ALMOST A WHITE CHRISTMAS IN CARTERET COUNTY!

WE MISSED A WHITE CHRISTMAS 'DAY' BY LESS THAN 24 HOURS! North Carolina's Coast is beautiful regardless of the time of year but a white Christmas is very rare. So rare that we who live here believe it makes us appreciate it when we do get it EVEN MORE! This blog is dedicated to the wonders of Nature and the gifts it give us on rare occasions! Enjoy the pictures! The 2011 Chocolate Festival is scheduled to begin February 4, 2011 and end at 5 p.m. on February 6, 2011. Go to: http://www.visitnc.com/events/view/33497 for details. 'An Evening Wrapped in Chocolate' kicks off the festival with a delicious dinner at Shepard's Point benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Carteret County 90-100 people, 6:30 PM Friday February 4 $32 Per Person, with a letter of gift in kind for labor and pastry donations. Seating is limited so purchase your tickets EARLY! CONTACT: Cynthia Barber 808-2286 or myself, Gena Gilbert 659-2367 Bring your Valentine to a delicious Festival Gala Dinner, live auction and silent auction for a wonderful evening of food, wine and chocolate! ARE YOU A CHOCOLATE LOVER? HERE IS A SIMPLE OLD FASHIONED CAKE & COOKED, HERSHEY CHOCOLATE ICING RECIPE! FROSTING: Cook On Double Boiler 2 Cups of Sugar 1 Small can of Pet milk ¼ Cup Hershey Cocoa 1 Stick of Butter **Pecans (chopped or whole optional-see cake recipe below) CAKE: TWO - Duncan Hines Butter Cake mixes Follow directions on cake box for each cake Grease and Flour each cake pan DO NOT add vegetable oil as directed on cake box!!! INSTEAD - Add: 1 stick melted butter per cake mix 2 Tablespoons of real vanilla per cake mix **Add chopped pecans in the cake mix OR place whole pecans on top of cake after frosting When cakes are done, place on cooling trays; cut each layer into two layers You should have 8 thin layers Drizzle the hot cooked icing on each layer, one at a time Drizzle left over icing over the top of the cake and let it run down the sides DELISH!!!! WE WISH A HAPPY, SAFE & PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE! Gena & Harold Gilbert "Your Coastal Sales Team" since 1994

CHRISTMAS ON THE CRYSTAL COAST

OUR YOUNGEST GRANDSON JUST CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THESE HUGE CANDY CANES ARE FOR HIM! How will he ever eat them all by Christmas? Guess he will just have to share them with his brother and sister and all of his cousins! What a wonderful season Christmas can be. It is so full of wonder and love for one another and people sharing from their hearts to help others. Why can't the spirit of Christmas be experienced each and every day?! CLAWSON'S PUB & RESTAURANT IN BEAUFORT, NC hosted its 12th Annual Sing Along! Free fun, great music for the holidays! What a great way to celebrate the season! CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ARE SHINING REFLECTIONS OF LOVE AND FELLOWSHIP! The pictures above are very rare for our area of the Crystal Coast of NC and very, very unlikely to happen at Christmas. This snow storm came the day 'after' Christmas 2010. They make wonderful photos to 'edit' for the holidays and to share all family and friends. A large Sago Palm covered with snow is definitely a unique sight in Carteret County, NC. With the unusually frigid temperatures we are recently experiencing, it is also a sight locals do not like to see often. Our lowest temperatures normally do not reach below the 40's day or night more than a few days a year. It is not uncommon to be out on the many waterways during every month of the year, especially for our local fishermen both commercial and personal. The shrimp boats are still going out to sea, the game fishermen are still catching various types of fish and our local seafood markets still have fresh fish, shrimp, oysters and delicious crab cakes! And speaking of crab cakes, here is a great recipe for them! "DELICIOUS FRIED CRAB CAKES" 2 lbs. lump crab meat (adding more crab meat does make it better!) 2 egg yolk 2 tsp. salt Large dash of coarsely ground black pepper 2 tsp. dry mustard 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 2 tbsp. mayonnaise 1 tbsp. chopped parsley 1/2 tsp. paprika 1.5 tbsp. melted butter Bread crumbs for coating cakes (Old Bay or Italian are best) Vegetable oil for frying Toss crab meat lightly and all other ingredients (except bread crumbs) in order listed. When well-blended, shape into cakes. Roll each cake in bread crumbs until coated on all sides. Heat oil in skillet to high. Fry crab cakes quickly in hot oil. Fry until golden brown. Be very careful to watch over while frying not to over cook crab cakes. Yield 6-10 servings depending on size of cakes.

