My wife and I have traveled to Oaxaca City, Mexico every year for the past five years. We love going down there for a few weeks in the winter. We have made many friends down there. One of the people we enjoy the most is Nora Valencia. Nora, in addition to being a successful hotelier, is a wonderful cook and a great instructor. Her cooking school is called "Alma de mi Tierra." Nora is native Oaxacan and all of her mole, tamale and chapulines (grasshoppers) recipes were passed down to her by her grandmother.

Four times we have managed to either be in Nora's class or, at a minimum, be there for the great lunch that follows cooking class. Nora speaks excellent English and she has a great sense of humor and is fun to be around. If you ever travel to Oaxaca, which I highly recommend, take Nora's cooking class -- offered several times a week. 

I put together a short video to provide additional information on Alma de mi Tierra and Nora Valencia.

 

        

        

Check out "This Day In History" -- music and vintage television from the 1950's through the 1980's.  I enjoy writing these articles because they take me back to my days in radio broadcasting. Click on Elvis' gold record, below, to revisit those golden hits of yesteryear.

           

 

Please Shut The Door
05/19/2013
share
This is an amusing and a revealing photo taken recently at an inspection at a large commercial building. It was dark inside the building, and bright sunlight prevailed at the outside. The picture tells the story, pretty poor energy efficiency at… more
Bellingham Technical College Home Inspection Training Course -- June…
04/29/2013
share
Several years ago now, Bellingham Technical College's Fundamentals of Home Inspection was the first course in the state to receive approval from the Washington State Department of Licensing. This course attracts many students, from around the… more
B-vent Clearances -- Fire Safety
04/06/2013
share
Based on my experiences, working as a Bellingham, WA home inspector, I would say that one of the most misunderstood components to be found in the home is the B-vent. The B-vent is commonly seen at gas furnaces, gas water heaters or gas fireplaces… more
Let's Talk Manufactured Home Inspections -- Bellingham, WA
03/16/2013
share
A manufactured home inspection, in the mind of a buyer, should be inexpensive. After all, buyers figure that if they can purchase the home for a low fee (around here I have seen them at $30, 000 and less if no land is involved) then the inspection… more
Unchain Your Gutters… Please!
03/08/2013
share
Working in the wet Pacific Northwest, as a Bellingham home inspector, I have often thought that substituting chains for proper downspouts was a poor idea. Honestly, I think a house with chains on the gutters would do just as well if the gutters were… more
Roofing Worry: Prone to Failure
02/19/2013
share
By design, many manufactured homes have composition roofs that are low-sloped. A general guideline is that composition shingles are suitable for a roof with a slope of 4/12 or greater. But, in fact, most inspectors do not worry much about a roof… more
Oaxaca Travels (La Casa de Mis Recuerdos) Oaxaca, Mexico
02/13/2013
share
My wife and I have been leaving the damp northwest (Bellingham) and heading down to Oaxaca in Mexico each winter for the past five years. We love the area and we really enjoy and appreciate the families at the B&B that we keep returning to year… more
HUD Manufactured Home Foundation Certifications in Bellingham, WA
02/11/2013
share
People today have too little time in the workday. Reducing the amount of chasing around, paperwork, the number of phone calls and Emails involved in a business transaction benefits any home buyer, home seller, real estate professional or lender… more
So Have You Ever Misplaced Your Keys?
02/10/2013
share
Do you ever misplace, or worse yet, lose your keys? If so, let me tell you about a nifty device. Over the years, my wife and I have each lost a set of keys. At the best, that is inconvenient. At worst, especially with the transponder car keys that… more
 
Steven L. Smith, Bellingham WA Home Inspector (King of the House Home Inspection, Inc) Rainmaker_large

Steven L. Smith, Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Bellingham, WA

More about me…

King of the House Home Inspection, Inc

Address: Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine, Sumas, Nooksack, Lake Whatcom, Lake Samish, Anacortes, Mount Vernon, Whatcom County, Bellingham, WA, 98225

Office Phone: (360) 676-6908

Cell Phone: (360) 319-0038

Email Me

Steven L. Smith, King of the House Home Inspection, provides information for real estate buyers, sellers and real estate industry professionals. Blog posts emphasize issues commonly found in Bellingham, WA and Whatcom County. Smith is Washington State Licensed Home inspector #207, a state licensed structural pest inspector and one of the most experienced inspectors in the northwest corner of the Pacific Northwest. Steven L. Smith is lead instructor of home inspection at Bellingham Technical College and teaches classes for Washington State University and the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Steve was a two-term member of the state licensing board.


Listings

Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog