138 Reola St, Summit, AR, Summit, AR
Investor opportunity! This property is being offered at Public Auction on 05-30-2017. Visit Auction.com now to see the Estimated Opening Bid...
When is the Best Time to Look for New Appliances? is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money! Whether we are homeowners or renters, at some point we are going to have to purchase or replace appliances in our home. Appliances are not usually something that we tend to give much thought to when we look at our monthly budget. But we should have a good plan in place for them because they can get EXPENSIVE. So when is the best time to start looking for appliances? Plan WellAppliances these days have much shorter shelf lives than they did in years past, unfortunately. What this means for us is that they can cost us less money to purchase, but we have to replace them more frequently. This can end up costing us a LOT more in the long run if we don't plan carefully. The average life expectancy of most major household appliances are as follows:
For some of these appliances, there is a pretty wide range of life expectancy. This is due to how much regular use it gets, as well as the make and model. Either way, these household necessities are simply just not lasting as long. Therefore, planning in advance to replace them can only help us save more money in the long run. Planning in advance to replace them can only help us save more money in the long run. The PlanThe first step is to take an inventory of every appliance you have, that you are responsible for replacing, at some point in time. Do your best to figure out when the item was manufactured so that you have a clearer ballpark idea as to the potential end of its life. Next, do your research on each appliance well ahead of time. This is so that you have your ideal replacement item narrowed down before it's time to buy. This also gives you a better idea as to what the potential price may be to replace the item. Now that you have this information, create a spreadsheet with the following:
Doing this not only helps to remove a lot of the pressure by making sure you have enough saved to replace an appliance, but you have a much better idea as to when you will need to start looking for a new appliance. Year End/Month EndOnce you have narrowed down the time frame for life expectancy of each appliance, then the real fun begins. When that year is upon you, begin looking for appliances towards the end of the year for great deals. Most appliance manufacturers roll out their new lines in September or early October, so this is a good time to start looking. At that time, dealers don't want to keep the old merchandise in stock because they need to make room for the new lines. This gives you great negotiating power, so don't be afraid to haggle! The end of the month, towards the end of the year, is one of the optimal times to negotiate because stores usually have quotas to meet also. So not only are they trying to get rid of last years models, but they also have quotas to meet. This is a negotiator's dream because the sellers NEED us, not the other way around. Use this to your advantage to get a great deal on an appliance that you need. JanuaryIf you aren't quite ready to pull the trigger at the end of the year, don't worry. You haven't completely missed out on all of the great deals. Dealers actually need us, the consumers, even more in January. This is usually one of the slowest purchasing months of the year because of the massive purchases in November and December. Therefore, stores are doing everything in their power to get to you to buy something, anything, from them. Not only that, but there are usually some of the previous year models still available in January, but the pickings may be slim. Dealers must get rid of this inventory, so they are willing to make some rock bottom deals to get the merchandise moved. Enter you! If you can wait until the end of January, when they are also working hard to reach sales quotas, you have the possibility of walking away like a bandit. You may not get the exact appliance you had been budgeting for, but if you can find one that is comparable and will still do what you need, then take it. By doing so, you could ultimately save yourself hundreds or even thousands of dollars. And that extra money could be put towards other appliances you also need, or something fun for you instead. The possibilities are endless! Appliances for the WinNo matter if we like it or not, some things are just a part of life these days. Replacing appliances just happens to be one of them. That doesn't mean that it has to hurt our bottom line any more than it has to if we budget for it accordingly. By creating an appliance replacement plan well ahead of time, we could potentially save ourselves a lot of heartache down the line. This plan also helps us determine when we will need to start looking for appliances to replace. By knowing the “when,” we put more negotiating power in our hands to get some of the best appliances for lower prices. So why wouldn't we do that for ourselves? What are some of your best tips and tricks to planning out the purchase of replacement appliances? What have been some of your best deals? When is the Best Time to Look for New Appliances? is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!
