Linda's Blog

Speechless Sunday—Sunset at Napili Bay, Maui, Hawaii

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 04:48:23 -0500

Copyright 2009 Linda Bourgault, Double D Enterprises and lulugraphix. All rights reserved. Photos taken by Linda Bourgault may not be reproduced without express written permission of Linda Bourgault. Double D Enterprises is a loss mitigation service. lulugraphix is a creative design service for real estate, small to large companies, start-up companies and nonprofits.

Wordless Wednesday—The Byodo-in Temple, Kaneohe, Hawaii

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:58:26 -0500

Speechless Sunday—Variations on a Floral Theme

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Sat, 16 May 2009 04:53:26 -0500

Wordless Wednesday—Water Trio

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Wed, 13 May 2009 07:01:39 -0500

Club Chaos Eye Candy View of the Past—Today at the Lewisville Feed Mill, Lewisville, Texas

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Sun, 03 May 2009 23:17:18 -0500

The City Center of Lewisville, Texas is known as "Old Town" Lewisville which consists of old buildings that have been resurfaced and remodeled in an effort to revitalize the area along Main Street. One of the things that makes Lewisville memorable is the towns tenacity to hang onto its roots in agriculture. From the high school mascot, The Fighting Farmers, to the 100+ year-old Feed Mill, the City of Lewisville screams "farmers!" even if little farming actually takes place here any more.

The coolest "Old Town" Lewisville attraction is the Lewisville Feed Mill which opened it's doors in 1886. It is the city's oldest continuously operating business. The Polser family has owned the feed mill for 123 years which has been handed down from generation to generation. John Polser is the current family member running the business and has been at the cash register everyday for 32 years. It is a thriving family business that feels like home ... where they remember your name, help you figure out what you need, load your car with a smile and welcome you back time and time again.

The Lewisville Feed Mill is chocked full of livestock feed, landscape equipment, gardening supplies, fertilizers, plants, seeds, pet supplies, tools and more. When you walk through the doors you feel as though you have stepped back in time. The Feed Mill is a great place to take your family... the kids will love it and the young at heart will feel as though they've come home again.

One day in February I spent the afternoon at the Lewisville Feed Mill and had the time of my life. Mr. Polser let me take all the photos I wanted and invited me to visit any time. If you want an inside glimpse of James Polser, his personality and his employees check out the video of "Scared of Snakes" ... you'll get a kick out of it! Here are just a few of the photos I shot that afternoon.

The Lewisville Feed Mill is located at:
119 E Main St
Lewisville, TX 75057
972.436.3596

When you visit be sure and tell John I sent you. He'll treat you like a member of the family!

Speechless Sunday—Wind, Steam & Clouds... Caldera, Big Island, Hawaii

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Sun, 03 May 2009 07:58:20 -0500

Wordless Wednesday—Walk about Lake Grapevine, Flower Mound, Texas

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:19:33 -0500

Speechless Sunday—My Side of the Fence... digital painting by Linda Bourgault

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:23:39 -0500

How the Common Dandelion Helps Win the Day!

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:22:19 -0500

Yes, today's photo is a weed, a common weed, known as the dandelion.

The dandelion is a perennial, herbaceous plant with long, lance-shaped leaves.

They're so deeply toothed, they gave the plant its name in Old French: Dent-de-lion means

lion's tooth.

The flower head can change into the familiar, white, globular seed head overnight.

Each seed has a tiny parachute, to travel far and wide in the wind. A strong wind can carry the

parachutes miles away from the parent plant. A dandelion is really many tiny flowers

bunched together. After a dandelion blooms, each of its tiny flowers produces a seed. Each see is attached

to a stem with white fluffy threads.

Most gardeners detest them. The more you try to weed them up, the faster they grow.

The taproot is deep, twisted, and brittle. Unless you remove it completely, it will regenerate. If you break

off more pieces than you unearth, the dandelion wins.

Consider this... If you were a dandelion and saw a gardener approach with a digger designed

especially to eradicate you, what would you say?

Dandelion one: "What's a dandelion digger for?"

Dandelion two: "It’s a human invention to help us reproduce!"

That is how tenacious dandelions are! They are also time honored edible and medicinal plants.

Dandelion greens are tasty in salads, sauteed or steamed. You can also eat the dandelion flowers or

use them to make wine. You can even eat the tap root. The leafy greens are nutritious, high in beta-carotene,

vitamins B, C and D. Dandelion tea helps our bodies metabolize sugar well and helps the kidneys, liver

and gall bladder stay healthy. The use for this common weed is virtually endless.

