Christmas Lights in Virginia Oaks

Have you driven around to see all the Christmas decorations and lights this year?
They are beautiful~ The team of Judges did an excellent job of selecting houses for special recognition.
It's nice to live in a neighborhood that is visited by near-by communities to see what we have done.
DON'T miss the lights. Two of the top awards are on Sedona Drive this year.

Did anyone see who got 1st Place?

Vickie told me they were going to have more categories and some new signs for next year.

Remember in the years past, we awarded read prizes (gift certificates)? Maybe we all can help make our community even better.
HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS.

Minute Clinic at CVS ~

Just across from our community,
you will find the CVS Pharmacy has a "Minute Clinic".

If you haven't yet had your
flu shot you might want to drop in and get that. They have the pneumonia shot as well. The pneumonia shot is done every FIVE YEARS. Flu is an annual immunization.

There is a long list of simple stuff the Physician's Assistant there can do for us, but to me, nothing is more important to have than preventive FLU SHOT. FREE for Medicare folks.

Eden Nails ~ New Nail Shop in Gainesville Square

Eden Nails has a sign over the door ~ 20% Discount ~ which the owner told me will be indefinitely with the economy down.

My regular tech has become very popular and hard to get in when I need her, so I driften into Eden.

Was delighted to find two very good techs there and thought I would share this with you.

Both LeeVa and Julie have done my nails and am

happy to say, they are very good. I enjoy pretty nails....and look at this...probably the only snow we are likely to see this Christmas

is the snowflake on my nail to cover a bruise under the nail. Was the tech's idea and I like it, don't you?

Less than a mile from home, a great find.

Orange Date Nut Cake

I made this cake yesterday and it is WONDERFUL~

GERMAN ORANGE DATE NUT CAKE

2 1/2 c. sifted flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
6 1/2 oz. pitted dates, chopped
4 1/2 oz. walnuts, chopped
1 c. butter
2 c. sugar (1 c. for cake, 1 c. for topping)
2 eggs1 tsp. baking soda
1 c. buttermilk1 tsp. vanilla
Grated rind and juice of 2 oranges

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Grease a 10-inch tube pan.
Sift flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir several tablespoons into the chopped dates and nuts. Cream the butter and 1 cup sugar. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well. Stir baking soda into the buttermilk and add the creamed mixture alternately with the flour mixture. Add vanilla, dates, nuts, orange rind and mix well. Pour into pan. Bake 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, boil together remaining 1 cup sugar and juice from oranges.
Cook until it will make a sugar coating on cake.

Saigon Crepes in Gainesville Square

New to Gainesville is a very small Vietnamese resturant located in Gainesville Square.

Vietnamese dishes are our favorite of all Asian foods. It has been very hard to find a really good one after enjoyed the real thing in Houston. Yesterday, dropped in for lunch and were really surprised.

Where is Gainesville Square?
It is located down 29 where the new Rite Aid Drugstore and Bank of America are located. Behind them are 4 new restaurants. Among them you will find a tiny shotgun style Vietnamese delight....The name over the door is Saigon Crepes.

Ford ordered from the Rice Noodle Soups (PhO)...He selected the well done flank steak which was nice...and I ordered my favorite...
Vermicelli topped with grilled lemongrass chicken.

We were really happy as it is the real thing!

The vermicelli is a rice noodle which is wonderful. It is served with a dipping sauce and do ask for the mild sauce. The sauce is so, so good.
We also tried a Spring Roll and it was the real thing.
We really were happy to find them so close as we really enjoyed our experience.

Soup was $7.50
Spring Roll $3.75
Vermicelli with lemongrass chicken $7.50

Looked like Mom and Pop were in the kitchen cooking and daughter serving. We definately will be a reqular there. Let me know if you like it too.
June

Foreclosure on Presidents Landing

Sharon Newton called to say she has the details of this beautiful house just on the market today and sadly is a

foreclosure.

Only $508,900

Sits on a flat lot, not on golf course which makes it nice for children.

Call Sharon for details

703 298-7858

New Pizza Margherita Gets Thumbs Up

New in our Shopping Mall near the World Market is an interesting new Pizza Shop called Pizza Margherita.

We ordered from the Del Forno Classsico (Brick Oven Pizza) Menu
to try the Pizza Milano. YUM~ We thought we were back in Milano, Italy.
Thin crust topped with fresh tomato sauce, mozzarella, prosciutto, arugula and fresh parmigiana ~baked in their brick oven. A delightful experience if you enjoy classic Italian foods.

Can't wait to try their Pizza Margherita which was originated to represent the colors of the Italian Flag....
Red, Green and White. Bet it's good too.
The plaza was crowded and the Restaurant/Take Out was doing a brisk business.
We certainly understand why.