Have I ever told you about the old place on River Road? Well, take a load off and sit a spell. Let me tell you about one of the scariest places I've ever been.
It was way back in 1989. I didn't live in the beautiful Texas Hill Country then but I used to come visit often. I loved this area and every chance I got, I came here. It was Valentine's Day and my husband wanted to make it wonderful for me so he asked what I wanted. Of course, my answer was always the same. I want to go to the beautiful Texas Hill Country. So with it being a weekend, off we went and arrived in just a few hours. We stayed at a local motel and went sight seeing the next day.
One of the things we did back then, was take a county map and highlight all the roads we had traveled in the Hill Country. There was one road nearby we had never been on. So that was the plan for the day to scout out a new adventure and a new road.
To our surprise, the road seemed untraveled. All the homes were deserted or were gone and only the foundations were left behind. The trees formed a canopy above the road shading it like an umbrella. It was beautiful. Twisting and turning, up and down like so many roads here but this one felt differently as we drove looking at every site we could see. Look, I'd say, there is an old well and my husband would point out an old windmill or an old barn. Any structures still standing were tattered and worn.
I was writing an essay for a class and thought how interesting it would be to stop at an old home place and try to discover its history. My husband thought it was a great idea and we agreed the next place we saw would be our adventure. We did not know what we were in for.
"Stop! stop!, I yelled. There it is!" "Where?", asked my husband. "Look there on the hill", I said. Bigger than life, there it stood. It was an old mansion built like a small Taj Mahal. The gate was locked with a huge chain that was rusted and untouched for years. We couldn't budge it. We parked on the side of the road and decided to climb over the fence. Who would care? No one had been there for years. That was apparent.
It was further up that hill than we had originally thought. We were huffing and puffing but it was definitely going to be worth it. Finally we reached the steps to the grand old porch that stood with columns facing the west. Climbing to the top was difficult as the steps were twice as high as ordinary steps. I remarked, "these steps must have been built for giants."
As we stood there on the porch looking west, we saw the sun go down over the hill and what a beautiful sight it was. Hill country sunsets are gorgeous. We didn't realize how late it was until then. Our curiosity led us to ignore the time and go on with the adventure. Pushing on the front door the dust fell in our faces but the hinges gave way and down came the door. With a loud crash onto the foyer floor, it could have awakened the dead. Maybe it did!
A little frightened we entered the mansion. The first thing unusual was the staircase. Normally, they go upward but this one went downward. I didn't want to go down there especially without a flashlight, so we went into the dining room and then the kitchen. I was a little nervous being there but became very frightened when the countertop in the kitchen was filled with plates of fresh food.
I told my husband "Let's get out of here!" We both headed for the front door but the path we took was not the same one or things got turned around somehow. Into a bedroom we went. Panicked, we turned and went back into the kitchen, that's when we ran smack dap into astatue of a butler. He had a look on his face I will never forget. He was larger than life size. The eyes were wide open and so was his mouth like he was screaming. He had a tray in one hand and a knife in the other. Why would anyone make a statue like this?! No time for questions, just get me out of here! We ran for the door. In fact we ran to the car and over the fence and back to the motel.
We were still shaking the next day when we asked the maid at the motel about the old mansion. She said she did not know what we were talking about. She lived out that way and there was no old mansion there. She said, "It must be your imagination running wild."
I suppose she was right.
Happy Halloween!
Ricki Eichler Real Estate, your Texas Hill Country connection www.reretx.com
I have been complemented in a most unusual way. One of my clients asked me if she could write a blogpost about her experience with me and my office in buying a property. She sent me the post this evening and I was so surprised and pleased. Normally, it would be me, writing about my clients but now it is switched around and she is writing about me. I was so surprised! She was so complementary and expressed her feelings of gratitude to having found her dream home in such a quick and easy manner.
(This is not the property but such apretty picture I wanted to share with you. The Texas Hill Country is so beautiful. Call me if you are looking for a dream property too. )
She was thinking it would take a long time and be exhausting. Instead, she found that we first, listened to her and understood what she was looking for. Then we began our search with our internet tools and Voila! there was the property she was dreaming of. We only showed her two properties but told her all along that the one would be THE ONE! Sure enough, it was!
She went on contract and now it is just a little wait until closing.
It goes to show you, if a Realtor(R) really listens to a client and knows their area well, finding a property does not take long. My best teachers always said LISTEN more and talk less. It pays to listen!