Note: This information is not intended for personal use. Consult your nutritionist and/or physician for appropriate use.

So, what can we learn from the common dandelion?

Their tenacity teaches us that if we develop our business and business plans with determination we can

establish deep roots which provides us with a solid foundation. This foundation is the bedrock of our

professionalism which includes: how we treat our clients, how dependable we are, how flexible we are

when confronted with change and our staying power in a challenging market. These abilities will sustain us and

help ensure we are still standing when others fail... just like the dandelions in our garderns and yards!

Copyright 2009 Linda Bourgault, Double D Enterprises and lulugraphix. All rights reserved. Photos taken by Linda Bourgault may not be reproduced without express written permission of Linda Bourgault. Double D Enterprises is a loss mitgation service. lulugraphix is a creative design service for real estate, small to large companies, start-up companies and nonprofits.

FREE & FUN Things to do with your family

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:48:18 -0500

Spring is already here and summer will be here before you know it, which means you're probably going to be in need of some fun family activities to keep you and your family busy. After all, no one wants to hear "I'm bored" day in and day out, right? Here are some things you can do with the entire family. The best part? They won't cost you a dime!

Call the Zoos and Museums

Most zoos and museums offer free family days a couple of times each year. Find out exactly when those dates are and then mark your calendar. With some of these attractions charging $10 or more per person for admission, free family days can save you a pretty penny or two.

In Fort Worth, The Amon Carter Museum, is devoted to American art of all media. Admission to the permanent collection is free; admission to most of the temporary exhibits is free, but not all, so check the web site. The Amon Carter Museum also sponsors family days with crafts and other activities, storytime for the younger set, and a variety of lectures, talks, and tours by experts, also free. The museum is located in the Fort Worth Cultural District.

Plan a Picnic

Picnics are one of the most tried and true fun family activities, and millions of moms and dads pack picnic baskets each and every summer. This year plan a picnic and pack a basket filled with your family's favorite foods.

Just remember, not all picnic locations are created equal. Find one that is family friendly and bring your Frisbees, balls, or croquet set. You can make an entire day out of a great picnic in the park.

Camp in the Backyard

If your kids are bored with the day in and day out drudgery of mundane life, they could probably use a vacation. But what if you can't take the time away for a family vacation (or you just can't afford one right now)? Then bring the vacation to you and pop a tent in the backyard. With some flashlights, a campfire, smores and a few spooky stories, your family's favorite vacation memories might just take place right outside your back door.

Hang-out at a Local Lake

Going to the lake for an afternoon is a great opportunity to teach your kids how to fish, learn how to swim or just have some quiet time watching the the sun dance on the water.

Let's face it - all families need to have fun. Fortunately for those of us who don't have money trees in the backyard, there are some fun family activities that don't cost a penny. The four things above are just the tip of the iceberg. Why not share a few of your favorite free family activities here and let others know what cool stuff you'll be doing to keep your kids happy and won't break the bank?

Copyright 2009 by Linda Bourgault, Double D Enterprises and lulugraphix. All rights reserved. Photos taken by Linda Bourgault and may not be reproduced without express written permission of Linda Bourgault, lulugraphix, Flower Mound, Texas. lulugraphix is a creative design and photography service for the real estate market, small to large companies, start-up companies and nonprofits.

HOW TO Swing in the Rain... or rediscover your creativity

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:57:20 -0500

No, I am not advocating XXX Swinging, although...a Vulcan mind-meld with Jeff Turner, Sally Cheeseman, Brad Andersohn and Kathy McGraw would be the best real estate industry education you could ever receive. However, I wouldn't hook-up with them simultaneously because my wee brain would explode and you'd all have a heckuva time cleaning the backside of your computer screen... YUCK!

What I am saying is whenever I'm stuck, blocked or on empty trying to conjure a blog post to Activerain... I go swing. Yep, that's right, I head outside and hop in my swing. I live in a wonderful place... surrounded by Live Oak trees, natural vegetation, wildlife and gorgeous views. It's a park-like setting where I have the perfect perch to sit upon. My swing is located down two flights of stairs and a few steps the left... it's the old fashioned kind surrounded by a huge sand box. When you jump out of the swing you are guaranteed a safe landing... well, most of the time!

Swinging takes me back to my childhood, it encourages me to play, be curious and see the world through fresh eyes. A few days ago I was in a rut, so I headed out to my swing, but this time I grabbed my camera. I placed the camera strap around my neck just before kicking-off. While I was swinging, I shot randomly not caring about what or whether I was capturing anything. It was the act of allowing the camera to capture whatever it was pointing at without any concern as to subject, quality or anything else... it was serendipitous and whatever revealed itself would be a surprise!

