FurKids Need Dwellings, Too!

Helping the Animals

2008-02-12T10:52:00.000-05:00

I've been turned on to a web site which I visit daily to help feed animals in shelters waiting for their forever homes. The motley crew here were all relegated to shelter life, for reasons not of their own making. People fall in love with puppies, but too often when the puppy gets to that "teenager" stage there is not enough patience in the household to help the dog through this awkward stage. Zoe was too small for a breeder to use, I guess, so she was sent to the Atlanta Humane Society. Better than being dropped out on a highway, at least. Winnie may have come from Louisiana as a result of Katrina (she was deathly ill with the canine flu which was going around in Florida and Louisiana) and her family may not have been able to keep her while trying to rebuild their lives. Talley had given birth to 5 litters for a breeder and had probably pushed her limit so was cast out into a shelter. All are wonderful souls I am blessed to share my life with. Other animals in shelters deserve the same chance to find the comfort of a loving home. Please help. Go to http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/tpc/ERA_021208_ARS and
click on the purple button at The Animal Rescue Site and give food to an animal living in a shelter or sanctuary
-- at no cost to you.

While you are there, check out the shopping options!! You can continue to support the shelters and get some cool stuff for you, your pets, and your friends. Additional charities also can be located from this site if you are more passionate about kids, trees, women to name a few.

Other People's Junk

2008-02-01T13:43:00.000-05:00

This week there has been been a lot of change going on here in my world (again!) The most dramatic has been the re-painting of the four story townhouse I live in. Gone is the four color mural on the living room/dining room/kitchen wall. Gone are the 17 different colors used throughout the space (this time I limited it to 6 total.) Great work by Jim and his crew at Capital City Contracting (678.794.1966 to reach Jim for a quote.) They have done work for my clients in the past, so I knew what I would be getting--quality work for a reasonable price. Not the cheapest, not the most expensive, but top notch work.

The other thing which is in the process of changing is the furniture in the house. I was missing several key pieces, and was on the hunt for inexpensive replacements. My friend Eileen is in the organization business (that's just the tip of the iceberg as far as what she can do for you) and I'll share more of that later when she gets her new business identity up and running. Eileen shared with me her favorite consignment furniture stores and took me shopping! I am so pleased with what we've found. Not everything is "antique" but everything has more personality than if I had gone to IKEA or Pottery Barn, etc. to locate functional pieces. And easier than running around to a bunch of yard sales. And the prices were not budget busters. This house is going to look so stunning I won't want to sell it! But, the good thing about the pieces of furniture we found, I'll be able to take them anywhere with me, and because I like them for what they ARE not just for what they can do for me, they will work in the future!

Resources

2008-01-29T09:49:00.000-05:00

Hey there, it occurred to me that I should mention that as a Realtor I am a resource for you when you need names of various people/companies related to owning a home--painters (who are here with me this week beautifying my own home,) gardeners, decorators, organizers. And the not so glamorous, but necessary, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, pest control folks. And the list goes on. So when the occasion arises, get in touch and I'll be happy to share the names of my favorite folks who can help!!!!

Adventures in Real Estate!

2008-01-21T07:28:00.000-05:00

Talk with a group of Realtors, and they most likely all have some amusing anecdote about their work with Buyers, Sellers, Open Houses, etc. Yesterday I had my most "interesting" event to report so far in my 4 year career.

Naked people, squatters, fierce dogs. Nope, none of the standards. I held an house open yesterday. Since it was a cold, winter day it seemed a perfect time to light the fire in the beautiful fireplace. Great idea--the homeowners and agents all agreed. Enter Laura--Hmmmm, gas logs, neat little turn key on the side, lighter, flue open. Seems I'm good to go. Nearly go up in flames, that is!

Anybody know how open the gas line needs to be to get one of these babies going? I do now--turn the gas on a couple of turns, try to ignite the lighter (and waste a second or two with the safety latch,) hold to the decorative coals. Whomp--smell burned hair. Think it is the fibers from my bulky, handknit sweater (I made it myself 15 years ago, and get to break it out once a year in Atlanta.) Turn down the gas as it seems I probably don't need that much. Check for any sparks in the room or on me. Go to the mirror to check my makeup. Discover that I've burned my bangs, my eyebrows, my eyelashes. Spend the next 10 minutes before the open house starts breaking off the burned parts so I don't look like a freak.

Oh, yeah. And open the doors to the cold outdoors to try to disperse the odor of burning hair before the guests show up. Which brings us back to the lovely fireplace which did an excellent job warming the place back up! And being thankful that this will all be but a memory in a month or so when things grow back!

