Today, our Super Fan chats a bit more about the neighborhood of Tradition and the fun activities one can enjoy.
Let’s see: it’s 90 and sunny in Port St. Lucie today. If I were there, I’d probably hop in the car and head over to Jensen Beach for some sun and then fuel up with fish tacos at a local beachside bar.
P.S. Big game this weekend: Chargers vs. Broncos!! Can you imagine the thrill of having the next Green Home build near San Diego? My vote is in!!! Just think of the 'tail-gate parties' happening at the stadium...why not throw that ole Tom Turkey on the 'Barbie' and have a different kind of Thanksgiving celebration? Fans, Fair Weather, Football and Feasting...doesn't get much better than that!! Pleeeeeeease cast your vote for Del Sur, San Diego, CA!!!!
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Hi Mary,
Saw the video. Instead of Gail sharing about the neighborhood and fun activities in Tradition, she talked about the solar panels. Is this the video you intended to post?
If not, no problem. You’re probably so excited about all the activity that’s happening at HGTV! To calm your nerves, just share a little of what’s happening with me. I promise not to tell a soul!
Hi Leslie, This happened to me as well. Sometimes you have to clear your history, cookies, cache. However, what worked for me this time is: from the main GH blog page, I clicked on the title “More about Tradition” and the the new video appeared after the page refreshed.
Hope this helps!
Thank you for the info, sounds like a great place to live, wish I could just pack up and go. Life has a habit of getting in the way of plans, wishes and dreams. sighhhhhh!
Thanks Gail for the new info on Tradition. if I am the lucky winner of the HGTV GREEN HOME I would spend lots of time in the gymnasium, glad to hear about that. Good luck to all, and keep dreaming green.
GAIL,= Thank You!!!! I want this home so bad!!! It is such a Beautiful Home!!! Yesterday, there was another fox in my backyard ( a different one). Those foxes are cute, little things, they really are. And— a bird made a nest in one of my trees yesterday too!!! I was really thinking last night, ” OK, would I really want to live in Pt. St. Lucie, and leave this nature that I see in Cape Coral “?? I was even wondering and second-guessing if Pt. St. Lucie is Nature-Friendly or not?
Now I know for sure, YES YES YES—- I CAN BE FLEXIBLE — YES YES YS
And—– did you all notice how Gail mentioned ” A PARTY” ????? It’s starting to wind down now!!!!!
Diana
GAIL – OMGosh! Thank you for the new video! You are SO great! By the way, you look marvelous…I hope the fog lifted in San Fran!
Lessie – Yes, that happened to me too but when I went to the comment section to post, the new video was there…very exciting! I did clear my cookies though so that may have helped…do you know how to do that?
Diana – Woo-Hoo! I think we have a place for a par-tee!
Living the Dream!
GAIL= Just have to post again, I’m getting sooooo Excited!!!! It’s So Nice to hear about the “Savannah State Preserve Park”!!!!A day kayaking, hiking, and biking would be fun!!!
Could I see myself living there? YES, I Sure think that I could !!!! Whoever the winner will be, will be a Very Lucky Person!!!
But—- just had another idea. Maybe we could have the Party at the Civic Center??? Lessie- that would solve the “bathroom” problem, LOL LOL LOL
So now; we’ll be having lots of fun things to do= Bocce Ball, Ping Pong, Basketball, and did Gail really say Football????
Talk Later—- still thinkin’ of Party Ideas
Diana
LYNN COGGIN= Yes— we already have a “Party Room”— know we just have to plan it all together!!! I’m Really Glad to know that you are Hopefully Coming!!!! I Really Hope that you Do!!! You will have a Great Florida Vacation ( unless, of course, if you are the Lucky Winner)—–
And now— we don’t have to worry about anyone accidentally falling off of the edge of the roof sun deck either!!!! Ping-Pongs flying to the Ceiling? Playing Basketball with a Football? That’s OK— never know what could turn out after a few “Hurricanes” LOL LOL LOL
Talk Later
Diana
Diana – I think she said Foosball…you know the little soccer players…love that game! However, pool is definitely my strong suit! I worked in a rec center during college and they had a pool table there so I would play alot when I was bored.
Living the Dream!
LYNN COGGIN= OK, Thanks. I was thinking, maybe a football field outside the Civic Center? Either way— LOTS of fun things to do inside the Civic Center!!!! This is really going to be a Super-Fun Party.
I’m just hoping that there really will be a lot of people that come— I really don’t see why not. Sounds like it’s going to be a Super Fun Summer Party!!!!!!
Diana
Thanks GlennNYC and Lynn Coggin for suggesting that I clear my cookies. The only cookies I clear are those I eat. Haven’t learned how to clear the others.
So, I went to my favorite standby–restarted my computer. It worked. Saw the video and I think it’s great.
Gail,
Great job as usual. You seem so relaxed! Will you attend the Green Home winner’s celebration? What about the HGTV sponsored (wish, wish, wish) bloggers party? Please encourage them to do a meet-n-greet bloggers party!
Diana,
Having the blogger’s party at the Civic Center is a good idea. It solves all bathroom issues! However, if HGTV is involved, we can let them make all the decisions. Don’t you think that’s a great idea?!!
Lessie – Just so you know for next time…To clear your cookies, go to ‘Tools’ at the top of your computer, then go to ‘Internet Options’, then under the ‘General’ tab, go to ‘Delete Cookies’, then press ‘OK’. That should help!
Living the Dream!
Thanks Lynn,
Just cleared my cookies and I didn’t eat them!
This is such a great blogging commumity–very helpful! Look at all the wonderful things we’ve learned….MTOTD, US history in our search for the 2010 Dream Home location, more than we ever thought possible about green from Renee loves and lives Green and Pureimagination, LEED requirements, how solar panels work, green home styles (courtesy of Mary at HGTV), drink and food recipes, etc.
Yes, this is one exceptional blogging community!
Lessie, I agree…a giant kudos to everyone involved in this blog!
Living the Dream!
Diana,
FYI: Have you seen The Waterboy? His mom considered football and foosball the same thing.
Come to think of it, she would feel right at home in Port St. Lucie. Alligators didn’t scare her. Neither did snakes! In fact, she’d probably have them for dinner and invite us over.
LYNN COGGIN= Thanks for sharing the info. about “clearing the cookies”. I saved your blog— for when I ever need to do this, Thanks!
LESSIE= Yes, I agree—- this is a Great Blogging Community!!! I guess that I agree too, let’s have HGTV plan the party—- I’m just hoping that it really happens!!! I only live 2 1/2 hours away— and this is one HGTV Party that I definitely could go to.
I just remember reading about the “SISBP”- (Sonoma)— and I could be wrong, but I think that it fizzled out. It was just the impression that I got. There was all this excitement and talk on the blog to attend it—- but then I remember how one blogger stated why this one couldn’t come, and why that one couldn’t come, etc…
But, then again—- this is not just a Wine Tasting event, eating crackers and cheese probably about enough to feed a tadpole, LOL LOL—- Sounds like it will be a Super Fun Summer Party!!!!!
No, I haven’t seen the (Waterboy). But, you made me laugh about eating alligators. One time, I went to this party that was here in Naples— and the ONLY THING that they had to EAT was, yup, Fried ALLIGATOR— nothing else to eat—that was it!!!! That wasn’t a “fun date night”. LOL Wasn’t too crazy about eating it either! — They all said,
” it tastes just like chicken”— well honestly, I’d rather just have chicken!!!
Talk Later
Diana
Gail,
Mimi from R.I.
As always I am still checking the blog for updates….Thanks for the information about Tradition. It is a very nice place to live and I beleive it is also “pet friendly” as well. The beach and the local beachside bar sounds really great to me too. I’m still living the dream & thinking Green!
Hello GAIL, and fellow bloggers. With so many different activities available, the Civic Center sounds like a perfect venue for a grand Green Home Bloggers’ Party. And talking about the man-made lake, GAIL, and the possible ‘gator warning, Coop wanted me to ask you a question: do you think the Civic Center would require an extra deposit if we wanted to include a ‘gator wrestling competition? We’d have to put that as the last activity of the day, just in case there were any untoward incidents, so at least everyone would have gotten to enjoy most of the party and MARY would have some great photos to post on the Green Home webpage. Now that would sure have the blogs buzzing for awhile!
By the way, has anyone received any suspicious documents yet from HGTV’s legal eagles labeled “Green Home winner—please sign and return?”
Hey!
I just want to wish everyone good luck!
To All Bloggers,
Hi Gail! Thank-you so much for the valuable information on activities for a fun filled week/weekend with the children.
The Savannah State Reserve Park sounds like a wonderful place to just be in touch with nature. There are so many wonderful ways to introduce respect and appreciation to children through connecting with nature.
The Civic Center in downtown Port St. Lucie sounds fantastic! We know as parents that all week long we are consistently thinking of fun activities to do as a family on the weekend. The art gallery (We have a daughter that wants to be an artist or an animal Doctor/baby Doctor)pool tables, ping pong, flat screen television’s, and a gym(We hope offers opportunities for gymnastic lessons) and a fifth birthday party coming up soon-(Requirements: A pink Birthday cake-Barbie Castle of course-in Pink, balloons- in pink, and her favorite Mermaid doll) would be a dream come true for our little girl! Too much fun!!!
Is there a pool at the Port St. Lucie Civic Center?
Oh, the Alligators!! I believe that it is important to educate children about the beauty and the dangers of nature. We have Vultures in our area of town. Vultures are not the prettiest bird’s that you have ever seen. Even up close these horendous birds are just plain ugly. No matter where you live there will be the reality that nature does prevail.
Good Luck Everyone!
Gream Big!
SHOW ME THE GREEN= You are joking about the “gator wrestling competition”, right??? For sure, I’ll go find a closet somewhere and hide in it— or the bathroom— or , well, I’ll be out of there as fast as a bolt of lightning!!!! LOL LOL
Seriously— I think that will be at least one game that will not be at the party!!!! I don’t think that HGTV wants to have a long line, with everyone signing insurance policies before the party.
Diana
Good Morning! I am optomistic! I don’t think gator wrestling is in the future. I think that the party at the civic center is a great idea! I hope all fellow bloggers would congratulate and attend! Keep the dreams!