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138 Reola St, Summit, AR, Summit, ARInvestor opportunity! This property is being offered at Public Auction on 05-30-2017. Visit Auction.com now to see the Estimated Opening Bid... Lot 11 Division St, Summit, AR, Summit, ARHere is a quality 87 feet by 140 feet wooded lot that has all utilities and has beautiful hardwood timber located in a nice clear well- kept... 116 Washington St, Summit, AR, Summit, ARHere is a well-built 3 bedroom, 1 bath 1,700 sq. ft. home at the reasonable price of $37,500.00. The house needs some fixing up. It has 3 bedroom, 1... 117 Pike St, Summit, AR, Summit, ARLarge Beautiful Private Home sitting on 7 City Lots: 3 Bedroom, 1 and a half Bathroom home located close to Yellville-Summit Schools. This well kept... 130 Reola St, Summit, AR, Summit, ARWant to be a landlord, renter has been there 17 years. Or this would be a nice first home. Located just south of 202 downtown Summit. 4 bedrooms... Here are some photos from the final stop of my honeymoon, which we started in Italy, then Kenya, India, and now - Thailand! We wanted to create our Rich Life in every place, so we planned our dream trip: In the Italian part of our honeymoon, we shared a rare travel experience with our parents, as we took pasta-making classes together and more… Kenya showed us amazing animals and got me pumped about getting back into photography. Then on our visit to India, I was thrilled to have Cass see a different part of the world and the culture I grew up with. Now… Before Cass and I came to Thailand, I spent a ton of time researching places I wanted to eat. In the end, we decided to skip Gaggan, a famous Michelin-starred restaurant in Bangkok, and instead went for street food and a few select restaurants that we were TRULY excited about. Some of it was too intimidating for even me: Here's me literally drooling over an entree at Nahm, one of the restaurants we really wanted to try. ANYTHING. Brace yourself… OK, back to food. One of the craziest things I learned about was the fruit in Asia. THIS IS NUTS. I remember seeing perfect-looking fruits like these in Singapore and not getting them, but this time … this time I just had to try them. So I paid $21 for… Paying more than $10 for a single piece of fruit in America is insane, but I learned that the idea behind these “perfect fruits” - perfect sweetness, perfect shape, perfect taste, extremely high price - is that they're meant to be given as a special gift. When someone is gifted something like this, they know it costs a lot. Anyway, time to put these freakin' expensive strawberries to the Ramit Taste Test: … ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I mean, they were pretty good, but not worth the $21. By the way, as a native Californian, where all of our fruit is amazing, I just want to remind east coasters that your fruit sucks. BUT … I figured out at least one way I could put my 21-dollar strawberries to good use… That was a fluffy Japanese pancake sandwich with about 10 lbs of delicately whipped cream. RAMIT SETHI, FOOD GENIUS! OK, remember how I said we love our street food? We took a street food tour and tried a bunch of stuff. BTW, five weeks of non-stop sights, people, and experiences on our honeymoon was epic, but we realized something… It's funny - I never plan to take “days off” when I'm on vacation, but I told Cass one day that I just wanted to cancel all of our plans for a day and relax. So we canceled everything and just sat around, napping, reading, and relaxing. It was amazing doing nothing. Now for the final stop in Thailand… I loved noticing the tiny details that create a luxury experience. After such a whirlwind but unforgettable trip so far, it was nice to just keep it low key. At the end of this honeymoon, Cass and I both agreed it was completely life-changing. The lessons I share in my book on money, along with my spending concept to “spend extravagantly on the things you love (and cut back mercilessly on the things you don't),” were parts of making this possible. Cass said something amazing on the last day: “Normally, I'd be sad to end a trip. But now I know that we can always come back.” What an amazing message of abundance. That we don't have to do “everything” all at once … and that if we want to come back, or try something new next time, we can. I want to thank you for following along on my honeymoon series, watching my stories on Instagram, leaving a comment, and sending me direct messages - I loved reading all of your comments! My Rich Life in Thailand: Street food, luxury, and $21 strawberries is a post from: I Will Teach You To Be Rich. Last fall, in our first Evolving Style feature, we took you inside the LA condo of new parents Stephanie Liu Hjelmeseth and her husband Kyle. Through a photo series showing off their previous and current homes, the pair walked us through each of the ways having a child had influenced their personal aesthetic. Overall, the evolution proved to be a masterclass on how to up the ante on practicality without losing your personal design identity. In today's installment, we're revisiting a co-working space in Delhi, India. When we first peeked inside, Sarah Fotheringham and Maninder Singh, founders of textile brand Safomasi, shared the studio with three other companies whose styles and workflows varied greatly. While beautiful, the Delhi outpost held so many people that function often outshined form. In the time since we first learned about the studio and the makers it held, all but Sarah and Maninder have moved on. Instead of doing the same, the pair has seized the opportunity, taken over the entire workshop and turned it into a combination live/work space. Seeing as they're now inside these four walls every hour of every day, they've had to make simple – yet impactful – changes to make it work. No matter the tweak, though, each one was born from a simple purpose: Promote productivity from nine to five and relaxation from five to nine. Scroll down to see how they did it, and enjoy! -Garrett Photography by Kassia Karr and Sahil Sabharwal Image above: The studio's previous look was an eclectic representation of the four brands it housed. Now, it's filled with textiles from its sole tenant: Safomasi. There's something uniquely comforting and charming about spending time in a small cabin when it's freezing cold outside. Winter cabins make us feel warm and cozy plus they're almost always situated in remote regions with gorgeous views which provides the perfect environment in which to recharge our batteries, to relax and to enjoy quality time with our loved ones (or alone) before returning to our busy everyday lives. We searched far and wide and we selected our favorite winter cabins from around the world to share with you today. Given the fact that winter cabins are often situated in remote areas or only used for shorts periods of time throughout the year, the issue of security can be a valid concern. When building the Delta Shelter, studio Olson Kundig found a great way to deal with this problem. The cabin was build on stilts and has metal shutters which allow it to become completely sealed and secured when the owner is away. In addition to that, it has a modern and cool design with lots of appealing features. The cabin is located in Mazama, US. Due to strict architectural guidelines in this beautiful Alpine valley in Manigold, France, Studio Razavi Architecture didn't really have a lot of freedom when designing this winter cabin. Still, the team managed to make the most of the circumstances, opting for a traditional style overall and allowing the cabin to seamlessly blend in with the other local structures while maintaining its own unique character. If there's one thing mountain cabins are famous for, that would be the views. A lot of modern cabins feature large windows which maximize these views but other less conventional design strategies are sometimes used as well. This holiday retreat near Geilo, a village in Norway is a perfect example. The region is known for its ski resorts and there's actually an open terrain unfolding right next to this cabin so the team at Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter came up with a design which separates the building into several volumes, each with a distinct orientation. Rather than standing out, this lovely winter cabin from Lillehammer, Norway manages to blend into the landscape and to keep a low profile all while taking full advantage of its surroundings and the beautiful views they provide. The structure is designed by studio Vardehaugen and is inspired by snowbound cabins. The design blurs the boundaries between architecture and nature, bringing the inhabitants closer to their surroundings and allowing them to feel like an actual part of the mountain. Situated in a quiet residential area north of Whistler in Canada, this A-frame cabin is surrounded by other chalets and retreats featuring similar designs, most of them dating back to the 1970s. This particular winter cabin was designed by Scott & Scott Architects and has a modern vibe inside and out and that allows it to stand out and to showcase its distinct character without actually contrasting too much with its surroundings. The winter cabin designed by studio Delordinaire has a very special way of making its inhabitants feel immersed in nature. The cabin was built on stilts and the elevated structure actually forms an open and protected outdoor space which is a very unusual ground floor area. Out here, below the actual cabin, there's an outdoor stove and a space which allows one to enjoy the snowy views and to spend time outside while being protected from the elements. The cabin is located in Quebec, Canada. This is actually an all-year cabin, a charming and peaceful retreat located near Ål village in Norway. Residents can enjoy hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter on the nearby tracks. The cabin was designed by Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter who were careful to take advantage of the site's unique topography and views. As with any other type of structure, the location is very important for a winter cabin and just in relation to the views but also to the topography and any other advantages the site may offer. The mountain retreat designed by Filter Arkitekter in Sirdal, Norway sits on a very steep terrain and the architects used that in their favor to embed the building into the landscape in a literal sense. It's a great way to merge nature and architecture. Can you believe this A-frame cabin was actually built in the '60s? It has such a chic and timeless vibe and recently it's been remodeled and converted into a cozy winter retreat. It was a project completed by designers Chad and Courtney Ludeman of Postgreen Homes. The cabin is located in New Jersey, along Maurice River. It has large openings which let in natural light and inside it's organized into a double-height atrium, a loft bedroom and a basement area. Sleeping in a cabin is definitely a nice experience but sleeping in a cabin that's up in the trees is even better. A while ago the Treehotel in northern Sweden just got a new addition designed by Snøhetta. The