Hang on to your hats today folks..... or you might just blow away! - 05/31/11 05:04 PM
 
Instead of hanging on to your hats you might want to hang on to a tree! The wind is far too strong for sailing or kite flying today. In fact... it's nearly too windy for anything outdoors.I keep wondering it my kids are gonna blow away out there - and they are insisting on playing out there.
We have gone from days and weeks of rain... to a sandstorm. Yep, that's right. Sand. In some areas the sand is flying so thickly that you can't see through it.Gotta love the great big farm fields that haven't been planted yet! The … (3 comments)

Hope that you took a minute to enjoy... - 05/31/11 12:08 AM

After taking time at the cemeteries to reflect on the heritage left by those that went before us... and the military that sacrificed for our freedoms.. and the visits to the parks in Red Wing we drove back to Elk River for a little R&R with the family.I hope that you too got a few moments to enjoy the beauty of the people around you today. That the hustle and bustle was set aside for at least a few hours while you took time to celebrate the past, the present and the future of your life, your family and your … (6 comments)

Happy Memorial Day!!! - 05/30/11 07:05 AM

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wishing you the best this Memorial Day!May 2011 bring remembrance of freedom and hope as we reflect on our military and veterens.It's a day of much for many. Families, friends, BBQ's, shopping, cemetery visits...Wherever this day takes you -May it be blessed and may it be beautiful!(Even though I'm sitting here watching the weather knowing it could be challenging!)
… (3 comments)

Celebrating and reflecting life... - 05/29/11 04:36 PM
This weekend isn't just about family and holiday. It's about the celebration of life and freedom. It's about the soldiers that have fought and gone on ahead fighting for our liberties. My gramps was a veteran. It spoke volumes when I watched them fold the flag over his coffin at his funeral. As a teeny bopper it really gave me pause.This weekend every year we give way for memories of our heritage and our ancestors by stopping by their graves momentarily pausing to remember how they paved the road for our future.But, at the same time, I think about my heritage. … (0 comments)

In light of another round of storms... a little sunny yellow.. - 05/28/11 04:20 PM

What else was there to say? As the skies darken this afternoon and the tv is consumed with weather reports we are going to be focusing on the a little yellow. The kids will have their attention diverted and National Hamburger Day will plunge forward!So... in preparation for the storms to come.. I have on a yellow shirt and am posting a little yellow on my blog to brighten everything up! (maybe I should do that in December too!)
… (8 comments)

Counting the cost.. - 05/28/11 12:12 AM
Sometimes buying a home can feel a little like walking down a hall with many doors... the question that remains is 'which door will you choose?' Does it go something like this?What exactly lies behind door number 1? Or 2? Am I really getting what I see? The door to the left looks so appealing... but this one over here seems more practical. How do I know if I'm choosing the right fit for me?
Is it best to go with the door that is run down and shabby? What if there will be more equity in the long run with … (7 comments)

What one deems as beautiful... it's truly in the eye of the beholder. - 05/27/11 10:06 AM
Once in awhile I show a house and really really have to bite my bottom lip. The buyer sees something totally different than  I do and I would hate for them to be "steered" into a decision that wasn't their own. You might find me mumbling comments under my breath but so quietly that only I could hear. The thing is.... what I deem as beautiful certainly isn't the same as the next person. I have no problem looking past dirty homes... homes needing cosmetics and even homes that need minor repairs. But, when it comes to major issues I really … (10 comments)

Wordless Wednesday.... Sway - 05/25/11 12:23 AM

It's not often I go speechless, but this post stands all alone. There is nothing I could say to change what I perceive. My question would be - what do you see? I would love to hear your thoughts....The title of the photo is "Sway" - What would you name it?
… (12 comments)

I am a Chickie Gramma!!!! (and he's pretty cute!) - 05/24/11 09:45 PM
As many of you know we have chickens on our "farm." I have been blessed with half hens and half roosters so at the moment the chances of fertilized eggs is really really good. About a month ago a young lady was looking for such eggs to incubate and hatch for her final high school assignment this year. I was delighted to help her out and have been biting my fingernails since donating my eggs to her cause hoping that she would find great success in her mission.
So... here we are a month later and I got the note this … (5 comments)