Fun blog for Midtown

2008-01-17T16:15:00.000-05:00

One of my friends, who never fails to amaze me with her ability to locate things on the web, came across this new blog called AroundMidtown.com. A husband and wife team share some of the goings-on regarding new restaurants, buildings, etc. in the Midtown neighborhood. Since that area is constantly changing, it helps to have a variety of resources to scan to see who knows what, and if you get the same info twice (in order to give rumors some credence!) Check it out!

Good Advice

2008-01-11T15:34:00.000-05:00

Here is an brief article from my daily on-line magazine. I have seen this continue to play out in our Atlanta market as well this winter, with homes going under contract in less than 1 week even with all the inventory. A good realtor will help Sellers to understand these three principles. They are basic to my success, I can tell you that!

Daily Real Estate News January 11, 2008How to Get a Quick Sale in a Slower Market An analysis of the real estate market in the Baltimore area shows that even in a slow market some houses sell quickly — for the same reasons they do in a booming market.In November, when the average time on the market was 105 days, 13 percent of the 1,892 homes that sold in Baltimore and five surrounding counties had contracts in two weeks or less, according to data from Metropolitan Regional Information Systems Inc. Those 251 homes went from listing to selling in an average of seven days. They were typically older, three-bedroom, two-bath houses that sold at an average of $304,355 — about $4,000 under the overall average sale price.An analysis shows that fast sellers in a slow market have three common denominators:

They're priced better than comparable listings.

They show like model homes.

They have a full force of marketing, including enticing Internet photos, behind them.

Great Company!

2008-01-09T08:37:00.000-05:00

I like to share news about people and services which make the life of a homeowner easier! With the changes in my life right now, I've discovered a wonderful source to help me pack up my stuff. It's called Used Cardboard Boxes (http://www.usedcardboardboxes.com/index.php) They locate misprints or overstock of cardboard boxes which would otherwise go to the landfill or to be recycled and pack up the sizes commonly used in moving household contents into easy kits which you can buy on-line! They check by your zip code to locate the boxes nearest to you. When they say shipping is quick--do they mean quick. I ordered in the morning; they shipped that afternoon; the boxes arrived the next afternoon! Sure, it looks like I drink a lot of wine (half my boxes were previously going to be used to ship wine) but these are CLEAN, NEW boxes. The kit I ordered included the packing tape, a packing tape dispenser, Sharpie markers and box cutters as well as all the clean packing paper I will need for the number of boxes I purchased. I love that this is an environmentally friendly option to help in a situaion we all find ourselves in at some point or another! Keep this info handy for when you need it, and pass it along to people you know who will be moving. Along those lines, have you told those people who are moving that you know the best Realtor in all of Atlanta? I value your referrals--they bring me great Clients like you!

This cold weather!

2008-01-03T18:33:00.000-05:00

Today I went to volunteer at a children's clothing ministry. Usually we provide clothing for 10-25 children everyday the charity shop is open. Today we had NO children. The best we could figure is that with the weather so cold, the parents and children had to stay home rather than risk being under-dressed for the conditions.

There are several things here that I take for granted: having a warm coat, scarf, hat, gloves, shoes available when I need them; having a car in my garage to carry me where I need to go. I don't have to utilize buses and trains to get around on a daily basis. I don't have to stand at a bus stop in the wind waiting for the next bus to show up, or wait in a cold subway station for the next train.

So while I bundled up and headed out to volunteer, I could smile and complain about the bitter chill and wind. But I was warm, I had a warm commute, and I have a warm home to come back to. A lot to remember to be thankful for.

My Resolution

2007-12-31T08:53:00.000-05:00

Big surprise--one of my resolutions this year is to post to my blog twice a week. To that end, I've even added the task to my calendar!!! Maybe I'll post more frequent but shorter posts. I know I tend to get a bit wordy at times, but that's always been my style when writing. People say that getting a letter or e-mail from me is like sitting down for a visit with a dear friend over a pot of coffee or tea.

On a business note, I've changed brokers and am very excited about this change of location, style of ownership/management and the potential for me to have an impact on even more people as I help them through the process of buying and selling real estate, as well as the animals which receive my support through donations I make after each transaction closes. I do get a rush out of writing those $500 checks!!

Best wishes to you all as you embark on what will be a happy, successful, fulfilling New Year!

Happy New Year!!

2007-12-28T18:14:00.000-05:00

Well, it's been far too long since I've been in touch with my loyal readers! What with the holidays and the fact that there has been some last minute action in my Real Estate world, the time has flown by.

