Do the Right Thing.

You are invited to a Colorado Western Real Estate Celebration!

December 14, 2007 from 6PM-9PM

421 N. Main Street, Pueblo CO 81003

In the 3rd floor Federal Room

* Food * Live Entertainment * Door Prizes *

RSVP 719 546-3700 

Hope to see you all !

This is a recipe I only make for special occasions, and I want to share it with you! Every time I make this I get rave reviews and also get asked for the recipe. It's a little unusual but people LOVE IT!! Take it to your next potluck.

In one bowl:

• 2-3 large tomatoes diced
• 1 large onion diced - I like the purple onions
• 1 bunch of cilantro chopped
• jalapenos (to taste) chopped
• 1 8oz can tomato sauce

In another bowl:

• 1 can or bag small salad shrimp chop to make bite size
• 1 jar of cocktail sauce
• 1 table spoon horseradish
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2-3 table spoons of lime juice

Chill both bowls separately then combine and chill again for 2-4 hours. Serve with chips or over your favorite foods.

As of January 1^st 2008 Realtors will be using a new buy sell contact in Colorado.

There are many changes with the new contract (Sec10,10A,10B,10C,10D,10E,10F0) but one of the most significant is the water disclosure and addendum(SWA35-8-07). The source of water must be disclosed for all residential properties. If there is a secondary source of water for something other than a residence it does not need to be disclosed.

No more will the hidden wells that people have used for years go unaccounted for if the well is the primary source of water for a residence. And if the residence has cisterns it must be disclosed and a water providers name, address, phone number and website given.

Water in the West is a very big deal. We no longer can go around using it as an unlimited resource.

Water Tip - in areas where you experience extended freezing or deep freezes disconnect hoses. Your hose may freeze and break, the faucet may freeze and interior pipes may break with ice and water backing into the house.

‘Romper Bomper, Stomper Boo. Tell me, tell me true. Magic Mirror, tell me today did all my friends have fun at play? I see Michelle and John and Bill and...oh, there you are. I've been looking for you all these years. I see YOU!"

If the above words have a ring of familiarity to them you are probably between the ages of 35 and 50. A week or so ago I was out enjoying an adult beverage with a friend who reminded me of these words. She remembers how she wished above all wishes that the magic mirror would she her. I'm just old enough to fit into this age group and old enough to have completely forgotten the TV show.

When we write a post for our blogs or write for our web pages we are not writing in a vacuum. On a social site like Active Rain we often write for the benefit of others in our field. But who else is popping in and we are unaware?

I'm constantly amazed at people I know who will out of the blue tell me they read something I wrote. A recent post about my Thanksgiving has already provoked such a conversation. And I shouldn't be amazed or confused by this, after all I am promoting my blog all the time.

I'd like to acknowledge and say hi to those who follow my posts on Active rain, my space, or Real Estate Colorado Style.

I see Zach, Penny, Paula, Shelley, Holli, Candice, Pam, Shawna, Mark, Colleen, Nancy, Bill, Marshall, Diane, Tammie, Dan, Pat, Don, Jason, the other Dan, Beth, Michelle, Lori, Jill, Larry

The best compliment I can receive is a referral. If you or somebody you know is thinking about buying or selling real estate it would be my privilege to help them with the process and work as their agent.

For anyone who has read my blog for very long knows about the family I sold a house to summer of 2007. They purchased a beautiful house on the hill on Hatchet Ranch just south of Pueblo. If you missed the other posts click here and here.

This Holiday Penny, Marshal and their family invited me to share their Thanksgiving dinner. Penny is a wonderful chef and we had a great day. But what will always stay in my mind is the very special turkey Penny cooked just for me. Thank you Chris Elizabeth for sharing your turkey recipe.

Penny and Jason with "the bird"

I haven't talked much about the fact that my brother-in-law is in Iraq right now. And to tell the truth every time I think about it, watch the news or hear about somebody dying I get upset. Fortunately, for my family Mark is scheduled to come home very soon.

Mark left his family in a nice warm home in a safe part of the world. They have plenty to eat, can go to school and spend their free time just about anyway they want. America is a great place, don't we have so much to be thankful for! But when Mark and so many others serving come back what are we going to give them?

 Just before Mark left for Iraq he lost his job. The entire time he has been away he has worried about what he is going to do to support himself and his family when he gets back. It's funny that in America a Veteran with an MBA has to worry about working. But employers aren't e-mailing, banging on the door, the phone isn't ringing.

So in this time we call Thanksgiving I'd like to suggest we really stop and think about what we have to be thankful for. And if you have the ability to help a Veteran out, offer them a job or just offer them a hand - please do so.

