T'was The Night Before Christmas... "What was that?" "I don't know, but don't wake the cat!" "Let's get our collars on and go check it out... maybe it was Santa?"   "SANTA, is it you?"                                                                                                  "Was that Santa?" "I don't know, I think so, but he went up the chimney so fast!"                                          "Let's check outside."  "I smell reindogs,  and look...there's one now!" "I'm so glad we put out our milk and biscuits." "MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!" 12/24/2009

Realtors® Night Before Christmas T'was the night before Christmas and all through this house,        my client was restless and so was his spouse. My signs were all hung in the yard with care,            with hopes that a buyer soon would be there. The sellers were having strange thoughts in their heads,         and I knew they were thinking FISBO instead. With my assistant on the laptop and me on my phone,         we'd just about given up ever selling this home. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,         a car skidding into my sign, and it totally shattered. The sight of headlights came like a flash,         and they pulled in the driveway as if they had cash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow         reflected a Realtor® with buyers in-tow. When what to my se... 12/24/2009

To My Dear Friends at Active Rain... You are all so very special.  I have enjoyed a year in the rain with you.  You have made me laugh and cry, sometimes in the same blog post.  I look forward to many more years of sharing more stories between us.  Merry Christmas and a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!  12/23/2009

Grants Pass Southern Oregon Real Estate - Short Sale Closed Escrow Another Grants Pass Southern Oregon Real Estate - Short Sale Closed Escrow.  This cedar-sided ranch style home on 2.74 acres, located in west Grants Pass closed escrow today for $355,000.  The owners were sad to leave this beautiful home, but they know it will be in good hands with the new Buyer.  And, they are happy to avoid a foreclosure.  For more information regarding short sales and how we can help you avoid a foreclosure, contact us today!   Another Grants Pass Southern Oregon Real Estate - Short Sale Closed Escrow. 12/23/2009

Cycling in Southern Oregon.  Southern Oregon is a playgound for the outdoor enthusiast.  There is so much to do here, such as fishing, skiing, hiking,  and various kinds of cycling.  Posted below is a schedule of cycling activities in Southern Oregon.  Enjoy the ride!  Road Biking: Every Saturday:  A 20-mile ride begins at 10 a.m. at Cycle Sport in Medford. Ride leader is Alex Hayes: 541-857-0819. Every Saturday:  A mellow, 20-mile Siskiyou Velo Club ride begins at 10 a.m.  Starting location varies. Ride leader is Phil Gagnon: 541-488-4289. Every Sunday:  A 20-mile training ride begins at 9 a.m. along the bike path behind Bad Ass Coffee Co. (yes, that really is the name of the Co.) in Medford.  Race pace.  Ride leader is Glen Gann: 541-779-6986. Every Monday:  Siskiyou Velo Club 25-mile... 12/23/2009

Is Your Water Safe to Drink?  The New York Times recently featured a series about the worsening pollution in American waters and regulators' response.  "The 35-year-old federal law regulating tap water is so out of date that the water Americans drink can pose what scientists say are serious health risks - and still be legal," says the NY Times. Is Your Water Safe to Drink? - Click Here to find out. Examine whether contaminants in your water supply met two standards: the legal limits established by the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the typically stricter health guidelines. The data was collected by an advocacy organization, the Environmental Working Group, who shared it with The Times. 12/23/2009

Christmas Day in Ghana, Africa.  Just a few short years ago, my daughter volunteered for an internship program in Ghana, Africa for a non-profit organization called Women In Progress.  Prior to the internship, she had never traveled outside the western United States.  I was surprised (and a little nervous) to learn that she planned to travel to Ghana alone.  I was even more surprised when I  received periodic messages from her regarding life in Ghana.  Here is an excerpt from one of her emails to me during her stay (be sure to read the final paragraph). Christmas Day - 2005So today is Christmas.  I never thought I could adapt to sub-standard living conditions, but so far it's been pretty easy.  I no longer freak out about ants.  I am okay with the cold water. I don't even care anymore i... 12/22/2009