Beautiful Sundays... - 05/22/11 11:18 PM
Sundays are special for my family. It's the one day of the week that I really try to 'protect.' I love real estate and the challenges it gives to overcome, but on Sundays I try and put it all away... at least for a few hours. Spending time with family, celebrating faith and working on projects that have been awaiting me for the whole week just makes my day. As it is I am in the middle fielding agent questions on listings, taking buyer appointments, thinking and writing... and all that goes with business for a day off. But it doesn't … (5 comments)

Once in awhile I get it right... - 05/21/11 11:39 PM
Living in Minnesota is an adventure. A weather adventure! The ingredients seemed 'right' this afternoon for a big storm, but who knew it would really happen? We left church to sunny skies and blaring weather sirens. Too late to go back into the building but definite looming clouds in the general direction of home.Deciding the path with the seeming least amount of risk we ventured forth... right into the storm listening to sirens blaring between pounding raindrops. At one point we had to pull over and wait out the blackest of black clouds pounding down hail upon our car. My son … (12 comments)

What rain can do.... - 05/21/11 01:49 PM
It's raining in Minnesota this morning and I was out showing houses avoiding the droplets hitting my head. (I actually got soaked pretty well through but it's part of the job)  While outside admiring the work of the previous owners in their garden I was taken by the glisten of the Dandelions. Sad, right? I hope that you can enjoy them too!

… (5 comments)

You have been invited to afternoon tea... - 05/20/11 06:58 PM
On a rainy day in the middle May what's better than tea amongst friends? Aw, heck. It's great to sit and chat with friends no matter the weather.Taking 'tea' comes in many forms now... it isn't just a bunch of gray haired ladies sitting around a kitchen table gossiping about the neighborhood (though I like that idea too!) It's more like a stroll on a golf course, a workout at the gym with someone you know, a round of entertainment on social media.Whas'that you say? Hang out in the Rain (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook... even email) is taking 'tea'? That would be … (8 comments)

It's written in stone... at least something is... - 05/19/11 11:17 PM
If you've thought about buying or selling a house in the last many years there is one thing that you have probably understood very very well and that is that NOTHING is written in stone. Every day something changes. It could be as easy as interest rates to complications like credit scores changing. Unlike my 5-year old's weather prediction for today (which was very beautiful and sunny) most everything else changes. Buyers find that home prices are dropping, rules with buying are getting harder, easier, harder, easier and processes may turn on a daily basis. What worked and qualified yesterday may … (7 comments)

You can't see me... You can't... You see - I'm hiding. (wordless wednesday) - 05/18/11 09:34 PM
I'm the color of dirt...The size of a rock...Bumply like a pile of stones...What am I?I'm a toad.A big bad dirt colored ugly croaking toad.I live in a garden where it's moist and dirty...I hop all day long and somehow avoided the kitty...I try and hide when the kids find me, but somehow... just somehow.. they saw my eyes blink.
End of story.
 
 
(My garden find in 2011)
… (19 comments)

Have you ever laid a "royal egg".... - 05/17/11 06:54 PM
Once in awhile I hear the expression that someone 'laid a royal egg' insinuating that someone did something rather on the stupid that may have been rather painful. I never understood the expression, but it was fun to say growing up!There are many  a day when I have probably fit the description well.... but seeing the egg my hen laid today made me feel sorry for the dear girl!If it can ever be said that there has been a royal egg laid I think that hers fits the description. Check that baby out! It's so big that I can't store it … (9 comments)

Apple Blossoms.... The blessings of living on the land. - 05/16/11 11:03 PM
Three years ago for my birthday I was given three apple trees. We planted them and have watched (in slight despair) as the deer have held back their growth tremendously. I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever get to see the fruit grow on my trees.Last year we had one blossom... One little ol' flower that turned into an apple. It ripened up very nicely and disappeared right around the time that we should have been picking it to enjoy. (I have photos!)My spindly trees are still out there growing nicely. The bottom half trimmed up and eaten by deer … (12 comments)

