This is my morning in Allyn, Washington. Even a picture has a hard time relaying just what I feel when I get to wake up to this. Believe me it is more impressive in person. To watch as the sun glides above Mt. Rainier, and glows over Case Inlet- casting all of the colors of the rainbow as the day unveils all it has to offer. I am in awe. 01/07/2009

There have been many changes to the world as we know it. Who would have thought 20+ years ago, as a fresh new agent using only a worn out MLS book and a machine using thin rolled paper, that I would even be writing a post, on a laptop computer, on the world wide web, and all of you would be able to respond to what was written within minutes... from anywhere on the planet! In our Business changes are inevitable and constant, and technology seems to be picking up speed once again. I feel fortunate to be able to utilize the latest and greatest thanks to the younger generation joining our ranks. Sometimes it can be overwhelming- the amount of information that we have to navigate through just to keep up with what is current and useful today. I applaud all of you in the Real Estate field who ... 01/07/2009

A warm summers day and clouds are driftin by. You fire up the BBQ and listen as the tender cuts of meat are grilled to perfection. You sip from your icy cold mug, and breath in the scent of the freshly cut greens. A thunk is heard as a white ball zings through the air reaching for it's intended target... Great Shot,I think he made it in. The warm breeze reminds you it is time to check the grill. Humming and looking for... "my Lost Shaker of Salt." Summer belongs to LakeLand Village- Golf Course living in Allyn, Washington. 01/05/2009

After three snowy weeks of Winters Fury we are still working at digging our way out. Snows such as this are not common in Allyn, Washington. We set at sea level! We are all enjoying the rare icy flakes of white, and will enjoy it even more the day they melt away- but one good thing has come from it all...Good Friendships. We have had time to all sit back and relax, enjoy the holidays, have a hearty bowl of chilli, a nip of Irish whiskey, take a wintry walk, dine on lobster and a glass or two of chilled Pouilly-Fuisse'... and see our world from a whole new perspective. While some of this time has been spent digging out an unlucky neighbor's car,bribing the kids to go to the store, or wishing we had snow shoes to check the mail. We have taken the time to get to know one another. Spring w... 01/05/2009

History is all around us. Sometimes we get curious as to why things are the way they are. For instance I was searching today on-line for some information on the quiet little town of Allyn, Washington, when I ran across a trivia question. Who or what was Allyn, Washington named for? After some research I found the answer... "The community was first settled in 1853. The town was platted and papers to form the town were filed on September 6th, 1889.  The Town was named in honor of Judge Frank Allyn of Tacoma who was influential in the early development of Allyn. Rumor has it though, that he never actually lived or visited Allyn. By 1890 Allyn had a post office, school, newspaper, sawmill, two saloons, a hotel and wharf. For a small rural community, Allyn has an interesting and colorful his... 01/05/2009

Calling all mermaids, men in business suites, and those who have not figured out it is FREEZING! It is time once again to take the Polar Plunge into the icy waters of Case Inlet in Allyn Washington.The plunge will take place on January 24th at 8:30 am. This annual event benefits the Boys and Girls club of Mason County. The Boys and Girls club offers many safe opportunities for kids do do fun supervised activities outside of school. It is a great place to be and this is a great event to support. I have to say raising over $15,000  last year to watch these crazy people dive into frigid waters was worth every penny! With your support we can watch them do it all over again this year, and give the kids a great place to hang out at the same time. For more information click on this blue link. 01/03/2009

The shadowy night is drifting in, and the air is crisp and mellow. A sparkling fire warms.The crescent moon above glows down on the quiet streets of Allyn below. Gentle waters swallow the pebbled shore. Clouds drift and swirl, only to hide behind the whispering stars.Telling their secrets as the years of time carefully unroll. I gather my thought into a pile- and in thinking of them...SMILE. 01/03/2009

I love showing property to Buyers, and working with sellers to market their homes. Both processes involve a lot of knowledge of the market, and research to make certain that you are doing your best for your client. I love what I do. One of the most enjoyable parts of my job is answering questions. I love it when my clients get engaged in the process and ask me to explain what is going on and why.I feel that informed clients make the best decisions. They also have reasoning not emotions backing the choices they make. The best thing I can do when proceeding through a transaction is to give the best information available to those I am working with so they can have the best possible out come.The more questions they ask... the more I know that we are working as a team, and we are all going t... 01/03/2009

I just wanted to share with you that one of my favorite bloggers Valerie Spaulding of Windermere Peninsula Properties has just posted her 99. That means that 100 is just around the corner. I know we are all waiting with baited breath as to what she will post, but we all know it is going to be great! So here is to your 99 Val and to many, many more! 01/02/2009

There are other pictures I could have included on this post, but I did not know if they were entirely appropriate considering the absolute rage she was in at the time. I feel that this one is incriminating enough on it's own. This is Esme and she will not have this opportunity as of tomorrow morning, until next year. I think I might just need to buy some tinsel for temptation on our 2009 tree. 01/01/2009