Things that make you go Hmmm...

Although this isn't an extensive collection I thought I'd share some things that I found strange, unusual and made me say hmmm...

(From the Pueblo MLS ) PROPERTY IS IN POOR CONDITION. COPPER PLUMBING HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM PROPERTY. PROCEED WITH CAUTION. SOLD AS-IS. (How do they know the plumbing is copper if it's been removed?)

Notice the one window?

(From the Pueblo MLS) All sizes appropriate. (Aren't they all?)

(From the Pueblo MLS) PUBLIC REMARKS: THIS HOME WILL BLOW YOUR MIND!! (Sounds dangerous! Maybe I should stay away)

"Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months" Oscar Wilde

Next time you go to look at a house and the buyers complain about the closet space thank about this:

As reported by CBC radio:

" Every year, consumers spend more than 1 Trillion dollars word-wide on clothing and other textiles. And of course, that much spending creates a huge amount of waste-cheap. readily disposable clothing that ends up in landfills even more so now thanks to the explosion of bargain outfitters like H&M, Target and Old Navy. And fashion crimes aside, that presents an enormous environmental problem..."  continued...

It's been a few years now that the Pueblo Association of Realtors decided to update the MLS service and lock box system they use. Every Realtor associated with PAR was requested to show up at the convention center at a designated time. Turn in your old key and replace it at a price for the new one. And of course the phone companies were sitting there with their smiles on their faces trying to get us to upgrade our phones.

That day I saw some of the seasoned Realtors in the area cry and heard some complain. What were they going to do? The business has changed so much! This techy stuff is to much, they were giving up. They were going to hang up their license and then what? For the younger minded Realtors who took keyboarding in college, who own the newest, latest, greatest toys - this event was great stuff! Sign'em up they wanted it all!

So time has marched on and the systems have been in place for some time now. And do you know what really happened in the face of all that change? Nothing..........

Not long ago I was out showing properties. I called ahead to show 6 houses and we caught 2 more on the fly. And everyone one of those houses had combo locks. And you know what I have on my listings? Combo locks!

So if you are thinking about upgrading to a new fancy phone here are a few things to think about:

1) Is it mandatory for your MLS?

2) Do you intend on paying for all the extras offered on the phone?

3) Do you really need to access your MLS on your phone or is it just convenient?

4) Is all the extra stuff going to cost you more from the MLS and the phone company? Double dipping?

5) Is your office going to keep an extra key for emergencies?

6) Can you really get by and do your job without a new phone? blue tooth?

7) Are you willing to replace your phone often? The blue tooths have a questionable history.

I'm not suggesting that agents not try and keep up with Technology. But if you are on a budget you maybe able to take a "wait and see" attitude.

(Consult your doctor and allergist. This is only one persons opinion and your results and opinions may be completely different.)

In the spring and in the fall my allergies kick into high gear. Although I am a big fan of trees my system feels like it's being attacked. I feel like I've got the worst of all colds, my throat swells, my eyes tear and tissue is a valuable thing to have around. When I remember to eat honey I do feel better. But the key to my success with honey is eating it constantly, year around.

If you are planning a move out of your immediate area try eating honey prior to your move. Eating local honey from the area you are moving to can help build your immune system and make your move more comfortable.

It has been found drinking four tablespoons of honey mixed into a 16-ounce glass of water improved the antioxidant levels in your blood.

Homemade Honey Recipes for Skin Care:

Puree 1 cucumber in a blender and drain away the liquid. Add 2 teaspoons of honey and mix. Apply on the face and neck area with a cotton pad. Air dry it and rinse clean.

In a blender or food processor, combine 1 peeled, cored apple with a tablespoon of honey and pulse until smooth. Apply mixture to face and allow it to stay for 15 minutes, then rinse.

Combine 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon finely-ground almonds, 2 tablespoons dry oatmeal, and some lemon juice or yogurt to a luxurious and exfoliating facial scrub. Massage mixture gently onto face, then rinse with warm water.

Mix 1/4 cup honey, 1 tablespoon liquid soap and ½ cup glycerin (found in drug stores). Apply gently on to face using a face sponge. Rinse with warm water and pat face dry.

Perhaps the easiest beauty recipe related to honey and skin care -- Add 1/4 cup of honey to your hot bath water for silky and luscious skin.

For lustrous, silky, healthy hair and scalp, simply combine ½ cup honey and 2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup olive oil. Massage scalp with this conditioner, then put on a shower cap for 30 minutes. Shampoo and rinse as usual.