Saturday, December 15, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Windemere Subdivision
Windemere Subdivision now has a website http://windemerelutz.googlepages.com and a restricted email Google group http://groups.google.com/group/windemere-subdivision-lutz. If you live in Windemere, join the email group.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Images From Walker Road - Part 2
My, you have big eyes!
Guardian Tweety.
Every gate has to have a painting on it.
Fixer Upper
Images From Walker Road - part 1
Walker Road is off Sunset, between Hanna and Livingston.
Totem Mail
The Lutz mascots - Sandhill Cranes
Home of Easy Rider?
Totem Mail
The Lutz mascots - Sandhill Cranes
Home of Easy Rider?
Friday, April 20, 2007
How Do You Know You Are In Lutz? - Ballons
Saturday morning hot air ballons swooshing over your house.
How Do you Know You Are In Lutz?
Hay in the back of a car. (Seen at the parking lot of the Lutz Post office.)
Monday, March 05, 2007
What were they thinking?
Our Lutz house has wall to wall carpet in the the bedrooms and the living room part of our greatroom. The rest is tile. We don't like wall to wall carpet and decided to have the carpet removed and laminate flooring out down. today our installer began his work, first removing the old carpet. To our surprise, the surface underneath the carpet was not concrete, but more of the tile. The photo below shows the dining room part of the great at the bottom and the living room at the top. Dividing the room is the carpet strip.
When I saw this, my first thought was "Why?". Why did someone glue and nail carpet tack strips and glue padding onto tile floor? What were they thinking? Rugs would have been cheaper, simpler and easier. Sometimes I just donb't understand.
Now we face a decision. Rip up the tile and replace that part of the room with laminate or leave it and fix the damage.
When I saw this, my first thought was "Why?". Why did someone glue and nail carpet tack strips and glue padding onto tile floor? What were they thinking? Rugs would have been cheaper, simpler and easier. Sometimes I just donb't understand.
Now we face a decision. Rip up the tile and replace that part of the room with laminate or leave it and fix the damage.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Hooper's Souless Suburbia
Ernest Hooper has an interesting column on Friday titled: "Souless Suburbia"
"Soulless.
Time and again, the word is used to characterize life in suburbia, and I can only ask one question: Why the hate?"
"My life and my community - and it is a community - isn't defined by old-fashioned houses, kitschy clothing shops or sidewalk cafes. Sure, most every house in my neighborhood is beige, and my home's design has been repeated at least 150 times in the area
"My advice: Judge me not by the color of my home, but by the colorful personalities of my neighbors."
"The appeal of suburbia is built on simple pleasures and a slower life"
It will be interesting to see if life in Lutz is the same as he describes Seffner. I suspect that it sometimes takes longer in suburbia to find the colorful personalities that it does in the City. In the City these personalities jump in your face. Partly I think it is the design of the houses in suburbia, with garages and backyard patios. You spend more time out front in the City and thus it is easier to meet people.
I have seen glimses of colorful possiblities as we have driven into Windemere for the past weeks. There is a neighbor who had a bar in his garage, that occasionally people group around. There are people eating a meal in their garage. There is a neighbor who always have his garage open and is doing something there everytime I drive by and who has waved at me many of the times.
"Soulless.
Time and again, the word is used to characterize life in suburbia, and I can only ask one question: Why the hate?"
"My life and my community - and it is a community - isn't defined by old-fashioned houses, kitschy clothing shops or sidewalk cafes. Sure, most every house in my neighborhood is beige, and my home's design has been repeated at least 150 times in the area
"My advice: Judge me not by the color of my home, but by the colorful personalities of my neighbors."
"The appeal of suburbia is built on simple pleasures and a slower life"
It will be interesting to see if life in Lutz is the same as he describes Seffner. I suspect that it sometimes takes longer in suburbia to find the colorful personalities that it does in the City. In the City these personalities jump in your face. Partly I think it is the design of the houses in suburbia, with garages and backyard patios. You spend more time out front in the City and thus it is easier to meet people.
I have seen glimses of colorful possiblities as we have driven into Windemere for the past weeks. There is a neighbor who had a bar in his garage, that occasionally people group around. There are people eating a meal in their garage. There is a neighbor who always have his garage open and is doing something there everytime I drive by and who has waved at me many of the times.
Dryer Issues
Yesterday, we brought the washer and dryer over to the house from the storage unit. I go to plug in the dryer and discover that the outlet was a 3 prong outlet and the cord from the dryer had a 4 prong outlet.
When I first bought this dryer 7 years ago, it had a 3 prong cord. However, I had the electrical service in my 1922 Seminole Heights bungalow upgraded and our electrician had put in a new more modern outlet, which required 4 prongs. So off to Home Depot I went and bought the 4 prong cord, and I replaced the 3 prong cord. Not to difficult to do. I held onto the 3 prong cord for years before finally garage saleing it, maybe a few months ago as we prepared for the move to Lutz.
So now it turns out I should not have garage saled it.
Ooh well, this time I went to Lowes and got a 3 prong cord and rewired the darn thing.