arlene
Ok, I am back home and ready to tell everyone about my experience yesterday traveling to the HGTV Green Home 2009!! First, after exiting the the Highway 95, you go just a block and 1/2 and turn into a road that takes you to the Visitor Center of Tradition. There you purchase your tickets for anyone over 4 years old who is going to view the home. (I would rather that it be at least 12 and over because any other child is really having to go…. well, except my son as he was excited as soon as I told him that morning that we were finally heading out to the GH2009) So, I bought 3 tickets for us and was glad that proceeds will being going to Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee County. If you have a child under 4, you must carry them through the home (no strollers allowed).. Oh, the tickets are made of mixed sources from well managed forests, controlled sources and recycled wood or fiber. Once, you receive your tickets, they hand you a green cloth shopping bag full of coupons and information. I mentioned that we would like to eat first then view the home and the very nice assistant pointed out the restaurants right across from them and I mentioned that I had heard of Hurricane Wings and the owner was standing behind her so, she introduced us. Needlessly to say, we headed over to Hurricane Wings and had one delicious lunch!! The blogs that I have read about the place are correct… we all enjoyed our lunch and sweet iced teas!! Plus, the place was busy the entire time!! Next we followed the signs leading to the Green Home and Wow!!! There it was!! It is so much bigger in person. The lakes all around the area are beautiful and every community is well kept and very clean!! We drove around back and parked, walked to the front of the house were three ladies were putting on their booties as we listened in to the details of what was not allowed and as they were told once you exit the back door there is no re-entry. We received our booties, put them on then entered the Green Home 2009!!! First, let me say from those who have complained about the stripes on the walls, they are beautiful..they are more of a faded terra cotta color..they are not bright at all…same with the little bench… the color seems to get stronger when photographed.. The ceilings are high!!! Oops, I almost forgot, their is a table on the front porch that is also beautiful and very rustic!!! As we were walking through the front of the home, the girl working at the front door explained that the there are information sheets throughout to give details on each space and that they have not received any additional information or training so, they only know what they have heard from others viewing the home…which I replied “No problem, I have read everything there is on the HGTV website and Port St. Lucie community website”…which she giggled to. You can not touch, sit or open anything … which I already had guessed and I didn’t need to.. The space is very open and much bigger than any picture or video can show!! The furniture is beautiful in person and so are the floors!!!! The Kitchen is a great space with lots of extras and that fridge is huge. In side the pantry there is a slow cooker and few other items that you can not see as all pictures show from the front and you only see the glassware. There are plenty of shelves and drawers throughout the kitchen and they seem really large….Maybe, it is just when you see it in person..but, I know that there is plenty of space to store everything that you need!! The dining table is awesome and huge!!! I was nervous on my report of the Horse picture that is separated in three at the dining table, as I am a vegetarian and it didn’t seem right to cut him apart, but when you see it in person, it actually works and is a nice a piece of artwork!! There is also beautiful art work down the hall of different sea coral, etc. The master bedroom is still my favorite!! When you enter, you immediately relax!! It is very soothing. There is a lot more room in there and a matching pajama set on the bed. The closet have plenty of space and the little linen closet is perfect. The winner may add more storage in the closets, to make a space for everything, but, the closets are really spacious and bright… The tub is amazing, along with the shower, sinks, tiles, decorations, etc!!! It is beautiful in there…really.. even my husband couldn’t get over the beauty of the Master Suite!! The windows are all awesome, as they are deep set with large ledges…. very clean!! All of the furnishings throughout the house seem so comfortable and soft….very relaxing.. On to the Kid’s room… it is a little larger than you think and the walls are a great color of a faded orange…. which, anyone could turn into a boys room, by removing the pink items and adding green and blues….that would be great… I would move the “gator” pictures in or the “horse” pictures, recover the bed and voile a boy’s room.. Though we are decided if we won, our son would take the Guest room…He loves it and would make it his own quickly!! He also decided that he could use the sitting room for his Wii playing, book reading, TV watching and just for hanging out with his friends and cousins. The sitting room is so sweet…. and a great place to relax….you would have to remove the coffee table to have space to play video games….which isn’t hard at all… you just remove the top and the bottom folds down and you can store it to the side. The Laundry room is large and I love the washer and dryer… One of the workers there asked me why there was a rack in the dryer and I explained that it is for shoes or any other item that you do not want to tumble.. She was excited to hear that there was such a thing… and then she pointed out the Control Center for the house… which is awesome and one of my husband’s favorite things… The wood cabinet it is in, is awesome and still has plenty of storage.. There is storage hiding throughout the home.. it is in all of the bedside tables… in the Guest room, you just push back the slipcover and in the Master bedroom there are drawers in both of the tables…Then, the shelving across from the bed, both have large baskets for storage… The home is very clean and well designed. The shared bathroom is so sweet.. I love the tile and the mirror.. the shower/bath combo is perfect for kids!!! And for grown ups!!!! The tile in the hall bath is unbelievable!! It is intense and a great space to use it in,,,because it isn’t too large, but, the perfect space to use after playing in the yard or to run in to while cooking, etc!! The Living space is wide opened and has so many little conversation spots, but still cozy enough to scream across to your family relaxing across the room… I love the lounge chairs and LOVE the small fridges behind them… I would always sit in the one close to the wine fridge…Hey, I am a MOM…and sometimes we just need a break!! Oh, and a WIFE, so I really need a break!! LOL!! The screened in porch is so relaxing,,,,though you can not go inside, they do raise the screens for you… The furniture is awesome and you can tell that they were made with a lot of love and respect. There are a few items that I would add to the backyard… The main thing being some type of roof for the Barbeque grill, as the sun bakes it!!! And I would add removable umbrellas to the rooftop deck.. which you can’t view on the tour for liability reasons. There is plenty of space to add a pool in the backyard and still keep the bocce ball court. I think a nice little salt water pool with a rock fountain and lots of plants growing around it would be beautiful… or you could build a natural pool (you just need to get a lot of advice and have someone help you that has taken care of one for many of years..they have a lot of them in Europe) The garage is huge, white and well lit. It has windows and storage in the front!! You have space to do home projects!! The plants out side are hanging in there… a few are looking really neglected!! But, I figure when the winner moves in they will get them thriving !!! There are three strawberry towers and there were a few on their…just dried up now. This home needs someone to move in and love it!! We really enjoyed our time and everyone there were polite and friendly. I met a mother and daughter on our way out and the daughter mentioned that she enters all of the time!!! She also said that we could come and visit after she won!! I offered the same back to her!! Two Greamers,huh?? My husband laughed and said that he was sorry, but that the house was already ours…so, I would say for him, that he loved the Green Home, too!!! My son said that we should win!! There are so many other things to report, but, I have to go fix breakfast for my little one.. I will be back in a few along with a lot of pictures that my husband took yesterday!! Whoever wins this home is very lucky and should thank their lucky stars!!! It is BEAUTIFUL!! Love life by living green…
Renee loves Green
Thank you for the great report!
RENEE LOVES GREEN= I’m glad that you and your family had a great time!!! Great Idea for the pool, too!!! Have a few questions:
1. Is the “Visitor Center” the same as the “Civic Center”, that Gail mentioned??
2. Can you explain the “small fridge” near the lounges??? I most have missed that video.
I’m glad to know about the furniture. When I watched some of the videos and pics— the home looks beautifully furnished to me, having a real ” Florida look” to it.
Diana
everyone on here is so sweet
thanks for the positive thoughts on the last thread…to be honest im sure a lot of people are having a hard time right now but geeeeeeeeeeeez it would be a life changing event for me! My dad lost his job at serpentini, my stepdad got his hours cut 4 hours a day at his job, my mom doesnt work-so im kinda pulling the weight for my whole family and had to drop out of college due to a lack of funds and its so hard to get loans now a days…so im a 23 year old bartender/dreamer just trying to make my own way and have my own life. I need outta here! haha don’t we all though? hope I can keep talking-we might have to be outta here in the next 2 weeks. then living in a mother-in-law suite with my mom, stepdad, and 11 year old brother. phew. cant wait for that! hope everyone is doing well 
sorry to be a downer. ha luckily the sun is shining today
Thanks for the check-in Mary & Gail! Tradition already sounded like a great place to be and the break down from Gail was great confirmation! The winner will be so happy I’m sure! Also, I hope that the Alligators are as friendly as the Hanna-Barbera cartoon character Wally Gator!
-Your Confident 2009 HGTV Super Fan
Hi everyone.
Thank you Gail for the info. Thank you Renee for home tour info. I am happy to hear that you had a wonderful time. I agree whoever wins this home is truely blessed. I hope they will be able to keep it and enjoy the green life.
Have a great weekend everyone. Good luck. Gream big and live green.
Cynthia Newland
P.S. If I win I will keep the alligator deco to my mail box. No alligator tumbles allowed.
Thanks for the detailed description Renee loves Green! Wow!
Renee loves and lives Green,
Great report! Have some questions but will wait to read your next post. No, I’ll ask now so you can share the answers.
How many lakes are in the neighborhood? I heard there are seven neighborhoods. Are they within walking distance of each other or is it better to drive through each? Are the pantry shelves deep enough to hold large boxes? What extras are in the kitchen that we missed? Is there drawer space for clothes in the bedrooms? It’s good to know that there’s storage space for “stuff,” but what about clothes. What appealed to you most inside the home? (Couldn’t decide if it was the master suite or the chaise lounge area.) Outside?
Good idea about building a cover for the bbq area but how would you ventilate the smoke? What “feel” did you get when driving to the home? Not anticipation for seeing the home, I mean the “feel” from the area in general.
So glad you had the opportunity to visit. Thanks for being our eyes and ears. What an amazing opportunity to meet the owner of Hurricane Wings. You deserved it!
I’ll be looking for your other posts.
Thank you Gail for the great information on the great neighborhood & activities of the Tradition
Thanks HGTV for choosing such a great site for 2009GH & for all the great, innovative energy saving features of this home!
Thank you Renee for your great description of the home! Priceless!
We are so excited about next week and are hoping to get a phone call or visit! Good luck fellow “greamers”! God speed….
Renee loves green, nice to hear that you finally made time to do the tour. Thanks for the report. Even through your rose colored glasses the house sounds great.
That’s too bad about the plants. It seems like they spent a lot of money on them & then neglect them> 
Renee loves Green – Wow! That was quite the reporting job there my friend! I feel as though I was right there in your pocket along with you! Thanks so much for taking the time to share every little detail with us.
Living the Dream!
Thanks Renee, I had been anticipating your description since you said you were going for the tour, can’t wait to read part 2 for the rest of your impressions. I agree about putting up some kind of roof over the BBQ, then it can be used even during the rain. With all thae rainy weather, I would have thought the plants would have been waterlogged, not dried. Better get that GREEN-loving owner in there quick to make them all green again.
Yes, citronella plants help with the mosquitos, don’t know why they weren’t planted around all the patios – greenest way I know of controlling those irritating little females (I am not sexist, but from my research only the females bite so I don’t mind sharing airspace with the males:)) Citronella candles work too, but then we have to worry about what the candles are made of petroleum or beeswax & the ecological effects of burning them. Not that I see a noticeable increase in global warming from burning a candle so I can enjoy the outdoors without being eaten by mosquitos. If I don’t eat animals, why can’t they respect that enough to not bite or eat me?? Maybe those gators would be compassionate & make a “you don’t eat me so I won’t eat you” deal??
Renee, what is on the menu at Hurricane Wings? I want to stop by there if I go to the party, but never know what I’ll find to eat being a vegetarian.
I wonder why they don’t let people touring enter the screened in porch?
I love the little pool with fountain idea, the first drawings I’d seen of the house included a fountain outside of the screeened in porch, why did it never appear? I find fountain sounds to be so relaxing. Is it June 17th yet? I want to stop jumping everytime the phone rings.
Weather’s gorgeous here now – goodbye all, I’m heading for those south Florida beaches.
KAT= LOL, if you ever made that “deal” with a gator, I bet that you’d find out that, that “gator” is a “traitor”, LOL
I’ve used the (Citronella Candles) in the past— and I don’t know, it just seemed like they did not work at all- nata! But, Never had the Citronella plants though.
The only thing that works, it seems, is (Avon’s Skin so Soft). But the little bugs seem like they are mostly active, right after it rains
Diana
Hello to all! Just wanted to intoduce myself and say HI! My husband & I live in Tradition & would be glad to share any information about Tradition that anyone may have. Talk soon!
Sorry.. I meant would be glad to answer any questions that anyone may have. LOL.
I haven’t tried the citronella down here in Miami, but I had a big one – the kind that comes in the small pails & last year when I was north of Jacksonville, I burned it all night long & was able to sleep out on the daybed under the stars one night. No bites or annoying buzzing. I lit that candle every time I was outside around sundown to keep those girls away to protect my little girl – I don’t want to chance her getting heartworms & she’s too small for the “preventive medication” which most pet websites admit is toxic.
My neighbor had two of the plants, but since they were small & not where we would sit I don’t know if they work either. But I like the smell so I wouldn’t mind having them around anyway & if they keep those blood-thirsty sqitos away, all the better. I guess I’ll have to see if those plants can live indoors, I’ve got a new “pet” buzzing around me in my bedroom right now. I so love having windows open for the fresh air & cutting down on air conditioning, but guess there’s pros & cons to everything.
