Grandma and Grandpa from a childs eyes. - 09/10/09 06:33 PM

Grandparents: 1. She  was in the bathroom, putting on her makeup, under the watchful eyes of her young granddaughter, as she'd done many times before. After she applied her lipstick and started to leave, the  little one said, "But Gramma, you forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye!"I will probably never put lipstick on again without thinking about kissing the toilet paper good-bye....
2. My young grandson called the other day to wish me Happy Birthday. He asked me how old I was, and I told him, 62. Mygrandson was quiet for a moment, and then he asked, "Did you start at … (14 comments)

Host a Creek Clean up - 09/09/09 07:34 AM
Here is a great idea,  with the weather cooling now and the days still long enough to enjoy the outdoors, try this with friends and co workers to help Keep Austin Beautiful and feel like you have really accomplished something for your community.
HOSTING A CREEK CLEANUP is a great way to give back to the community where you live and enjoy all the great outdoor events.   Is the creek you love filled with beer cans and six-pack rings? All you have to do is gather some friends to clean it up, and Keep Austin Beautiful and Watershed Protection and … (9 comments)

Hearing? Listening? There is a Difference - 09/08/09 07:52 AM
Hearing me? Listening? There is a difference

Yesterday we stopped at a fast food to get a snack and something cold to drink on our way home from picking up a mare, we had been out for all afternoon and it was at least an hour home so everyone was hot and a bit hungry.  My daughterand two of my grandsons the 5yr old and the 11 yr old and me.  The kids were being entertained by the DVD (what a great invention) so back to the fast food place.

Since we had the truck and horsetrailer its not … (13 comments)

A Shameless Plug for the new Group SHAMELESS PLUG - 09/07/09 08:38 AM
After posting to various groups about local businesses and activities and events I thought it would be a fun idea to have all those in one area, besides of course Localism. 
     http://activerain.com/groups/shamelessplugs
 
When you post to Localism its wonderful and is directed to your state, county, city and community. What about also posting those great bragging reports into a group that will easily be found by the Public, Realtors, Mortgage folks, Inspectors, Appraisers and anyone else interested.
Maybe someone is going to be traveling and you have a good local cafe, that post could easily be found in the … (7 comments)

We need a PHOTO LOGO for the new Group SHAMELESS PLUGS - 09/06/09 10:23 AM
We need a PHOTO LOGO for the new Group SHAMELESS PLUGS
If anyone has a good idea or photo for our new group, SHAMELESS PLUGS please do submit it to me and I will add it.  Or if ya'll would like to submit and make a contest we can decide next Sunday, Sept 13,2009, which one has the most votes on it?  
Just submit the photo or logo in a post and lets see what happens.  I think the name is descriptive enough that you will have many many ideas ..  I will be looking for participation from many of … (2 comments)

announcing the Shameless Plugs for everyone, a NEW GROUP - 09/06/09 09:44 AM
Announcing a new group here for all to use in Active Rain,  SHAMELESS PLUGS, please join me in adding your favorite and newly found businesses, referrals, and any person who delivers what they say they will, and often exceeds your expectation of Customer Service.
We all know how easy it is to "trash talk"  now lets all work on the positive side and bring it out to others, did a business or a service person go above what you expected? In this day and age of a falling off of Customer Service its time to celebrate those who remember what real … (13 comments)

LongHorn Football is on Paid Service Only? - 09/05/09 07:34 PM
Longhorn Football is on Paid Service Only.This stinks.  I have been a University of Texas at Austin Longhorns Football team fan since my youngest grandson could say, HOOK EM  Gran!That a few years ago.  Last fall I heard about this was going to happen, but ya know sometimes one just has to see it happen before they believe it.  In this case that is true.  First UT Longhorn Game is tonight, kickoff was at 6PM .. what am I watching on the Television?  Alabama vs Virginia Tech.  Not to say its not a great game, I'm sure it will be but … (9 comments)