What fabulous fun to swing with abandon... to lean back watching the sun dance on the leaves... to feel the wind blowing through my hair... to smile and laugh with the delight of it all. After swinging for about twenty minutes (it's good exercise too) my head was clear and I was ready to go back inside and hit the keyboard once again.

Then I hooked my camera to my computer and downloaded the images I captured. I selected two to

accompany this post. The first one is of my legs and feet which turned out darned good considering it was unplanned. The second one displays the frivolity of my experience!

So when you are in a rut, blocked or just need some fun... go swing. Your readers, friends, family and co-workers will thank you!

Happy Swinging in the RAIN!

Back to Basics: Study in Black & White

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:59:12 -0500

Spring has arrived with its riot of color, gentle breezes and blue skies filled with puffy clouds. Personally we are busy spring cleaning... our homes, apartments, townhouse, condos, weekend cottages, storage sheds, yards, and flower beds. Professionally we are clearing the decks... whether it's our offices, computers, desk tops, file cabinets or supply rooms.

When spring arrives we also set about de-cluttering our minds and spirits. It's time for taking winters' reflections and turning them into action. Sometimes when I'm in the midst of doing this I become overwhelmed. I've discovered that I'm distracted by the profusion of nature's activity as well as the myriad of activities I've involved myself with professionally whether it's professional or charitable organizations, organized physical activity or social activity. This is when I know I need to refocus and simplify my point of view.

Don't get me wrong, I love spring and all of it's beauty. Yet when I feel sensory overload coming on I begin to search for a way to rest my over-stimulated senses. When this occurs I revert to what I call my personal basics and study my surroundings and thoughts in black and white. I desaturate everything I'm thinking and feeling and reduce to its most common denominator. This allows me to see things more clearly, to evaluate without distraction and to make note of my actions in a very fundamental way.

The photo accompanying today's post is an good example of what I'm describing. The original color photograph was filled with bright colors of yellows, greens and blues, but it was too much color. I couldn't find the focal point of the vine or it's details. I decide to desaturate it, remove all of the color, and re-evaluate the image in gray-scale. It became clearer, but it still didn't provide the simple focus I desired. I began to work with the background to soften it and have it recede instead of fight with the foreground. The focus was "almost" where I wanted it to be, but it required another step. So I highlighted the foreground and simplified it as well, sharpening only the vine itself. It was then and only then I discovered the simplicity of light, shape and texture I needed to focus upon. My overly complex photo as well as overly stimulated self regained it's proper focus.

So if you are feeling the same way as I have been, take a look at my photo and remember that you too can regain your focus and momentum by simplifying your perspective.

Now— go outside, fill you eyes with the glorious colors of spring and check-out the entries at the Positive Attitude for the Weary Soul SPRING FRESH contest. There are amazing entries to read and share. The winners will be announced later today... or if I'm jumping the gun, it may be Saturday. I need to check with Sally about that just to be sure - lol! See how my excitement can get me in trouble!

Copyright 2009 by Linda Bourgault, Double D Enterprises and lulugraphix. All rights reserved. Photos taken by Linda Bourgault and may not be reproduced without express written permission of Linda Bourgault, lulugraphix, Flower Mound, Texas. lulugraphix is a creative design and photography service for the real estate market, small to large companies, start-up companies and nonprofits.

Thoughtful Thursdays... Is there a group for TTs?

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:25:59 -0500

Is there a group for Thoughtful Thursdays? I searched and located a couple of entries with text that included Thoughtful Thursday, but did not locate an "official" group. If this is an error on my part, please let me know and Ill join the Thoughtful Thursday group.

Meanwhile, I missed Speechless Sunday and Wordless Wednesday this week. I've received a few emails from Activerain friends asking me IF I'm OK. Yes, I'm alive and well... just inundated with work! I will not complain about that, but it sure makes me dull, duller and dullest - LOL!

Easter Sunday was the only day in the past two weeks I've had with a few hours off. I made the best of it by taking a walk around Lake Grapevine which is located in Flower Mound, Texas.

Here are a couple of the images I shot just before and right at the magic hour which invariably emits the most wonderful light of the day... at sunrise and sunset. Hope you enjoy them and thanks for checking up on me!