INTEREST RATES FOR HOME MORTGAGES are rising! Rate sheets came in today (Dec. 28, 2010) at 4.75% from one lender. The older generation remembers interest rates as high as 12-18%. What are we thinking today? How high do the rates have to go before action is taken? Think about that! There are many true 'deals' on the real estate market today and those who are taking action are enjoying the benefits. For example: In Beaufort, NC; 1311 Live Oak St, 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, over 2500 heated square feet of living space, approximately .45 acre in the city limits of Beaufort, NC is now being offered as a 'Short Sale' property at an asking price of $219,900 with lender's approval. There are also several bank owned properties in our area which could possibly sell for 60-65% of their actual real market value. Remember what our parents taught us when they said 'Don't ask and you will most likely not get an answer'? An experienced Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR) is more valuable to buyers today than ever! Let Gena or Harold at NC COASTAL PROPERTIES Gena Gilbert Real Estate assist with your purchase or refer you to an experienced ABR in your area. Don't regret having to say 'I wish I had purchased my home or water front property while the market was SO good back in 2010-2011!' Do you need assistance selling the house you currently own? We can also refer you to an experienced Sellers Representative Specialist (SRS) in your area. Our sincere wish for the New Year is for all to learn the tough lessons of life we have had to learn for the past two or three years. Make 2011 the BEST year of your life! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

FALL AT THE BEACHES

FALL AT THE CRYSTAL COAST BEACHES IS AN AMAZING TIME! SOMETIMES WITH STRANGE ILLUSIONS! All sorts of things change such as the water and the foliage. The water does get colder, however, it also becomes a lot calmer. We went out on a trip by water headed from Beaufort, NC to Ocracoke Island on the Northern Outer Banks this past weekend. The water was so smooth. There was barely a ripple to be seen from time to time and it made the water like a mirror. Strange illusions came into view. As we passed by Atlantic, NC we lost our GPS signal. It felt like we had entered the 'SOBX Triangle' (Southern Outer Banks). We spotted what we all thought was a plane of some kind going in for a landing on the water. Look closely at the picture above and tell us what you think it is. The sky was another outstanding part of this trip because it was made in the Fall. The sky around the Crystal Coast of NC takes on all sorts changes. Color is a major change in the fall. The mountains have beautiful colors in their trees and foliage. The Crystal Coast of NC also has changes in the surrounding foliage and some are beautiful but the sky is gorgeous. Perhaps it is because of all the water and water ways surronding us including the Atlantic Ocean. Whatever it is, it makes the sky burst with shades of color very often in the late afternoon. Clouds and cloud formations add to the complexity and beauty of the sky. This was another day in 'Photography Heaven'. To add to our excitement the dolphins were in abundance playing all around us. They circled our boat, jumped out of the water and gave us a premier example of how to catch fish! We set out our rods and reels and caught enough fish to have a delicious fish fry when we arrived back in Beaufort, NC. We caught one grey trout (limit 1 per person and must be at least 14" long); blue fish and hog fish. Don't laugh. If you are from our area in the Southern Outer Banks you 'know' how good a hog fish caught and fried fresh can be! It is a great, inexpensive way to fill your tummy and have a terrific time with your friends! We had plenty of company along our trip along with the dolphins. Seagulls, pelicans and other seabirds. RECIPE: Here is a great recipe for hushpuppies to go along with those fresh fish! 1 cup of House Autry seafood breader 1 cup of white cornmeal 2 eggs 2+/- fresh diced Jalapeños (to taste) 2 cups of warm water (add water until right consistency is achieved) ENJOY!

