Dec 15th, 2011

Mama Tommy’s Food Blog

Posted By: Ella Palmer in Homes By Deltona, Isles of the World

It has now been six months since my nephew Zack launched our family food blog.

When it came to choosing a name for the blog, Zack and my brother Michael both suggested we name it Mama Tommy’s. Mama Tommy’s was a small business I owned in N.Y.C. I peddled homemade garlic butter to 12 specialty shops.

My wife June just finished making a cook book using recipes from the blog which she plans to give as a Christmas gift to the 5 households which are connected to the blog.

In the preface of the book June writes: If you are just finishing eating breakfast and say “What are we going to have for dinner” – you must be a Koulermos.

Food was a big part of my family. My Dad was born in Greece. He owned and operated a restaurant. My mother was of Italian decent. Having a Mediterranean heritage, there was always great food and lots of it. I started cooking myself when I was strong enough to bring a chair to stand on so I could reach the stove top.

The other day my Nephew Matt sent out an e-mail seeking a Chili recipe. He was asked to make chili by his employer for their company holiday party. Within the next 2 hours, 12 e-mails where flying around with all wonderfully different chili recipes for Matt.

The blog has been a great way for our family to keep in touch. Especially since June and I are living in a Florida community and everyone else is spread out in different areas. This is a great time of year to look back on. It makes me smile knowing I have a fun family who has an incredible love for food and entertaining.

Merry Christmas!

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Dec 8th, 2011

Florida Dude Ranch Adventure

Posted By: Ella Palmer in Homes By Deltona, Isles of the World

Homes by Deltona employee, Tom Koulermos, and his wife, June, recently had a weekend stay at Westgate River Ranch. If you are thinking about visiting a dude ranch, I think Tom would encourage you to take the adventure! Vacations are great, but it’s always a wonderful feeling to be home again, and we hope that you will consider calling the beautiful golf course community,  Isles of the World, your home!

 

The ranch was nestled on 1,700 acres of land located near Lake Wales. Our friends Bubba Bob and Debbie joined us, and we hall had a great time.

The ranch offers a variety of things to do…

On Saturday we had breakfast at the general store then off for a walk to shoot some photos.

We retreated to the pool until our reserved time for an airboat ride on the Kissimmee River.

We saw 2 alligators and lots of wildlife…

Late that afternoon we were off on a hayride. We sang country songs while watching the cowboys drive the cattle off the pastures before the hayride ended at a cookout.

I should’ve been a cowboy
I should’ve learned to rope and ride
Wearing my six-shooter riding my pony on a cattle drive
Stealing the young girls’ hearts
Just like Gene and Roy
Singing those campfire songs
Oh I should’ve been a cowboy

Next we went to the rodeo and one of the riders got kicked around pretty hard.

We danced away the evening to the music of a live country band at the saloon. Both Debbie and my wife, June were dressed in full country outfits.

What a great time we had enjoying good friends and the great outdoors here in Florida!

Tom Koulermos
(904) 940-7734
Isles of the World
121 Hedgewood Drive St. Augustine, FL 32092
tom.koulermos@deltona.com

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Dec 7th, 2011

Made in the USA

Posted By: Tom Koulermos in Homes By Deltona, Isles of the World

Homes by Deltona employee, Tom Koulermos, discusses his thoughts on appliances that typically only make an appearance on Thanksgiving Day:

When we were preparing to serve our Thanksgiving Day meal I decided to use 2 small appliances that my wife and I have owned for years yet hardly ever get to come out of the kitchen cabinet:

I mashed the potatoes with an electric hand mixer and I sliced thin juicy slices of turkey breast with an electric knife.

I thought what a joy it is to have these fantastic kitchen utensils. I don’t want to guess how old they are but they operated perfectly.

As I was cleaning both I noticed the mixer had a sticker on it. The sticker read, Made in the USA/Buy American. I then checked the bottom of the knife and it also was made in the USA.