So I have a 4 prong cord sitting in my workshop. Since we do not plan to move from our new Lutz house, this one will go in the first garage sale we hold.
When I first bought this dryer 7 years ago, it had a 3 prong cord. However, I had the electrical service in my 1922 Seminole Heights bungalow upgraded and our electrician had put in a new more modern outlet, which required 4 prongs. So off to Home Depot I went and bought the 4 prong cord, and I replaced the 3 prong cord. Not to difficult to do. I held onto the 3 prong cord for years before finally garage saleing it, maybe a few months ago as we prepared for the move to Lutz.
So now it turns out I should not have garage saled it.
Ooh well, this time I went to Lowes and got a 3 prong cord and rewired the darn thing.
So I have a 4 prong cord sitting in my workshop. Since we do not plan to move from our new Lutz house, this one will go in the first garage sale we hold.
Friday, March 02, 2007
We've Moved To Lutz
On March 1st, we moved to Lutz. We live in a nice house in Windemere Subdivision. Quiet neighborhood. We have been so busy moving in that we have not had a chance to meet many people except for our next door neighbor, E.
The first thing we had to figure out was where do we eat? Thursday night I ran up to the Sunset Shopping Center and got menus from the Subways, the Chinese Restaurant and Beff O'Brady's. The Pizza place was out of menus. We decided to try the Chicken Salad at Beef O' Brady's. Carry Out. Not bad. Love that melted cheese and mushrooms.
Today we ate breakfast at Richard's Cafe, just south of the Sunet PLaza. Nice little place. They have the largest cups of coffee I ever drank. This seems to be the place where everyone knows everyones name.
Dinner tonight was Beef O' Brady's carry out Chicken Salad and their Potato Soup. The soup is best eaten there when it is the hottest. This is a popular place, filled with families.
The first thing we had to figure out was where do we eat? Thursday night I ran up to the Sunset Shopping Center and got menus from the Subways, the Chinese Restaurant and Beff O'Brady's. The Pizza place was out of menus. We decided to try the Chicken Salad at Beef O' Brady's. Carry Out. Not bad. Love that melted cheese and mushrooms.
Today we ate breakfast at Richard's Cafe, just south of the Sunet PLaza. Nice little place. They have the largest cups of coffee I ever drank. This seems to be the place where everyone knows everyones name.
Dinner tonight was Beef O' Brady's carry out Chicken Salad and their Potato Soup. The soup is best eaten there when it is the hottest. This is a popular place, filled with families.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Train Hits Bus in Lutz
According to the Tribune, today at 4:04 P.M., a freight train clipped the rear bumper of a magnet school bus at the corner of 41 and Chapman Road. No injuries.
So exactly how did this occur?
So exactly how did this occur?
Monday, January 22, 2007
Happy To Be Moving To Lutz
I'm the wife of this blogger. This move has seemed to take forever, but we are so happy to be coming here. It started last June when we found a home we liked in the Barrington subdivisison. We were ready to relocate and knew Lutz was where we wanted to be. The house we found motivated us to do the last bit of repairwork to our current house, so we could put it on the market. A book could be written about why it took four months to accomplish that. Finally, November 7 we stuck that "For Sale" sign out front. We were told to not expect much traffic until the holidays were over, especially given the slump in the housing market. Boy, were we surprised when the first week we had eight showings and three offers on the house. All three deals fell through, then we sat on our hands until two weeks ago when a couple made us a reasonable offer and we accepted.
Of course, while we were dealing with handymen who didn't show up, and repairwork that snowballed, the house we wanted in Barrington was taken off the market. We watched two more houses that we liked be sold, before we found one we fell in love with. That house, is in the Windemere subdivision and if all goes well, it will be ours the first week in March.
Now, we are preparing for the final step in this journey, the actual move. We are coming to Lutz from the historic neighborhood of Seminole Heights in Tampa. We live in an old 1920's bungalow with a wide front porch and two grandfather oaks out front. We've been here almost seven years and it has been a great experience. Our neighbors are hard to leave. People in this community form lasting bonds and are always eager to lend a helping hand. Folks out walking often stop at the fence or come up on the porch for a visit. There are porch parties once a month and events throughout the year. We hope to find some of this community spirit in Lutz.
We've already been to a dogpark meeting at the Lutz Community Center. We were very interested in that endeavor, having two dogs ourselves. We have a dogpark in Seminole Heights and it's a very popular hangout for canine types. We were impressed with the Lutz Elementary school teacher and her class who promoted this idea to the County Commissioners. We're looking forward to getting involved in more Lutz activities and getting to know our new neighbors.
Of course, while we were dealing with handymen who didn't show up, and repairwork that snowballed, the house we wanted in Barrington was taken off the market. We watched two more houses that we liked be sold, before we found one we fell in love with. That house, is in the Windemere subdivision and if all goes well, it will be ours the first week in March.