Yes, business has picked up some. One of my Buyers has purchased a house as an investment. Look for me to have the fixed-up version of this house listed in the Spring! Another of my Buyers, who has been looking for just the right place, finally found one with my help. Unfortunately, so did another smart Buyer who beat my Buyer to it! So here's the lesson--despite the downturn in the market and the thousands of properties on the market in the Atlanta area, when a house is priced right, has been "staged" properly, and is in a desirable neighborhood (remember "location, location, location"?) this market is still moving along pretty fast.

I do expect to see the market improve some over the course of 2008. This could be a great time to up-size or to purchase investment property. Let's get together to talk about the possibilities!

Also exciting for 2008 is the upcoming opening of Avenue Realty Inman Park. The office is being built out currently and we hope to be open by March 1. Did you catch that "we"? Yes, I've moved to a new brokerage, and I'm really looking forward to this next chapter in my Real Estate career. We'll keep you posted on the Grand Opening!

Every Little Bit Helps

2007-11-27T11:11:00.000-05:00

In oh, so many ways! This weekend's drippiness was a "drop in the bucket" of our deficit, but it was a good way to start. A torrent of rain would have washed right over the ground, and given our dry environment would probably have caused a lot of damage to our stressed trees. What we need are weeks and weeks of small amounts of rain, combined with the new conservation of water many of us are trying to practice to get us through this.

Yesterday I read two articles in the AJC online. While I know the purpose of headlines is to snare readers into buying the paper and reading the article, I know some people only read the title of the article and then they go off to spread the "news" they just read. So, the teaser was that the Prius (a hybrid motor vehicle) failed the Georgia emissions testing. "Ha-ha" say the pessimists, "those holier-than-thou environmentalists aren't so good after all!" What the teaser/headline should have said is that the emissions testing failed to work on the Prius. There are two tests they can run on a vehicle. One hooks up to the on-board computer of newer vehicles to study the history of emissions. The other is placed in the tail pipe of older vehicles. Well, the computer doohickey doesn't work with the Prius, and the very design of the Prius does not allow for the full running of the tail pipe test. The gasoline engine does not run for long enough in the idle position so the test can not be completed. Anyway, as more of these cars are nearing the 3 year old point where testing is mandatory it is hoped that the situation will be corrected and the Prius can be tested quickly like every other vehicle. The article didn't say, but I imagine other hybrid vehicles are having or will have the same problem with the test equipment.

The other article had to do with water usage and electricity. I must admit that I was one of those who reacted inappropriately to that headline--until I read it through. The thesis of the article is that the generation of electricity for the average daily use for household in GA uses three times as much water as the household uses as water each day. "Huh?" I wondered. "Water goes over a turbine and generates electricity then goes on its way. No real usage there." Wrong. Maybe up North and at the Hoover Dam this is how it is done, but here in GA and neighboring states we still burn coal to create electricity. The water is used to cool the facility and is subsequently lost to steam and evaporation. I guess sometimes that evaporated water then falls nearby in the form of rain and dew, but what the experts are saying is that we really need to be addressing our needs for electricity and how we can cut down while we are trying to address the more obvious ways in which we are using water here. Wow--it's really coming home to roost again. Our need to have it all and have it now is our Achilles tendon. Hmmm.

What I Heard Last Week.....

2007-10-24T17:07:00.000-04:00

While seeming to move as slowly as this turtle at the Ocean Center in Mauii, the Real Estate market in Atlanta has actually been cruising along! And FINALLY at a party I attended last week, people (unsolicited, too) were talking about Atlanta's housing market and how we were never in a bubble like the media would have us to believe. People were saying that things will likely get back to normal levels of activity in the Spring when the usual urge/need to move is at its usual highest level. My colleagues have been saying the same thing.

And all that good news notwithstanding, some parts of our market, and some segments of the Real Estate professionals serving them have had a very tough time this year. Most of that has been at the micro level--particular developments/neighborhoods, particular price points, particular agents (part timers, new agents) and yes, those folks will not be telling happy tales at their next cocktail party. But with the buffer of a few years, we will look back and say that 2007 was still a very good year for Atlanta's housing market and we'll be glad that there was some slow down in new construction, that prices did settle into a more sustainable rate of appreciation.

I'm looking forward to a great 2008! Helping more people, more pets and more animal welfare groups through successful Real Estate transactions. One at a time!

The Animals Win!

2007-10-03T12:31:00.000-04:00

Last night I was among the honorees at the First Annual Wag Awards, sponsored by Craig Koch founder of Wag-A-Lot doggie daycare and boarding. The winner of the grand prize is a 10 year old girl who for several years has requested that all her holiday and birthday gifts be in the form of cash which she has donated to help animals. Her goal is to start a website where people can learn about the need to spay and neuter their pets, and hopefully also act as a clearing house for people interested in getting involved in helping animals. Congratulations to all the winners! The real winners are the animals we are all helping through our efforts.