Renee, since you seemed to inspect the house closely, do the windows have screens so there can be cross ventilation inside without these uninvited flying pets/pests?
And any news on if there are dimmers on the lights, especially the big one? I know those dimmable CFL’s are way more costly, but I love to dim lights for the ambiance.
Hope a blogger wins & invites the party to move from the Civic Center to our Gream Home.
Diana, even after living in Georgia in the 90’s & in No. Florida for almost 2 years before heading farther south, I never saw a gator up close even where they supposedly lived in the swamps & marsh. Only place I saw one was taking an airboat tour of the Everglades. I wouldn’t want to wrestle with one, but I would if I had to protect a friend – human or canine. Are there any gators in the waters by Tradition? I don’t know if it’s on the last video since I haven’t cleared my cookies yet so I still get the solar panel video.
Kat= This is a previous blog that could help you:
Lessie – Just so you know for next time…To clear your cookies, go to ‘Tools’ at the top of your computer, then go to ‘Internet Options’, then under the ‘General’ tab, go to ‘Delete Cookies’, then press ‘OK’. That should help!
Living the Dream!
Lynn Coggin is so Helpful!!!
Diana
KAT= Honestly, I’m Terrified of the gators’! Maybe I shouldn’t be, but I am!!! I never saw one, never. But— I have heard that they sometimes “find their way” to even a Man-Made Lake. (In Gail’s Video above– she just mentioned that all the lakes are “man-made”. )And I think that alligators are found in “Salt Water Canals” too. In Cape Coral, where I live, there are gulf-inlets, but I’ve never seen an alligator! Thank God!I even try to avoid them and go a different route when bike-riding, LOL.
1. This is how scared I am of them= I used to live in an apartment south of Tampa. Of course, I was lucky that my apartment was Right on the “man-made lake”. I used to get home late at night after work. One time, there was a neighbor hanging out outside, and he courageously walked me down to the lake in the dark— He guaranteed me that the “noise” that I was hearing was frogs, and not alligators!!! LOL
2. But- listen to this. My friend had a house in Tampa– (New Tampa,) a suburb. It was a very populated, older neighborhood (but not very old )— but pretty much already built up. There were No Canals at all. Her husband owned the house before they got married, and he put in his own ” little man-made pond” in the front yard. A couple of months ago, we had really bad, bad weather for a few days. The typical lightening, etc… with a few sparse tornadoes here and there. Sure enough— guess what? The next morning– she had an alligator in that pond!!!! Yeah, she freaked. And she was extra careful with her tiny little dogs.
So about Tradition, I doubt that there are any alligators. But– never know when one can pop up now and then.
Some people really love nature— and I really do too— but I like to be aware of my surroundings, and know if there’s any wildlife around— especially at night and in the dark.
I know a business owner who lives in Sanibel, which is extremely dense with an over-population of wildlife. It is really beautiful there. But– she did tell me that she does not go outside at night in the dark.
Are you planning on coming to the party? I am. I Hope to see you There!!!
Diana
You know what would be neat if the winner of the house would let military families take a much need vacation to spend w/ their families while home on leave. I have a son in the military while he does not have a wife or children yet, I know it would be a great place for families to visit. My son is stationed overseas and like many of our soldiers he can only come for short visits if at all more than once a year. And it is expensive for them to come home much less have money to take their families on a vacation. .And what a great way to honor and show our veterans serving our country how much we appreciate their service. God Bless and good luck to the winner.
Okay, now that I have some time let me continue…. First of all, when I entered into the Communities of Port St. Lucie developments there at Tradition, I would like all to know that you have a moment of relaxation and a feeling that you are home. While eating lunch, we watched several security officers patrolling the parking lot. Then when we drove toward the HGTV Green Home the other communities were some what still under development, but you could see people enjoying their community and loving the lifestyle that they bought in to. I am not sure of the number of lakes throughout the various communities, but there are many and they are well kept. All of the communities in Tradition include a HOA and the fees include Cable (HDTV included), security systems, high speed internet and lawn maintenance. It is also considered a very safe place to live. (documented throughout the country as one of the safest places to live) Now, driving up to the Green Home is exciting !! It really stands out !! I can not answer questions that deal with the inside of drawers, etc. But, I can tell you that the closets have only one pole that runs the width of the closet and that you would have to add a closet system to really get organized. The kitchen has a lot of storage and the closet is not deep but has room to store the glassware, a slow cooker and a few other items. Other items can be stored throughout the kitchen cabinets, etc. When we drove into the development, it was quiet and still being developed, which is exciting to me. The Welcome Center is beautiful and that is also where you can rent your paddle boats. At the Welcome Center they have a large map detailing the developments and commercial centers throughout. The recreation center is separate of this. I did not really pay attention if there are screens on the windows for ventilation, though I am sure that they are there. I also have many ideas to cover the outdoor kitchen, so that it still can have plenty of ventilation. There are so many covers that would work, as we used a tarp type in Phoenix with no problems at all!!! The bulbs are all fluorescent so need to worry about changing them for a very long time.. I did not see dimmers, though I know that they can be installed easily. We were told that we could not go onto the screened in porch because of liability issues…though you do not have to climb, jump, etc. to go inside. My son went inside before they notified us that we had to stay outside of the porch, and he said “I didn’t know” and the worker said “I know, sweetie, they tell us that we can’t allow you in”, so we viewed it with the screen open but we stood in the grass. The house was really beautiful but will need a little paint touch up, as some people have not obeyed the rules and have scratched the walls, etc. The HOME is so relaxing and there were so many others coming to view it after us..!!! Take a view of the pictures that my husband took at http://www.gallery.me.com/rurso#10006. The restaurant Hurricane Grill and Wings was so good and their menu is full of items for any one in your group… I did have a little fish!! My son and husband said that their burgers were the best.. They also have amazing salads!! But, they are mostly known for the wings!! Not for me, but there were plenty of other people enjoying them and their sweet potato fries!! You can rent the paddle boats and head out on the largest waterway from the Visitor Center!! Trust me, if you win the home, you will love it and the community. If you don’t win, keep trying, because HGTV always comes up with a more elaborate home every year ….!!!!!! But, I am so happy to have had the opportunity to view the Green Home 2009, because it is just amazing!!!!! And I will give a few more details tomorrow, as I must sleep now!!! Love life by living green!!
dear fellow dreamers………..is there a lake right behind this house…..in the backyard…….????i saw that on the video from the roof garden……..could one of you please answer this??
Okay, this is the first time in a while that my blog is “awaiting moderation”!! I have a little more to add, but need some sleep, so I will check back tomorrow! Love life by living green!!
Renee,
Thanks so much for sharing your tour with us. It sounds better than ever…I agree that the winner should count their lucky stars if they win. It is a real “GEM” of a home. Anyone would be blessed to be this homeowner.
Can’t wait to read your part two & see your pictures.
Best of Luck to all…Love life, dream big & think Green…:)Mimi from R.I.
*GAIL…Thanks for updating us on Tradition!
You have been a great super fan…
Hello!Gail, is nice to see you again, I enjoyed your interview and u told us so many good advises where to go at Port St. Lucie Fl.
Thank you, to share with us your thuoghts about the recreation areas there are to go like a preservation park, boat tour and Civic Center and you are right that never
got bore there with a place like that.
If the hot sunny day is there with 90 degree
as I still greaming and dreaming green I will spend the day at the Bocce Court in the backyard of the HGTV Green Home the best place for me to go and use the Kenmore gas grill to grill some pork chops,steak or any other thing, with plenty of water and beverages to complemet it made a food at
the chicken mosaico glass and end the day at
the rooftop to see the sunset !What a day!that’s is my hot day at Port St. Lucie,Fl.
if the next day is the same then I will jup
like you in the car to the beach to got burn
and then go to a local restaurant to eat fish,shrimp or some cocktail and do anything else ………!
I heard the bloggers still dreaming a paty blog if I win this green paty for all will be
with special guests from HGTV.com all is free
no charges or fees all by me,!What you think?
Life Life Dream Big on HGTV Green Home.
Thanks Diana, I managed to see the Tradition video, but I don’t plan on spending much time indoors except when it rains.
I guess that class I took in eco-psychology really helped me in accepting all elements & creatures of nature, even though I still wonder how to post the “no trespassing” sign in mosquito, flea, fruitfly and a few other languages, especially those that would feel the “call of the wild” & not respect my 2lb dog’s right to be my constant companion for the next 16 or so years.
Meanwhile, I hope your gator phobia won’t keeep you from attending the party if a blogger wins & moves the party to the backyard – I guess you’d be safe on the roof deck – from the gators, but the squitos here don’t care if it rained or not, they still come out at dark, I’ll look for an extra candle for you:)
Renee, I doubt you wrote anything we didn’t want to see. I don’t know what those “awaiting moderation” keys are, it’s strange, but we still look forward to more insights on your tour. You would have been a great tour guide with all your attention to detail. You should try out for Gail’s job as the next superfan, so Gail has a chance to enter the contests again. Plus we’d love to put a face with your name & hear more about your brilliant son..
Lessie, I don’t think you’d have to worry about venting the BBQ if ti was just some type of awning to create shade from the sun and to keep from being rained on. Which reminds me – how did they cover the grill during the past rains? I know our stainless steel grill started with the rust spots the first time we forgot to cover it & it rained. Did Renee or anyone else lucky enough to take the tour notice if the grill was covered? I’d hate to see it looking old too fast.
Okay, what’s up? It’s so good to hear from you Gail, but I guess I will leave this post and go to the main page to see if I can access you sharing about the neighborhood and fun activities in Tradition, instead of the talk about the solar panels. In the mean time, I guess I will answer Gail’s question about what I would be doing in sunny Port St. Lucie today? Maybe I would head over to Moore’s Creek on the Indian River to start a Manatee search…never seen one in person, so that would be such a special treat!! After photographing these gentle creatures, I would head out for lunch at one of the local restaurants, like the Ankai Japanese Restaurant, where they serve outstanding vegetable udon!! Or, maybe I’d try a new seafood restaurant that has access to fresh, locally caught fish and shellfish! So many choices, hard to make up my mind which way to go, but I would probably choose “Crawdaddy’s!” Where I’ve read that they have the BEST barbeque shrimp….great food and fun atmosphere & service is nice and friendly. After a fantastic meal, I would want to stroll along the North Fork of the St. Lucie River. From there, I would wander along the river-side boardwalk to Veterans Park at Rivergate. Take time to pay respect, to meditate, and give honor to those on the Florida’s memorial wall!
There are so many wonderful things to do around Port St. Lucie, it is hard to pick just a few, but if I win the Green Home there, I will be out every day exploring the wonders of the area!!
Thank you HGTV for giving me BIG DREAMS and good luck to every one entering this contest!!
Just another lean and green MGTOTD:
HANKY PANKY!! Consider using a handkerchief, instead of tissues. Over time, think of the paper you’d save, and you won’t have to buy paper tissues.
KAT= You are funny!!! Even though I do have gator phobia, which I probably do—- I will still be at the Party!!! No doubt!!!! I just won’t go swimming in the lake—–
MARIE MILLER= Are you sure that you really live in Brookings? I’d swear that you’ve been a resident of Pt.St. Lucie for a long time now!!!! Do you think that you may fly in for the party???
Diana
Hi there bloggers! I have so enjoyed reading all of the recent comments from Kat, Diana, Alma, Marie Miller and others! I’ve been busy going to graduation parties…too pooped but so fun!
Renee loves Green – Wake up, wake up! We want your additional comments to be posted! Can’t wait!
I know I mentioned my neighbor who is moving to New Mexico before but I had an opportunity to chat with her in detail. She lives right across the street from me and she has her house for sale. I have to show it at 1:30 today to some clients…hope they like it! It is beautiful!