Now, we are preparing for the final step in this journey, the actual move. We are coming to Lutz from the historic neighborhood of Seminole Heights in Tampa. We live in an old 1920's bungalow with a wide front porch and two grandfather oaks out front. We've been here almost seven years and it has been a great experience. Our neighbors are hard to leave. People in this community form lasting bonds and are always eager to lend a helping hand. Folks out walking often stop at the fence or come up on the porch for a visit. There are porch parties once a month and events throughout the year. We hope to find some of this community spirit in Lutz.
We've already been to a dogpark meeting at the Lutz Community Center. We were very interested in that endeavor, having two dogs ourselves. We have a dogpark in Seminole Heights and it's a very popular hangout for canine types. We were impressed with the Lutz Elementary school teacher and her class who promoted this idea to the County Commissioners. We're looking forward to getting involved in more Lutz activities and getting to know our new neighbors.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Finding Your Homeowners/Neighborhood Association
So, you live in an subdivision or neighborhood and want to connect with the homeowners or neighborhood or civic association. Where can you get contact information?
Two options:
Go to the Hillsborough County Neighborhood Relations website and search their listings by using the map.
Or try the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, Corporation Inquiry website. http://ccfcorp.dos.state.fl.us/corpweb/inquiry/corinam.html
Type in part of the name, in case you have it wrong. Ie Windemere for Windemere Neighborhood Association. Which in this case, I did have it wrong, as is listed as Windemere Homeowners Association of Lutz. Click on the name and you will find information about the organizations address and info about its board of directors. In this case I found out it was inactive.
Unfortunantely, Pasco County does not seem to have a listing for its associations so you are stuck with having to use the Division of Corporations.
Two options:
Go to the Hillsborough County Neighborhood Relations website and search their listings by using the map.
Or try the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, Corporation Inquiry website. http://ccfcorp.dos.state.fl.us/corpweb/inquiry/corinam.html
Type in part of the name, in case you have it wrong. Ie Windemere for Windemere Neighborhood Association. Which in this case, I did have it wrong, as is listed as Windemere Homeowners Association of Lutz. Click on the name and you will find information about the organizations address and info about its board of directors. In this case I found out it was inactive.
Unfortunantely, Pasco County does not seem to have a listing for its associations so you are stuck with having to use the Division of Corporations.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Dog Park In Lutz
According to the Tribune, the Hillsborough County's parks department "is holding a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday (1/16/07) to discuss the dog park planned on the west side of U.S. 41, just south of Lutz-Lake Fern Road.
The idea for a dog park came from students at Lutz Elementary School. The children presented the proposal to county commissioners, who set aside $150,000 for the park."
The meeting is being held at the Lutz Community Center next to the Lutz Library.This is a great idea. The dog park we have in Seminole Heights is small but very well used. It is nice to have a place to let your dog off the leash and meet other dogs.
According to the BOCC summary of minutes from the 5/17/06 BOCC meeting: "Ms. Kelsey Leggett and Mr. Zachary Bess-Lima, members of Earth Force, Lutz Elementary School, explained the group had initiated a community project to create a dog park . . . Vice Chairman Hagan offered comments in support, confirmed staff was providing assistance, and referred the issue to the County Administrator."
In the 8/16/06 meeting it was noted that the unofficial dog park at Lake Park is being closed due to concerns about the effect on the underground water supply. The Lutz Park will be one of the two dogs parks created to replace it. The other is at Logan Gate Village Park.
Starbucks coming to Lutz?
Well, the rumors going around is that Starbucks is coming to Lutz. If so where?
I would venture one of three places. In the new Target shopping center. Else on the west side of Dale Mabry or US 41 to capture the morning commute crowd. I can guarantee you it will be a drive-thru Starbucks. I'll bet the only reason it is getting built in Lutz is the large volume of traffic it will get because of the drive-thru. The Seminole Heights Starbucks drive through is always busy.
If this is true, that Starbucks is coming, then the next store we need is a Panera's!
I would venture one of three places. In the new Target shopping center. Else on the west side of Dale Mabry or US 41 to capture the morning commute crowd. I can guarantee you it will be a drive-thru Starbucks. I'll bet the only reason it is getting built in Lutz is the large volume of traffic it will get because of the drive-thru. The Seminole Heights Starbucks drive through is always busy.
If this is true, that Starbucks is coming, then the next store we need is a Panera's!
Monday, January 08, 2007
City of Tampa Real Estate Division
Poking around TampaGov.Net, I discovered the City of Tampa Real Estate Division.
"The Real Estate Division also sells properties which are considered surplus and are not needed by the City. These properties are available for sale to the general public. The City Land For Sale Report is available at the Division's office or can be downloaded under Available Property Report. "
When I click on that link, what do I find?
"The City of Tampa Real Estate Division has no available properties at this time. Please check back periodically for updates."
Oh. I forget. They have not been able to foreclose on anything.
"The Real Estate Division also sells properties which are considered surplus and are not needed by the City. These properties are available for sale to the general public. The City Land For Sale Report is available at the Division's office or can be downloaded under Available Property Report. "
When I click on that link, what do I find?
"The City of Tampa Real Estate Division has no available properties at this time. Please check back periodically for updates."
Oh. I forget. They have not been able to foreclose on anything.
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