In January of this year as I reviewed my business "pipeline" it looked as if I could more than double my goal of $6000 donated to help animals. At this point, with the market as hesitant as it has been I will pushing it to make my goal. I know people can't buy and sell real estate through me just so I can send money to help animals--but when you speak with people who need an outstanding Realtor you can tell them about me! I enjoy helping people through transitions--housing change is usually a part of life transitions--and I REALLY get a charge out of writing those $500 checks to the animal charities I support.

Also, if you have knowledge of an outstanding animal charity that could use some help, please pass on their info to me and maybe some day I'll be able to help them out, too!

And Now For The Rest of the Story

2007-09-26T13:27:00.000-04:00

With apologies to Paul Harvey....

I did have "so much to say" but so little time before we went off on a wonderful vacation to Maui. Now we're back and the jet lag has just about worn off. The photo at left is the view from the condo where we stayed looking across the ocean at the island of Lanai. I'm used to the mainland coasts where people usually build with a good sized buffer between them and the water. However, on the island the water line must be more consistent, and storms less severe as we were very close to the beach, and the beach is not very deep, either! Amazing!!

One of the other things I wanted to share before we left town was my finally discovering what several friends have talked about for years--Richard's Variety Store in Buckhead! http://local.yahoo.com/details?id=13690369 What a throwback to my childhood--they even have the same shopping baskets (metal fold up with red and blue canvas sides) that the local five and dime had in my home town. Richard's doesn't have quite the variety old Switzes had in North Syracuse back in the 70's, but you'll find things there which you'll be hard pressed to find at Target or WalMart for sure. I got an old fashioned glass food storage container (no leaching plastics in leftovers, and oven safe, too,) a real Duncan yo-yo, a mini spirograph kit to take on vacation, and a couple of cute kid's book to read to our best little friends. From housewares, to classic toys, to gift ware you can find it there! Definitely worth a side trip next time you're going up or down Peachtree Street!!!

So much to say, so much to say....

2007-09-09T18:03:00.000-04:00

Were any of you among the crowds at Piedmont Park yesterday for the Dave Matthews Band concert? We were sitting on the back hill across from the stage enjoying the show with friends. I've seen the crowds pouring in at the Peachtree Road Race finish line, with just as many people participating, but with the Race it's more of a constant flow. It was wild seeing 50,000 plus people all in that part of the Park at one time for that long! Perfect weather, awesome production, pretty well managed overall. Hope you enjoyed the show!

Aside from the concert reference above, I do actually find myself with so much to say! Why is it that it seems like life is the "same old, same old" and then all of a sudden there are lots of things to talk about and share? As you know, we've been trying to eat locally this summer, purchasing a lot of our food from the Morningside Market, the new Peachtree Market (at the Cathedral on the big curve,) and filling in with local or green items from Whole Foods. It's been interesting eating what is available. Growing up, that's what we did in large part. My folks were full into the acceptance of world-wide markets and new-fangled products, as most Depression Era babies tend to be. But we always had a huge garden which we children helped tend. On a simple 1/4 acre, in-town lot our family had fruits and vegetables galore every year. I didn't realize how lucky I was until I moved out and started my own household and began to miss those fresh sour cherries for pie, multitudinous blueberries, fresh asparagus, strawberries, and all the basics from the vegetable gardens.

I was able to garden in containers and squeeze things into ornamental gardens where we rented, but it was not the same as growing and putting up the results of our labors as in my childhood. And the world continued to change. Gone were the days when you could tell what was in season by the price of the broccoli, or the corn, or the strawberries. On any given day we could walk into our non-gourmet grocery store and find these "treasures." I admit, Tim and I fell victim to the allure of those near perfect specimens, available whenever the chosen recipe called for their use.

It is so much easier to follow a diet, or "way of eating" as we like to call it these days, when you can get exactly what the plan says to eat. But does the food satisfy? I used to think so. Until we started regularly purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables from the local market. And the meats and cheeses? Some of you aren't old enough to remember when chicken actually had a flavor, and wasn't just some bland white meat that was jazzed up with any number of tantalizing sauces. I have a distant memory of "meat having more flavor" from when I was young, and my mother actually grew up on a farm where her mother raised chickens for eggs, and they harvested chicken when the time was right. Mom has never thought store bought chicken tasted like what she grew up with.

So why the excitement today about eating locally? After weeks of eating summer squashes, cucumbers, melons, okra, tomatoes, and potatoes the first of the GREENS showed up again at the market. I was NEVER so happy to see turnip greens and arugula!!!! The seasonality of eating locally "makes everything new again" as we go through the year. In May we were sick and tired of eating chard (a green,) and yearned for a change. Then it came. Working our way through the summer season produce we started to yearn for another change. Saturday was cause for celebration! I'm cooking our first late summer greens tonight for dinner--Hurray!!!!!