I started to wonder. These were not extravagant purchases at the time they were bought. So why can’t the USA still make products like these at an affordable price? I think I am going to keep these 2 Hamilton Beach kitchen toys and be thankful that American workers received a pay check for making them.

To contact Tom,
(904) 940-7734
tom.koulermos@deltona.com

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Dec 4th, 2011

Holiday Season Start-Up

Posted By: Tom Koulermos in Homes By Deltona, Isles of the World

Homes by Deltona employee, Tom Koulermos was asked to decorate this year’s company Christmas tree and document his experience:

I was given the task to design and decorate this year Christmas tree entry for the St. Johns Festival of Trees. The entry is by Homes by Deltona “Isles of the World” community in World Golf Village.

I did not want to enter a typical green tree with red bows. I decided to go with the theme of A Tropical Christmas. The theme goes with Isles. Luckily my wife June had some import and we both went to work.
We searched the internet for trees, ornaments, decorations, tree skirts and more. I envisioned a turquoise tree with lots of colorful ornaments. Ornaments alone can be very expensive. With a limited budget we found painted wooden cut-outs of things that you may see or use on an Island. These cut-outs were inexpensive enough but we knew we would have to convert them into ornaments. We are also using pink Hawaiian leis for garland and a starfish for the top.

We invited all our fellow employees to join us for some holiday cheer and to hang some ornaments. This has certainly been a fun project and one heck of a way to roll into the holidays.

To contact Tom Koulermos,
(904) 940-7734
tom.koulermos@deltona.com

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Oct 31st, 2011

Homes by Deltona Giving Back to the Communty

Posted By: Karen Palmer in Deltona Realty, Grand Ravine, Homes By Deltona, Isles of the World, Laterra Links, Portofino, San Savino

With its reputation as Florida’s top-performing school district, the fact that homeless children attend St. Johns County schools came as somewhat of a surprise to me when I attended my granddaughter’s open house at Wards Creek Elementary.

I asked Don Campbell, the principal, what the school’s needs were, and that’s when I learned about the homeless children. With school starting, these children didn’t have the supplies they needed.

The quality of the St. Johns County school system is a major factor for our homebuyers in each of our five Florida golf communities – Laterra Links, San Savino, Portofino, Isles of the World and Grand Ravine. And while we’re extremely proud of the school system that our residents enjoy, it’s important not to overlook the needs that still exist, even in such a prosperous community.

After getting the supplies list from the principal, I’m proud to say that the Homes by Deltona sales agents stepped up to the plate to purchase the school supplies that these children needed.

There are so many ways to give back to our community, and this is just one example. How do you give back? Please share your experiences helping to meet the needs in our community and let others know how they can contribute.

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Oct 15th, 2011

SAM Tram Visits World Golf Village!

Posted By: Alayna Oram in Deltona Realty, Grand Ravine, Homes By Deltona, Isles of the World, Laterra Links, Portofino, San Savino

We were excited to host top Jacksonville Realtors on October 7 when the SAM Tram came to World Golf Village. The Northeast Florida Builders Association’s Sales and Marketing Council organizes the “SAM” (for Sales and Marketing) Tram two to three times a year, providing tours of new communities in St. Augustine and Jacksonville to Realtors and affiliates. On the tours, builders and developers showcase their homes and answer questions for Realtors.

On the October 7th tour, we provided breakfast at the Laterra Links clubhouse and showcased the Pinehurst model, which recently won the overall “Judge’s Choice” award at the St. Johns County Builders Association Parade of Homes. This home has 2,160 square feet, all on the ground level. It includes a screened lanai, attached two-car garage, 10-foot ceilings, three bedrooms, two baths and a large flex space that can serve as a dining room, office or den.

We also showcased the Barton Creek model in Isles of the World (pictured above), which offers five bedrooms, three and one-half bathrooms, a first-floor master bedroom, a grand room that can be open or divided with a fireplace and entertainment wall, and a large private courtyard.

If you are interested in seeing the homes for yourself, please contact Karen Palmer at 904-940-5388.

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