  Okay so we all have a little issue with the '08' market. But...I thought we all had a great year together. I would do it all again, (but make more money this time.) I know it is not Thanks Giving, but I am so grateful for the people I work with and the choices to be where I am. This year was a pivot point in my life and I am glad for every part of it. Some of the choices I made were challenging and others were a fortunate fluke. Living moment to moment sometimes you do not see all of the good when around you everyone is talking about the bad.I will remember '08' as a special year.   I have a great network of people from family to friends who support me and my decisions When I am down, I can always look up I can accomplish anything I set my mind too. I found all of you here on Active R... 12/31/2008

This was the slogan the Washington State Patrol used one year to combat drinking and driving. The adds were everywhere! From the radio,and TV to billboards and magazines.It was a good message, and it really got through to people. This included my sweet little daughter Megan. If you read my last post you were would remember her as the 5 year old anti- fur activist. This was a new year, a holiday gathering on the horizon and another opportunity to mess with mom.We had just sat down to our special dinner with friends and family we don't often see. You know the drill... all of us talking and getting caught up on the previous year, only to suddenly become quiet so grace can be said. This was Megan's moment. Days of shopping and Mom  drinking her tasty espresso's in the car had put Megan over... 12/26/2008

This picture might seem strange after you read the title of my post, but I assure you it is not. This Picture reminds me of Christmas 2001. My daughter Megan was 5, and she was beginning to show interest in what we were watching on the news. As is common during the Holidays, women have been seen wearing fluffy fur coats in the chilly weather. Then there is always someone who thinks it would be a good idea if they painted the coat red to prove a point, and the media is there to lap up every morsel of the story.We turned the channel to spare her any gory details they may want to show.  Later that day family began to show up for our celebration and we were all sharing good thoughts for the year ahead, and what we had been grateful for during the year that was passing. This is when Megan to... 12/26/2008

The last few days have been a little crazy... Thank God! I am not referring to the holidays either, I am talking about Buyers! On December 23rd I had two past clients contact me to buy a home. Three days before that we had a new listing want to come on. We also showed a house this summer that wants to list with our team now. I have another Seller that sold this summer looking for investment property, and two other buyers that say they are looking to purchase this spring. Things are looking up, and I thought maybe you all would like to hear some good market news for a change. The funny thing is... now I am concerned that my buyers may get beat out of a home if they do not get busy writing offers. If I have Buyers so do others. We may be seeing the beginning of a market shift. 12/26/2008

It's finally here - Christmas Eve - the prelude to the celebration of Christmas. It is awesome to know that all of my Christmas wishes have already all come true! They are the best presents anyone could ever receive. 1) My daughter home from college 2) My son graduated on 12/20/08 and now officially Dr. Sean Spaulding, Doctor of Chiropractic 3) My son home for Christmas safely in that little car of his. 4) The rest of my family and friends safe and snug in their homes as well 5) A White Christmas 6) All of us in good health (except for a few creaky old bones).  I hope that each and everyone have all your dreams and wishes come true. I know that I have many dreams and goals for the year 2009 and I hope you do as well and I wish each and everyone of you success, peace, health and happine... 12/24/2008

This year the favorite Northwest song is wrong. It is white. Very White. White White White White WHITE! The last white Christmas Ican remember I was in WinterHaven, Florida. I was 15, alone, and I missed my family. There were people there that I knew, but not having my family there that year left a empty feeling that made it feel as though Christmas had not happened that year. I think about that Christmas every year, and I wish I had stayed in touch with everyone. We had have a good time even if some of it was at my expense. My friend Kate had been raised on a farm, and nothing seemed to get to her. I was a little different, and she thought that was funny. In fact now I do not eat meat at all. Some of that may be do to the Christmas dinner that Kate and I shared just before she grabbed ... 12/24/2008

This picture was taken in Allyn, Washington, and is a view of Case Inlet, also known as North Bay. Allyn is a unique little town where everyone knows your name.Most of the residents live on the hill above the bay in the golf course and lake community of LakeLand Village. A friendly smile and a wave are common place here. Right now we have a lot of snow, but this picture depicts a typical winter day. Feel free to stop by and visit us sometime. 12/23/2008

What is next is purely up to us. With a new year fast approaching- it is a good time to plan for what lies ahead. What ever that maybe it is entirely up to us how we use it. We can choose to hide in fear of the possible outcomes, or we can embrace the opportunities as they present themselves. Everyday will be different from the last, and our past experiences will be a great guide, but in the end- it is what you make of every moment, and how they add up along with the next that will choose your destiny.       12/23/2008

One of my favorite things to do in the Northwest is Sail. I go every chance I get. Some days the waters are still and peaceful, and others are quite the opposite, but all are an adventure. Living on the Peninsula, sailing opportunities abound. Deep blue waters of the Northwest Carved from great glaciers A place to sail free Where is your favorite Northwest destination? 12/23/2008

Over the years many gifts have been given. Some are expensive, some are thoughtful, but the best ones tend to be the ones that you remember. The ones that include laughing with the family, a favorite game played late into the night, or a snowman that got the whole family finding carrot noses, and mittens, while the stronger ones hoisted up the next piece, and put it carefully into place. This year while many of us are trying to keep an eye on our budget- keep in mind that the gifts that matter most, that never grow old, or worn, are the gifts we give of ourselves... when we spend time together.     12/23/2008