along with any background you think is relevant.

I’m a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty Coastal Area Partners in Savannah, Georgia. I came into the business after investing in a couple of foreclosures, orchestrating repairs, and then either renting out or selling the properties. I also can’t tell you how many of my own contracts I’ve negotiated over the years – call me the perpetual mover! All of this experience helps me a great deal in my everyday work as a Realtor.

O.K., that's all for now. Did I mention I've got sick teenagers at home, too? Stay well, everyone!

xxoo kim

you go, ted!!!! america adores you!

2011-01-06T07:56:00.007-05:00

Please first scroll to the bottom of this page to turn off the Georgia songs. You've GOT to hear this man!

I have watched this video so many times already, and apparently so has everyone else in the world. It got 11 million YouTube hits within 48 hours. Truly amazing!

In case you have missed it, this man, Ted Williams, now has a new home, kindly donated by the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team. The Cavaliers also offered him a job as announcer.

I think this is only the beginning for him, as requests for interviews come piling in. I love America. We love a good story with a happy ending!

Please leave a comment!

new year, new you?

2011-01-04T10:43:00.007-05:00

yellow flower (that's the scientific name)

from last summer on tybee....

Happy New Year, Everyone! Quick post to let you know I'm still breathing! I need sunshine, how about you? Just had to post a picture of a sunny flower, because today is quite chilly and gray in Savannah.

So, long story, but we didn't get the bank-owned property. I've listed the Tybee house, and if it sells, we may give it another whirl. Honestly I'm very mixed about whether I want the Tybee place to sell!

What are your resolutions? My friend Krate called to say her resolutions are to "have fun and stay healthy." Two thumbs up to those great resolutions. I thought they were so perfect, that I've adopted them as my own. What about you?

Off to return buyer phone calls and check out some new listings! Talk soon!

Kim

christmas in savannah....

2010-12-25T13:21:00.007-05:00

a friend's sweet message

a gift from my parents

a walk on the trail

and an asthmatic stray cat

who thinks he owns the place!

Happy Holidays to you all!!!

xoxo

kim

in case you're wondering about the house...

2010-12-20T21:46:00.003-05:00

Mr. Biggie says, "Keep on Trucking! Don't Give Up!"

Most normal people would have given up by now, but I have persevered and every day when I think I will give up because the lender is making a new demand or demanding more money from me, or telling me they need a permit for that lower level or a letter stating the septic tank works (I know, ew, that's the only part I don't like about that house), I find a new lender who thinks he can finance the deal 100%...really and truly it's driving me nuts, and I will keep you posted!

I think tomorrow I may finally give up. Not sure if the bank will grant an extension, and not sure I can keep on fighting this bugger...

savannah proposal

2010-12-20T21:42:00.002-05:00

I had fun reading this Savannah FB page asking everyone where this guy should propose. Jeez, I hope the prospective fiance doesn't get on FB or blogs much.... (Jonathan Cline's made me laugh!)

Savannah
A young gentleman needs our help! Question via Email: "I'm going to propose on Christmas Eve and am looking for a unique, intimate spot downtown, what do you suggest?" Help him out, y'all!

20 minutes ago · · Comment

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- Jennifer Poole The Mansion, Avia, The Bohemian, 1790, The Old Pink House
  18 minutes ago · ·
- Jasmine Vakharia Tybee Island Lighthouse, one of the squares of Savannah
  18 minutes ago · · 1 person ·
- Jacquie Stein Cha Bella by the fireplace.
  18 minutes ago · · 1 person ·
- Gabby Bennett The fountain at forsythe park! =)
  18 minutes ago via Facebook Mobile · ·
- Sheila Windham McDonoughs Bar and while sing a love song via Karaoke, in middle of song propose to her.
  17 minutes ago · · 2 people ·
- Natalie DeFore I love The Old Pink House Restaurant; if it is still open!
  17 minutes ago · ·
- Kelly Waters The gazebo in Whitefield Square!
  17 minutes ago · · 2 people ·
- Shelly Barbosa On a private horse drawn buggy ride!
  16 minutes ago via Facebook Mobile · · 5 people ·
- Diane Rasmussen Tybee Island on the dock under the moonlight
  16 minutes ago · ·
- Michelle Leann Eberly Stand in the middle of the echo chanber with her and yell it:)
  16 minutes ago · · 2 people ·
- Kelly Sneed Brown One of the squares - maybe the one with the Gazebo? Forgot the name.
  15 minutes ago · ·
- Jonathan L Cline He should first go downt to River St. and see that psychic lady
  15 minutes ago · · 2 people ·
- Lisa Brown Colley The spot on River Street that echos...
  15 minutes ago via Facebook Mobile · ·
- Amber Shoe oh yes do the carriage ride! that would be so romantic!
  15 minutes ago · ·
- Claire Brooks Carter Depends on what the other person likes....I think that Calhoun square, Colonial park Cemetery or Forsyth on the path that leads up to Confederate memorial. But that's what I would like. Or City Market or Ellis square, but all of these are for personal reasons :) Choose your favourite spot, you can't really go wrong with anywhere in Savannah!!
  14 minutes ago · ·
- Laura Scott Mullally From the spot on River Street where you can hear the echo..let her say something first to hear the echo and then say "now iit's my turn" :) I'm sure you'll get applause as well!
  14 minutes ago · · 2 people ·
- Allison Alexander The Fountain in Forsythe Park or by the Waving Lady statue down on River Street...she spent her days waving her cloth as a signal to her love lost at war.
  14 minutes ago · · 1 person ·
- Kayce Williams Hollingsworth I think it would be neat to take her on a carriage ride around the squares to look at all the pretty lights and maybe have one of the bed and breakfasts pre-arrange a private champagne dinner.
  14 minutes ago · · 2 people ·
- Diane Van Matre Kreiss Forsyth Fountain.
  13 minutes ago · ·
- Kim Gautreaux Goode Old Pink House downstairs is very intimate! Propose in front of the fireplace while the pianist is playing her favorite Christmas song! We were there last week and had the best evening!
  13 minutes ago · · 1 person ·
- Kellie Day We were married at the gazebo in Whitfield square (20 years ago), so I am partial to that spot! :)
  10 minutes ago · · 1 person ·
- LeighAnn Wood Fuqua Carriage ride and have it stop at Forsyth Fountain to propose.
  9 minutes ago · ·
- Amy Tamayo Headrick At the Christmas Tree on River St by the Waving girl, Have a friend guard the ring in the tree and have it as an ornament point it out then while she grabs it get on your knee and you know the rest
  9 minutes ago · · 2 people ·
- Judi LeRoux Eller Ross the weather should be fairly mild around Christmas according to the forecast so inside/outside will work
  9 minutes ago · ·
- Barbara Webster It's not the place or the time that matters, it's how you confess your undying love for her while down on one knee and a ring in hand. The rest of the world will not even exist at that moment. Best Wishes!!♥♥
  9 minutes ago · · 1 person ·
- Anna Helene Mccoy Tybee Island by the Pavillion that is where my husband and I got
  married Sept.2007....
  8 minutes ago · ·
- Judi LeRoux Eller Ross two things to consider if you go to a public building/restaurant on Christmas eve:
  1. Is it OPEN on Christmas eve?
  2. Is it Crowded!?
  7 minutes ago · ·
- Tracy Baron-Verduchi Omg, the Fountain @ Forsyth Park! Good Luck, hope she says yes....
  6 minutes ago · ·
- Terri Patillo The Gazebo in Chippewa Square.
  4 minutes ago · ·
- Sondra Range Arzamarski my husband and I got married in Washington Square where we had our first picnic date. Pick somewhere that is special, not trendy!!
  4 minutes ago · ·
- Jen Moore the bench where Forest Gump said "life is like a box of chocolates..." lol
  2 minutes ago · ·