Ricki Eichler Real Estate, your Texas Hill Country connectionwww.reretx.com
I want to write a blog post tonight but I am tired and it is late. So much happened today, I don't know where to begin. My office was busy all day long with people coming and going, in and out of both doors.
Well, of course, it would be busy. We are building the new room for our office. So the carpenters were busy hammering and nailing and finishing up the trim and the baseboards. Then the telephone man was installing new telephone jacks and adding another line. He was in and out of every room checking the other connections. He didn't work very long for what they charged me, but what else is new. I just wished he had plugged the phone back into the fax machine before he left. It would have saved us several faxes we got late because of his mistake.
One of my agents' day ended well with two contracts negotiated and accepted. Some tense moments though trying to get the deals worked out. Then, another was worried about the timing of her next closing. I'm sure it will be OK, it's just a sign of the times.
The others are doing well. My new agent really keeps me on my toes, he is such a go-getter. The real stress came with my clients. A medical emergency took away their fun, happy day but ended well with health returning, only to drive 2 blocks from the hospital and be hit by a runaway car driven by a littleold lady. I don't think I've ever had this bad a day as they had today. I will go to bed counting my blessings and I'm sure they will too. All of their children were in that vehicle and none of them were hurt.
I would love to write a blog but I'm just too tired and it is late. Maybe tomorrow night.
Ricki Eichler Real Estate, your Texas Hill Country connection www.reretx.com
It finally has happened. We are finally getting that precious liquid falling from the sky. Yes, it is raining in the beautiful Texas Hill Country.
This summer was the hottest summer on record for the Texas Hill Country. More days with 100 degree weather than had previously been recorded in the history of our State. To make matters worse, we had almost no rain for two solid years. The summer of 2007, it rained almost every day but come September, the faucets were turned off. So little rain for two years and then record heat. People here were wondering if it would ever rain again.
Well, the rains started in September and have come and gone ever since. We are catching up with our annual rainfall records quite nicely. The area lakes are still low because all the recent rain has gone into the ground rather than runoff because of the dry conditons.
Today promises to bring lots of thunderstorms and rain with a front that is coming into the area this morning. Driving will take a little longer. Everyone should watch out for low water crossings as there may be some flooding.
The wildflowers that usually blossom in the Spring have popped up all over the place. They think it is Spring time rather than Fall. The weather has been unusually warm and all the moisture has Nature mixed up.
Springtime in Autumn, what a beautiful place to be!
Ricki Eichler Real Estate, your Texas Hill Country connectionwww.reretx.com
I have recently read Gary Keller's book "The Millionaire Real Estate Agent" and found it very helpful. There is an short part in one chapter titled "The Real You". It is an acronym for the word TRY.
In my last blog post, Live Life Once, Live It to the Fullest, I said to try and fail is not to fail, but failureis failing to try. Right after I wrote that post I came upon a chapter in the book talking about trying. With the analogy of TRY equals THE REAL YOU, I had to spend time pondering this statement. I asked myself many questions and mentally reviewed occurrences in my life to see if what the book was saying had any merit.
I do believe it does. The book said many people never experience the real you because they are afraid to try. Fear is the number one enemy of the human endeavor. It is only when we break free of our fears that we can really accomplish great things. I have in recent years released my fears and gone forth in a way with my business I would have never tried before. The results have been amazing.
It took me years to decide that I had nothing to lose by trying but everything to gain. It took a commitment, dedication and focus I did not have previously. It took knowledge, confidence which came because of the knowledge I had gained, it took support of people I highly respected. Put all these things together and then add the action of TRYing and there will be no holding you back.
Let the world see who THE REAL YOU is.
Ricki Eichler Real Estate, your Texas Hill Country connection www.reretx.com
"You only live life once, so live it to the fullest!"
This old sayingwas something I learned early in my life. I didn't necessarily always do this but for the most part I have. Anything I ever wanted to do, I have done. I always promised myself not to grow old and have regrets for not taking a chance and trying things.
My parents taught me, to try and fail is not to fail, but never trying is real failure. "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again". Remember that old saying, I put it to memory and used it many times.
I feel my life has been good and exciting. I do not get bored or even depressed. I realize there are so many things I have not accomplished or even started and the time I have left is so small. Every day I try to put as much into my day as I can fit in. I don't want to miss out on anything.