I am the first to admit that eating locally is a luxury--the acquisition of food is claiming a bigger part of our budget than when we shopped at the local chain market. The quality of food we are eating has gone up tremendously; the pleasure we get out of buying our food, preparing it, sharing it and then eating it has gone up tremendously as well. And over time the relationships we are building with the people who are producing our food have started to have a sustaining quality as well. The most cost effective way to eat locally is to support a single farmer through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) or a "share" in shorthand. Some farmers require a buy-in at the beginning of the season--this is the traditional method. A group of "investors" give the farmer his/her seed money (literally) and then all who purchased a share can partake in the harvest (which like in any investment can been either be really good or really bad.)

We were able to join the CSA at Riverview Farms in the early part of the season, but long after the seeds had been purchased, and benefit from this program. We get a portion of whatever is ready at the farm for the week. That means we get some foods which are new to us, some which we are pretty sure we don't like, and some that we go crazy for. And it means that we get to claim whatever we can use of the over-abundance which nature provides at times. One week it meant a bushel of corn in addition to our other foods. Which brings up another challenge of eating locally--nature sometimes requires us to rearrange our schedule. In our homogeneous world we have also gotten very used to dictating our own schedules. Nature doesn't keep as strict of a timeline--sometimes the conditions are perfect and we get just enough. Sometimes, as in this summer, we get draught and we have to harvest the crop all at once or risk losing it all together. Which means that all of a sudden you've got a bushel or corn to share or "put up" to eat later, when food is more scarce. Did we have "time" to do that? Not strictly speaking, but in the end we appreciated having nature's little reminder that we don't have as much control as we think we do. And I know several people who appreciated sharing in the bounty, and we'll enjoy these reminders of summer in the dead of winter, too.

If you have any questions about getting started eating locally, send me a message or post to this blog and I'll try to get the info for you. Time to go eat my greens--hurray!!!!

Who Reads This Anyway?

2007-08-21T13:39:00.000-04:00

As it turns out, more people than I thought! I had planned that my next entry would include some pictures of the pottery I've been making this summer at Sabra Gallery but we got delayed by a random thunderstorm which cut off power to the kiln. We had to wait an extra week to see the results of our labors. Maybe next week I can include pictures!

It's been fun to take classes at Sabra--very casual, no pressure to create masterpieces, but lots of support if you want to be adventurous and creative. Prices are very good, too.

May I suggest that you catch a meal at The Glenwood while you're there in East Atlanta Village. They serve an Eastern North Carolina style BBQ, which is very respectable and hard to find in Atlanta. For breakfast/brunch options anything including the grits will be devine--they are organic and slow cooked. Creamy and delicious!

Since I've got folks who are keeping an eye out for new postings on this blog I will try to do better about regular postings! Who knew?!?!?!?

Is Real Estate Slow?

2007-07-30T19:12:00.000-04:00

Well, not so much at the moment! After a bit of a break this Spring, during which I planted gardens, started taking classes and started my blog, business is picking up!! Being fairly new to the business, I am still susceptible to the seasonal ups and downs of the business, but my mentors in the office have found that they didn't have any of the usual drop off in business during the heat of the summer which we usually predict.

Atlanta never experienced the run-up in prices which many markets still making the news did. Also, our in-town market continues to see demand as people continue to move to Atlanta, and those in the suburbs see the benefit of re-claiming time and gas money by moving into town. And life continues--people get married, divorced, have kids, send kids to college--all kinds of transitions which mean that their housing no longer meets their needs anymore.

That being said, there are some really attractive prices because we have had fewer buyers confident enough to take the leap into home ownership. Higher supply equals lower prices as we recall from Economics 101. But guess what is happening? People who don't really need to sell are taking their homes off the market and the supply is starting to get back to a more reasonable amount. That should create some upward pressure on prices.

Thinking of making a move this fall? It's not too early to contact me so that I can help you plan your best strategy for making it happen!

Beautiful and Practical!

2007-07-12T20:23:00.001-04:00

Sorry, this isn't the best photo but you can get the general idea. I've got four okra plants in one of the containers in the pots downstairs. I went for the "fancy" okra which has red pods instead of the green. They turn green when you cook them, so no worries, and they sure look pretty while they are growing! The blossoms on the plants look like small hibiscus flowers--amazingly beautiful for such a strange looking vegetable.