GREY TROUT ARE BITING!

GREY TROUT ARE BITING IN THE TURN BASIN IN MOREHEAD CITY, NC Took our boat out today and caught our limit of grey trout which is one each. Brought them home, cleaned them, fried them for lunch and thanked our Good Lord for living in such a wonderful area. We fished in the Turn Basin east of the Port Authority in Morehead City when the tide turned and was running out to sea. It took us all of 30 minutes to catch the two trout. In today's economy it is a priviledge to have the ability to go such a short distance away and throw your lines in the water and reap such delicious rewards from the salt water so close to our reach. In Carteret County there are numerous public fishing areas and public marinas to launch your boats and take advantage of and enjoy a relaxing few hours of fishing. Sometimes the fish are biting and plentiful. Somes days, of course, they are not. That's why it is called 'fishing' and not 'catching'. But the reward of a little time on the water is well worth it. Come and see for yourself! Be sure to check out the "Hotlinks" menu on our website at www.GenaGilbertRealEstate.com for additional information or send us an email at Gena@GenaGilbertRealEstate.com. Women's Counsel of REALTORS(R) LUAU - HUGE SUCCESS! The First and hopefully, annual 'WCR Luau' of the WCR Crystal Coast Chapter was fun, entertaining and fruitful primarily due to strong support and efforts of the GENEROUS local sponsors, AMAZING community donations and the hard, dedicated work of the WCR Crystal Coast Chapter Luau Committee Members. Considerable portions of the proceeds from the event went to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Coastal Carolina and Carteret County Domestic Violence. MARK THE DATE! FEBRUARY 4, 2011, for the EVENING WRAPPED IN CHOCOLATE to be held at Shepard's Point in Morehead City. This historically fantastic evening scheduled for the Friday night the weekend of the Chocolate Festival in Morehead City is dedicated to help raise funds for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Crystal Carolina. Last year's top live auction item was 'A Rapsody in Food & Wine' which included a private dinner served at the private residence of the winner! It was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended and promises to be a popular live auction item again in 2011. Stay tuned for details about this annual event or contact us on our website. GENA'S RECIPE FOR A GOOD OLD FASHION SOUTHERN STYLE FISH STEW CONCH FRITTERS WITH GENA’S TOUCH (Clams can be used as alternative to Conch) Fresh conch, diced, chopped or minced ( I chop mine) Green Pepper chopped Red Pepper chopped Hot peppers chopped finely to taste Celery Onion 1 egg, slightly beaten 1 cup of House Autry Hush Puppy Mix 1 cup of self rising flour Tabasco sauce to taste Old Bay Seasoning Greek Seasoning Salt & Pepper to taste Oil for deep-frying To make the fritters hotter, add more of the hot peppers such as Habanera, Hot Pimento, Hot Banana and Hot Jalapeño DIPPING SAUCE ½ Ketchup ¼ Mustard Dash of Worcestershire Sauce Horse Radish to taste ENJOY!

MEMORIES SO CHERISHED

ATLANTIC BEACH BRIDGE

If you are lucky aging is inevitable! One great thing about growing older is developing memories of our own that nobody can take away from us. The photo to the right is the old bridge that connected us from the main land in Morehead City, NC to the Island we so cherish today, Bogue Island. The lure of the ocean has been a fascination among people for centuries. I pray it will remain the same for centuries to come.

Riding across this bridge as a child created excitement for the pleasures waiting once we touched on the other side. The Atlantic ocean with its white, frothy waves rushing on to the beach meant jumping the waves and the challenge of catching the tiny little bait fish that evaded my waiting hands. I remember building my incredible sand castles with my shovel and bucket only to see it disappear without warning as the ocean reclaimed it treasure of sand. Finding a shell, especially in one piece, a shark's tooth or skate's abandoned egg sack (a mermaid's purse as it is commonly called locally) was a rewarding prize to take back home and share with friends and family. Little did I know then it was a fascination that would last an entire lifetime.

