Well... I think the long streak of good luck... weather-wise... has come to an end.

And... doesn't it figure that it would happen on Friday the Thirteenth ?

What am I talking about ?  Well... if you live in NorthEastern Ohio, and just look out the window, you will know very quickly.  I was hoping for a miracle this year.  Is it too much to ask ?

It's on the way.  It's coming.  Part of it is here... and there is much more to come, I am sure.  And, with it this cold, some of it may turn to ice before it ends up melting.

SNOW !

And here I was hoping that we could get through the entire winter without having to really deal with it.  All that shovelling, all that mess, and tracking it all through the house.  Oh yes... then then there's watching my puppies track the stuff back in.

Awwww... come on, Global Warming.  Where are you when I need do.  Hey Al !  Al Gore !  What's the deal ?  Sniffle, sniffle, sniffle.

It almost seems like it was just last week.  Or maybe even just last month.

You know.  You remember it well.  All that SNOW !

Here in Mentor, Ohio we had snow just about up to our eyeballs.  Okay... you really had to be a "short person" to actually have the snow be even close to your eyeballs... but we really DID have lots and lots of snow last winter.

During those snowy times last year, I was lucky enough to be able to bring in some firewood from the garage, and get a roaring, toasty-warm fire going for me and my puppies... CiCi and Winston.

I'd sit in my favorite chair, with my favorite winter quilt or afghan on my lap, and my puppies on my lap right on top of the afghan.  Sometimes when it was extra snowy, they even wanted to get under "my blankie..." but that was rare.

My point here IS... so many of the homes in Mentor, Ohio have fireplaces.  And I don't mean those hokey metal-box fireplaces that are so small you have to pick and choose the logs you bring in... so they'll fit.

But yes... so many of the homes that are available on the market right now DO have fireplaces.

So, if you are in your apartment... just like you were during last winter, and the winter before, and the winter before that... we need to get together.  With a little notice, I am sure I can set aside a time when we can get together.  Before winter sets in... don't you think it's about time that you decided to spend this coming winter in a warm, toasty home... in front of your very own fireplace ?

We can do that.  Just give Carolyn Kolba (that's me...) a call at (440) 567-7211... and let's go find you a home with a fireplace.  Just think how glad you'll be when the snow gets so high it's up to your eye-balls !

I want to share with you an absolutely beautiful home I am marketing for my sellers.  It's located at 1164 Waterfront Place, Painesville Township, Ohio   44077.  It's in a lovely area of Painesville Township, and used to be a former New Home Builder's Model Home.

I just love the colors on the outside... so "homey" looking.  This two-story colonial is approximately 2512 sq ft in size... and is being marketed for $325,000.

When the home was the builder's model... it, of course, was loaded with many of the builder's extras and optional features.

Once my folks moved in... they added some additional features that made the home even more awesome than it was as a builder's model.  The home looks so great, you might think the sellers were also professional home stagers... it came out so nice.

The home features granite counter tops, ceramic tile floors... and newer stainless steel appliances.  The remainder of the first level flooring is all beautiful hardwood flooring.

The first floor Family Room/Great Room has an awesome fireplace... with a stain-grade wood mantle and surround, and ceramic tile facing and hearth.

The 1st floor utility room has newer appliances which are included.  There are custom window treatments throughout which are also staying with the home.  Just off the foyer is a first floor home office... just perfect for anyone who does a lot of working from home.  If you spend a lot of time online... it is so cool to have one room where everything you need... is right there.

Outside... there's some really great landscaping.  There's also a rear patio, a full sprinkler system, and additional custom outside lighting.  (Remember... it used to be a model home !)

As the address implies, it's just a short walk to the beach.  How cool to sit under the pavilion and watch the waves roll in... or watch the kids playing on the playground.

I'm getting kind of "wordy" here... but I could just go on and on.  Obviously the best thing to do is give me a call... Carolyn Kolba... at 440-567-7211.  I would love to set aside a time where we could get together and see the home.

I just read a post by a home inspector about the perils of finding a home that had the hot and cold water lines reversed.

It reminded me of something I remembered from long, long ago.

I had sold a new home to a very nice young couple.  They moved in... and were getting all settled... when the wife's mother offered to come and spend some time with them... about a week in all... helping them get all unpacked, and all organized.

All was going well... until one night... very late at night... when the visiting wife's mom had to use the guest's hall bathroom.