So my advice to everyone is, ENJOY your life! You have a lot to be thankful for and lots more to experience. Make your days an adventure. Wake up and know there are people and places ahead of you this day that are different and precious. You can never get those moments back. You never know what a day holds, one of my favorite sayings that really motivates me. Have a wonderful day tomorrow and be thankful for it.
Ricki Eichler Real Estate, your Texas Hill Country connection www.reretx.com
When was the Last Time You Looked at your e-mail signature? It is one of those things we use everyday but just pass over and never really look at it with the eyes of a stranger. Does it really represent you? Does it speak to others what you want it to say?
First of all, is all the information correct? Or has it been a while, and the numbers are outdated or the address has even changed. Maybe lots of things have changed if you haven't updated in a year or two. Stop and look at it. Does it have anything that stands out to the recipient that distinguishes you from other Realtors(R)? Is what you are looking for easy to find in your signature? Is it too short? Is it too long? Both can be bad.
Take a moment and look at your signature. Does it represent you well? It should speak volumes. Afterall, you send it out many times a day.
Ricki Eichler Real Estate, your Texas Hill Country connection www.reretx.com
Have you heard that old saying before? Probably more times than you care to remember.
Fishermen say it all the time. "The Big one got away!" They always stretch out their arms and probably exaggerate a bit. What do you think?
Today I found myself in much the same situation. Only not a fish but a FALLOW DEER,
a WHITE FALLOWBUCK with a rack bigger than any I've ever seen.
Light brown spotted
While driving down a country road I spotted him. I struggled to get the camera and turned around and went back to the clearing. Slowly approaching, he was watching me. He was hiding behind a cedar tree. I creeped up but as soon as the camera was in place, he took off. Not far but too far for the camera to pick up good. Between the branches, what a sight to see! So close and yet so far.
There was a doe with him. She was light brown and white spotted. In another clearing just a little way off, there was another white doe. The white buck was spectacular though. They are rare and not in many places in the United States. Central Georgia, California and the Texas Hill Country are their homes on this continent. They live all over Europe and Asia but are not plentiful, especially the white ones.
If you are visiting the Texas Hill Country, always bring your camera. You never know what you will see in these parts. You'll have to be quick though or they will get away!
Here is an interesting website and some great photos. Click here.
Ricki Eichler Real Estate, your Texas Hill Country connection
Labor Day will be a holiday for me this year. Of course, I know it is a good time to show property when everyone else is off work but sometimes we have to rest and have time with our families too. I encourage my agents to take time for themselves and their families. We always try to cover our clients needs also. So with this in mind, Angie and Bennettia will be in the office on Monday.
If you are wanting to look at property before you go home from the long Texas Hill Country weekend, please stop by and talk to one of these great agents. They will be able to show you homes, land, businesses, and commercial property. Need to get pre-approved for loan? We can help with that too. Whatever your real estate need, we can help.
Give us a call or stop by the office. Pick up a brochure or some flyers. The Texas Hill Country is a great place to live and we have some great listings. Just look!
Yes, I've finally said it! I Have A Dream! It is really a goal I have set for myself. It is a big one and I dared not even think about it a week ago, but then I began to allow it to slip into my thinking a little bit each day. I wrestled with it back and forth. I told myself I couldn't have it. I told myself all the reasons why. I told myself to move on and think about something else.
Then day before yesterday, I told myself, "If I really want it, Think about it all the time." Tell others you want this and let them begin to pray with you for it. "Envision it being yours," I said to myself.
So, now I am claiming it and one day it will be mine. Sooner rather than later I hope.
How many dreams do we let go by the wayside? If you want something, be brave enough to say so and then go after it. Make a plan to achieve your goals and follow through with the action needed to make it happen. It is easier than we think. Three little words with a big impact:
DREAM
PLAN
TAKE ACTION
When we practice these 3 little words, our dreams can come true. I'm a believer in this. What dream will you make come true this week? or this month? Think about it and share if you want to.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
(This is not the property but such a pretty picture I wanted to share with you. The Texas Hill Country is so beautiful. Call me if you are looking for a dream property too. )
Is what you are looking for easy to find in your signature? Is it too short? Is it too long? Both can be bad.
They will be able to show you homes, land, businesses, and commercial property. Need to get pre-approved for loan? We can help with that too. Whatever your real estate need, we can help.
Ricki Eichler Real Estate,
;)
;)