Copyright 2009 by Linda Bourgault, Double D Enterprises and lulugraphix. All rights reserved. Photos taken by Linda Bourgault andmay not be reproduced without express written permission of Linda Bourgault, lulugraphix, Flower Mound, Texas. lulugraphix is a creative design and photography service for the real estate market, small to large companies, start-up companies and nonprofits.

POSITIVE ATTITUDE for the Weary Soul SPRING FRESH Contest... Enter NOW!

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:14:57 -0500

Is Your Optimism is Overflowing?
Join us and submit your positive ideas to inspire all of us for the—
Spring Fresh Contest at The Positive Attitude for the Weary Soul
OK, we all know our economy is not at it's best. We’ve seen the gazillion depressing news stories and trillions of disturbing statistics. We are all affected by these challenges.

I think we should be confident in our abilities and brains. We shouldn't whine. We need to find solutions.
I'm filled with optimism and operate in “I will be creative, control what I can and move forward” mode, not, "I’m a victim.
'Oh crap. I'll just sit here, stress out, eat 12 Ding Dongs, 3 hot dogs and drink a lot of adult beverages.'”

As a way to share this “can do” attitude with you, I think it would be great fun and would help other folks that aren’t feeling the rebound surge yet, by inviting you to enter the Spring Fresh Contest at The Positive Attitude for the Weary Soul.

Sally Cheeseman, founder of The POSITIVE ATTITUDE for the Weary Soul group, created this contest to help us to inspire one another and share our creativity about what we appreciate, what fresh ideas inspire us and what positive results we have as we embrace change in our professional and personal lives.

This is what Sally has to say about the contest, the theme and the contest rules:

"Let's get this community rocking and rolling with "Spring Cleaning & Fresh Ideas For Changing Times"! Let your creative juices flow with whatever comes to mind when you think of that theme. Hmmm. Spring Cleaning.....and Fresh Ideas.....For Changing Times. Remember those little things in life that you appreciate!

The following are the simple rules for this "Spring Cleaning & Fresh Ideas in Changing Times" entry:

Starts NOW and ends April 12, midnight AR time
You may submit only ONE entry.
At least 500 or more written words filled with your ideas of Spring Cleaning and Fresh Ideas for Changing Times.
Your post must have at least one picture or video for visual appearance. (if you need help please contact me!)
Your title has to include the words Spring Fresh
Your tag line has to include the words Spring Fresh Contest
Join the group Positive Attitude for the Weary Soul group and Post your entry into the Positive Attitude for the Weary Soul group
Add your link to the comment section of this post
Follow the Guidelines for the Positive Attitude for the Weary Soul Group"

Join us and get a jump start on Spring, Fresh ideas, and the Benefits of Embracing Change.

We are looking forward to your entries and being inspired by all of you in the RAIN!

How do you rejuvinate your body & soul when your Biz get's you down?

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:41:14 -0500

Sometimes when my loss mitigation business get me down, I need to do something to perk up my spirits. Yesterday was that kind of day! I didn't have a whole lot of time, so I Googled "gardens Argyle TX." I followed the link and discovered Argyle Acres. It sounded like it was the right place for me to fill my eyes with nature's colors and warm my weary soul. So, I printed out the map, grabbed my camera and jumped in my car. It was only after I was half-way there that I thought I should have called first, but it was too late and I like to let serendipity take it's course.

What I found was a picturesque log home, set back from the road, with a huge yard filled with iris beds. I didn't see a sign or any identifier, but the numerous flower beds filled with irises announced this must be the place. I parked my car, walked up a long drive-way and knocked on the door. A nice man answered. I asked him if he would allow me to take photos of his irises... and he said, "sure, but I was a bit early in the season... that the blossoms wouldn't be in full bloom until mid-April." By this time, I knew his name was Joe Spears, co-owner/operator, of Argyle Acres. I explained to him I wanted to take photos today as I didn't have time to wait. Joe graciously let me have full run of his yard. I proceeded to walk, crawl and scramble all over the place taking photos of irises I had never seen before. I had so much fun I almost squealed out loud. My weary soul soaked up the sun's rays, the irises filled my eyes with glorious color and the physical activity got my heart pumping... it was exactly what I needed to rejuvinate my body and soul. It was a wonderful experience and one I will repeat again!

Argyle Acres specializes in growing and selling historic and modern bearded irises. Irises are easy to grow. They are hardy perennials, requiring little attention. They specialize in varieties that can withstand the heat of long Texas summers.

