The pans I used to hate

It is Friday and Fridays are for fun. Decades ago when I was young we didn’t have much in the way of cookware. My mother bought us a set of pans at one point and I still have them today. I also have her set of pans and both of the pans that I bought for myself.

I always had cast iron pans and never liked them. They were very common in the 1980s. Yes, I am that old. I have no idea what happened to those pans. A couple of years ago I looked for them in the camping gear and in the basement but never found them. Did I give them away? Toss them out? Did they get lost in a move?

Cast iron pans are not non-stick. I think that is why I hated them back in the day. They don’t go in the dishwasher and they need to be seasoned and in general require care but they are worth it.

When it comes to cooking nothing beats a iron pan. They work on any cooking surface, I use them in the oven on the stovetop, and on the gas grill. They work on conduction cooktops, electric burners, and gas stoves.

Last week I used my 8-inch pan to bake a chocolate chocolate chip brownie, and I used the same pan to bake some chicken thighs in and roasted some veggies in it on the outdoor gas grill. I use a larger castiron skillet for cornbread, pizza, and pancakes. Yes, I like to cook, it can be fun and everyone has to eat.

chocolate chip brownie in a cast iron pan
Chocolate chip brownie

 

Don’t forget about the library

Saint Paul Public Libary
Saint Paul Central Library – George Latimer

The central library is beautiful inside and out and a fantastic resource. It also makes a nice backdrop for the holiday decorations in Rice Park.  Most of the books I read these days are electronic books that I  borrow from the library. They have a large selection of Kindle books and audiobooks that are easy to check out without even going to the library, but I love to go to the library.

In the summer one of the things I love to do is actually go to the library and check and pick up some old-school hardcover books. Since childhood, I have associated summertime with reading. I keep a stash of books for reading on the front porch.

The library is also cool and quiet and they offer many services and types of media. It is a go-to place for research and learning. Did you know that there is a “maker” space? It is a hands-on workspace with a 3D printer, a laser engraver, a sewing machine, a recording studio, and more.

There is a large children’s room filled with books, the puppet stage, and places to read.  There is a room with books for teenagers and young adults.  There are magazines, newspapers, and movies.  The librarians are always helpful and best of all it is all free. Well, it isn’t really free we all pay for it with our tax dollars.

I recommend living within walking distance of a library or two.

Home prices by neighborhood

Here are some numbers for home sales in St. Paul, Minnesota for the month ending February 29. The high demand and low supply kept home prices up. Most of the city is experiencing a strong seller’s market. Downtown St. Paul is experiencing a weak seller’s market.

Overall the average days on the market is 41 days. Interest rates went up in February and mortgage applications went down. Experts are predicting lower interest rates during the second half of the year with home sales rising in 2025.

Home sales by St. Paul neighborhood
Home sales by St. Paul neighborhood

The numbers used in the chart were extracted from the NorthstarMLS which is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Other sources of this information include areas outside of the city of St. Paul, the information presented here is inside the city limits and does not include suburbs.

 

Today is Super Tuesday

Today is the day to vote in the presidential primary. What is a primary? A primary is when we vote for presidential candidates. We vote Republican or Democrat, and the candidate with the most votes from his or her party will be the parties nominee.  If you don’t know where to vote, follow this link.  If you are not registered to vote you can register at the polls as always. Here is what you need to register at the polls. 

Early voting has been going on for weeks and online registration is always open. If you moved, even if it was from across the hall in the same building you will need to update your registration.

If you register now you will be ready for the November 5, 2024 national election. You can even take advantage of early voting which starts September 20, 2024. You will also be registered for the primary election on August 13, 2024. Early and absentee voting starts on June 28th.

If you are registered you do not need to show an I.D. at the polls. The election judges can and will verify that you are who you say you are.

If you are one of those people who are kind of above it all and don’t like any of the candidates vote anyway. The way things are lining up it is possible that there won’t be an election for president in 2028, your vote in 2024 matters.

I voted sticker
I voted sticker

 

Another low inventory spring market

The trend is down for the number of houses on the market in March. It isn’t just about higher interest rates, but nterest rates are making it worse. It is also about fewer reasons to move.  Fewer people are moving because of a new job. Demographics are another reason for staying put. Older people do not move as often as younger people do. Add a shortage of housing to the mix and we have yet another reason why people don’t move.

The chart shows the number of houses on the market each month in St. Paul over the last decade.  The peaks each year occur in the spring, and the valleys happen during the holidays at the end of the year.  I’ll have some numbers for February 2024 home sales on Wednesday, March 6.

Number of houses for sale – data from the Northstar MLS

 

March is here and spring is on the way

It is Friday and Fridays are for fun. Today is the first day of March. March is always an interesting month in Minnesota. We might have spring weather in March or we could have winter weather. This year we didn’t have much of a winter.

With the warmer weather, it might be tempting to put the snow shovels away. Putting snow shovels away in March almost guarantees a large snowstorm. I am going to leave the shovels out and keep the snow blower gassed up and ready to go. Please do not put your snow shovels away.

Here is a picture I took last Tuesday:

Crocus
Crocus blooming 2.27.2024

The iris are popping up and the lilac bushes have leaf buds.

Enjoy the weekend and be sure to get outside. Keep the snow shovels handy and remember that only you can prevent forest fires.