Anyway, I've always combined my flowers and vegetables as gardening space has been limited and I had to be crafty about using whatever space I had available. This often meant sneaking the vegetables into the front yard so that they would get enough sun, hence hiding them amongst the flowers so the neighbors wouldn't complain. The flowers bring more bees and other polinators, often help keep the pest bugs away and just make it all look prettier. These tall okra plants (currently 5 feet tall in the pot and growing) would be great to have even if we weren't harvesting food from them, too!

We've also picked the first batch of Serrano peppers and they are in the freezer (peppers are easy to save as you just wash them, dry them and pop them in double freezer bags or use freezer boxes--no need to do any other prep!) And I've got almost enough ripe Roma tomatoes to roast them on the grill before putting them in the freezer. A touch of Summer tucked away for those dismal Winter nights to come!

Buying Locally, Eating Grandly!

2007-06-25T12:50:00.000-04:00

We've got our vegetables growing in the backyard containers, with herbs on the roof-top terrace loving the heat. Add to that local produce which we've been buying at the Morningside Market on Saturdays and from the market at Star Provisions (Th-Sat) and we've been eating mighty fine! Paul and Sarah came over for dinner Saturday and I served pasture raised chicken which I roasted over a bed of herbs from the terrace. With it were fresh beans--I would normally say "green" beans, but these were three different beans in purple, green and yellow. They were so good we didn't need salt or butter on them! Some fresh Italian parsley dressed the new red-skinned potatoes from the market. The backyard containers contributed our first Roma tomato and 6 beautiful red okra which were included in a stew with some purple peppers (these are new to me--thin skinned, shaped like bell pepper, with just a little warmth) and torpedo onions. For dessert I cooked up some of the sweetest black berries I've ever had with a bit of sugar, a dash of vanilla extract and some finely chopped Lavender leaves. After that cooled it was served over vanilla ice cream--Heavenly!!! Invite us to dinner sometime and you might get a similar treat!!

Customer Service Done Right!.

2007-06-15T10:53:00.000-04:00

OK, in the interest of full disclosure--this is not our actual new car. I thought Toyota's photo was better than anything I could take--look at that green grass and those puffy white clouds!

I want to give kudos to World Toyota and Tony Koonts for their excellent customer service. We went first to the Toyota dealer in Marietta because it was closer to us and we were just out to look. I'd not been in the Prius, though I did think it was a car I was interested in. Being an in-town realtor who actually lives the in-town lifestyle I wanted to continue to make a statement about taking up fewer resources and space (the Mini did great on the space, good on the resources, but not great BTW.) We were not up against any deadlines to purchase a replacement car for Winston, but we did want to look in case I found out that I didn't like the Prius and we were going to have to start back at the beginning.

So, because I don't like to be misled in my line of work, I extend the courtesy to others in their work. I told the sales person at the Marietta Toyota dealer that we were just looking and that it was quite possible that we would use a buying service through our credit union but that I would appreciate any time he was willing to give us so that we could learn about the car. He got the keys, let us look inside the car but balked at a test drive. His comment "I don't get paid by the hour." Okey-dokey. I thanked him for his time and left.

Tim convinced me to go to the another dealership off of Peachtree Industrial. I really didn't want to go, but we did. World Toyota welcomed us in and found us a sales associate. I told this guy, Tony, the same things I told the first guy. However, Tony chose to actualy engage us and told us about the Prius, suggested that the touring package would be too stiff for the in-town world of potholes and metal plates, let us go for a test drive and was just generally helpful without being rushed or forceful.

Tim and I liked Tony's approach so much that after lunch we decided that if World Toyota could give us the price we were looking for and the trade in value for Winston that we knew was fair we would try to buy a new Prius. Long story short, after scrambling to locate a car that fit our needs (correct finish package, interior color, acceptable exterior color,) World Toyota made it happen for us!

Now doesn't that guy in Marietta wish he had gone the extra mile for us?????

The Trio

2007-06-11T16:24:00.000-04:00

Well, we're still learning how to pose, but I was impressed that I was able to get three dogs in the same frame, all sitting down!!!!! From left to right, meet Talley (Tallulah,) Winnie (Winnifred,) and Zoe (Zoe!) Zoe has gone through Basic Obedience, Canine Good Citizen (she passed!!!), and basic agility training. Winnie presented a challenge getting through class-time as she didn't like to be alone in the quiet room while Zoe was in her class, so I don't think we ever graduated. Talley is being home schooled so far. We took our classes at Canine Academy & Playschool with Jenny Baum. Jenny knows her dog breed characteristics and she's good with the humans, too. Zoe blossomed into a more confident dog due to the experience in her classes! Even if you've had your dog for years and years, I recommend going through classes with your dog as it does create a better bond between you and your dog, a more confident dog, and often better behaved family members!