hotel is actually a collection of six treehouse-inspired cabins, all providing magnificent views and perfect observation points for admiring the Northern Lights. This cabin sits 10 meters above the forest floor, supported by 12 columns. Cabana Sapte is a cozy cabin situated in the Fagaras Mountain, in Romania. It's been completely remodeled in 2017 and can sleep up to 12 people in five bedrooms. The glazed side allows panoramic views and an abundance of natural light to enter the cabin while the wooden floors and pitched roof create a warm and cozy ambiance inside. The minimalist design and the selected palette of materials and finishes all lead to one objective: to create a cabin which is able to blend into the landscape and to communicate with nature and its immediate surrounds in a seamless and natural manner. This become possible thanks to studio CARGO Architecture. The cabin is located in the Petite-Rivière-Saint-François region of Canada. This cabin is quite different than everything else we showed you so far. Its modern appearance makes it more suitable to call this a hut rather than a cabin. Located in Flims, Switzerland, this site used to be occupied by an old cabin and stable combo, which were taken down after being abandoned for a period of time. A new cabin was built in the same place as the old one. Its design and character preserve and charm of the original structures, featuring a timber log structure and massive concrete walls. This was a project by Selina Walder and Georg Nickisch. Inspired by the freedom and adventure which define snowboarding as an experience in itself, this winter cabin is located in a remote region on the northern end of Vancouver Island in Canada. It was designed by studio Scott & Scott Architects and manages to almost seamlessly blend into the surroundings thanks to the grey exterior and wooden accents. The last winter cabin that caught our eye lately was designed by Alp'Architecture Sàrl and is located in Bagnes, Switzerland. Originally this used to be a small barn which was extended into a residence by annexing a series of new volumes at the back of the building. It was all done with minimal impact on the overall appearance and structure of the cabin or its facades. The post 15 Winter Cabins That Make The Most Out Of The Snowy Season appeared first on Home Decorating Trends - Homedit. Finding the right colours for your kitchen can be the difference from a fantastic design and one that looks disjointed and uncoordinated. What colour works best for your kitchen? This is a question that we are going to explore in this weeks' blog at the Kitchen Warehouse. You might have great cabinets, a new floor or modern appliances but if you mess up the wall colour this can all be in vain. Choosing the right colour to suit your design is vital. There are a few things to think about first and questions that you need to ask yourself. How much natural light do you have?The size of your kitchen and how much natural light you have will have a big impact on your colour scheme. Kitchen's that have a lot of natural light coming in can afford to have a darker colour on the wall. This could be with windows or even skylights and if there is an abundance of sunlight coming into the room you can potentially choose a duller colour. This is because there is light coming in anyway. In smaller kitchens or kitchens that have limited natural light, using darker colours can have a negative effect. It can make the room feel smaller and claustrophobic. However, does this mean that dark colours should be avoided altogether? Should you avoid darker colours?Not necessarily. Even if you don't have much natural light this doesn't mean that you can't have a darker shade on your wall either. Some people say that darker colours and dark neutral colours don't promote hunger which is kind of going against the whole point of the room! That being said, the design of every room in your home should be to your taste. If you like darker colours then why not have a dark blue or dark grey on your kitchen walls. If you prefer lighters colours then go for that. Darker shades shouldn't just be avoided outright. There are a lot of factors that can compliment navy, blacks or grays in the kitchen. Colours that go well in most kitchensThe debate about what colour works best for your kitchen can last for days without really getting anywhere. We have picked out 5 different colours that are generally universal. Warm NeutralsOK, so this isn't 'one' colour per se however warm neutrals cover a range of shades that can work wonders in your kitchen. Warm neutrals have hints and shades of brown, red, orange, or yellow undertones and work with pretty much any other colour scheme. The reason that warm neutrals tend to work better than what we would call cold neutrals (think colours with undertones of blue or green) is because they are more inviting. These colours fell a lot more homely and provide a friendlier nature to the room overall. You can combine warm neutrals with pretty much anything from striking kitchen cabinets to wood. They are also a good idea to use in a kitchen with an accent wall as we will see below. WhiteWhite can often be seen as a bit boring but it is highly effective in creating a clean and minimalist design. If you want a kitchen that looks uncluttered then white is a great choice. In fact, white painted rooms have an energy about them and as the kitchen is one of the first rooms you go into in the morning in search of some caffeine, white walls can offer a subconscious perk me up. Why not go white on white and combine this