REnteres are a funny group of people. Some are very good and others not much. Of course, I have seen some home owners that are just as bad. I am not sure about this one, but it does bring up the question... Do we need to put "No Motorcycles in the House" as part of the lease agreement? 03/13/2014

When should a person quit driving?   I was plowing snow today.  I ran across an elderly man and his wife who had slide off of the road just enough so that they could not move. A couple shovels of snow and away they went.   About a 1/2 hour later...there they were again, about a mile down the road stuck in a drive way.   It was very obvious that they elderly man had some issues. He could not hear well. He could not turn his head to look around. I didn't ask him to get out because I figured he would fall. His wife tells me he has the start of dementia.   They are a real danger on the road.  I know that losing a drivers license is a lost of a great freedom.  But few will admit that they should not drive and continue until it is to late.   So when and how do we handle taking away a drivers ... 01/14/2014

As a hunter and fisherman, I enjoy the outdoorsmen jokes.  Many are very close to the truth... Like this one... A man comes home from work and finds his wife dressed in a very skimpy negligee. She says..tie me up and do what every you want. So the husband quickly tied her up and went hunting to the day. I think he made the right decision! 01/08/2014

Fall leaves are very pretty.  But, like the ones on this tree will soon be on the ground. That is a fact for where I live. My wife told me of someone we know, not well, but is elderly.  She was unable to do her fall yard work of getting the leaves picked up. My wife and I are most always ready to give someone a helping hand.  This lady did need it and so we popped on over to her place and For the next 4 hours we cleaned up the leaves in her yard. She was so happy that she had tears in her eyes. She wanted to pay us, but it would no longer be a good deed. For some people, helping others allover the world is their thing.  For my wife and I, we help people in our own area that need help.   I am not putting down the globe workers, it is just you don't need to go far to do a good deed. 11/20/2013

Need to paint one of our Rental houses.  (Yes, I do my own Maint.) On some things we don't skimp.  Paint for the outside is one of those places. I went to pick out the paint..."Are you the paint expert?" I asked. No, he is.The young lad said. I explained to him what I was doing and asked if this was the best for the job.  Yes Sir.  He replied.  (SIR?   Brat!) He was just about to mix the paint when another person came along and was speaking to him...Sir, (There is the OLD word again) what is your project again? I explained and she said...This is not the right paint, you need to go with this one. She explained why and I knew I had finally found the expert I needed. Here was a case of just give the customer what they think they need and send them on their way.  I don't have anyone like th... 07/25/2013

Yes, the State Bird is out in full force. Yes, it is the mosquito! Shown here biting me this baby will grow a ton.  At full maturity he will reach 6-7 inches long and have a stinger as thick as a number 2 pencil! The biggest issue is the West Nile virus and a few other illnesses that they do carry. Protect yourself!  It is much easier and cheaper than fighting a major illness! 06/05/2013

WE had clouds this morning and then a bit of sun.  Now as evening approaches, the cloud cover is very heavy and a dullness envelopes us. Looking through my vacation pics, I found one that brightens the room. I rremember this flower was all by itself, sorta a lone and out of place.   03/23/2013

Some times you just can't wait.  I was sent this and it just struck me funny. Growing up on the farm, Makes it even funnier. But the kids want to know.  Unsuspecting kids could fall for this. Heck I have seen adults fall for dumber things than this. So take this with a grain of salt and just enjoy the fantasy. 03/22/2013

Like the lyrics of the song. When we stayed at the Polynesian Resort at Disney World, the welcome center has a large floral garden with waterfalls that mimics a rain forest setting. I have never seen so many different Orchids in one setting.  many were far enough away that I used my telephoto lens to bring up a close view. Now, I am still deleting the extra photo's and will share more as time goes on. 03/14/2013

It has been a long week of sorts.  So I will end it with a smile. A farmer was raising 3 daughters.  It was Friday night and all three had dates.  As was normal for him, he met the guys at the front door with his shotgun. The first came to the door... HI, I'm Joe, I am here for Flo, Is she ready to go?   The farmer looked him over and sent them on their way. The second boy comes to the door... Hi, I'm Eddie, I am here for Betty. We are going to get some spaghetti. The farmer looked him over and then sent them on their way. The 3rd boy comes to the door.. Hi, I'm Chuck...The farmer shot him before he could say another word. Have a safe and fun weekend everyone! 02/15/2013

It could be that crude oil is going up.  Or it could be because some gas executive has a daughter getting married and needs few extra million. Maybe the refineries on the far end of the country are not producing is the cause of gas going up even if your station doesn't get any gas from that refinery. Maybe it is because more people are driving...or maybe it's BLAH...BLAH...BLAH. What ever the reason it is going up way to fast. 02/01/2013

