I was reading an article today that talked about the new trend in home sizes.  I was very surprised to read that bigger is not always better, and the newest trend is for smaller homes.  The average size of new houses being started in the third quarter of 2008 was 2,438 square feet, down from 2,629 square feet just a quarter before.  Buyers are not so much feeling the need to down-size, as much as they want to "right size."  They are giving up unused spaces and wanting homes that better fit their needs.  Buyers are wanting what they call "Wii-sized spaces" - family rooms that are flexible enough to accommodate lots of family activities, including room to play the all popular Wii.    Buyers are looking for affordable prices, natural light and comfortable gathering areas.  Some other tr... 01/31/2009

        Happy Friday to all! I hope everyone is having a wonderful day!  The sun is out in my little corner of the world, so it makes it just perfect! Here is my selection of quotes for this week.  See ya next Friday. ..geri ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   When you look like your passport photo, it is time to go home.     -Erma Bombeck       Sometimes success is due less to ability than to zeal.  -Charles Buxton       We all need lots of powerful long-range goals to help us past the short-term obstacles.  -Jim Rohn       We are told to never cross a bridge until we come to it, but this world is owned by men who have "crossed bridges" in their imagination far ahead of the crowd.    -Unknown   01/30/2009

                                                                                       Happy Friday to all!  I hope your day is going well. Here is my selection of quotes for this week.  Enjoy! See ya next Friday.   ...geri  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants from life is often merely the will to try and the faith to believe that it is possible.     -Richard M. Devos       Learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want.    -Jim Rohn       Only those who dare to fail greatly can achieve greatly.   -Robert F. Kennedy       We find by losing.  We hold fast by letting go.  We become something new by ceasing to be something old.   -Frederick Buechner 01/23/2009

                                                                                   Happy Friday to all!  I hope your week is wrapping up nicely!    Here is my selections of quotes for the week.  I hope you are inspired :)   Have a wonderful day and I will see you next Friday!   ...geri  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths;  feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.    -William Arthur Ward       It is better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life.  -Elizabeth Kenny       A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.  -St. Francis of Assisi       As one goes through life... 01/16/2009

  THE CITY OF COVINGTON ROAD CLOSURE The City of Covington has announced the closure of a portion of SE 240th Streets - between 192nd Place SE and 193rd Place SE. The City states that they have closed the road due to flood damage and they have pictures on their website, just follow this link....  see pictures.  They state the road closure will remain in effect until further notice.  At this time, all other roads in the City of Covington are open. We certainly have had a crazy winter so far.  What will be in store for us next?     01/13/2009

  2008 has come to a close and I don't many in the Real Estate Industry that aren't glad to usher it out the door and greatly welcome in 2009!  2008 was certainly not a banner year for the industry, but as always, where tough times exist opportunity abounds. By the end of 2008 we have seen our equity slide off about 10%.  But after several years of 10+% gains, most home owners still have a nice nest egg in their house and Seattle is weathering the storm well comapred to much of the nation.  For December, 2008 closed sales, the median home price in King County was $370,700.  It was $307,000 in Snohomish County and $235,000 in Pierce County.  For sellers, the current market demands a disciplined and realistic approach to pricing.  Homes that are priced agressively are selling, but over p... 01/11/2009

    Happy Friday to all!   Wow, hard to believe another week has come and gone already!  Have a nice weekend and here are my quotes to share for the week.   ...geri     Failure is only the opportunity to more intelligently begin again.   -Henry Ford     If you look at zero you see nothing; but look through it and you will see the world.   -Robert Kaplan     We never know the timber of a mans soul until something cuts into him deeply and brings the grain out strong.      -Gene Stratton Porter     Exert control over the variables that are within your control and you'll improve the odds that the uncontrollable variables will work in your favor.     -D.A. Benton     Life should be a source of experience to be lived up to, not survived through.   -Unknown         01/09/2009

        HAPPY NEW YEAR!  It is hard to believe that the holidays are just about behind us now.  They do go fast! Ours have been extra special, as our daughter and her fiance have been here with us for several weeks.   I hope you too had a good holiday season! Here is my selection of quotes for this week.  ENJOY!  And I will see you next Friday. ...geri           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   It's not that some people have willpower and others do not.  It's that some people are ready to change and others are not.     - James Gordeon (Medical Doctor)       The ultimate reason for setting goals is to entice you to become the person it takes to achieve them.         -Jim Rohn       Define your future by your dreams and not by your memories, by you... 01/02/2009

    At our house we had a WHITE CHRISTMAS!  Wow, it has brought new meaning to the song...   Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!! I hope the holidays have been nice for you and yours! Here is my selection of quotes for the week.  Enjoy, and I will see you next week :) ...geri   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   Happy is the person who knows what to remember of the past, what to enjoy in the present, and what to plan for in the future.     -Arnold H. Glasgow       In prosperity, our friends know us.  In adversity, we know our friends.     -John Churton Collins       Embrace your uniqueness.  Time is much to short to be living someone else's life.     -Kobi Yamada   The beaten path is safest, but the traffic's terrible.     -Jeff Taylor 12/25/2008

The question that will be on the minds and lips of all kids tomorrow night is where is Santa?  Is he here yet, is he close?  I remember when I was little and how exciting Christmas eve was.  And then when our daughter was young, we got to enjoy the excitement all over again through her.  But she was little in the 90's when technology was booming.  So we watched and waited for Santa a bit differently than when I was young.  We watched his travels on the internet! We discovered the Norad Santa tracker and were able to keep tabs on the jolly old man all night long as he traveled around the world bringing presents to all the good little girls and boys. According to Wikipedia, this is how it all began... In 1955 there was a Sears store that ran an ad encouraging children to call Santa on Chr... 12/23/2008