Yesterday we celebrated 8 weeks with our newest family member, Talley. I am amazed how it can seem like only yesterday and yet forever since she moved in! Public Servic Announcement: It is very unusual to have a household with three female dogs which get along peacefully most of the time. Getting a mix together like we have is not advisable for the novice dog owner. You really need to have some experience reading dog behaviors, understand the dynamics of a pack, and you've got to be willing to walk away from a potential new "kid" if the signals your current family is giving are not positive regardless of how much you, the human, think it would be a good idea to take that doggie home.

Talley came to us through Aussie Rescue. We had to apply to become her new family which was a more extensive process than going through the Humane Society which is where our other two doggies came from. We were asked all kinds of questions which gave the organization an idea of how we treat our animals, what we are inclined to do when dogs act like dogs, what we would do if our personal situation changed, were we really in a position to adopt a dog. Rescue organizations are justified in asking these tough questions because the animals they help have already lost at least one home and the hope is that these placements are truly forever this time around.

I really encourage people to consider adopting rescue animals--the animals know they've been given a second chance and they respond with extra love. Puppies and kittens come with their own sets of challenges, plus you don't know what you might be dealing with down the road. Don't let the fear of the unknown ("but we don't know what kind of baggage a rescue animal might have") keep you from considering this option. All animals need kind, caring, responsible owners who are willing and able to provide the love and time needed to develop healthy, loving pets. If you want a particular breed, Google that breed and the word rescue together to find numerous groups. The Humane Society and Atlanta Pet Rescue both have a variety of ages and sizes of dogs and cats, some of which are purebred, and the Humane Society will even have rabbits, mice, rats, hamsters available, too!

Growing Veggies in Midtown

2007-06-06T19:00:00.000-04:00

Now that we've been in our house for two full winters, the Spring itch to plant something got the best of me! Since we do have three medium-sized dogs sharing our spacious town-house back yard I had to consider what they would do to whatever I wanted to plant. Zoe, the Border Collie, is able to catch Frisbees and balls out in our yard and we certainly didn't want to interfere with that! Anyone with a BC knows that these dogs need a job, and for Zoe her job is bossing her sisters around or chasing (repeatedly) a Frisbee or a ball.

So, container gardening seemed to be the way to go. So far, so good as you can see from these photos! I bought the smaller containers at Target and the taller ones came from Costco. They are all some type of fiberglass so I don't have to worry about freezing in the winter, and they aren't nearly as heavy as they look. I knew that watering would be an issue both because of the containers and because this is the hot South, so I chose a potting soil with those amazing crystals in them which absorb a LOT of water and then slowly release it to the plants as needed. What this has meant for me is that I can water every other day right now. As we really get into summer, I may need to water every day.

But wait, you say, how are you watering these when there are severe water restrictions in Atlanta? Well, what you are looking at above are a Serano pepper plant, a Habenero pepper, a Roma tomato, rosemary, cilantro and a few flowers to help attract the bees and to help keep the pests away. Personal vegetable gardens are exempt from the watering ban. In addition, we've started keeping buckets in the kitchen and in the bath to collect "grey water" to use whenever possible. In the kitchen this means that when I wash vegetables, I collect that water in my bucket and use it later to water the plants. In the bathroom this means that as we are running the water in the morning for our showers that we collect the few gallons which are cold water before it is hot enough for a shower. Nothing crazy yet, though if things get worse I think I'll be saving the shower water, and the dish water when I wash the dishes even though we technically are allowed to water our plants.

These pots have: a yellow bell pepper, red okra, flat leaf parsley and basil plus some flowering plants. Up on the roof terrace we are growing more herbs, pineapple sage, basil, thyme, lavendar and a different rosemary. The pots upstairs have reservoirs in them in addition to the special potting soil. I got those pots from IKEA, and have been very pleased with them so far. Being as the roof terrace is on the fourth floor, there is always a breeze and so not only do the plants contend with the heat, but they have the breeze to dry them out, too. Herbs don't mind the heat, so do well there with these special pots.

My friend Erin is thinking about doing two large pots for her new yard. Her two year old will begin to learn that food doesn't come from the grocery store, but in fact is grown somewhere in soil, with sun and rain and someone to watch out for pests. They are probably going to plant a cherry tomato plant and some basic herbs for cooking. Container gardening is an easy way to start growing your own vegetables--just be sure you consider how hot it gets here, how to keep the plants well watered, and you may want to check out a book at the library for suggestions on plant combinations and how big of container to use for which plants.

We've been enjoying the herbs already, and I've got a few okra almost ready to harvest! It's not too late to get some plants of your own this year so have fun!