3 Godfathers   It has become a tradition in our home each Christmas season to run through a list of "must watch" movies. 3 Godfathers introduced Harry Carey, Jr., and was dedicated to his father, Harry Carey.  John Wayne, Pedro Armendariz and Ward Bond make this a "touching" Christmas movie. John Ford showed his usual directorial genius in this Merian C. Cooper production.  They were the best! Merry Christmas! 12/22/2009

Another Short Sale Escrow Closed - Grants Pass Southern Oregon Real Estate Another Short Sale Escrow Closed - Grants Pass Southern Oregon Real Estate.  This Cottage Cutie in Northeast Grants Pass closed escrow today for $104,500.  While the owners unfortunately had to sell their home as a short sale, they were ecstatic that we were able to save them from a foreclosure.   For more information regarding short sales and how we can help you avoid a foreclosure, contact us today!   Another Short Sale Escrow Closed - Grants Pass Southern Oregon Real Estate. 12/21/2009

"NUTS!" When I was a youngster, this word was used instead of swearing to register disgust with something. It achieved stardom in the "Battle of the Bulge." Go back to December of 1944; The Germans had surrounded the American army in Bastogne during the Ardennes offensive in World War II.  800,000 allies and 500,000 Germans, with the Germans trying to split the British and American armies in order to capture Antwerp and encircle us to force a peace treaty in the Nazi's favor. They had us surrounded in Bastogne, and having killed 19,000 Americans, the German General von Luttwitz sent a written request to the American commander demanding his surrender. When the 101st Airborne Commanding General Anthony McAuliffe heard the demand, his immediate response was; "NUTS!"    When his staff told ... 12/21/2009

Cranberry Bread Recipe - Happy Holidays!  Thanks to Stacy McCullough for sharing this Cranberry Bread Recipe with me.  I love to bake during the holidays.  It provides a calm time where I can stop and appreciate my surroundings without all the stess.  I hope you are enjoying the holidays!  Merry Christmas! 12/20/2009

Gone With The Wind Have you ever seen a real live Civil War Vet?  I have.  I guess that's the only advantage to aging;  To have seen so much history first hand.I was reminded of this when I was watching a special on the filming of Gone With The Wind.  When they held the movie premier in Atlanta, Georgia, the "Gentlemen of the South" were honored with special seating for the movie.When I was growing up in the mid-40's, I remember seeing two Civil War Yankees in a Veterans' Day parade.I was also reminded that Gone With The Wind has held the all-time academy award records since 1939! As tough as real estate has been the last few years, it will get better, and I think Scarlett O'Hara's final words in the movie say it best, "tomorrow is another day." 12/20/2009

Shifting Sand - The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock.  After a recent challenge to read the book, SHIFT by Gary Keller, I pulled the book out of one of my drawers (where it had been sitting for approximately 9 months) and I decided to read it.  After digesting several chapters, my mind quickly wandered to my childhood years.  I was raised by a single mother, who was stricken with Multiple Sclerosis for the better part of my life.  We were poor welfare kids (and we knew it), who lived in HUD rentals, and waited in line once a month for free cheese and butter.  As a child, I remember feeling embarrassed by our unfortunate circumstances.  As an adult, I have learned from these experiences and I have gained an awesome sense of appreciation and determination to succeed. After reading t... 12/19/2009

Grants Pass Oregon - Green Power Communities.  Grants Pass Oregon is one of 10 Oregon cities that will have their holiday lighting power needs offset by renewable energy under Pacific Power's Blue Sky program.  Overall, community lighting programs are supporting about 211,000 kilowatt-hours of Blue Sky renewable energy.  That amount of emission-free power offsets more than 129 tons of carbon dioxide, which is the environmental equivalent of not driving the average car more than 260,950 miles.  More than 39,000 Northwest customers are enrolled in the program, and nearly 70,000 across the West.  Eight of the 26 "Green Power Communities" recognized by the federal Environmental Protection Agency are in Oregon. 12/18/2009