with white kitchen cabinets? It is a popular design trend and is becoming a real hallmark of modern kitchen design. BlueBlue is a colour that is not automatically associated with kitchen design. That doesn't mean that it can be used for great effect in the kitchen and it doesn't even need to be as an accent colour either. The thing with blue is that it provides a real crisp dimension to your room. It is recommended that you use it quite sparingly so resist the temptation to cover every part of the kitchen in blue. If you are wondering what colour works best for your kitchen and are stumped for ideas that are a little bit different than the norm then consider blue. It isn't that common and will make your kitchen have a unique slant. GreenWe've blogged about having green as one of the primary colours in your kitchen before – Why Green Is The New Must Have Colour. Many people think that green is outdated and is better left as a design trend a few decades ago. This isn't the case. Green can be a very effective colour to have in your kitchen and it can blend in and work very well with whites, grays and other light colours. Not only is it a very inviting colour it is natural too. Green reminds us of nature and if you want a calm and relaxing vibe to your kitchen, a light shade of green can really help to achieve this effect. YellowFinally, we have yellow. A nice bright colour that reminds us of sunshine and summer days. Can it work in your kitchen? Yes! if you are wondering what colour works best for your kitchen then yellow should be a stronger contender because it can go with nearly anything. In fact, if you have a lot of gray in your room then yellow works fabulously with this and helps to bring it to life. Yellow is great too at reflecting light so if you have a dull kitchen or one that doesn't receive a ton of natural light then yellow can help to brighten to the whole room. Think about an accent wall tooIf you are still debating what colour to paint your kitchen or if you think it could do with something to make it appear more modern then consider an accent wall. Creating an accent in your kitchen is very easy and can have a massive effect on how your room looks. It can bring attention to one particular part of the room or even just break up an monotony of colour. A kitchen accent can take many forms from accent lighting, accent kitchen cupboard doors or even just painting one room different than the rest. The possibilities here are endless. What colour works best for your kitchen?So, what colour works best for your kitchen? Like everything when it comes to kitchen design, it depends on you, your tastes and what you want. The colours we have shown you in this blog will generally go with anything in your kitchen. This is why they are so popular but don't be afraid to experiment and try something new. Just remember to ensure that you don't make your kitchen feel smaller wither dark colours if you have poor natural light or make it overly bright with light colours in a room that is already well lit. Whether you play it safe or go for something a bit left field, adding a splash of colour to your kitchen can really transform the room even if you don't do anything else. The post What Colour Works Best for Your Kitchen? appeared first on Kitchen Blog | Kitchen Design, Style Tips & Ideas | Kitchen Warehouse UK. welcome mat // buffalo check rug // kilim pillow (similar) // white tassel pillow faux monstera plant // black basket // modern house numbers Last week we launched the new Juniper Print Shop!! We are so excited about all of the changes, including the addition of paper prints!! This has been in the works for a long time, and we knew we wanted to get some great video content to help introduce the new site and product to everyone. We had recently taken a tour of the Elm House, a new Airbnb (you can see the listing here) in the heart of downtown Gilbert designed by our friends over at Bigelow Built, and thought this would be the perfect location to showcase some of our new prints! BOTANICAL II print // HUDDLE print // KNOTS I print // WOMEN print entry table (similar) // basket with lid // faux tree // vintage runner (similar) We tried out multiple looks in the entry, each showing a different way you can incorporate our prints into your space! We decided to keep the neutral gallery wall up for the owners. BOTANICAL II print // HUDDLE print // KNOTS I print // WOMEN print BOTANICAL II print // HUDDLE print // KNOTS I print // WOMEN print entry table (similar) // basket with lid // faux tree // vintage runner (similar) SPRIG I print // SPRIG III print JUNE print // runner // bread board // sink faucet // knife set I absolutely love the kitchen design and color! The cabinets are from Bigelow Built and the color is Hale Navy. runner // bar stools dishwasher // runner // sink faucet Do you remember the rug we used in the Gentry living room?? We found the exact same one in a runner and its so, so beautiful!! yellow dansk pot // salt cellar // butter keeper // blue wood bowl // round bread board There is so much attention to detail in this kitchen. I especially love how the wood shelf line continues over the range hood! Genius! GOSLING ISLAND print // MIDNIGHT STRIPE lumbar white and concrete lamps // brass tray In the guest bedroom we hung our GOSLING ISLAND print by Sarah Maderia Day in 40×55″ which we think it the perfect size for putting over a Queen (shown here) or King bed. Ikea Tutorial: You can see custom wood touches all throughout the house, like these floating nightstands. The homeowners incorporated some super fun tile