I was in a local Bait Store this past weekend and met an older gentleman.  we struck up some small talk. (Well I did most of it.) Where you fishing today?  (Probing for some tips I was) "Sand." was his one word answer. There are several lakes around here, do you fish any of them? "Nope."  (Hmmm, King of the one word answers.) Really.  Why not? "Well, let me put it this way Sonny." (He called me sonny.  He is my newest bestest friend)  "There is now reason to walk 5 miles to fish when you can be relatively certain to be just as successful right at home." I hwasn't going to share any of his fishing prowess with me.  Now there is a man who you can tell anything to and he will never spill the beans! 09/08/2012

I stopped by a Department of Natural Resources fish trap today.  This has not been used in many years. It was set up to catch the hundreds to thousands of carp trying to get into a local fishing lake.  I watched many times as they netted out the carp because occasionally there would be a nice northern or walleye in the trap also. Those we put up above the trap to continue their journey. Today, the steel frame is still in place but the metal mesh that restricted the fish movement is gone.  Why the DNR no longer opperates this fish trap, I don't know, but I decided after seeing this to contact them to see why. I can only guess that priorities have changed to dealing with other invasive species that are more harmful than the carp. 07/28/2012

After several days of record heat...the one thing I have not heard on any News Station is the concern about our pets. Here are just a few tips to help our pets out in this heat. 1)  Water!!  Lot's of water. 2) Shade. 3) An area where the breeze can reach them. 4) Inside a cool building if possible. The easiest way is when you do something for yourself...Think if the pet needs the same. Be Kind to you pals! 07/05/2012

It is a beautiful morning. (at least in my back yard) The sun is out, the birds are singing and I have yet to hear a bad word. Granted, the day is early, but I am starting with a good attitude and hopefully good fortune will at least follow me if not catch up to me. I am going to take a minute to smell the flowers, listen top the birds and then maybe even kiss my wife before I delve into the day. Make it a great one on you end! 06/02/2012

That question was posed to me the other day. "We have been looking for several months.  We didn't have this much trouble the last time." I explained to my clients that was because the need was simpler then and if you didn't see what you  wanted on the market back then...you could build what you wanted. Right now, it isn't that easy to build and without paying above market value in our area. There are a few that are still talking buyers market.  I hope they keep thinking that way and keep putting in the low ball offers.  It makes finding a home for my clients much easier. 05/21/2012

Leaving politics aside completely...Santorum basically quit his bid for the white house. Reason...A sick child. I have to say, it takes class to do this.  Yes, I believe that it was the right thing to do.  His very young daughter has fallen ill and looks to be an on going issue. I know personally some people who have ignored family and went on with a career even when the family needed them more. Granted, not everyone is able to do this because of financial responsibilities, but that is besides the point.  He did put FAMILY first!  Many power hungry people have put themselves first! My Prayers go out to this family! 04/10/2012

Well, it was a great day yesterday to spend some time with an old friend. We had not seen each other in a while and because I had an appointment not far from him, I called. When his wife answered the phone and said he was not home I asked where did he go. There was a moment of silence..."Bill, do you really need to ask?" That was all I needed.  After my appointment I drove to the frozen water near his home.  I am still a bit chicken about the ice, so I walked out to his house about a quarter of a mile off shore. We drowned a few minnows and a sorrow or two. The two hour break was a good change of pace for both of us.   This is not his house but for those of you who live in the warmer climates...Yes, we do put houses on the ice. 02/13/2012

I love the snow and cold.  Well, at least for a short time. I have had a lot of errands piling up that I have not been able to get to.   When I take time to do one, I have hoards of people in my way and i have to wait and wait...and wait! The last couple of days, most of the population thought it was cold outside and stayed in their homes.  Myself...I got out and breezed through my errands in record time.  No waiting at all. Want to get some of you errands done fast...Wait for inclimate weather, brave the elements and get your errands done fast! 01/20/2012

In this world of upheaval, everyone is pointing fingers at the other for the blame. No one takes ownership of his/her own faults. It is so much easier just to blame the next guy. Money problems the world wide has every Super Power pointing fingers at each other. Here is a quote I found in one of my outdoor magazines.  No Author was given, but it makes a lot of sense. If all the Nations in the World are in debt...Where did all the money go? When you think about it, it kind of scares a person as to what the answer may be. 12/31/2011

I received a call yesterday from clients that will be working with me in the future. I met with them 6 months ago and talked about the possibilty of walking away from thier home as they were like many people...upside down. WE talked about the ramifications of walking away.  Destroying perfect credit.The increase of interests on current billsThe increase in insurance rates because of the credit risk. ECT ECT. Having the pride they did, they decided to wait for a few months and not make such a snap decision. The call I got yesterday was of very deep gratitude. The Wife came was diagnosed with cancer a few weeks later.  Car issues made the repairs to costly so they needed  to purchase a different car.  Plus some other issues, like they said "When it  rains it pours." The reason for them be... 12/22/2011

I loved being outdoors, in case you have not visited many of my blogs. I love to hunt and today, I went out and did some hunting. Now, my license isn't good until Monday...(Bow and Arrow) But the woods is full of things to shoot. This deer is the first I thing shot.  She had no real idea what I was and slowly walked off. This fat Fox Squirrel was the nest to show up and offer himself for a quick photo op. Animals are not the only wildlife that gets shot in my woods. And I was lucky enough to get a quick peek at the setting sun to end my evening hunt. You don't have to go into the woods and Kill something to enjoy Nature.  I enjoy the hunting with gun or camera. Looking for a home where you to can lived this dream?  Just call or E-Mail me! 11/25/2011