Why Minnesota is a great place to explore!...(almost speechless) - 05/15/11 11:17 PM
Our weather may not always be perfect, but there is good reason to visit Minnesota!Springtime is not just pretty - it is beautiful. We celebrate the season by doing all the exploring that we can. Every park and every trail that we can find.
The Coon Rapids Dam is one of our favorite parks to visit - having walking trails, a waterfall (the dam), playground picnic areas and loads of laughs.
Today we took Grandma out for a picnic lunch. A bit windy... almost perfectly warm... it was great! This is just ONE of the great areas in Minnesota to visit. … (10 comments)

Keeping an eye on the freeze.... - 05/14/11 11:04 PM
In Minnesota you never know what you are gonna get...Could be cool ... could be hot. Could be windy... could be not.Could be rainy... could be freezy.That's about where we are at.Buds are blooming everywhere from fruit trees to grape vines and spring is in full bloom.The problem? We are looking at a freeze tomorrow night.Soooooo.... if you are one of the 'lucky' planters who found time to get your plants in the ground this week it could pose a slight setback. Not huge necessarily... just a set back.What to do? What to do?There are a couple of options to Minnesota … (6 comments)

Family Moving Day: A children's Lit Review - 05/13/11 10:39 PM
Family Moving DayA Beechwood Bunny TaleBy: Genevieve Huriet and Loic Jouannigot
Family Moving Day is a  bunny tale about a family of bunnies that have outgrown their bunny home and must move. Most of the bunnies in the family are looking forward to the move and even over zealous in there preparations - getting in the way. But, it's also about Periwinkle. The little bunny doesn't want to move. He doesn't want to leave the memories, his friends and his lonely empty house behind. They've boarded up the house so he builds himself a tent in the backyard. This is a … (8 comments)

Who can weigh down their carrier the most? - A National Challenge - 05/13/11 09:21 PM
Tomorrow is National Stamp Out Hunger Day sponsored by our treasured mail carriers. If it were up to me I'd solicit a "game" of who can weigh down their carrier the most tomorrow, but I'm not sure that I have that much power. So, here's my plug for the program. Many years in running and even seeming to grow in popularity, the Stamp Out Hunger Day is off and running for Saturday, May 14, 2011. This is one AWESOME way to help out a hungry mouth in your own community. And, collectively this event could change thousands of lives for the … (3 comments)

If Active Rain allowed a one line status bar..... - 05/12/11 03:15 PM
If Active Rain allowed a one-line status bar I could have a lot to say on any given day. But, seriously, I can't tell you the number of times I have sat down to write a blog post and my mind goes utterly blank. Posting about business doesn't always come easy to me so you get a great mix of family, community, business and whatever else comes to mind... but I really think that I could make a one liner blog status bar come to life.
Take today for instance: * When I look out my window and see the rain … (11 comments)

Gettin' that gardening groove on.... - 05/12/11 12:29 AM
It's time.... it just can't be avoided. The sun was out, the temps are above 65 again, and my garden tools were calling my name. If I hadn't been out working with the animals I may have never heard the beckoning. Before I knew what was what it was 7pm and the kid's were begging to head indoors for the night. Yes, you heard me right, the kids were begging to go inside.We spent hours in the gardens today. My little troopers helped me plant the herb seeds and shovel new dirt into my flower gardens. Then while they played and … (12 comments)

Watering our lawn... just two weeks after the last snowfall. - 05/10/11 09:00 PM
May 2nd, 2011 is the last reported snowfall in Minnesota. So, why then are we watering the lawn today? Let me tell you!When you live in Minnesota you live in the land of extremes. Take this evening for instance... I was sitting at my kitchen table looking at the beautiful sunset while listening to thunder booms ringing in the background. Blue skies overhead and raindrops falling from the sky. Makes sense, right? Well, that is Minnesota.It's the perfect mix for a storm today. Hot, humid and perfectly Minnesota. I'd say that a few more days like today and we'll be seeing … (10 comments)

Adopting can be easy... when it's a park! - 05/08/11 11:24 PM
Did you know that the city of Elk River hosts over 40 parks and recreation areas? Providing city utilities, equipment and upkeep for them adds up. The city of Elk River offers an adopt-a-park program through their park and recreation department. It really is pretty cool. For one year an individual, organization or group can volunteer to keep a park clean. I have been looking for a program to "give back" that I could include my whole family with and this really fits the bill. We perused the list and decided on a very small park nearby. On Friday we spent … (6 comments)