This is what happens when you "Fiddle Around!"

2007-06-04T19:31:00.000-04:00

Hurray--it came this week! Those of you who have been to our house will recognize a familiar wall and some familiar faces! What you are looking at is a 12" x 48" print on canvas adaptation of four different photos taken of our family of dogs created by the wonderful folks and artists at Photo Fiddle I've sent their info out to my friends with dogs before, but I really wanted to get the word out. What makes this piece of art so fantastic is that the first photo (on the green background) is of Bert, which was taken when he was about 13 yrs old at a photo studio on a white background. Being as he has a lot of white showing in this pose the first time I fiddled the photo on my own the composition didn't work right. (and he's not available for additional photo ops anymore.) Add to that the very dark Zoe who shows very little contrast in her photos and you can imagine it was a nightmare to create a composite piece which showed all the kids with as much personality as they have.

I got in touch with the service department at Photo Fiddle after receiving my first attempt at this piece, and Ira called me to see what the trouble was. In the end, because I've ordered from these folks a fair amount, they had an artist work with the photos I had so that we ended up with a more balanced, detailed canvas. Wow--what a treat to see the finished piece!

You can go to the website, download your own photos and play around with the different options they have for manipulating the image. It's quite fascinating. Ask Eileen to see the piece she did of Olivia. Even poor quality photos can be turned into striking pieces. People, pets, landscapes, abstract compositions can all be "fiddled" and turned into your own art, at very reasonable prices in a variety of sizes, either on canvas or on photographic paper. Go have fun fiddling!!

It's Friday!!

2007-06-01T17:12:00.000-04:00

It's Friday night--that means it's pasta night for my hubby Tim, who is training to run the Maui Marathon in September. This will be his 5th one, and this time he's going for a new personal record. We've started scootering to Figo on Collier Road on Friday nights. I'm trying to stick to the South Beach Diet, so big plates of pasta aren't on my favorites list, but I've been having run selecting from the Specials board, usually a soup and salad or appetizer combination. Always something different and always very tasty!

Now, we don't want this Figo location to get so popular that it has the same lines as the one at Huff Rd on Howell Mill Road, but for when you aren't up for the "scene", head over to the intersection of Defoor Ave and Collier Road on the West side of I-75. Full menu, wine and beer, big take-out business, too. You'll probably see me and Tim there most Friday nights, so come on out and join us!

The End of an Era

2007-05-30T12:04:00.000-04:00

When we purchased Winston, our Electric Blue Mini Cooper S, all we knew is that we were seriously downsizing to in-town, condo life. As part of a conscious effort to make less of a "footprint" on this earth, we gave up the SUV which was part of life in either Dallas, TX (everything is big in TX) or out in the country where it took 40 minutes to get to the nearest Mall! Tim only needed to get to the airport (hurray for the Marta train!) for his work and didn't need a car. Laura was volunteering and exploring her new hometown and didn't need much of a car. Shopping was simple--If it didn't fit in the Mini, it probably wouldn't fit into the condo, either.

So when Laura went to Real Estate school, people asked if I could be a Realtor with a two door car. Nowhere in the official Realtor handbook did it say that you needed four doors to do the job, so we decided to play it by ear. Since the Mini was a relatively unfamiliar car (other than from the movie "The Italian Job,") my Clients were more than game to hop on in! Above is the picture of Winston at my first listing--the Norcross home of Paul and Sarah which I sold for them in a record 13 days!

Meeting Clients at off-site locations was easy--just look for the bright blue Mini with the roof rack. People would see me driving around town, and know it was their friend and Realtor. I'll rather miss that part of having Winston.

Hard to believe, but it's been nearly 4 years with Winston and it was time to make some tough choices--keep him, trade him in for a new Mini, or try something else. It wasn't easy, but this past weekend we decided that the time had come to grow up--at least to four doors! We now have the next best car for in-town living, and the best one for a Realtor who wants to be "green" and still get noticed--The Toyota Prius. The stated mileage for in-town driving is 60 mpg!!!! Fewer trips to the gas station for sure. Much quieter (almost scary quiet while using the battery power only.) Looks a bit futuristic on the outside--and wait 'til you see the inside. There's no key in the ignition to start it! There's a computer to talk to when I get lonely. There's a built-in navigation system for when I find myself with extra time in unknown territory and want to locate stores to make the best use of my time between appointments (practical stores only, of course!)

I'll keep you updated on what name we find for this new car. It's bright white, a color I thought I'd never own in a car, but which I actually like as it turns out. BTW, if you've been considering a Prius, they are offering discounts which are very unusual and so they are getting hard to find again. If you can find one you like, you can get a great deal! And think what you'll save in gas!!!