Anyway, these neighbors are moving to Sante Fe. They bought a home there several years ago when they were visting the area. They love it there! She really needs to be in a climate where the air is dry because it makes her feel so much better. She was in a car accident many years ago and has a lot of achey bones and arthritis issues with the climate here in Pennsylvania. I wish them so much luck. They are a lovely couple and certainly deserve to feel better.
Anyway, Renee, are you up yet?
Living the Dream!
Hello again, Green Home bloggers. My bus just pulled into town, so now I can get back to the keyboard once again. Coop was a little disappointed in my failed venture, but I’m sure he understood my reasons, and even felt a little guilty about trying to send me out there into the wilds!
Now, back to the Green Home, and the super great first-hand reporting from Renee loves Green. Nothing like getting the lowdown from a fellow greamer!
I haven’t received my “winners” packet from HGTV yet. I suppose it could arrive any day now….
Kat, you are so sweet !!! Thank you for the compliments!! You make me blush. Lynn, yes, I am up and have been since 7am but have been relaxing and taking the doggie downstairs to run around..he loves it here and loves meeting other dogs in the elevator and their owners. So, I am guessing that you are a Real Estate Agent, am I correct? If you won, you would be set up perfectly in a great location for Residential and Commercial sales/leases. In Tradition, there are several developments. They have a Commercial “Phase 2″ coming soon and will be closer to the I-95, that will include another large green lawn and a Riverside Bank. Close to the Town Hall, Tradition Square (the large green lawn for outdoor gatherings) and the Splash “Interactive” Fountain they have a large two story parking garage for 188 cars. There are plenty of parking lots with security officers patrolling each one. Here are a few places to grab a bite: Sake Too Restaurant, Johnny V’s Pizza, Sabore’s Cafe, Cornerstone Bistro, Hurricane Grill & Wings, LongHorn SteakHouse, Olive Garden, Crepe Maker, Sky Dragon Chinese & Japanese Restaurant, Tropical Smoothie, Bagel Brothers of NY and Kilwin’s Chocolates & Ice Cream. You do not have to leave Tradition for anything!! They have everything that you and your family would ever need….dental, doctors, banks, insurance, clothing, hair & nail salons, optical, furniture, office supplies, wellness centers, groceries, shipping stores, accountants, pet stores and much more…with even more to come!! Their philosophy is to develop great places to live, work and play!! The Martin Memorial Hospital will be built at the I-95 exit. There are so many small waterways throughout the development with some that connect to “Lake Tradition”, where you rent the paddle boats. There are also little gazebos throughout… One right in front of the Green Home !! I love the way that they planned the development as the streets are twisting and turning throughout…. they kept it from being “boxy” !!! Every house will have some view of water. Now to answer a few questions.. There are many ways to shade the outdoor kitchen without worrying about the ventilation.. I would add a Trellis and grow grapevines over it.. maybe run it from the Trellis between the garage and mudroom/laundry room. The Vertical Growing System is awesome!! It uses solar power to operate the water system (including harvested rainwater). A few plants may need to be replaced. There are several fruit trees!! The HVAC system is concealed with lattice and plantings. The high-efficiency air filters remove even the smallest particles and the ultraviolet air purifier removes nearly all bacteria. When you enter the house it is amazing how much natural light is throughout!! It is bright and airy!! I remembered someone stating that it smelled full of cleaning products or as they called it “chemicals” and we experienced only a fresh smell… no “cleaners” smell. Plus, they use all natural products…so I don’t know where this person was smelling “chemicals” and I have not heard that from anyone else. There are more the 13 miles of paved pathways for walking, jogging and biking, 400 acres of interconnected lakes, waterways and wooded preserves, a year-round calendar of concerts and events, collection of storm water for re-use in the irrigation of community and home landscapes and Tradition is one of America’s 100 Best Master Planned Communities by Where to Retire magazine. In the kitchen there are shelves that are on the inside left (where you see the glassware) in the pantry, but they are not too deep, though the top on is storing the slow cooker. You would need to use the cabinets to store you dry goods, etc. I know that it would be more than enough space for me and my family, but I have heard some complain that it just doesn’t look like enough space….but, it is. The two closets in the master suite are spacious and would have enough space for a dresser drawer in each one or have a closet system installed with drawers, shoe holder, etc. The linen closet is tall and has plenty of space for towels, linens and bath supplies. There is a drawer in the bottom of both night tables. I like that there is no dresser drawer in the bedrooms as I like to store our clothing in the closets. Though, I understand that everyone is different and I have to respect that. If you looked at the pictures, you probably noticed that there are wonderful textures throughout the Green Home!! The grill is not covered during the tour, but I am sure that they put the cover on it after hours because the grill looks new… though “hot” from the sun!! There is also a piece of furniture sitting by the garage that I asked about… they said it didn’t work out inside and they didn’t know anything else about it.. I am sure it can be used in one of the master closets as it looks like a short dresser drawer. Also, the plantings go around the side yard like a natural fence!! They did a really good job on the landscape; it just needs a bit of TLC. The pajamas on the master bed are too cute. They are a leopard print but in the blue color (matching the room) and are a size medium. There are french milled soaps throughout and they smell great!! (I didn’t touch them….but, could smell them standing close) There are so many cozy spots to sit and relax… sit and gossip… sit and read the paper/book!! There are fridges in the sitting room to the side of both lounge chairs..the one close to the kitchen is stocked with wine and the other has juice, water, etc. Everyone viewing and working in the Green Home must wear booties and upon exiting there is a small basket to throw them into… or you can keep them to reuse though, they start to fall apart pretty quick. My son didn’t like them because they itched the top of his feet… He loved the tour and said that he would love to live there. We all would. There are 3-4 people working in the Green Home to answer questions and observe. The master shower is much bigger in person as well and has a great bench inside!!! Please let me know if I forgot anything… or if you have any questions.. I will be back later today!! Marie, I think that you have to clear your cookies too… as, you should be getting the video on the extras in Tradition … maybe, go under the comments and then try to view!! (I have heard that others were having the same problem) Ed, I hope that I made you proud!! And everyone else though names slip me now as I am pooped out today!! I guess the move and the birthday party we went to last night have caught up with me !! Love life by living green!!
Renee loves and lives Green,
Thanks for your great post! Can’t think of any more questions. However, if you think of anything else, please share!
Hi Show Me!
So glad you made your way back in town! Happy to hear the bears didn’t getcha’! Next time Coop sends you out there, check this out…
http://besthomesnm.com/slideshow/8anasazitrail/ This is the first resale in the coveted gated community of San Pedro Overlook and is listed for $1,197,000. Maybe we could all pitch in and buy it!
You’re the best Renee loves Green!
Thank you so very much for all of the wonderful details about the Green Home! I don’t know what else to ask…I think you answered all of my questions! It sonds like this was such a fun trip for you, your husband and your son (even though his ankles may have been a little itchy).
After reading your comments about the house, it made me want to clean my house (with green products) and get that clean fresh smell…I think I’ll do that this afternoon?!
So, on the off-chance (of course), you are not the randomly selected winner of this fabulous Green Home 2009, do you think you will go to see the first visit day of the Green Home Winner? You could be one of those people we see in the video standing on the lawn cheering for the new winners as they drive up in a limo;) If you do go, wear something really noticeable so we can pick you out of the crowd…maybe a bright green t-shirt that says, “Hi Fellow Greamers!” on it? Or a green hat of some sort…BUT definitely not this… http://www.crobike.de/en/werbemittel_bilder/promopeddler/10800/21939.jpg …too scary! LOL!
Living the Dream!
Hi Show Me!
So glad you made your way back in town! Happy to hear the bears didn’t getcha’! Next time Coop sends you out there, check this out…
http://besthomesnm.com/slideshow/8anasazitrail/ This is the first resale in the coveted gated community of San Pedro Overlook and is listed for $1,197,000. Maybe we could all pitch in and buy it!
Living the Dream!
Okay, so I have a couple of comments awaiting moderation, but, in the meantime, I think this should go through…
I’m thinking the fourth of July may be a fun weekend for my fellow bloggers who live in Florida near Port St. Lucie…
The City of Port St. Lucie Parks and Recreation Department is proud to announce Freedomfest 2009. This extraordinary Independence Day Celebration will take place on Saturday, July 4, at the Port St. Lucie Civic Center.
The day’s events will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the Freedomfest Mile run followed by the Annual Elks Club Parade. The parade route will wind through the streets of the Civic Center. Following the parade, spectators in the Village Square will be treated to a variety of music, food and activities for all ages.
Outside in Village Square, there will be a variety of live entertainment such as; Category 5 Blues/R&B Band and the Cool Hand Band. There will be bounce houses, arts and crafts, free face painting, caricatures drawings, and a balloon artist. We will also have a Kid Zone inside the Civic Center in the gymnasium where there will be a sports carnival.
At 9 p.m., spectators in Village Square and the surrounding area will be amazed as the area’s largest fireworks display lights up the night sky (weather permitting).
As it has been for more than 19 years, Freedomfest will be a day full of food, fun and good old-fashioned American Independence Day spirit for everyone to enjoy.
Oh, so much fun for someone!
Living the Dream!
Diana: You bet…I would love to join the party…and, yes I do live in Brookings…beautiful southern oregon on the coast!! Being in Florida, would be a nice change though…I remember Florida as a child living in Georgia..we would travel to Orlando to see my uncle!!
Hey Renee loves Green & LynnCoggin: Wow! I cannot believe the length of your comments…you are both energic girls & we all do appreciate the wealth of information coming from both of you. Thank you! And, nice comment…”Living the Dream!!”
could some one please answer me…is there a lake behind this house??? thanks
Renee loves green, you did a great job! I posted yesterday, but it is still awaiting moderation. I did find out that lemon eucalyptus oil is a natural mosquito repellent. It works as good as DEET, but only lasts for about 90 minutes. In 40% concentrations it also repels ticks & chiggers.
Wow, so many comments as the time for the drawing comes closer! I am glad to be back. We just moved and are loving our new place (now that we have no more boxes to unpack).
I would ask something polite, but what I really want to know is what do you really love and hate about the home? Is FL a realistic place for you to live? but if I asked those questions I would probably get superficial answers so if I were really there with the person I would ask something boring like “how many times did you apply? did you think you were going to win? etc.”
Renee, you forgot that before the winner is allowed to sit, relax & read those books or newspapers he/she MUST keep this blog informed on how awesome it is to live there:)) Duties first, then relaxing. Oh, I hope this goes thru & doesn’t put me in awaiting moderation.
Lynn, Freedom Fest sounds great, is that when the bloggers’ party is planned? The the winning blogger can invite all the other bloggers to tour the home if they were too busy blogging to get there earlier?
Ed, thanks for the info I’ll go get some lemon eucaplyptus oil. I hope it works, then I’ll dilute it & use it to spray my little Gem, maybe it will work on fleas too.
Renee, the spray I made with those citrus rinds seems to help, but it doesn’t smell citrusy like I hoped, it smells like cooked rinds – yuk.
Darn, those pj’s aren’t my size, but I won’t mind gifting them if I get the rest of the house. Too bad, I like leopard print too.
Renee, did you notice if the lights are dimmable & if those windows in the tower open? Those were my major Green questions.
Mary, will HGTV post when the winner has been chosen & notified on the blog (not the name of course) but just so the less fortunate non-winning bloggers stop jumping every time the phone rings??
Marie, it would be great if you could attend the party since you’ve been so helpful on the blog. I know how far Oregon is though, my daughter lives there & my son wants to go back – I am staying in Florida though – the Pacific is way too cold for me. Like Renee said in an earlier blog, I can smile during the heat & humidity here as long as I know I’m minutes from the beach, I wasn’t in Phoenix, but Las Vegas can get pretty hot too although with the fast-growing population it was getting pretty humid for a desert- not a good mix when the mercury gets over 115F.
Renee loves Green – Thank you so much for your very informative posts re: the house. I am so glad that you were able to make it and even happier that you were able to share with the rest of us!
mathw peter – The lake is actually in front of the house, not in the back. It is directly across the street from the front porch. There is no room for future homes to be built across the street – so the lake view will always be unobstructed…which is just one of the many pluses of this beautiful home!
Good luck to all!
WOW….STILL WAITING TO SEE WHO WILL WIN…WILL IT BE THIS WEEK….OR DO THEY ALREADY KNOW???? WE HAVE WAITED SOOO LONG. IT IS TIME…WISHES TO ALL…STILL DREAMING & THINKING GREEN IN R.I. HGTV-THANK-YOU!
That is a beautiful home you gave us a link to, Lynn. If we could get six of us to throw in $200,000 each, we’d be able to have the house two months each year. The house is big enough to invite a couple hundred of one’s closest friends and family for Sunset parties, with luminarias and all. I think I’ll hold out though until the Dream Home Sweepstakes is over next year, because owning TWO homes in SPO would be a little overwhelming. Even between Coop and me, splitting time between Southern California, Thailand and New Mexico would spread us a little too thin.
Thanks for the tip about the lemon Eucalyptus oil, Ed in Oregon. Since mosquitos come after me from miles away, maybe I could drag a eucalyptus branch around with me while lounging about the Green Home in Florida.
And while we’re at it, will the real Green Home winner please stand up so we can see you?!
LYNN COGGIN=
1. Thanks for the link for the resale, it looks beautiful! What a house, can you imagine what the DH 2010 will look like?
2. Where did you find that link for the Alligator hat??? LOL! I’d like one. I’ll have my Dad wear it when we go to NYC this year, so this way, I won’t lose him at Rockerfeller Ctr— twice— like what happened last time, LOL LOL
3. GREAT IDEA for the Party— Really GREAT idea!!!! I say, lets move ahead, and start planning!!!!
Diana
Thanks for the great account of your tour Renee Loves Green. Hearing fellow dreamers and greamers viewpoints and photos are always a treat that I look forward to every year. Does Tradition have a community pool? Just curious.
Hello! Gail again, and hello everyone Renne
loves green you already had a prety amazing
adventure visiting the green that all us want
to touch and see as you did great!
Here and advise for the mosquitos, there
some electric devices that you can plug on
near the area that you would like to sit
that’s it.
Live Life Dream Big on HGTV Green Home
Goog Luck to All including me…..:)
maaaaan! When will we know? It must not be me. I did not get any unusual activity yet! Any new ideas on who/what/where/When?
Any ideas?
Hi All, ya know when it comes to mosquitos all you have to do is mix some listerine and water and spray it where ever you’re gonna be and the mixture will keep the little critters away. Just thought ya might want to try it. It really does work.
Show me the green, make sure you carry around a lemon eucalyptus branch. The other eucalyptus varieties don’t work. You’ll probably have to crush some of the leaves to get that lemon eucalyptus smell too. I agree with you, I will wait for the Dream Home 2010 drawing. Although Lynn’s house was nice, it just didn’t have the right bling for me. Anxiously awaiting the plans for the dream home.
thanks glenn for answering me
In Louisiana bayou’s alligators are not a big problem. They are very afraid of people and sounds. It is hard to gte close to one they are always trying to get away.
Cajun Lady
ED in OREGON, and KIM= Thanks for your tips, I’ll try them!!!! These tiny “no-see-ums” will bite away at you, and drive you “itch crazy”!!!
But don’t worry- don’t think that they are on the East Coast (Pt.St.Lucie)—- I think that the Gulf attracts them.
Diana
Kat: Yep! Florida is a long way away, however, it would be nice to attend the party, and still have time to visit my relatives in Georgia! I’m sure Ira (my cousin) would love to put out a true southern spread (”super”) for ALL to enjoy! So, maybe we could have two parties…one in Florida & one in Georgia!! I guess it would make it easier if I just won the Gream Home!
Ed: Thanks for the tip….did you also know that another common name for eucalyptus is fever tree. “Nineteenth-century British colonists, noting the fragrant, medicinal aroma of eucalyptus groves, planted the trees in tropical fever ridden districts throughout the Empire in an effort to drive away insects and contagious disease. An added plus (in the colonists’ eyes) was that the trees also tended to dry out water-logged soils with their extensive, hungry root systems, making marshy soils into arable, habitable land. This deterred disease-carrying insects, especially mosquitoes, which need standing water to breed.” Anyway, nice to know that you can splash a delicious smelling aromatic on your body & rid yourself of pesty misquitoes!! This is definitely a must in humid southern states!!
Suzanne610: Thank you Cajun Lady for the encouraging info about allegators, however, I’m not sure I would want to get close enough to find out if they would turn away…and, I certainly would not want to tangle with one in a “death roll” that I have read about! FYI: “Also, in the state of Florida, it is illegal to feed wild alligators at any time. If fed, the alligators will eventually lose their fear of humans and will learn to associate humans with food, thereby becoming a greater danger to people.”
So Amazing! My husband, GD Haley and I would love to just move to Florida. This last 3 years have been tuff! My husband and I lost jobs in Corporate America, our company cars, our insurance and our dreams….We worked for the same company and they closed down and never even gave us notice in SC. We worked deligently.
Decided to have a BIG DREAM! So Haley and I entered everyday! She is just as excited so hopefully …we might just do it! As my Grandmother used to say, If the Lord is willing and the creek don’t rise ….we will be driving to Florida soon!
Regards! SC Hopeful Winners
Diana – I am a really visual person and I’m picturing you in Manhatten looking all over the place for your dad and spotting him ice skating at Rockefeller Center in that crocodile hat! LOL, LOL! Oh, yes, there are many other New Yorkers watching him also! You can buy one for him for $15.99 at webhats.com!
Kim and Ed in Oregon – Thanks for the tips regarding the mosquitos…I’m definitely going to try them!
Show Me – Okay, you’re right! I guess we should wait to see who actually wins the Dream Home first! I’ll be patient!
Cajun Lady – It sounds like you have actually tried to get close enough to catch one?! Hahaha! You are brave!
Living the Dream!
While it is not green product at all the best for the truly infested areas with mosquitos is still product with DEET in it. Nothing compares for the children’s welfare where we live and have tried all of the natural products and solutions named and others to no avail.
Do what works for you in your environment after you have tried the natural and organic means and not feel guilty about it.
EXTRA! EXTRA! BIG NEWS! On the home page of the Green Home, there is a countdown clock…..in 13 days, so many hours, minutes, and seconds, they will reveal the Winner of the HGTV Green Home 2009 in Port St. Lucie! June 28th at 8:00pm Eastern time!!!!!!!!! I guess we all need to sit tight until then!
Patience is a virtue, Patience is a virtue, etc.!
Living the Dream!
LYNN COGGIN= Yeah, it was funny. We were there 2 years ago ( 2 weeks before X-Mas). We are planning on going this year too. But— Rockerfeller Ctr. at X-Mas Time??? If you turn your head for one second— you’ll lose each other, LOL!!!
I wanted to take pics of Dr. Seuss, and he got mad and thought it was dumb, and I thought that he just walked away to get away from the crowd. After my pics, I never found him. 2 Hours Later— we found each other!!!
There’s no way I’d get him to wear that hat— people would think he’s crazy!!! But— the plan is, we will BOTH have cell phones this time, and if we lose each other— we’ll designate one of the “stores” there to meet up at.
This happened Twice at Rockerfeller Ctr. too!
By the way— I’d love to go ice-skating there, but probably would fall right on my butt!!! LOL
Check back Tomorrow on the Blog—- have to think about a few ideas—- LOVE your IDEA about the 4th of July Party!!!!
Diana
The drawing could be happening today. Positive thoughts everyone. : )
MGTOTD: Buzz up! Reduce your consumption: buy less stuff! Such a simple notion, yet so powerful. The less you buy, the less money you spend. When you buy less, you’re also reducing your environmental impact. Buying fewer things means a little more money in your pocket, and a little less pollution in the world.
Reuse the things you have. Before you buy a new bicycle, consider taking your old bike in for a tune-up instead. If you currently buy disposable diapers, disposable razors, or paper towels, consider switching to re-usable alternatives.
Recycle the Stuff you no longer want or need. If you replace your 1996-era 19″ Sony television with a new widescreen model, don’t set the old TV out in the trash. Find another home for it. Put it on Craigslist. Set it outside with a “free” sign on it. If you really want to save money, place yourself on the other side of the equation: look for Stuff that people are getting rid of. You can find nearly everything you need for much less than you’d pay new. You just need to know where to look!
Embrace imperfection. We like the things we buy to be perfect. But that perfection comes at a price, both financially and environmentally. Learn to look beyond the surface.
Hi Cami,
Wednesday, June 17th, is the day for the drawing. The winner will be notified between June 19th and June 28th.
Continue dreaming until the 19th. Then relax and enjoy because someone will receive a special surprise! Along with everyone else, I’m hoping it’s me.
Collegemom,
Have you tried Ed in Oregon and Kim’s suggestions? I like them both. Kim’s is especially interesting. It’s almost as unusual as one of MGTOTD. I’m going to try both.
If you tried both, what were the results?
How close to sandy white beaches is the GREEN HOME,I would love it if i could take a short drive and lounge in the sun and return for a cool tottie on the veranda at the GH2009.SOOOOO Fabulous cant wait,i want to win.
I have never tried the lemon branch one. I am not even sure I could find something like that in the ‘back of beyond’ where I live anyways.
Like I said before, the products with DEET work best for us. We are infested with mosquitos when the cold weather disappears.
Thanks, Ed in Oregon, about the reminder to make it a LEMON eucalyptus branch. I’d feel pretty foolish dragging around the wrong kind of tree branch, with everybody whispering behind my back “it isn’t even LEMON!”
And now, in an HGTV Green Home blog first, I’m turning over the computer to Coop for a brief note….
Hello Green Home bloggers, DBCoop at the keyboard here: thought I’d respond to a comment from Diana B in the Dream Home blog about my colleague ‘Show’s’ suggestion of a ‘gator wrestling event at the Green Home bloggers’ party.
Diana suggested that the prize for the “volunteer”, if they win, could be a “gator rubber ducky.” My thought is that the prize for the ladies would be matching alligator shoes and purse; and for the men, matching shoes, belt, and wallet. If the ‘gator wins, no prize is necessary.
Hmmm, on second thought, maybe we better cancel that portion of the day’s events. Wouldn’t want any negative publicity in some arenas about “bloodthirsty bloggers”. We’ll just have a ‘gator “petting zoo” instead. Now, back to Show….
Thank you, Coop, and thank you also to Lynn for informing us about the Green Home Winner’s Reveal date of 28 June. You can be sure that Coop and I will be glued to the TV, waiting to share the big moment with some very lucky person.
By the way, any tomatoes ready yet up on that rooftop garden?
I read this and thought some of you would definitely be interested…
If you enjoy the scent of vanilla, you can be rest assured mosquitoes don’t. Pure vanilla extract is said to ward off mosquitoes. Simply apply real vanilla extract to pulse points, and bloodthirsty mosquitoes will go elsewhere.
Hope this helps!
Living the Dream!
i just all of u know when i win this house next week..u are all welcome to come and stay at the house.may be one family at a time.i would love to cook breakfast and dinner for all of u guys.i love to serve.may god bless each on of you.
Diana, Renee loves Green, Kat – I had never heard of No-See-Ums before so I looked it up and sure enough there was a lot of information about them. Mosquitos love me and I have always had good luck with Skin-So-Soft even though it is a bit perfumey for me. However, I ran across this and wanted to pass it along to you guys.