International Paper Company - Albany Oregon Loses A Landmark   I used to drive I-5 every week back in the early 70's and it's hard to imagine the drive without the huge clouds of smoke and steam from the International Paper Company in Albany. The drive was boring after leaving Salem and going south, but the paper mill always woke me back up.  Same thing going the other way. The closing of this International Paper Company plant will cost almost 300 residents their livelihood. A total of 1600 jobs in the United States are being cut by International Paper Company. Good luck to the folks in Albany, we'll all miss the plant. 12/18/2009

Crater Lake National Park - Oregon Crater Lake is about the last national park in the United States that is not having ecological problems. A big reason for that is the long period of time each year when it's mostly covered in snow. Now the promoters are pushing to have helicopter tours permitted.  I thoroughly oppose this intrusion on Crater Lake, one of our most pristine parks! Having guided helicopter tours around Crater Lake can do nothing but permanently damage the fragile ecosystem. The exhaust gasses settling into the crater would not be blown away by the winds, but would cling to the sides of the lake and settle into the water.  The damage caused by such emissions will be permanent and irreversible. Keep the choppers in places where commercialism is already running rampant! Crat... 12/18/2009

The Kim Family Tragedy - Grants Pass, Oregon.  Last weekend, Kati Kim and her two daughters revisited the Grants Pass area to pay tribute to the local folks who helped find them after they were missing in a snow storm for over a week in December 2006.  Many of you may remember the Kim family story.  Their ordeal began three years ago when a well-know San Francisco journalist, James Kim, took his family on a trip to Portland, Oregon for Thanksgiving.  Traveling back toward home (San Francisco), the Kim family got lost taking a remote road (Bear Camp Rd) from Grants Pass to the Oregon coast.   Josephine County Search and Rescue tirelessly searched for the Kim family, along with friends and other volunteers.  Kati Kim and her two daughters were discovered by helicopter pilot, John Rachor, ... 12/17/2009

It's Better To Give - Grants Pass, Oregon"It's Better To Give," so states Robert Ward, CEO and president of Home Valley Bank.They have thrown their support this holiday season behind the Josephine County Food Bank.The Home Valley Bank is accepting donations of money, food and dry goods in all of its' locations.Please support their effort.Thank you. 12/16/2009

Mount Hood Kills Again - Oregon  Here we are again with one climber dead and two missing.  Again, we mourn for the lost and pray for the rest. When is the state of Oregon going to make it illegal to climb Mount Hood without a locater device?  I don't buy the argument that having a locater device somehow lessens the adventure.  If that's the case, let those people who feel that way go endanger their lives somewhere else. Rescue teams are called out for missions on Mount Hood between twenty-five and fifty times each year.  The mountain has claimed over one hundred thirty-five lives and who knows how many that we weren't aware of? The sad truth of this is that not only do the misfortunate climbers endanger their lives, they also are putting those daring rescuers in mortal danger! If it's t... 12/16/2009

If You Build It, They Will Come - Trader Joe's in Southern Oregon.  Relentless Southern Oregonians are not giving up on having a Trader Joe's store in their neck of the woods.  More than 3,000 Facebook fans have joined the group "Southern Oregonians for a Trader Joe's" on Facebook, and are putting in their two cents desire for a Trader Joe's store in Southern Oregon.  The Facebook fan page went viral in the last few weeks, when a Facebook member, Stacie Brink of Applegate Oregon, encouraged fellow fans to comment on the Fan Page.  Without delay, Southern Oregonians for a Trader Joe's Fan Page grew to over 3,000 fans in just a few weeks.  That's one way to get the attention of Trader Joe's peeps! As a fellow fan of Trader Joe's, the attraction to the store is their unique and healthy pro... 12/16/2009