WE sometimes think of life as a journey.  That Journey takes many twists and turns.  We make sacrifices all the time.  Some more than others.  Case in point...   11 People on a rope. 11 people were hanging on a rope under a helicopter.  10 men and 1 woman. The rope was not strong enough to all of them and they all decided that one needed to let go.   some discussion ensued but no decision could be made on who should let go until the woman made a moving speech. "I have decided to be the one to let go.  As a woman,I have made sacrifices for my husband, children and men in general all my life.   I did all this with little in return. " When the woman ended her speech all 10 men started clapping! WE all make sacrifices, but what we need to watch for is the underlying reason for those sacrifi... 11/16/2011

Now many of you are thinking of ducks and geese, but there are many species of birds taht fly south fo rthe winter. Many leave in mid September while other wait until it is almost to late. This robin is one of the later fall migrators.  Many times at this time of year we have snow on the ground making it hard for these birds to find food.  Even so, with our warm fall food is still scarce for the robin. The berries from this Buckthorn bush are not the favorite of the Robin, but it is the most plentiful. In any case, the near 100 flock of birds kept me amused in my deer stand for over an hour.  They didn't know what to think of the creature in the tree, but they just kept their distance. 11/13/2011

I had a listing that was a great home, but when you looked at it, the front door just did not fit. This door just clashed with almost everything.   It also did not fit tight and people made comment of that.   A new white door installed for less than $175 and it looked much better.  The first people looked at it wrote an offer.  Although my seller did not take the offer, the agent who had shown the house before said the door made a world of difference. You don't always have to spend thousands, many times it may take a couple of hundred to make the extra few thousand! 11/09/2011

Yes, we were gone for the weekend.  We visited a foreign country and saw the grand kids and celebrated my step-sons birthday. Other than the cheese hat he wears, he is a good guy! WE went on a Nature walk that had cartoon characters along the 1 1/2 mile path.  The kids dressed in their Halloween costumes and collected candy as they met the different characters.   It started out as a frosty morning... The Nature walk was beautiful...Not to warm and no wind at all. Shame on me, but I do not know my princesses.  I was just glad to see someone not dressed in green and yellow. To some this is a swamp...to me it is Nature at it's best. Sesame Street characters were on hand also. We had a great time.  there was a fee for this walk this time, but it was a fund raiser for the park.  It was a gre... 10/31/2011

Growing up on the farm, I am able to relate to the older farmers that are retiring.  Many of them never cease to amaze me with their wit.  This is the latest... Ole had just bought a mule and when he got him home he took him to the old barn with the dirt floor.  Lena had come out to see him and remarked... "Ole, this barn isn't going to work.  Look, his ears are flat against the ceiling.  If we don't do something his ears will stay that way.  We can't have a mule with ears going sideways.  We will be the joke of all the neighbors." "I see, " said Ole.  "Hmmm going to have to think this over... " So they talked about it for a bit and finally Ole said..."Then it's settled." Ole crawled up on the roof and started cutting a hole in the roof. About that time, along came Hans, Ole's German ne... 09/16/2011

A neighbor of mine stopped by a week or so ago..."Bill, would your Grand Daughter like some Caterpillars?" "I am sure she would." Troy owns a company that raised all kinds of bugs and butterfly's and sells them to research companies and schools. 3-4 days and the caterpillars went into the cocoon stage and yesterday they came out.  It was fun to watch them emerge from there tight quarters and sit and fill the wings with blood in order to be able to take flight. Today, we set them loose....8 in all.   A few crawled up an her arm and posed for a quick picture before taking a final flight away to freedom. |This one landed in the tree ans sunned himself for a few minutes.   The name of the butterfly is The Painted Lady...or...The American Painted Lady. It is Native to Minnesota and I have se... 08/25/2011

Sometimes, you just get lucky Some days you just need to be in the right place at the right time. I am not much of a tech head, but this was just to good to pass up. An I-Pad for just pennies on the dollar of new price. But the catch. I had to buy several and I only need one. So I am passing this great deal to a few lucky Active Rainers. Here is a photo so that no one is mis-lead....   Anyone interested, please E-Mail me Thanks! 08/16/2011

This is so true.  WE have in many ways become a hardened people.  Thank Goodness for children.  they talk to anyone and don't see the disability... A lady sitting in the Dr.'s office saw a woman wheel an elderly gentleman into the waiting room.  she parked him and went to register.  She was sitting sorta close to the gentleman and thought maybe she should make some small talk. Before she could, a little boy slip off if his mother's lap and walked up to the elderly man... He then said..."I understand how you feel...My mom makes me ride in a stroller sometimes too! Bring a smile so someone's face and say HI! to them today!     07/20/2011

Summer is a great time of year.  Most vacations are taken and family get togethers are all around us. So, what is your favorite sound of summer.  Kids laughing, Birds chirping, Frogs croaking? Well, I will start it off.  My favorite sound is the sound a mosquito makes right after I smash him on my arm....SILENCE!!! Ok, your turn.  Serious, funny, calming or just???? 07/09/2011