Biting no-see-um bugs are famous for their bite and the ability not to be seen. Also called Midges, these tiny bugs is the smallest blood sucking insect known. To add to the frustration, no see ums are generally fearless and travel in large groups ready to terrorize an unsuspecting person.
Their bite can cause itchy red welts, sometimes even water filled blisters .How sever the bite is depends on an individuals reaction, but the general consensus is, it can hurt and itch for hours.
Then, I ran across this and thought it miay help you guys…
http://www.cleanairgardening.com/organic-repellent.html
Here’s to anti-itching!
Living the Dream!
Diana, Renee loves Green, Kat – I had never heard of No-See-Ums before so I looked it up and sure enough there was a lot of information about them. Mosquitos love me and I have always had good luck with Skin-So-Soft even though it is a bit perfumey for me. However, I ran across this and wanted to pass it along to you guys.
Biting no-see-um bugs are famous for their bite and the ability not to be seen. Also called Midges, these tiny bugs is the smallest blood sucking insect known. To add to the frustration, no-see-ums are generally fearless and travel in large groups ready to ter ror ize an unsuspecting person.
Their bite can cause itchy red welts, sometimes even water filled blisters. How severe the bite is depends on an individuals reaction, but the general consensus is, it can hurt and itch for hours.
Then, I ran across this and thought it may help you guys…
http://www.cleanairgardening.com/organic-repellent.html
Here’s to anti-itching!
Living the Dream!
Diana
I haven’t seen the no-see-ums in the Ft Lauderdale-Miami area. Okay, that was obvious since they’re NO-SEE-ums, make that haven’t heard of them here. But they are definitely on the east coast – Jack had scratching as his main pasttime after golf when we lived on Amelia Island north of Jacksonville. Not sure how south they go though. I was lucky they didn’t come after me.
So much for rain or nighttime for these mosquitos. I decided to do my yoga on the patio this morning & they were buzzing around my legs, until the end at “relaxation” pose. Maybe if I called it “corpse” pose as some do they would not have been biting my arms preventing that relaxation. Guess I need to hop on the bike & get to Whole Foods today to get some of the lemon eucalyptus oil.
I don’t think ANY living thing is going to bother me right now on this patio. I just opened that ceramic compost I bought after seeing the special – it was SOOOO nasty looking & smelling. Then I didn’t want to walk it through the condo, so I dumped it over the rail in the dirt under the trees. BUt I can still smell it out here- it is worse than a dead body. Now I know why people have to mix the lawn trimmings which I don’t have & mix the stuff around a bit (not eay in that container). I can’t imagine that would make good fertilizer even if it all comes from organic produce – that stench could knock someone out. Yes I know people use manure as fertilizer, but this smells even worse. That was NOT going on my herbs. I think the mosquitos even vanished looking for clean air:)))
Renee loves and lives Green,
55 photos!!! Give your husband a big hug of appreciation from all of us on the blog. He made our day! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I enjoyed your “awaiting moderation” post. Full of info. You are a great reporter. Your descriptions are excellent!
Whomever is blessed with this home will receive a great gift! Know that it is greatly loved and desired by many. Enjoy!
Sorry about the double post above. It was awaiting moderation but is now posted
Living the Dream!
Renee loves Green – WOW! Thanks for the pictures and thank you Lessie for having us go back to look at them!
If anyone wants to see them, scroll up and they are in the link posted by Renee loves Green dated June 13th at 11:47pm.
Renee, they are fabulous! Definitely worth the awaiting moderation! Thank you to you and your husband for posting them! I think I saw your little boy in the laundry room with his little blue booties on his feet.
Living the Dream!
The drawing could be today, since HGTV’s sweeps rules always say “on or about” when stating the dates for when things will occur. For instance in the rules for this sweeps it says the drawing will be “On or about June 17th” which to me means any time this week. They couldn’t do the drawing until after June 12th because they were still waiting for the mail-in entries to arrive, per rules. It may take them more time to enter the mail-in entries in the computer however. It seems that HGTV has always notified earlier than we expect, so who knows. Somewhere it says the winner will be notified between June 19th-28th, so no one needs to jump every time the phone rings until then. : )
Or a van drives by, or someone knocks on the door, or you recieve a suspicious email, or a relative invites you to lunch, or???
Thankyou Renee loves green,Your photos are more detailed than hgtv’s. Wow, you were not kidding about the greeniry needing attention , and at last we get to see the inside of that beautiful garage. Thanks a bunch Renee! Danny
Good luck to everyone who has entered this exciting give away- It has been so much fun to “dream” with you all! I believe someone will know something this week, and feel even more certain that everything happens for a reason. Peace, love and good fortune to all my fellow dreamers.
So, I just realized that the New York Mets have their spring training in Port St. Lucie…very cool…so, there you have it…I have a job when I move there! The Philadelphia Phillies (oh, you know, THE World Series Winners) can hire me to be their secret scout spy! I could watch the Mets practices and then travel 3 hours and 17 minutes to Clearwater where the Phillies have Spring Training to report all of the Mets happenings in Port St. Lucie! Oh, this is too perfect!
Now I’m truly…
Living the Dream!
Hello! Gail again and thanks for every thing
Can’t wait to see who’ll be the big blessed! still crossing my fingers really tight,tight that will be me 
you bring to this exciting group of bloggers,
that daily expressing their emotion about
HGTV Green Home in Port ST. Lucie,Fl. we can transport emotionally and imagination in and out to the green home and its sorroundings,
I was learning so much and almost I feel
the sensation that I really be in the HGTV Green Home LOL! HURRAY! HURRAY ! PARADE! this blog smell to be a big green paty
~.~ Partners Living in the Dream Green Home ~.~
Live Life Dream Green on HGTVGH
my cousin invited me for a family gathering on june 21st, he called to make sure, me and my wife are going……could this mean somthing ..probably not…i am reading too much in to this..they have no way of knowing my cousins..they dont live near us..i guess i am just hoping so badly…it is good to dream isnt it?????
Hello Bloggers, Since this is where “Renee Loves Green” posted her pictures (great pictures by the way) I thought I would ask my question here, Have any of you compared the kitchen photos from Renee to the ones from HGTV? Just curious as to why there is an indentation in the wall between the pantry door and the refridgerator? It is no big deal I just noticed something different and was curious. Anybody got a clue? Good Luck All.
The drawing could be tomorrow!
Kim, thanks for the compliment on the pictures. I am not sure exactly why the cut-out is in the wall by the fridge, but, my thoughts are that originally the fridge was going to be on the back wall and a pantry on the side where the fridge is. The cut-out does give you extra space to open the fridge. Hope this helps!! Also, I wanted to thank everyone for their wonderful comments and compliments. I still believe that we have the BEST Bloggers in the World here on the HGTV site… especially within the Dream and Green Homes!! Lynn, I will be watching for you and your spy outfit. LOL. Mattw, you never know?? They are very ingenious over at the Prize Patrol!! I am not sure on the exact process of notifying the winners… not sure if they call you, because they would give it away and I know how much they try to ambush the winner!! Lessie, I told my husband that his pictures were much appreciated and he said that they were with his little digital and if he brought his “professional 35mm”, the pictures would have been better quality. I love the pictures and think that they look great!! I explained that everyone just wants to see more and that, that is what he did!! Kat, which Whole Foods do you go to?? The one on Federal Hwy… not, that I want to break any privacy, but we visit that one. Sorry about your Ceramic Composting pot…. Did you have the filter in the top of it where the wholes are?? Just curious… I am trying to figure out why you had such a horrible experience with that little “bugger”!! Ed, thank you again for answering my question on those nasty little mosquitos and on my reporting on the Green Home!! I tried to make it feel like I was walking through with each of you!! Show Me the Green, I would never pick on you for bringing the wrong branch as I probably wouldn’t even notice if it was lemon or not.!! You crack me up!! LOL. GlennNYC, you are welcome!!! Marie, your day at Port St. Lucie sounds beautiful and I want to go to “Crawdaddy’s” now, too!!! You made me hungry!! Thank you, Cynthia too!!! Diana, I hope my other postings answered your additional questions!! There was a question on a Community Pool and we did not notice one…and I checked out the map of all of the developments..but, they are still building and one may still be added… I will see if I can find you an answer on that today!! Love life by living green!!
Dear Mary: I’m not sure I understand how the winner will be picked on June 19th & then notified between the 19th & 28th? It was quite clear how they picked the winner for the DH2009! Do you care to eliborate? Thank you!!
Lessie: Just curious, which strange MGTOTD are you trying?
Show Me: Love the idea of the “gator wrestling” event, and the prizes you came up with are exceptional….if one survives the “death roll” with the gator! Maybe we should change the event to a “gator petting” event! I assume the zoo keepers will feed the fellows before we reach out to pat them on their heads? You reminded me of the roof top garden at the Gream Home & the possibility of tomatoes being ready…yummy…nothin’ better than a good old fashioned ripe tomatoe sandwich!! Anyone for a jar full of iced tea & poor folk delight?
LynnCoggin: Wow!! We can now wear vanilla as well as lemon to ward off those nasty two-winged insects? However, do we have to worry about the bees being attracted to the vanilla? I use to sell Avon back in the day, and one of the best selling ploys was the “Skin So Soft” product warding off mosquitos!! Oh yeah, I am a San Diego Padre (and Charger) fan…who knows what might happen in the future…we might see our teams at the World Series some day…Padres vs. Mets!!! Maybe we could meet before (or after) the game at “Crawdaddy’s!!” Oh, by the way, Gary Sheffield, who as you know use to be a SD Padre, is one of my most favorite players of all time (other than Tony Gwynn), and it is my understanding that he will continue to play even though he still has injuries?
Hey Mathwpetes: Please add me to your invitation list for breakfast and dinner at the GreamHome if you win!! I’ll promise to bring some black eyed peas and cornbread (southern style) and for dessert…pecan pie!! Sure hope you are right about the family gathering…good luck!!
MGTOTD: Clear soap scum effortlessly away from shower doors by wiping them with a used dryer sheet. It gets the job done quickly!!
Question for anyone of you. How can they possibly ambush the winner. I thought it was all for television and the winner knew they were there well ahead of production.
With all of our busy schedules they could wait for a week or more to ‘ambush’ the winner at the address given.
I really hope I win!! I want to win and live in the Green home!! and I really really want to live in Port St Lucy and Tradition!!! I it all looks and sounds Fabulous!!!!!!! I want IT!!!!
Is there near by any health food store?
I’m getting anxious and sad at the same time…so much anticipation and before we know it, it’s all going to be over. But this is my last post, so congratulations to whomever the winner is-I hope the green home makes your dreams come true as it would mine. Have a great summer everyone!
Luba: You might try DONNA’S ORGANICS, 1792 SW Morelia Lane, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34953! Here is the website:
http://www.greenpeople.org/searchResults.cfm?memid=15626
Hope that helps!
collegemom: I’m a bit confused also! It was really clear how they picked the winner for the DH2009! I asked Mary to elaborate, so maybe she’ll post something SOON!!