Who Can Resist a Good Book? - 05/07/11 12:40 AM
The Union Congregational Church in Elk River is hosting their annual book sale this weekend (May 6th & 7th, 2011). If you love to read this is a place to be! We visited today and left with a whole bag of books. The boys had much fun perusing the kids table and looking at what their was to find. Of course... we had to pick up some of the Rolo Cookies at the bake sale side of the sale for my little chocoholic. He was quite pleased and enjoyed the cookies so much that I ended up with a second bag!It's … (3 comments)

Flowers for the forgotten on Mama's Day... - 05/06/11 08:42 PM
Each year on Mother's Day Living Waters Church in Elk River sells flowers in support of the Abba Crisis Pregnancy Center in town. The reasoning is multi-faceted and it's a treat to be involved with something so little that makes such a great big difference! This year is no exception. On Sunday, May 8th, 2011 there will be Gerbera Daisies for sale.
For just $10.00 a father, a son, a husband,  or just anybody can make a double dosed impact! It's a great way to show that Mama in your life that you are thinking of her and all that she … (5 comments)

Formerly known as the Dandelion... The "I love my Mother" flower - 05/05/11 11:53 PM
There is a flower growing in our yard known in some circles as a 'weed' that we've decided to rename. You see, it's formerly known as the Dandelion, but my children don't understand why because they think it's neither dandy or lion-like. So... under current circumstances we have renamed the Dandelion the "I love my Mother" flower. You might think that this is strange, but it isn't. Every day we go outside to play... at our house, at our friend's homes, at the park and my children consistently find the "I love my Mother" flower and pick it for me. I … (41 comments)

Wordless Wednesday at the River's Edge Park in Elk River.... - 05/05/11 12:15 AM

 
We spent a lovely day outside working... I mean playing... I mean working... in Elk River. I promised my awesome children an ice cream cone after everything was done so we headed to the River's Edge Park after all else was done to enjoy a little treat.The fountains aren't on yet, and there wasn't any play equipment but somehow we managed to have an hour's worth of giggles and entertainment. The natural style stadium seating is so much fun to play on and we enjoyed watching the river float by.During the summer at this particular park the local businesses … (3 comments)

My chicken named "Houdini".... - 05/02/11 11:30 PM
Living in the country has it's own set of unique circumstances that brings daily adventures. Some are natural 'from the land' adventures that you can't control and some are adventures that you bring on yourself. In today's case... I'd say that I brought this adventure on myself but it's too good to pass up sharing.
We feed our animals twice a day - including the chickens. Because of circumstances we ended up with 28 chickens that I sincerely DO enjoy (most of the time). They just take a bit of work. We have about half roosters (which we don't need) that … (9 comments)

One Week, One Well... - 05/01/11 11:41 PM
We are fortunate in America to have a great water system. If you live in the city you are pretty well assured by turning on the tap to have water that should be clean enough to consume. It's a wonderful gift that our forefathers gave us... and a gift that we can hopefully hand down to our next generations.In other countries they are not so fortunate. Visiting Africa two years ago I was given the opportunity to travel into some fairly small villages where an organization like 'World Vision' had been in and placed a deep water well. There were droves … (3 comments)

Missed out on May Baskets... - 05/01/11 10:32 PM
Usually on MayDay I'm prepared with paper baskets made and filled with candies or yummies to deliver to friends and neighbors while they aren't looking for the "fun of the chase" that the day brings. Leaving behind packages with little notes that say 'have a great day' are right up my alley of fun.It all stems from our childhood. We always had a basket of treats for our neigbor Molly. She was the dearest little ol' lady and every year we surprised her by knocking on her door and running. I miss those simple days sometimes. Just a great reason to … (2 comments)

A little country love does a Mama good...! - 05/01/11 12:05 AM
Rainy, cloudy, gloomy, windy and cold is a great way to describe today. The weather was not permitting today for the young'uns to go outside and play. Thankfully the gloomy weather caused them to be a bit on the low-key themselves. After playing with legos and trains for hours it got really really quiet in the house. I was on the phone chatting and realized that I should probably check on the little babes.  
I didn't have to wonder long. The boys came bounding in the room right after I hung up with a 'sandwich' for me to enjoy. This sandwich … (5 comments)

 
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Lindsey Hasford

Elk River, MN

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