Zillow, the most visited real estate website in the US, recently released its ‘paint color analysis’ for 2023. When getting ready to list the Seymour house last year, I took note of what colors garnered more interest for home buyers — and which colors could hurt a home’s offers. This year, it took me 2 months to remember to read it. 🙂
To summarize: Painting inside rooms in darker grays and hues inspired by natural wood and soil garner higher offers than homes painted in white or muted colors. For example, Zillow says just painting your bathroom terra-cotta can boost your home’s value by over $1600 bucks. It’s the color of the year! (And, it’s the color of the floors downstairs here at the barndo.)
I never understood why anyone would paint bland colors anyway.
Just like bland people, bland paint colors are boring. Sure, you can paint walls white or cream and use throw pillows, etc. to add pops of color, but I’ve always preferred darker/bolder wall colors to white/cream ones. Interesting over blah — bold over dull and drab.
While I might be in style in 2023, I’m sure it will circle back around and lighter colors will be “in” again. But not yellow… never yellow — especially in a kitchen.
But yellow is amazing when it’s in the sky!
TAKEN FROM THE BACKYARD OF THOSE PESKY NEIGHBORS
TAKEN FROM THE FRONTYARD OF THE BARNDO
Apologies to all people with yellow kitchens — and bland skies. 😉
If you live near my neck of the woods…
Get ready for a heat wave. A heat advisory has been issued for the next 6 days with actual temps of 100° F forecasted. I love it when it’s hot outside, but it’s not optimal for taking walks or for puppies feet on decking or a concrete sidewalk.
Now you know: Pet food taste tester is an actual job. (I will not be applying for that one, but I would guess it can be done remotely if you’re interested.)
When I was a student at Crothersville High School, there were two foreign languages to choose from — French and Spanish — both taught by the same teacher. At that time, Spanish wasn’t the popular choice so I took French. I went on to take 2 semesters of French to satisfy my foreign language requirement in college. If I knew then what I know now, I would’ve opted for Spanish.
Here I am, 100 years later, and I can’t remember much of anything from those courses — other than in college, I recall that I was made fun of. I don’t know how many times I was asked if I came from “the south of France” because of my Midwestern/Southern accent.
I recall the meaning of the French word “cochon” (pig) for reasons unknown — and the phrase “voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir” (would you like to sleep with me tonight) because of the song by Lady Marmalade. That’s about it. Thanks for the education, Mom. 😉
There are a few other words I can still recognize as they are similar to English.
Fleur — flower… for example. Belle fleur… beautiful flower.
Taken with the iPhone 14 Pro Max
Taken with the Samsung S22 Ultra
While I think the big yellow flower is beautiful, not every country and culture would agree. For example, in France; a yellow flower represents jealousy, betrayal, and weakness. Today in Mexico, yellow flowers (especially marigolds), are used in celebrations to honor the dead.
I don’t care what they think of sunflowers (girasoles) in Mexico, or (tournesols) in France, because this is the USA!
I love sunflowers!
Those in the photos above flank the garden of the Pesky Neighbors. You know… the garden that is producing more tomatoes than we can consume right now. I thought I’d never get a ripe one and now we have more of those red suckers than we can eat.
And I’m NOT complaining! 🙂
For extra credit: Notice the two photos above were taken by different phone cameras. Which phone do you think produced the better quality photo?
Now you know: Robert Brecheen was a convicted murderer who attempted suicide by overdose just prior to his execution in 1995. He was found, revived, and treated at a local hospital until he was better, then returned to prison and executed.
I got a text from my favorite brother late last night concerning work. It basically said that he called the hotel that was supposed to have a reservation for him and was told he had none. Uh oh — less than 24-hours to his flight.
His text went on to say that the reservation we were provided by the client was 9 numbers — and the hotel only assigns reservations with 8. To make matters worse, they wouldn’t tell him if that was even the right venue for the event.
Enter poor chick tasked with fixing the challenge who might lose their job if Mr. Boss Dude didn’t have a room. That would be ME!
What I assume was a younger guy answered my call. First, I was told there was no reservation number matching the one I provided and there was no reservation match by name. Ok… so I ask if XYZ company is having an event there. He told me that because of privacy regulations, he couldn’t share that information.
Hmmm… strategic shift required.
I went through names of contacts I had in the company to validate I wasn’t making shit up — and asked would he pretty please check to see if maybe the reservation was off one number. I let him know how desperate I was. It wasn’t long before I found that they spelled Scott’s name wrong AND an extra 4 was added into the number the client gave me.
In another 10 minutes, I could’ve probably had a week’s stay for myself billed to the client’s account. 🙂
The lesson here (if there is one) is that you must first LISTEN to the person you wish to communicate with and adjust your behavior to best suit what they desire. He was a young guy that wanted to help but didn’t want to get in trouble. He needed reassurance that I was legit and that I NEEDED his help. He went above and beyond and I told him how appreciative I was. I even used the word “amazing!”
He was puffed up for a job well done — it made his night. And he made mine too. Strategic behavior for the win!
How about a beautiful day to boot!
TIL (Today I Learned): South Korea’s CIA recruited a suicide squad to kill North Korea’s dictator, Kim Il Sung. The squad mutinied, killed their commanders, hijacked a bus to Seoul, and were blown up by their own military. The survivors were then executed.
My favorite brother sent me a photo yesterday of his morning view. He’s on a cruise to I can’t remember where — but the spot where he snapped the photo below is beautiful.
I’m obsessed with horizons.
I’ve said it a bajillion times, but when you live someplace where you don’t have an unobstructed view of the horizon, you’re missing a whole lot of beauty. I don’t even care if a horizon has houses or trees so long as they aren’t in your face. Oceans… mountains… fields… forests… all offer amazing views — and I love just looking at the grand displays.
I’m grateful I have a horizon of my own these days…
TIL (Today I Learned): Hugh Hefner tried countless times to get Raquel Welch to pose nude, and she kept rejecting the offer. Welch did eventually pose for Playboy with her clothes on. Hefner then called her boring, but still had to pay her.
Just 5 days ago I posted about how I was satisfied with my Samsung S22 Ultra phone. I talked about how great the camera is and blah blah blah. Welp, I’m back on an iPhone.
Did Perry just feel guilty?
So Perry sent me a text yesterday afternoon from work and asked if I needed my phone for the rest of the day. “Of course I need my phone,” I thought. “I don’t guess so,” is what I said instead. He went on to explain that he got a new iPhone 14 Pro Max for himself — and one for me.
The phones are both purple and look so darned good I didn’t even want to put a case on mine. But I did. Because he bought a case for his phone, he rolled in with a matching one for mine. The only way we can tell them apart is the ‘always on’ display and so far, he’s not using the same background as I am. 😉
I’m happy and he’s happy.
The speakers are 1000 times better than previous iPhones, and the camera is great.
It’s definitely on par with the S22 Ultra and I wasn’t planning to upgrade to the S23 Ultra anyway. The main challenge is that I’m now sporting my apple watch again and it’s a few series spots behind the new ones. With the Oura ring still being my favorite wearable, I don’t care that much. At least for now.
TIL (Today I Learned): In the 1800’s bananas were seen as “immoral fruit” because of their shape. Fruit companies began issuing postcards of women eating bananas to advertise the fruit wasn’t taboo.