Testimonials which reiterate my thoughts about Argyle Acres:

—Argyle Acres is a great place here in Texas that sells all kinds of wonderful Iris's, and ships everywhere. They are a state licensed and inspected nursery. They guarantee all their plants to be true to name as registered with the American Iris Society. The order deadline is July 31st for shipping in September. They have historic and modern varieties, one named Swertii is 400 years old. All are gorgeous and healthy!!!

—Argyle Acres has been my personal favorite for years. They are especially good for providing iris which will weather the Texas heat, as iris from other states sometimes "burn up" here. Argyle iris have always been huge and healthy, and they always throw in great (also huge) bonus iris with an order. Their web site is easy to use (www.argyleacres.com), and they communicate well with their customers, especially by email. I have been visiting their display gardens for years, and have always enjoyed their friendliness, helpfulness, and the high quality of their product.

Argyle Acres

Mailing Address:
910 Pioneer Circle East
Argyle, Texas 76226-6714

Phone: (940) 464-3680
Fax: 1-866-320-4747 (toll

This is a video I created to display just a few of the irises on display at Argyle Acres:

How do I get to Argyle Acres? The link will take you to a map generated by Argyle Acres. If you get lost, call Joe and Donna, they'll have you on the right track in no time.

I hope you'll visit Argyle Acres and discover for yourself the plethora of irises available plus make new friends with Joe and Donna Spears. When you visit be sure and tell Joe and Donna, "Linda sent you!"

Thank you Joe for letting me run wild in your garden!

P.S. If you'd like to know more about the town of Argyle, this is what the Argyle Chamber of Commerce has to say:

"The citizens of Argyle, Texas settled here because they found this beautiful, quiet town to be the perfect getaway from the “big city.” Residents love the small-town, rural environment that provides a peaceful community for raising families, relaxing at home, but also enjoy the convenience of close proximity to the Flower Mound, Lewisville and the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex for commuting, shopping, dining, and entertainment."

Eight things to remember to have a Great day in the RAIN...

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:26:20 -0500

1. Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain.
—Anonymous

2. Never allow anyone to RAIN on your parade and thus cast a pall of gloom and defeat on the entire day. Remember that no talent, no self-denial, no brains, no character, are required to set up in the fault-finding business. Nothing external can have any power over you unless you permit it. Your time is too precious to be sacrificed in wasted days combating the menial forces of hate, jealousy and envy. Guard your fragile life carefully. Only God can shape a flower, but any foolish child can pull it to pieces.
—Og Mndino, American Essayist and Psychologist, 1923-1996

3. Life is like a rainbow. You need both sun and the RAIN to make its colors appear.
—Anonymous

4. The best thing one can do when it's raining is let it RAIN.
—Henry Wadworth Longfellow, the most popular American Poet in the 19th century, 1807-1882

5. A poet is someone who stands outside in the RAIN hoping to be struck by lightning.
—James Dickey

6. In our lives there's bound to be some pain, surely as there are storms and falling RAIN, just believe that the one who holds the storms will bring the sun.
—Anonymous

7. May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the RAIN, tea beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you and all your heart might desire.—Irish Blessing

8. Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the RAIN.
—Anonymous

Have a wonderful day in the RAIN!

Quotations from Thinkexist.com

Copyright 2009 by Linda Bourgault and lulugraphix. All rights reserved. Photos taken by Linda Bourgault and may not be reproduced without express written permission of Linda Bourgault, lulugraphix, Flower Mound, Texas. lulugraphix is a creative design and photography service for the real estate market, small to large companies, start-up companies and nonprofits.

Speechless Sundays—Peek-A-Boo Sky...

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 06:19:57 -0500

The Secret to Successful Short Sales, Loan Modifications and Avoiding Foreclosures—

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:46:10 -0500

The Secret to Successful Short Sales, Loan Modifications and Avoiding Foreclosures... is COMPASSION!

Some hardcore loss mitigators and Realtors may already be shaking your heads at the first line of this post. That's perfectly OK. It's understandable because transactions—whether it's a short sale, loan modification, or guiding a client through the "how to avoid foreclosure gauntlet," are ALL initially dependent upon fact gathering and building the strongest case file possible. Any loss mitigator can assist their clients with the selection of the best program, complete the correct forms, work with harried lender loss mitigators, meet crucial time-lines, and utilize tried and true negotiation tactics. However, without compassion many of these transactions cannot be completed successfully.

Therefore this post does not address:

loan modification programs
lender policies or methodology(s)
forms
real estate law

What this post does address is how to run the gauntlet with heart... how to represent your client(s) in a way that let's them know they are not a number in a faceless cue. This is the key to success.