The first sounds and visions of the rides as we came over the bridge and got our first peek at 'The Circle' in Atlantic Beach was enough to make a kid go nuts with the sheer joy! Just thinking about the rides that lay ahead once we could finally talk our parents into just throwing the suitcases in the house and take us to enjoy them was over whelming.

And don't even mention the fishing piers! It mattered not what you caught. Pulling whatever it was up on your fishing line for what seemed to be 'miles' was awesome!

Now my children and grandchildren are creating their memories of 'The Beach' but theirs will be full of the view from the newer high rise bridge with the view of the Atlantic Ocean at the very top of the bridge enticing them even more to get to the Ocean. My memories live on and are still developing and will continue I hope for many years to come. Bogue Island consists of Atlantic Beach on the far East end, Pine Knoll Shores, Indian Beach, Salter Path and ending up with Emerald Isle on the West end. Once you see it and enjoy the many pleasures of nature and camaraderie from locals and returning visitors the Island offers it is difficult not to return.

REAL ESTATE REPORT:

Per the Carteret County Association of REALTORS MLS:

57 Residential Properties have 'SOLD*' since January 1, 2010 through January 24, 2010 at the time of the writing of this blog.

871 Residential Properties are currently on the market offered FOR SALE (number changes daily)

Prices range from a low of $57,000 to a high of $1,000.000 *SOLD = ACTUAL SALES PRICE

As of Janury 22, 2010 some Mortgage lenders are still quoting FIXED rates as low as 4.75%/ 30 years/0 points with good credit. Take advantage of these and other great programs while they last!

THE 8th ANNUAL CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL IN MOREHEAD CITY, NC

COMING SOON! February 5-9, 2010 at the Crystal Coast Civic Center!

The time is growing closer to welcome and enjoy the delightful indulgence of CHOCOLATE! CREAMY, SWEET, WHITE, DARK, SEMI-SWEET, DELICIOUS CHOCOLATE! Taste, devour and experience all kinds of decadent chocolates from around the world ALL in one area -Carteret County, NC! Treat yourself to a 'Chocolate Facial', 'Chocolate Mini-Massage' or 'Hand Massage' while being pampered to the hilt and served sparkling champagne and gourmet chocolates! Make your reservations now and enjoy a fabulous time at the beach before it is too late.

VIEW DETAILS GO TO: http://www.carolinachocolatefestival.com/

REMINDERS!

Feb 5th seems to be a popular date this year. The Fund Raising Event for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Crystal Coast, 'An Evening Wrapped in Chocolate' the night before the Annual Chocolate Festival starts the weekend of the CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL in Morehead City, Carteret County, NC 28557.

February 5th this year is also NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY FOR WOMEN! Go to the American Heart Association's link at http://www.goredforwomen.org/ for more details!

AND, February 5th is 'MY' birthday! It becomes more special to me each year as I grow older.

RECIPE:

The Secret is Out!

CRACKER BARREL’S HASHBROWN CASSEROLE 2 LBS FROZEN HASHBROWNS ½ CUP MELTED BUTTER 1 CAN CREAM OF CHICKEN SOUP 1 PT. SOUR CREAM 1/2 CUP CHOPPED ONION 2 CUPS GRATED CHEDDER CHEESE 1 TSP SALT ¼ TSP PEPPER 2 CUPS CRUSHED CORN FLAKES ¼ CUP MELTED BUTTER DEFROST HASHBROWNS COMBINE NEXT 7 INGREDIENTS AND COMBINE WITH HASHBROWN PUT IN 3 QT CASSEROLE DISH SAUTEE’ CORNFLAKES IN BUTTER AND SPRINKLE ON TOP COVER AND BAKE AT 350 FOR 40 MINUTES