miracle on 34th street a la savannah?

2010-12-16T01:39:00.014-05:00

See the a/c units? Neither do I!

I'm up in the middle of the night, blogging. What the heck? As if I didn't have enough to think about at this time of year, we're trying to buy a bank-owned property. It's a very cool big house that the boys and I love, and it needs a lot of work.

People get mad when they are faced with foreclosure, and they often steal things from the bank before they leave. I don't know what they think this proves, or how they think this improves the situation, but that's what they do. They think the stuff is theirs, but it's not. It belongs to the bank.

In this particular case, the owners took everything they could get their hands on. Every toilet except one has been removed. The mantel has been ripped from the fireplace. The appliances and cabinets in the kitchen are gone, as are the bathtubs, closet shelving, and bathroom vanities and sinks. You get the picture.

The lender who is supposed to close this deal two days before Christmas and the bank from whom we are trying to buy the property (Chase) are now at a standstill. You may remember the previous Chase-owned property I bought on Tybee and the fun I had trying to get that deal closed!

My lender has had three separate appraisals done. The first two were "too far apart," and the third came in even lower than the first two. Zillow has the property valued at over $800,000, and I have it under contract for under $300,000. However, the true value of a property is not what an appraiser says it is, or what Zillow or anyone else says it's worth. The true value of a property is what a buyer will pay for it.

The lender will now not lend the original amount in the approval letter because of the low appraisal. The bank will not lower the purchase price. Yesterday I thought, well let's all just give a little. All three of us - the two lenders and me. I'll put in more cash, my lender will come up a little on the amount they will lend, Chase will come down a little on the price, and we'll close the deal and everyone will be happy.

No such luck. Here is the heartfelt, Miracle on 34th Street-ish response from Chase:

A price reduction at this time is denied.

Please advise if the buyer will walk if not approved. If so, please obtain a cancellation of contract and we will move forward.

I just love Chase!  Chase just gives me the warm fuzzies, you know what I mean?

Anyway, I hope your pre-holiday season is slightly less stressful than mine, and I'll keep you posted on what happens next.... thanks for visiting!

Kim

'Savannah' movie starts filming in Feb. | savannahnow.com

2010-12-14T21:54:00.000-05:00

'Savannah' movie starts filming in Feb. | savannahnow.com

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miracle on 34th street a la savannah?

'Savannah' movie starts filming in Feb. | savannahnow.com

By IAN BROWN
Reviewed by ROGER ROSENBLATT

By JEAN THOMPSON
Reviewed by JONATHAN DEE

By F. A. HAYEK
Reviewed by FRANCIS FUKUYAMA

By RIKKI DUCORNET
Reviewed by MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM

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Reviewed by EDWARD ROTHSTEIN

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Reviewed by KEVIN BROCKMEIER

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Reviewed by PAULA DEITZ

By MOHAMED ELBARADEI
Reviewed by LESLIE H. GELB

By CHRIS ADRIAN
Reviewed by LAURA MILLER

By JOHN GRAY
Reviewed by CLANCY MARTIN

By PAUL ALLEN
Reviewed by GARY RIVLIN

By DANZY SENNA
Reviewed by POLLY ROSENWAIKE

By MELISSA COLEMAN
Reviewed by MEGAN MAYHEW BERGMAN

By MO WILLEMS
Reviewed by PAMELA PAUL