Unbeknown to her... two events had proceeded her visit that night to the guest bathroom.

First... as is typical... the hubby had used that bathroom earlier that night... and of course, he left the commode lid UP.

Secondly... when the home was built... the builder had inadvertently reversed the hot and cold water lines in that guest bath.  This of course meant that the sink faucets had hot water from the cold faucet, and cold water from the hot faucet.

Unfortunately... it also meant that the hot water was hooked up to the commode.

So... that night... "Mom"... being half asleep... wandered down the hallway, and into the guest bath... and sat down on the commode.  Yes... she sat down on the commode, which had the lid in the upright position.

I was told that the screams could be heard for miles.

I haven't been on Active Rain for all that long.  And lately, I have been trying to be more active.  I have not written as many posts as I need to, but I am working on it.

But what I HAVE been doing... is commenting more often.  And lately, a lot more often.  I'm finally getting to feel more comfortable with all this "blogging stuff."

Well... I had written a little blog post about a property I had up for sale... Privacy Plus and Low-Maintenance Living in Painesville, Ohio.  It's a cute little house, and I thought the post came out fairly well.

But !  It just sat there.  No comments.  Not a peep.

I had included it in the five groups I know I am supposed to... but still no comments.  But then today, I found THREE comments there.  Yes... One, Two and Three !

I was so excited.  Activity !  My poor little house in my poor little post was no longer an orphan.  I very quickly wrote a reply comment to each of those who commented... and then wondered to myself... "Hmmm... why now ?  Why, after eight days of my poor little post sitting there with nothing... why now ?"

And then I remembered.  So I looked at the list of the comments I had made recently, and YES... wouldn't you know it.  Over the past few days... I had commented on a post written by EACH of those who commented on my post.  They were posts written by Active Rainers Don Sabinske, Michele Cadogan, and Diane M. Phillips.

So, here's to all three of you, Don, Michelle and Diane.  Thanks so much for coming over to my post and making a comment.  My poor little post has been here... all by its little ol' self... alone and "comment'less."  It feels so good no longer being an "orphan post."

And to all my fellow and sister Active Rainers... the Active Rain principle of "Reciprocity" really does work. 

So if you are concerned that some of YOUR posts aren't getting very many comments... you might try "upping" the number of comments YOU make on the posts other Rainers write.  If you can do that... don't be surprised if you start seeing those same people commenting back on YOUR posts.

Reciprocity Works !

This really great home in Painesville is one that I am so excited about.  I am marketing it for the sellers, who are, of course, also very excited.

It's really sharp... kind of cape-cod'ish looking from the outside.... with lots of city charm !  It's three years old, and although it is a single, detached home, it is technically termed a "ranch condo."  Don't you just LOVE that three-sided bay window in the front?

It has an over-sized garage... the builder called it a two-and-one-half car garage... but where you'll get another half-car to put in there... I don't know.  So... I am guessing it would be perfect for a whole bunch of storage.

Having a home in such a nice quiet area, and being on a cul-de-sac... and all those trees... means lots and lots of privacy.  There are lots of trees all around the neighborhood.  Full sidewalks, of course, and all front-entry garages.

Although there are many really cool features in this home, the kitchen is one of my favorites.  Just oodles of cabinets, a really great gas range, hard-surface counter tops, and a range vent-a-hood.  All the appliances remain.

The laundry room is spacious, and included a full-sized washer and dryer, and extra cabinets for even more storage.  The landscaping is beautiful, and the maintenance fee of $115 per month is considered low.  It has central air, of course, and a nice private rear patio that overlooks a wooded area.

For your very own personal tour... please give Carolyn Kolba a call at my direct number... 440-567-7211.  I think you will be very pleased at how much low-maintenance home you can get for such a teeny price.

Oh, I just know he's gonna see his shadow.  And I know if Mr or Ms GroundHog does... that it's gonna mean six more weeks of THIS !  I don't know about you, but I have had just about as much of this kind of fun and any sane person could ever want or need.

Therefore... I am going to suggest that everyone on Active Rain who agrees with me... make sure you have some candles ready to light tomorrow, Monday, February 1st.  The next day... as you probably know... is GroundHog Day.

How about you ?  Have you had enough snow for this year yet ?  Mentor, Ohio is just east of Cleveland, and we get a lot of what we call "lake effect snow."  And this year, for some reason... we have had a lot of it.