We begin with the client interview where we must ask a myriad of very personal questions. The majority of these questions concern their financial hardship and the numbers that determine the hardship. Yet the critical importance is how you ask these questions. I ask them to tell me their story and I listen, listen, listen. I do not interrupt no matter how long it takes. I do not get frustrated when their children are crying or their spouses come unhinged. When they get off course, I gently get them back on track. When they become emotionally upset I empathize... this is when, if appropriate, I tell them a bit about my own financial struggles and/or having to negotiate my own short sale. That's when they know I'm REAL and have walked in their shoes. After that, most of my clients become less intense emotionally and are better able to focus on the importance of what WE can do together to help improve their situation.

Once the questions have been asked and verified we begin on a workable solution. The numbers (missed mortgage payments, loss of employment, illness, death, etc.) obviously are important. However, it's the way you manage the numbers and the situation that makes all the difference in finding a workable solution that you present to the lender. It pays to have a workable solution letter that is not only accurate, but relates the situation in a very personal and responsible manner... and if necessary you make the lender's loss mitigator weep.

Unfortunately, most lenders are overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of cases streaming in and are understaffed to handle the large case load. This doesn't bode well for the process, but if you approach the lender the same way you do your clients - with compassion and understanding - you will inevitably make head-way where others do not. I always let the lender's loss mitigators know how much I appreciate their help. I don't yell, threaten, or curse. I am always firm, fierce and relentless, but it's all done with respect. I always say please and thank you. When they try to talk over me, around me or through me, I keep talking quietly and persistently... you literally wear them down with kindness. It gets their attention and it makes them remember you in a positive way - imagine that!

This scenario continues until you finally have all the pieces to the puzzle and place a clean, complete file before the lender. Of course, your work is still not done. Following up at each and every step during the process is essential. Keeping your client and the lender on the same page makes this process run more smoothly which lessens the stress on everyone. By maintaining a positive outlook and treating everyone involved with compassion and understanding, a tough fight becomes less threatening, therefore, more appealing to a lender.

I've been at the closing table with lenders from hell and as time passes it has become uglier than ever, but I've been able to turn them around more often than not... and it's all been because I negotiate fairly and with heart!

This is the secret to my success as a loss mitigator and it can be yours as well. I don't do random acts of kindness, I take action coupled with compassion and it works.

Images courtesy of Dreamstime.com

Lilies? Lilies? I don't need no stinkin' Lilies... but, I really do!

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 22:38:42 -0500

If you read one of my recent blogs, When's the last time you had BBQ? Well, that's been too long—, you'll know I ran to the market to purchase ingredients for Hawaiian-style BBQ ribs. While I was there I grabbed a bunch of Oriental Lilies because they were so beautiful.

When I returned home and plopped them in a vase I began to wonder just what kind of lilies they were and set about learning a bit about them. These particular lilies are known as Starfighters. I immediately thought of Star Trek, one of my favorite TV shows from the 1960s. After observing them bloom over the past few days, I decided they were named appropriately because of the way the stamen and pistol radiated outward in a huge spray of color and energy... just as the Starship Enterprise does whenever traveling at warp speed across the galaxies.

Starfighter lilies are abundantly large, very fragrant with deep pink petals and a well defined white border with generous burgandy freckling. A few weeks ago, instead of saying "freckling" I would have said specks or spots, but a green-thumb friend of mine recently used the term to describe the spots as freckles. I think the lesson stuck!

As part of my Celebration of Spring I've created a second video installment... of Starfighters from the budding stage to being in full bloom. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

Copyright 2009 Linda Bourgault and lulugraphix. All rights reserved.

Speechless Sundays—Me & My Banana Boat on Lake Grapevine

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 11:34:37 -0500

When's the last time you had BBQ? Well, that's been too long!

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 11:55:33 -0500

I'm a Southern gal who LUVS bar-b-que (BBQ)... Whether it's BBQ chicken, BBQ shrimp, BBQ beef brisket, BBQ fish... I could do a Forrest Gump litany on how many ways to do BBQ, but I digress. My most favorite BBQ is baby back ribs!

When I received my SAVEUR magazine this month my mouth fell open... I moaned and salivated on the spot. On the front cover was the most decadent display of RIBS I could ever imagine. That's when I knew winter was over and spring had sprung into full force for my taste buds.

Another favorite of mine is Hawaii—the people, the location, the scenery, the cultural diversty, the spirit of Aloha and the food! So there's no way I could go wrong combining my two faves which resulted in Hawaiian-Style BBQ Baby Back Ribs.