into the space, and I love the way it turned out! A rental property is a such a great space to incorporate some bold choices. BIG SUR print // AMBER STRIPE lumbar black metal bed frame // ceramic lamp base // lamp shade ceramic lamp base // brass nesting jewelry boxes BIG SUR print // AMBER STRIPE lumbar black metal bed frame // ceramic lamp base // lamp shade A big thanks to Bigelow Built for allowing us to shoot in their gorgeous new Airbnb! The post House Tour: The Elm House appeared first on Little Green Notebook. Plumbing problems can be frustrating, and they usually occur suddenly, which disrupts your everyday routine and comfort. While it's always advisable to hire a professional to do the job, there are common plumbing problems that you can fix immediately. Having a basic knowledge of simple plumbing troubleshooting will help a lot, most especially if you're rushing to go to work or your budget is not ready to spend on professional repairs. In this post, you'll learn the most common plumbing problems and the simple solutions that you can do to resolve them. Let's get started! Running ToiletIt happens when the water continuously flows into the toilet bowl after you've flushed it, which leads to the emptying of the tank behind the toilet. Eventually, it causes the inability to flush. Here are some tips when dealing with a running toilet:
You can fix this problem by:
Leaky FaucetOne of the most common plumbing problems that homeowners have experienced is a leaky tap. Fixing it is easier than you think. Save water and avoid paying a higher bill than usual by not allowing endless drips of water. Here are some troubleshooting tips for a leaky faucet:
A leaky faucet is also caused by malfunctioning washers that dry out over time or become damaged, causing the water to leak through. If you don't have the correct tools and washers, a professional can get the problem fixed quickly and provide your faucet the watertight seal. Clogged DrainHair and soap scum usually clog shower drains. While you can use drainage chemicals, solution is only temporary. In five minutes, you can unclog your drains without using chemicals. Here's how:
Clogged ToiletA clogged toilet is a real household disaster. Luckily, you can solve it in a few minutes. Use a plunger on your first attempt. If it doesn't work, you can use a toilet snake for fixing a more severe clog. What is a toilet snake? It's a long coil that has a corkscrew at the end for cutting through debris and pulling out foreign objects causing the blockage. Call a plumbing professional if using a toilet snake still doesn't work. Leaking Water HeaterLow pressure in your shower is a result of leaking water heater. The water heater valve is either defective (needs replacement), or the temperature is too high. Just set the heat to the medium setting or 128 degrees. Replace the water heater valve if it still doesn't work. Weak FlushA weak flush is caused by the disruption or removal of the fill tube (a small flexible tube that runs from the fill valve going to the overflow tube) due to constant flushing. Here's how you can quickly fix a weak flush:
ConclusionYou probably realized that there are plumbing issues you that can fix on your own. It saves you a lot of money from costly repairs. But of course, don't stretch yourself too far. If you're uncertain of what to do or the problem persists, better contact a professional plumbing service. If you don't have the skills and experience, fixing a minor plumbing issue on your own might result in a major problem. The post Common Plumbing Problems Which You Can Fix By Yourself appeared first on Handyman tips. The road to vermouth does not always involve sorrow. I had not stayed with my father the night he died. He was alone. I had not known he would be, but the night before, when Vince and I left the hospital, my body collapsed in grief. It knew, if I wasn't sure, that I would not see him alive, again. I never cried in the room with him - I never wanted him to see that sorrow, or to feel anyone else's stress. And so at unexpected times in those five days I would have to pull the car over, or risk accident. When the call came to the house in the 4.30am dark, I went to sit with him for the last time. The small dark nursing sister was there, and I was glad she had been on duty. Looking up into my eyes, she held my arm firmly and told me she was sorry. On a previous night, she had held my shoulder with that same firmness as I sat beside him, reading him childhood stories, from books whose pages were falling apart. The ward staff were kind. The previous day I was brought a tray of coffee, and asked if I would prefer hot or cold milk. And there was a cookie. I don't like cookies, but I ate that one, very carefully. Immediately afterwards, that final morning, the shocking bureaucracy and decision making of death evicted any possibility of mourning. But in the blank days after my father's cremation, and when my husband's warmth had returned to New York, I began to gather wild flowers and fynbos herbs from the mountain, the surrounding green spaces, and my mother's garden. In small jars each plant began infusing in good vodka. Elderflowers and wild plums began to ferment. On the last day of 2018 I blended and bottled the vermouth. That year is over. And from its end there is a local alchemy that tells the story of this Cape Town summer. Vermouth captures time and place like nothing else I know. When I open it in Brooklyn, sometime in a new year whose days remain to be filled, I know I will cry. __________________________ (Yes, there is a vermouth recipe) |