I finished up a deal this evening.  It was a touch and go in negotiating, but I felt we had the upper hand.  Yesterday I gave my clients instruction before the people came to look at their house. They followed them to a 'T'. Results...SOLD!  Without so much work and for a bit more than they were hoping for. Things can happen when we work together! Just hang in there and listen to the Professionals. 08/29/2012

My buyer was very near demanding why the house we were looking at was $99,900 when the house down the road was so much cheaper. Apples and Oranges I told him. "What do you mean?" he asked. The house down the road was built in 1910.  Needed a complete remodel job.  Had a rock foundation and that is just the start of it. The house we are looking at was built in 1973.  Block foundation, all the appliances, newer roof and siding.  Carpet is like new and the walls are not all banged up. "How do you know what was wrong with that other house?" he asked so sternly. "BECAUSE...The buyers were MY clients.  Now we can debate the issues or find you a home... If you are going to ask for help buying a home using a Realtor...make sure they know what they are talking about and then LISTEN TO THE ADVICE... 07/19/2012

Now, first off, I want to say this is not about the HUMAN volunteers.  There are many other kinds, but these are the ones that we see most every year. They show up where ever and when ever they want, bu they are always welcome. This guy was one of the first showing up in mid march. We have these wild violets all over the place. These guys popped up where we had piled some of the leaves from last fall. Not sure what this one is but we see it along the edges of our law along side the woods. Every year my wife plants a host of flowers.  Lately, mother nature has beaten us to the punch with her own selection.  We LOVE our volunteers! 05/02/2012

Ever hear about the saying that things happen in three's Seams it happens a lot, at least in my world. My dad fell Broke a hip.  Then a good friend did the same 2 days later.  So I am waiting for the other shoe to drop. Well, last night it did.  My Nephew's wife had a Baby Boy.  OK, WE will take that.  A bit of good medical is always welcome. To celebrate...here is a funny for the day. 12/17/2011

I often wonder how much stuff is just floating around. Last week I got an E-mail that was from my brother.  He sent it in Feb. of '09.   So, where was it and why did it come through at that time. I had an E-Mail that I needed very badly that just disappeared this week.  I had the agent replace it and he just re-sent the same one.  It was date stamped when he sent it, but i never saw it. So...How much junk is lost in cyber space.  I bet it would boggle the mind! Somewhere beyond this moon, cyber space is being littered upon. 11/26/2011

The first real snow of the season hit us yesterday.   This is about the average date for our first snow.  Last years we had snow 2 weeks earlier. I don't want to sound like I am complaining, I really am not.  I just have a lot of work to get done that would be a lot easier without the snow. But, the snow puts many people back to work at least for a day or two, which is good. Now, if everyone could only learn to drive again! 11/20/2011

To sell your house in Lindstrom, MN, you need good curb and web appeal. Most potential buyers will be viewing your house online before coming in person for a showing. A beautiful lawn is key to presenting your house in the best light, and achieving it is not as difficult as you might think. Here are some simple steps to getting a gorgeous green lawn to attract buyers: Soil - your lawn may become compacted, which will hinder growth. Having it aerated will allow water to seep into the group and soften the soil. Testing your soil's pH balance is also a simple thing that may be a big difference-maker: if your soil is too alkaline, simply adding some soil amendments may be the thing that allows your grass to grow lush. Water - it's very possible to overdo it. Your grass doesn't need an unlim... 07/06/2011

If you’re considering buying a short-sale townhouse in Lindstrom, Minnesota, there are things that will likely be different than the process of a standard home purchase. If you have time on your side (i.e. don’t need to move quickly) and really want the townhouse, short sales can often present great savings to buyers. But they certainly don’t come without their own set of potential hassles. David Uffington gives some pointers here to potential buyers. First, he says, do what you’d do in any kind of home buying scenario: get approved and get your credit clean. After that, the main thing that you’ll need in a short-sale purchase is patience. It can take time, months even, for lenders to approve the sale. There can be other issues too: There are a number of potential stumbling blocks along... 06/09/2011

You want to own your own home. You know that prices are very affordable and interest rates are extremely attractive. But rising gas prices and a weak economy leaves you struggling to save for that down payment. Sound familiar? Most loan officers will tell you that a conventional mortgages can require 5, 10 or 20% for a down payment. Even government backed FHA loans will require that buyers have a minimum of 3.5% of their own funds to invest in their home. Our veterans have always had a wonderful zero down program available and the VA loan program is still a great option to those who have served our country. But for other buyers trying to come up with the minimum 3.5% down payment required by FHA or 5-10% down for a conventional loan is a road block to in their path to a new home. There... 02/24/2011