Wow, here we are bracing for yet another round of winter weather!  The forecast is looking ominous...  will ALL that they are predicting come true? As the storm approaches, it is best to be ready.  If it fizzles out, no harm done, but if we do find ourselves without power then it is better to be ready than fumbling around in the dark wondering where we last saw the flashlight.  And upon finding it realizing we have no batteries! The City of Covington is encouraging residents to prepare for the worst.  They are reminding us to have our personal/family emergency plans ready.  This should include food, water, alternative shelter, a land-line phone, transistor/battery operated radio, flashlights and other tools that can help respond to an emergency.  They are suggesting that you have suppl... 12/20/2008

    Wow, another week has some and gone, and what a week it has been here in the great Pacific Northwest.  We have had wave, after wave of snow and cold air blow through these parts. Now if that doesn't get you in the holiday mood, what will?  :)  :)  :) Have a wonderful week and I will see y'all again next Friday. Happy Holidays! ...geri           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If human beings are perceived as potentials rather than problems, As possessing strengths instead of weaknesses, As unlimited rather than dull and unresponsive, Then they thrive and grow to their capabilities.    -Barbara Bush       Two little words that can make the difference:  START NOW     -Mary C. Crowley       A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but ... 12/19/2008

    I got an email today and it was from, well.. ME! But the kicker is that it was from me from last year - how cool is that!   Several years ago I happened upon a website that you can send yourself an email in the future. So I did it. And every year during the holidays I get an email from myself. Of course, from year to year I always forget - so it is always a great surprise.   I thought you might want to send yourself an email - or those of you with kids might want to let them know about it. They might get a kick out of getting an email, from themselves, from the past.   Here is the link to the site.   http://http//www.futureme.org/   It is pretty simple to use, so go check it out and enjoy!   And maybe at some point in the future, you can say "I've got mail - from me!!"       12/18/2008

        Well, the title says it all. I just love Christmas. December is my favorite month of the year. I love the lights, the carols, the baking, the shopping and wrapping! And for those of you who love this time of year as much I do, I have a website for you to check out. It is called Santa Clause and Christmas at the North Pole. It is really for kids, but let's be honest - are we not all kids at Christmas.     There are games you can play, stories you can read, pages you can print off to color, recipes, and even a question and answer section. You know, things like, "What if there is no chimney????" Whew, for those of you with no chimney you will be glad to know that Santa's answer was: If a house does not have a chimney, then Santa uses some of his magic dust to make a chimney appear.... 12/14/2008

    Wow,  it is hard to believe that another week is drawing to a close.  I hope everyone's week has been splendid.  Here is my selection of quotes for the week. Enjoy!!  And I will see you again next week. ...geri       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.      -Booker T. Washington     Sow an act, and you reap a habit.  Sow a habit, and you reap a character.  Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.     - Charles Reade      And these my husband found in the paper, shared them with me and I would like to share them with you...   1.  You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.   2.... 12/12/2008

Over the past few months, many of you have started checking out my blog each week, to see my "Weekly Words of Wisdom."  But if you missed my first post you may not know how it all began, so here it is again. Enjoy, and I will see you again at the end of the week.  ...geri Weekly Words of Wisdom For as long as I can remember, my daughter and I have both loved quotes.  We have often given each other books of quotes for birthday or holiday presents.  And it is not uncommon to see our favorites pasted about our personal spaces. When my daughter got ready to head off to college I thought it would be fun to email her quotes every week.  I thought this would be a good way to stay in touch, now that we wouldn't be living under the same roof, and let's be honest...  it was a great way for "MOM" ... 12/07/2008

  Happy Holidays! One of my favorite things about the holidays is all the traditions that abound.  There are trees to be decorated, that favorite album to be played, cookies to be baked, stockings to be hung...  There are traditions that go back to our childhood or ones that we have made as the years have progressed.     Our family is no different.  We have many things that are "must do's" during the holiday season and I would like to share one with you. This tradition is fairly new for us, but one I am pretty sure will be with us for years to come.  Several years ago our daughter introduced us to an group of musical performers called The Coats.  She had heard them at an event while she was attending P.L.U. and she immediately fell in love with their amazing harmonies.  According to th... 12/07/2008

      Wow, another week has come and gone.  Here are my quotes for the week, enjoy!!  Have a great weekend and I will see you next week.   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.   -Ovid        When solving problems, dig at the roots instead of just hacking at the leaves.    -Anthony J. D'Angelo   Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.     -Nelson Mandela   Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.           -Frank Outlaw   12/05/2008

The holidays are not kicking into full swing, and the City of Covington is ready!  This year they will be presenting a two day holiday extravaganza called Covington Holydaze.  The two day event is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Covington.  It takes place December 5th and 6th and it looks like there is sure to be fun for all.     DECEMBER 5th Event: Covington Holiday Bazaar Place: Covington City Hall Time: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm Event: Family Night at the Library Place: Covington Library Time: 6:00 pm to 6:45 pm Event: Holiday Tree Lighting Place: Roundabout Near Fred Meyer Time: About 7:30 pm                                                                             DECEMBER 6th Saturday, December 6th Event: Santa Breakfast Place: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Time: 9:00 am or 1... 11/30/2008

    Thanksgiving is over and the holidays are officially in full swing.  I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend, and that you have been able to spend time with family and friends and eat some amazing food.  If you are shopping today may you find some amazing bargains. For me...  I will be home decorating the house.  :)  :) :)   Here are my quotes for the week.  Have a wonderful day and I will see you next Friday. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Praise and blame, gain and loss, pleasure and sorrow come and go like the wind.  To be happy, rest like a giant tree in the midst of them all.    -Buddha   In three words I can sum up everything I have learned about life:  It goes on.                                       -Robert Frost   "New" doesn't equ... 11/28/2008