So... get those candles lit tomorrow, puhleeze.  And puhleeze Mr or Ms GroundHog.  Take it easy on us...

Oh, what oh what is a girl supposed to do ?  This is typical of what I have been so used to seeing over the past month or six weeks here in the beautiful city and countryside in Mentor, Ohio.

The leaves have been just gorgeous.  The trees... just brilliant with the changing of the leaves... well... it could not have been prettier if it had been painted by an artist.

But, then again... it HAS been painted by one of my all-time favorite artists... Mother Nature !  She uses such beautiful colors.

The last six weeks or so has been such a great time to take walks... again, both in the neighborhood here in Mentor, and all around the beautiful countryside here in NorthEastern Ohio.

Such beauty is so hard to say good-bye to.  But it appears that I may have to be using sad words of farewell to these beautiful colors all too soon.

It appears that Mother Nature is up to her old tricks again.  Last weekend was Halloween, and it was so great seeing all the cute little neighborhood kids... and some of the bigger "kids" as well... all decked out in their costumes.

Door to door they went... with their yearly chants of "Trick or Treat."

From what I have been hearing on the local TV and Radio weather forecasts, however, it sounds like Mother Nature is going to be taking away her treats, and playing some of her at times cold-natured tricks on us.

Would you believe it ?  The local weather guys and chicks are telling us there is actually a chance that it could SNOW this weekend.

I have checked some of the weather history around Mentor for previous years.  And of course, that nasty old "lake effect" may just sneak up on us... and drop a nice heavy, wet blanket of this stuff they call "snow" on us. 

I really do NOT want to spend part of my days tomorrow or Sunday clearing away the snow... even IF I get an extra hour of time... (which I was hoping to spend sleeping).

I know Active Rain covers all different parts of our beautiful country.  Has anyone else felt Mother Nature threatening to wave her Icy Fingers your way yet ?  Just curious as to if I am going to be the only one shivering when I thought I would be raking leaves.

I have a confession to make.

I know this is going to sound silly, but I contend with it every day when I sign on to Active Rain.

I guess I could be called what some of my friends at RE/MAX call "balloon heads."

I have heard others call those of us who look like this... members of the Blue Man Group.

I am even considering going to my dermatologist to see if perhaps, without knowing it, I have developed some sort of "skin condition."

So yes, I guess I AM... a balloon head.  And yes, I guess I DO belong to the Blue Chick Group.

Oh... the shame of it all.  Ostracized everywhere I go.  I went to Dillards the other day... and I guess I got just a little too close to the Clinique counter.  Some of the girls... you know, those pretty young things in those cute white lab-coat dresses... I just knew they were talking about me.

And yes... I guess... just from looking at my photo, I guess I DO need a make-over.  I stopped, bought some new foundation, some eye-liner, and even some blush.  They even applied it for me... sort of a mini-make-over.

Then... back to the office... revved up the computer... and there I was again.  Faceless.  Hmmm... this just hit me now.  Can I even BE on Facebook... if I don't have a "face ?"

What a scary thought.  Any ideas on how I can fix this, or perhaps who I should go to for a better make-over... I would love to hear about it.

Perhaps if I went to Nordstrom.  I hear they do great "make-overs."

I was looking through the available homes today.  I have a buyer who is very "kitchen conscious."  I guess you could easily say that having a nice spacious kitchen is one of her top "hot buttons."

So you can just imagine how "up" I felt when I read in the comments... all about the "gourmet kitchen" with all the 42-inch hanging cabinets, the oodles of counter space, and the over-sized gourmet food-prep island.

If you can imagine all of that... you can then probably imagine how UN-excited I was when I saw the actual picture of this wonderful, spacious gourmet kitchen.  And... just as was written... it has its very own "over-sized gourmet food-prep island."

Ummmm... anybody see an island here ?  I think there's one her somewhere.  I am guessing that neither this Listing Agent nor this seller... used the services of a home stager in preparing to market this home.

So, just how quickly would you jump to your computer keyboard to email this lovely picture to your ready-to-buy buyer ?  What were they thinking ?

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Please give me a call... Carolyn Kolba... at Prudential Select Properties in Mentor, and Let my put my Marketing Magic to work for you.  I have seen some really nice homes up for sale recently, and I'd love to show them to you.  I can best be reached at 440-567-7211.  Let's see what we can do to start Making your New Home Dreams Come True.