Ban Texting when Driving in Austin - 09/05/09 07:21 PM
Texting while Driving IS A NO NO The City of Austin has an Ordinance with a  new proposal to ban TEXTING while driving. The Austin Business Journal of Friday Sept 4,2009 carried an article about the proposed ban along with an informal poll of 1,048 votes in the poll. 56% voted to ban texting while driving,  while another 29 percent said the use of cell phones should be banned altogether. Only 15 percent said the city should not ban texting while driving.It is expected the Ordinance will come before the City Council this fall for confirmation.  Recently it was in the … (10 comments)

A shameless Plug for Aspen Tree Service and Landscaping - 09/05/09 06:53 PM
This is a Shameless Plug for Aspen Tree Service and Landscaping here in Austin Texas.  This week Eddie and the crew came out and trimmed several large oak trees, removed the ball moss from many of the trees on the property, took out one maple tree and a dead oak tree.  Cleaned it up into a brush pile at our direction and left everything neat and tidy. 
Our property in Southwest Austin is over 2 acres and has more than 100 oak trees, of Spanish Oak, Pin Oak, Live Oak and various other trees like Maple, Sumac, Juniper and Pecan, over the past … (7 comments)

Mad Cakes in Central Austin - 09/05/09 05:52 PM
Mad Cakes of Austin Texas is quite a unique place.  I ran into Mad Cakes of Central Austin yesterday and got the surprise of the week.  I am sure this is a local secret but it's time to let the cake out of the bag!   I stood in line and watch people pickup orders, place orders and take away various cookies, cookie bars and cakes.
 Some stepped up and tried the various samples on the countertop and each would say, OH YUM, OH MY, OH YES!  it was amazing to watch the reaction after tasting these 1" squares of … (6 comments)

Tree trimming can make for curb appeal - 09/04/09 08:16 AM
We live on property that has many many oak trees, they are beautiful, wonderful shade providers, squirrel provides, cardinal refuges, many things to us. Austin is proud of its live oaks and pin oaks and spanish oaks.  We love each and every one of them, so this week we did something that has made a huge improvement around here.  The trees got a haircut. a tree trimming. 
Since the proof is in the pudding and a picture is worth a thousand words, who wants to read all those words, here are the before and afters.  Thanks to Aspen Tree Service of Austin, 512-552-5966. … (10 comments)

Schools and the Presidents Campaign - 09/04/09 07:31 AM
Next Tuesday, Sept 8,2009 our President Obama is planning on addressing the school children of our nation in their classrooms.  This has become a very controversial event.  I am unsure why but I haven't researched the event.
Last night was the Parents Meet the Teacher event at our local middle school.  The event for next week was addressed during the event, the school board stated,  "We only have a few limited hours with your child each day and we have much to teach, therefore we have opted out of the Presidential address". 
To me that seems like a very reasonable way … (8 comments)

Keep Austin Weird 5K - 09/04/09 07:18 AM
Keep Austin Weird 5K  Sept 12th, 2009    
There will be a start off for the 5K run at 8:00am and a start off for the Family 1K at 9:00am,  both starting from downtwon Austin Texas. The Keep Austin Weird 5K will start at the Buford Bell Tower locted at the intersection of West Cesar Chavez St. and Colorado St.  The finish will end at the same intersection.  Online registration is available until Sept 10th, THursday at 6:00PM. For more information please check the website for costs and pickup packets time.  You can also find at the website information … (3 comments)

How important are photos on the MLS listing? - 09/01/09 08:24 AM
How important are photos on my MLS listing?  Well to me they are of the utmost importance.  Almost daily I speak with or email with clients looking for a home.  Those clients are saving a listing or rejecting the listing due to the photos online.
I recall when we used to preview more homes, most agents still preview many homes in a month but in an area as large as Austin Texas, we can not view each one.  When we have previewed a home the agent can tell a client, well, I saw that home and the photos online are not … (17 comments)

 

Find TX real estate agents and Austin real estate on ActiveRain.