In order to fulfill my food fantasy I went, no I ran to the market and filled my cart with all of the ingredients I needed to prepare the baby back ribs. My marketing list also included items to complete the meal—Texas Yellow Cold Slaw, Butch's Baked Beans and Grilled Pineapple. I was literally prepared to go whole hog (pun intended - LOL) on this one! Recipes for Hawaiian-Style Pork Baby Back Ribs follow plus the Cold Slaw and Butch's Baked Beans.

Hawaiian-Style BBQ Ribs
Soy Sauce-Marinated Ribs
Serves 4-6
These pork ribs are a sweeter version of a Korean preparation for marinated and grilled short ribs.

1-1/4 cups light brown sugar
1 cup soy soauce (I use light soy)
1/4 cup water (I use Kona coffee instead, any rich, dark roast coffee is fine)
1 tbsp. Asian sesame oil
4 - 6 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1 2" piece peeled ginger, finely chopped
3 lbs. pork baby back ribs
3 scallions

1. Whisk together brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, chile flakes, garlic and water (coffee) in a large bowl. Add ribs and toss to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and marinate for at least one hour at room temperature, or refrigerate overnight, turn occassionally to coat.

2. Heat oven to 450 degrees. Remove ribs from marinade and arrange, curved side up, on a rack set over a rimmed foil-lined baking sheet. Roast for 20 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, heat the marinade in a 2-qt. sauce pan over medium-high heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thik and syrupy, about 20 minutes.

4. Using tongs, flip ribs and cook basting frequently with the reduced marinade, until the ribs are browned, glazed and tender, 15-20 minutes. Transfer ribs to a platter and garnish with scallions.

Texas Yellow Cold Slaw

1/4 cup cider vinegar
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Pinch of ground allspice
1 small onion, grated
1/2 small head cabbage (a combo of green and purple is good), coarsely chopped
2 kirby cucumbes, peeled, seeded and diced (if you don't care for cucumbers use grated carrots)
1/2 green bell pepper, coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper

In a medium saucepan, bring the vinegar, brown sugar, celery seed, turmeric, ginger, and allspice to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in the onion, remove from the heat, and allow to stand for 5 minutes to cool.

Meanwhile, toss the cabbage, cucumber and bell pepper together in a serving bowl. Whisk the olive oil into the cooled vinegar mixture until combined. Pour the onion-turmeric vinagrette over the vegetables and toss to coat. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Chill covered in the refrigerator for at least one hour to allow flavors to develop.

Butch's Baked Beans

1 (28-ounce) can baked beans (recommended: Bush's Baked Beans)
1/2 small onion, diced
4 - 6 ounces small diced pancetta (or bacon)
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoon spicy mustard
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2- 4 tbsps of your favorite salsa (optional - this is my personal addition)

Put the pancetta in a frying pan and cook until crispy. Remove from pan leaving drippings. Add diced onion and sautee until tender. Put pancetta back into pan and add all of the other ingredients and stir well. Add ketchup, mustard, salsa and brown sugar. Heat over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until it bubbles.

This recipe is courtesy of foodnetwork.com.

I hope these recipes will inspire you to perk up your taste buds and get a jump start on summer!

CHANGE .... & The SMALL Things! ~ A Spring Fresh CONTEST

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:44:51 -0500

Hello Everyone—

Sally Cheeseman has yet another POSITIVE ATTITUDE for the Weary Soul cool contest for you. The theme for the contest is Spring Cleaning and Fresh Ideas for Changing Times which is perfect for this time of year... and this year especially since we are all undergoing so much change in our professional and personal lives.

I'm very excited about participating as a judge in this contest and can't wait to read all of your entries.

I've re-blogged Sally's post about the contest, rules, time-lines, etc. If you have any questions please ask.

Good luck and start writing your entries now!

Via Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman HAWAII Relocations & Real Estate (Century 21 Liberty Homes):

During the Spring Season we think of everything bright and beautiful. The flowers start blooming and the grass turns green; with newborn chicks peeping high above in their nests. The cool spring breezes blow through your hair. You lay down in the field and look up at the clear blue skies that display fluffy odd shaped clouds to ponder upon.

The children are playing outside with screams of delight in the air while the little ones learn to pedal a two wheeler for their very first time in their young lives.

Ah...these are the simple things in life that we enjoy. These are the little things in life that we will miss if we don't stop and take a moment to remind ourselves of these little joys and do something to get our spirits soaring. With all things "little and small" in life....give insight to spring fresh ideas ...during changing times.