Just to refresh our memories, I’ve posted the what the “Rules” say:
“How the Grand Prize Winner will be Determined:
Grand Prize Winner Drawing and Notification: One (1) potential Grand Prize Winner will be chosen by Main Sponsor in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received during the entire Sweepstakes Period on or about June 17, 2009 that will be monitored by Ritway, Inc., an independent judging organization (”Sweepstakes Administrator”). The potential Grand Prize Winner will be contacted either by phone, e-mail, in writing, or in person via televised ambush by HGTV at the Grand Prize Winner’s home on or about June 19 – 28, 2009 (subject to change). The potential Grand Prize Winner may be filmed during such visit by Main Sponsor. The Grand Prize Winner will be required to execute an affidavit of eligibility and release of liability and publicity (where permitted by law), and return same, fully-executed, within three (3) business days of date of issuance of prize notification. Main Sponsor may also require the Grand Prize Winner to travel at Main Sponsor’s expense to the taping of the televised HGTV Green Home Giveaway special (including production wraps on location with host) at Main Sponsor’s studios in Knoxville, TN or such other location in the US selected by Main Sponsor for a televised drawing before a studio audience and/or publicity purposes on or about June 19 through 28, 2009 (dates subject to change). If Main Sponsor is unable to contact the potential Grand Prize Winner within five (5) business days of the initial attempt, if the potential Grand Prize Winner fails to return all requested forms fully-executed by the specified date, or if the potential Grand Prize Winner fails to comply with these Official Rules, including traveling on the dates and times required by Main Sponsor, his/her place as a possible Grand Prize Winner will be forfeited at Main Sponsor’s discretion, and an alternate Grand Prize Winner shall be selected. For the avoidance of doubt, if Main Sponsor elects to award the Grand Prize during a televised event as described above, the potential Grand Prize Winner must travel to the location designed by Main Sponsor and on the dates required by Main Sponsor (at Main Sponsor’s expense) to be eligible to win the Grand Prize. Grand Prize Winner may also be required to travel to the HGTV Green Home on “Winner Weekend” (dates to be determined by Main Sponsor in its sole discretion) at Main Sponsor’s expense. Main Sponsor reserves the right not to produce or televise the HGTV Green Home Giveaway winner special, to modify the proposed format of any such programming, and to select the winner in a random drawing format that shall be determined by Main Sponsor.”
Thank you Marie for the information. It is a great update but still leaves me confused as to how they possibly ‘ambush’ anyone with a window that large of time. A person could be on vacation the whole time, at work, school, errands, you name it-unless you know to be in your house on Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. who knows where someone could be.
I really still don’t think they are ‘ambushed’ but filmed to look that way.
RENEE LOVES GREEN= Thank you so much for Keeping us all Updated!!! You did such a Great Job— and was Very Nice of you to go out of your way like this!!! I’ll check out the pics later today, What is the Name of the Health Food Store on Federal Hwy? We have (Mother Earth) here.
LYNN COGGIN= Thanks for the idea of using vanilla, I’ll try it some time
MARIE MILLER= Thanks for all of your great “Green” ideas. Black Eye Peas, Cornbread, and Pecan Pie? Would Love Some—and I know that you are a Great Cook– but it’ll be hard making that in the hotel room—- so just Come Anyways for the Party!!!! Just Bring Yourself, and it’ll be a Fun Party!!! I’ll get Publix to make a few Pecan Pies, OK???
SHOW ME THE GREEN= You have expensive taste. An alligator purse probably goes for about $1,000.00! It’s kind of like buying a fur jacket, they are not made in mass production anymore. Where I live, they do Anything to Protect the Alligators!
I agree, a Gator Wrestling Match would probably bring bad publicity, but on a positive note— it would probably scare away and turn away all the crowds from “Freedom Fest”—- and we’ll then have the whole entire park to ourselves, huh? Good Idea???
Diana
Well, no phone calls yet—–
LYNN COGGIN= Ok, I have some ideas for the party. You came out with a great idea for “Freedom Fest” on the 4th.
1. One time, I went to an office Christmas Party- at the Hard Rock Hotel (gambling casino). After we all ate in the restaurant, everyone just went their own ways— in the gambling casino. (No one really met up with each other after the dinner.) So, I think it would be a good idea to set up our own “HGTV Tent”. Maybe we could find a good use for those Alligator Hats after all???? or neon-Orange colored T-Shirts? Hmmm— what could we put on the T-Shirts though?
2. Maybe form “Committee’s”? I’ll volunteer to be on the “Cocktail Committee”. I’ll need some help though— not much of a bartender. Then think of a list of drinks—- I really don’t think that Margarita’s would be a good idea— they are not that great if you can’t use a blender.
WHO WANTS TO BE ON A COMMITTEE????
3. So, whether or not the party will be in the Civic Center or at the Freedom Fest Park— will Change the Planning.
4. And then, will we be playing basketball or fuseball? We then have to Form Teams. What will the Names of the Teams be???? Maybe Southerners against the Northernors? or— Hurricanes vs. the Tornadoes??? or— Alligators vs. hmmm… have to think, um, Stone Crabs?
There’s a high school here in Pt. Charlotte, and their “mascot” is the “Stone Crabs”. Is that retarded or what??? LOL LOL
Talk Later
Diana
I don’t care if they ambush me in my bathrobe as long as they pick me!! And if they call me on my phone – it’s my cell, so is always with me, although that may not be the case for everyone.
Seriously I would guess that the folks at HGTV have this down to a science by now. Someone mentioned watching for a suspicious invitation from a relative – so when my daughter (who lives in northern Palm Beach county not far from the Green Home), calls me, I should worry? or get excited? LOL
For those who asked, the Civic center in Pt. Ste. Lucie is wonderful – the Orchid society held their show there a couple of months ago & it is a really nice place, with lots of activities. We live around an hour south of there & still go there on occasion for events as the the people are very friendly.
I miss entering daily & still think about the house a lot – and every so often have to come check the website for a dose of pictures of this beautiful home. I miss being a homeonwer (we’re renting) and would love to win this place – which at least will make it very easy to move. plus I work from home (since being laid off as a result of the economic meltdown.) So again, good news, I can work while sitting on my beautiful porch (which we generally call a lanai down here – except susually those have a sceen roof too.) And yes, we DO get “no-see-ums” in Florida, along with lots of other bugs so when you open the windows you absolutely better have screens!
Nice to hear everyone’s stories! Thank you HGTV!! 2009 HGTV Green Home for me!
For a great left-over recipe try a pastie. These are popular foods in England and Scotland and a great way to clean out. These are a staple there and one of the reasons the potato famine was so devastating to the country.
You make a pie crust just forming into the bottom of the pan and fill with filling which can be cut up potatoes (a must have), carrots, onions, celery, green peppers, green onion, rutabagas, corn, peas, etc. then you fold the crust over and pinch sealed together. Bake for about 45 minutes or so at 350 Serve with gravy. Great by themselves or serve with beans and fruits.
These are also great for lunches for yourself or the kids. We love them. And they freeze fantastic.
COLLEGE MOM= Sounds great. I Love Quiches and Pot Pies. Great idea for the Party too. But what do you mean by “a great way to clean out”?
Diana
Diana, Sorry regional lingo there. ‘Clean out’ is terminology used by people in my area meaning they are using all the leftovers in the refrigerator to make soup, stew, chili or as I do pasties.
My girls love to make pie crust so pasties is a natural clean out food for us.
Good luck to all in the home drawing.
Jeanne: You said you work from home. If it is something the rest of us could do from home, please let us know all about it.
Thanks!
I just returned home from some appointments and I’m getting caught up on the comments from my favorite bloggers.
Marie Miller & Ed in Oregon – This is for you… Heath Justin Bell (born September 29, 1977 in Oceanside, California) is a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball with the San Diego Padres. Bell is married with three children and resides in Port St. Lucie, Florida!!!!!
Maybe one of you will be his new neighbor!
Living the Dream!
Second Heather’s post-anyone working from home with a reputable company, let us know there are so many scams out there it is hard to find the good for all the bad.
HELLO! GAIL AGAIN AND AGAIN I WAS ENJOYING
YOUR INTERVIEW ABOUT PORT ST. LUCIE, FL.
AGAIN GOOD ADVICES FROM YOU TO BE THERE
WITH THE COMMUNITY SPECIAL EVENTS THEY HAVE
ALMOST ROUND YEAR,SEASONAL FESTIVAL,HOLIDAY LIGHTS, AND MUCH MORE.
GOD! PLUS HGTV.GREEN HOME ADDED A GREAT EVENT
THAT MADES THIS TOWN MORE SPECIAL AND EXCITED TO BE IN.
PLEASE, PLEASE HGTV.COM PICK ME STILL MY FINGERS AND MY TOES CROSSED LOL!
~.~ COMMUNITY LIVING IN THE GREEN DREAM ~.~
LVE LIFE DREAM BIG ON HGTV GREEN HOME
Still waiting …still hoping & dreaming Green…this home would be perfect for us! Please pick me HGTV….This home has met all expectations….I would be soooo grateful to have the opportunity to own a home in the South which has always been a dream of ours….& to have been built by the best would be a dream come true! Still waiting ….Greeting from R.I.
M
Renee, I usually go to the Whole Foods in Aventura since it is in walking distance, but the one on Federal Hwy in Fort Lauderdale is one of my faves, especially with all the classes they have at the Lifestyle Center. However, I am not very happy with the FTL area right now since we went to lunch on A1A across from the beach & got back to the car & thought it was odd that the glove box was open, thought maybe I had hit it getting out, though not likely. But then when we got home, realized that Jack’s man-bag (bigger than any lady’s purse was gone & so was my little reusable shopping bag that had my favorite bathing suit, and a change of clothes and shoes:(
But they left his shorts & golfshirt on the back seat. Guess they don’t have use for a man’s XXXL, but it must have been a teenager, since not many others will fit into a size 5-1/2 shoe & size 0 jeans. It’s not like they took it to rush, since they had the time to open my other bag to see that it was an insulated bag filled with fruit & veggies & they left that too. So, be careful where you park when going to the beach!!
Wonder what the crime rate is in PSL?
Reading more posts on gator wrestling & on sports teams reminded me that it would be real easy to do Gator wrestling down here & be safe also (unless you wore a Florida State University shirt). Since Univ of Florida fans are all “Gators”, it would probably be easy to get one of them to wrestle at the party, maybe even get their mascot. Probably could get a UF gator bag as a prize & it has to be much more green (actually green & orange) than a real gator purse. Maybe loser gets a FSU bag??
Diana, if we both go to the party, you must bring me some of the Sami’s millet hot dog buns they sell at Mother Earth (I got them at the Gainesville one) sliced in half, they make the BEST gluten-free breadsticks especially with pesto sauce & garlic spread on them before baking. Whole Foods stopped carrying Sami’s – too bad since they are in Florida. Their millet chips are great also, especially the cinnamon and also the garlic.
Like everyone else, wondering how they could ever do an ambush not knowing when the winner would be home, or contact relatives when we only list one phone # & like Jeanne I listed my cell #. As far as the rules, what Grand Prize winner would fail to return the forms unless they fell into a coma or fatal accident? Guess, I’ll have to tell everyone around me to put pen in my hand, fill out forms, sign & send in if I do go into such deep shock or faint & knock my head into a prolonged stupor. How could anyone turn down such a dream house??
Jeanne is right there are lots of critters around here. Has anyone noticed screens on the windows or just the porch? I know from living without screens here, those flying intruders come in & menace me while I sleep & even in the mornings if I have the windows/sliding doors open anytime during the day. It would be so nice to have fresh air circulation without being host to a bevy of unwanted pets.
Kat, I read that Port St. Lucie is one of the safest places to live in the Nation or at least in Tradition…and I know that nothing in your car will go missing in any of the parking lots through Tradition as they have several security officers patrolling it!! I always lock our car…it’s a habit from Phoenix because there is a high rate of car theft..!! Maybe we will run into each other..as we shop at the one on Federal Hwy., because we live close to Bayview Elementary. Diana, the store is Whole Foods and I am sure there must be others but I am still researching everything around us…I found an organic pizza joint and a restaurant that is all natural and organic yesterday,,,so I can’t wait to try them!! Love life by living green!!