The POSITIVE ATTITUDE for the Weary Soul was founded in June of 2007 to give a ‘safe haven' to those who needed a place to go when the soul got weary.  This group has continuously grown and we continue to have these contests to support our ActiveRain Community and its members.

Let's get this community rocking and rolling with "Spring Cleaning & Fresh Ideas For Changing Times"! Let your creative juices flow with whatever comes to mind when you think of that theme. Hmmm. Spring Cleaning.....and Fresh Ideas.....For Changing Times. Remember those little things in life that you appreciate!

The following are the simple rules for this "Spring Cleaning & Fresh Ideas in Changing Times" entry:

Starts NOW and ends April 12, midnight AR time

You may submit only ONE entry.

At least 500 or more written words filled with your ideas of Spring Cleaning and Fresh Ideas for Changing Times.

Your post must have at least one picture or video for visual appearance. (if you need help please contact me!)

Your title has to include the words Spring Fresh

Your tag line has to include the words Spring Fresh Contest

Join the group Positive Attitude for the Weary Soul group and Post your entry into the   Positive Attitude for the Weary Soul group

Add your link to the comment section of this post

Good luck and great writing!!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

***BOB STEWART kindly responded to my request for points awarded and this is what we came up with:

First Place:   3000 points!

Second Place: 1500 points!

Third Place: 1000 points!

Four Honorable Mentions: 500 points!

All other entries THAT WERE NOT winners:   200 extra points!

Judges:

Kathy McGraw Realtor® in Banning, CA- Celling Realty. She also moderates for the POSITIVE ATTITUDE for the Weary Soul group and has been a consistent voice in ActiveRain for almost two years. With her ‘no bones about it' she is the essence of "being positive does not mean I let you run over me"

Ann Cummings RE/MAX Coast to Coast - Portsmouth New Hampshire Ann is a 2.5 year veteran member of ActiveRain and one of my favorite Localism writers (honestly...one of my mentors) She has supported all of our members throughout her time here and one of the most 'real' people with her straight forward attitude.

Linda Bourgault is one of my dearest friends from Hawaii and we initially met because of my affiliation with her husband Bruce (he was a loan officer who frequented our office often). Since his death, it took her a year before she came back to ActiveRain...and in full force!

Deb Brooks Lake Livingston Real Estate, in Huntsville, TX is founder of one of my favorite groups Diary of a Realtor and most recently started her outside blog for the group with loads of wonderful entries for not just real estate...but everything real estate industry related (which is just about everything).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reflections of Spring

With childlike dreams

Of yesteryear ....that we hold dear

Such a simple life

Of all the little things

That ought....not be forgot.

Happy Spring!

A Healing prayer for Billie... and Bryant too!

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:20:50 -0500

Billie and Bryant—

My plan was to give both of you some CRAP, but I decided a softer approach was needed for today.

Here is a healing prayer I hope will help heal your Body and your Spirit! Both of you are in our daily prayers. We are holding you close in our hearts and minds. We can't wait to welcome you back into the RAIN!

Just as the soft rains fill the streams,
pour into the rivers, and join together in the oceans,
so may the power of every moment of your goodness
flow forth to awaken and heal all beings--
those here now, those gone before, those yet to come.

By the power of every moment of your goodness,
may your heart's wishes be soon fulfilled
as completely shining as the bright full moon,
as magically as by a wish-fulfilling gem.

By the power of every moment of your goodness,
may all dangers be averted and all disease be gone.
May no obstacle come across your way.
May you enjoy fulfillment and long life.

For all in whose heart dwells respect,
who follow the wisdom and compassion, of the Way,
may your life prosper in the four blessings
of old age, beauty, happiness and strength.

I've also included a link to a video by Boyd Miller (a flickr friend, artist and photographer from Oregon) that will help you meditate upon your healing.

Please know we are all thinking of you and pray for the best outcome possible.

Blessings—

Linda

tripping through the tulips...

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 10:23:16 -0500

tripping through the tulips...

I love flowers. I enjoy them whenever I see them. There are few flowers I do not find appealing. However, initially I was not a tulip fan, but as with most things... given some time to develop an appreciation for something I found something to appreciate. So it is with tulips. It seems every time I turn around I see a tulip, I'm receiving tulips or thinking about planting them so they'll be around next year to enjoy. The following photos are part of my recent love affair with—tulips.

Speechless Sundays—The Sun's Reflection by my flickr friend, Boyd Miller

Linda Bourgault (lulugraphix-creative design & DD Enterprises-Loss Mitigation) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 21:58:05 -0500