Renee,
Pizza Fusion’s salad was great, but pass on their gluten-free pizza – way to $$$ & the crust reminded me of the box. You left the best GF pizza I’ve ever found Picazzo’s in various cities in AZ. There is another organic restaurant, Green Wave Cafe, that I want to try the next time we are in Plantation. Let me know if you get there first – you do so great at reviews. For organic produce, you may also want to try one of the local buying clubs, I use annie’s buying club which has weekly deliveries & they have a drop-off area in Ft Lauderdale. I get to try new veggies I haven’t had before, I now am addicted to roasted kale after having missed out on it my whole life, thought it was just to decorate trays for catering. You might also want to check out the center & classes at BM Organics on N Dixie Hwy.
Being new to the area, you should pick up Natural Awakenings magazines at Whole Foods since it has a local calendar of green & natural living events. You may also be interested in the Green League of Broward which meets monthly at your Whole Foods. They are having their summer social July 11 at Birch State Park. Their website is greenbroward.net
Another great site is meetup.com which is good for any location, when I looked there were 11 groups within 25 miles of the Port Saint Lucie area under Natural Organic Living & 2 groups listed under Green Home Living (wonder if they plan on showing up for the party?)
Lynn Coggin: Thank you for your head’s up on Heath Bell (so interesting that he resides in Port St. Lucie), and what I’ve read is that this 31-year-old could become a San Diego institution. He’s an intense competitor who says what he thinks. There’s no stale air to him. Manager Bud Black’s comment is that “He’s refreshing,” “And he’s good!”
Diana: No problem with having Publix Market make the pies…I’ve never shop in one of those markets, but have heard they are fabulous! I’ve read that George Jenkins opened the first Publix market in Winter Haven, Florida, in 1930! WOW!! The Standalone Publix in Pompano Beach, Florida, with typical architecture of early-21st-century stores looks like my kind of place!
Kat, THANK YOU,,THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! I have been so busy getting moved in, etc., that I haven’t had a chance to do any research and WOW you are a wealth of information and advice!! This is what I am talking about this blog…it is the best group of people ever!! I owned a natural and organic catering company in Phoenix and still need to decide what I am going to do now that we are moved in!! Finding a job right now is not fun especially when I don’t know what I am going to do!! Really Kat, thank you, you are awesome!! Marie, thanks again for posting the information on the selection/notification dates!! It is all so exciting!! I can’t wait to see how many have entered the contest this time!! Is it going to be more than the Dream Home 2009/Sonoma??? Over 39,000,000, you think?? I really hope a dedicated blogger wins!! Ed, I forgot to get back to you on the plants!! Yes, I was a little disappointed about the plants, but then I thought “well, maybe they are trying to take care of plants and just having a difficult time with it”. Especially if they hired someone who is not familiar with organics and growing plants in a natural environment without chemicals or pesticides. I bet you could give them some great advice!! Love life by living green!!
Lynn, if I don’t win…it would be fun to see the winner get the keys in front of the Green Home 2009!! If I am not too depressed, I will try to make a big sign or t-shirt to say hello to my favorite group on the web!!!
I work from home also. I design websites, do animations, illustrations, brochures, exhibit design.
If this can help anyone:
People can do many things from home be it babysitting, caring for others, telecommuting, being doula, and other opportunities. Ebay offers house work, so does google. But I am not sure about these.
If you have access to internet, there is a lot to explore, but be careful too what is legitimate what not…
If out of work, it is good time to go back to school, some training for jobs which are always needed: like nurses, programmers, and other.
Good luck to anyone!
well, you cannot do doula from home, but it is usually half day, or so. Sorry for the mistake
Hi MARY, thought I’d better give you the gate code to get through to my house so you can pass it on to the Surprise Van folks. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they had to call the house first in order to get in, and I’m very careful about who I buzz through! In case it’s needed, the code is ———- (deleted to maintain privacy). Looking forward to my visit any day now—and Coop and I have rescheduled all of our out of town trips in order to remain home until 29 June. The daily exercise walks are in the mid-morning, and casino visits are limited to early afternoons, so there shouldn’t be any conflicts at all to interfere with the on-camera winner’s reveal. Boy, this is so exciting!
Check out Arise.com I have worked them for 5yrs, they are legit. Please tell them Susan 41312 sent you, I do get an incentive!!
Hi! Gail and Hi! everyone Good Luck
to all including me
Did they have a show of the DH winner actually going through the home for the first time? I think that would be more interesting to watch than the ambush since you pretty much know it’s not you at that point anyway.
well… I am READY for my phone call letting me know I own a home in Tradition FL!!!!!!!
(I’m ready to start moving too!!)
I was in Port St. Lucie a few weeks ago with family and i have to say that it has change ALOT from when i was a kid. The new neighborhoods, and shopping centers are beautiful. I love the changes. I want so badly to win the 2009 Green Home that it’s all I think about. I currently live in broward county, but I would love to raise a family in Port St. Lucie. Good luck to all and GOD bless.
dear mary,
i think you are the best super fan hgtv has ever had, you have been loads of fun, generous , informative and honest. i hope this leads to even bigger things for you , i love this home more than any other hgtv home,i have always dreamed of a green home since i was a little girl, but one with such beauty, and the stlye, it is just like my favorite home my father built as a young man. Would you talk more about the veggie garden and how much rain water you can expect to collect?, would it support a few citrus trees? well, all fingers and toes crossed for us all to win!!!!! thanks for all the fun mary!!! and hgtv!!!
Renee loves Green: I understand what you are saying about moving…I’m still unpacking boxes after five years of relocating from Stockton, California, to Brookings, Oregon!! Even though there might be some competition for a natural and organic catering company, why not open another? You have the experience and knowledge to specialize in serving fresh, seasonal cuisine, with the vegetarian fare!! I would think your service would attrack beautiful affairs, from intimate dinners and enchanted weddings to large gala events. Your line of work has to be so rewarding!! And, you are welcome about the posting of information on the selection/notification dates…and, yes it is exciting!! It won’t be long now.
Luba: Nice advice…thank you!!
GOOD LUCK GREAMERS!!!!!
MGTOTD: ANTI BACTERIAL SOAPS: Research is now showing that washing your hands well with soap and water is just as effective as using an anti-bacterial soap. And the Environmental Working Group in Oakland says the chemical Triclosan, found in many anti-bacterial products, is a hormone disrupter that is showing up in San Francisco Bay. There are safe ways to kill bacteria – one of the simplest is using good old fashioned rubbing alcohol. And it’s CHEAP. Rubbing alcohol = lean and green!
Today is a great day,am feeling very excited.Thanks for all your positive comments. I will miss you every day.We are a big and beautiful family.Ihope the best for all of you. GOOD LUCK and GOD BLESS YOU.
Yes, just soap is fine, or vaseline instead of antibiotic ointment. Also sugar, honey works as disinfectant because they stop air flow to bacteria, and bacteria dies. Just put honey or wet sugar on scratch. I like to treat minor scratches with water and soap, then maybe rubbing alcohol, and then vaseline. The moisture heals faster. Also sea water is good.
Cosmetics are better without parabens and other products. I found that Boscia creams and lotions products are super great.
I treat myself and my little girl, and my older daughters ( they are out of college and on their own now) with homeopathy, it works so well, without side effects. Only when in need for antibiotics, then we have them. But first try homeopathy or other gentler treatments. Also herbs are very powerful, so they have to be used carefully. Chinese medicine, acupuncture are great.
Lemon or orange peels clean well garbage disposal, I buy eco products for cleaning: laundry, dishwashing, floors, windows ( you can clean windows with just vinegar solution) . For floors just water is fine, I actually like this steam cleaner for floors, it is amazing!
My 8 years old has asthma triggered by virus = normal cold would cause her attack. She is better now, usually in summer – when is warm and more humid she is great with no need for any medication. Yogurt helps her a lot too.
To this green dream home: it is designed so nicely, decorated with such a artistic feel. It is like fairy tale almost.
Well, we will see who is the lucky one…
Renee,
I think is wonderful what you do – the organic catering, maybe you can develop something new: like a bistro with options for catering? In our town a french man has this little bistro – very stylish, small- with excellent few types of food:combination of french, spanish and basque recepies. He has quite success. I personally think that going organic, healthy and tasty food is the way to go. I know how starting – or restarting something is hard. It seems that you have the right determination to do things right.
We – my daughter and I started little company, in home working long nights, weekends so I understand the pains of growing, but one has to be determined, and work really hard, right? I had my youngest one at that time, so imagine managing baby, work, household…..I was pretty tired, only believing in my vision and love for my kids got me through…
If you are interested in what we do, please look at http://lucita.net
Thanks, and good luck with unpacking and restarting!
Hope dies the last – as my dad would say.
Luba, thank you for your sweet comment!! Yes, restarting is difficult even though I am passionate about my business!! The problem is that I got burned big time by allowing a well educated person into my company to run the office So that I could concentrate on the marketing, PR and growing of the business!! I even had a CFO on board and I still was robbed blind of all of my family’s savings plus more!! So, it is mainly motivating myself and understanding that I can trust others.. My catering business was delivering natural and organic lunches to children in schools in a reusable eco-conscious container!! My company was on the News three times and in various papers and I had even opened a cafe in the Children’s Museum of Phoenix!! I opened a small cafe and also catered for various events and had a lunch delivery service for businesses throughout the Phoenix area.. We had a lot of business, especially with people recovering from Cancer and other diseases and disorders!! I am still passionate about doing the same type of business and will try to get the Children’s lunch service back up and running. Feeding children all natural and organics to provide stronger minds and healthier bodies for a better future!!! Love life by living green!!
Renee,
you are very nice person. I truly admire your work. I believe you will get there again, just be careful. Unfortunately we never know who is true, who is honest, and who is not. Maybe some testing could help?
I got burned too, betrayed, but we learn from our mistakes. Life goes on. Sometimes it is hard.
I hope you will keep in touch with me. If I can be helpful to you in anything, let me know.
Good luck!
Today they picked the winner. I wonder how they combine the electronic entries and mail entries.
I just love this house, my heart is there. I wanted to live in tropics for many many years….and this house is just something I feel it fits me. But there is also enormous amount of people who feel the same.
So – I will be watching who is the one.
Good night , and good luck.
Luba, you are so sweet!! Yes, we learn from those mistakes and those who wrong us. It makes us stronger and wiser!!! I will keep in touch, thank you!! I have enjoyed blogging this time as there are many more positive people then there were in the past, thanks to people like you!! Good Luck!! Love life by living green!!
Thank you, Renee, you are so nice and sweet yourself!
Life is so beautiful. And this planet too. This planet is our only home we have – some people do not see it.
Good luck to all.
Hi,
Who ever wins The Green Home will love living in Port St. Lucie. In 1997 I moved there from CT. Now I live in Palm Coast. I miss all the friends I had in Port St. Lucie, the people there are so nice and friendly. There are so many nice eating place to go to. The beach is not far.
Who ever wins, you are going to love it. I wish it could be me.
palmcoastmary
This is an awesome home, and I would be so thrilled to win such a fabulous home. Never lived in Florida, but I think it would be a great place to call home. Thanks for letting me view this green home, and the opportunity to dream a littlt dream.
I think this green home is fabulous and it would be awesome to win!! Never lived in Florida, but have visited and I think it would be a great place to call home. Thanks for letting me view and to have the opportunity to dream a little dream!
Well I am not the winner for sure but I didn’t expect to win anyways…good luck to the winner and i really hope it someone that really deserve it!
Regarding the house sweepstakes..
I think it is very suspicious that you choose the winner behind the scenes and then show us the winner. It looks like you guys choose the winners that YOU want to win. Always the same people, white and with houses. I know you guys don’t care about hispanic or black people but we are a part of this great big country.
Thank You.
you now what this is bull s…. they choose the winner before they built the house thats wrong. they should give everybody a chance so if they don’t change i will sue hg tv for one million dollars and im not kidding so if you don’t change then i will f……. sue your a…
Congratulations to the winners. I’m sure that they will enjoy the Florida winters (as opposed to the Michigan winters).