Prudential Red Lodge Real Estate: Red Lodge (It's Good to Be Here!!) Blog

Same Deer...Different Angle!

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:31:48 -0600

You first saw the holiday deer in the following post: A Very Bright Deer Hiding Behind the Tree in Red Lodge, Montana.

But sometimes, taking the photo from a different angle tells a different story or in this case adds to it.

You be the judge!

Happy Holidays from Red Lodge!

Gerry Khatchikian, ASA, TRC (4 languages spoken: English, French, Spanish, Armenian)
Realtor Associate

ASA: Associate of the Society of Actuaries TRC: Transnational Referral Certification

Prudential Red Lodge Real Estate
PO Box 947, 103 South Broadway
Red Lodge, MT 59068

406-446-2123
800-752-2499

Gerry@RedLodgeLand.com
www.PrudentialRedLodgeRealEstate.com

All photos and/or written content produced by Gerry Khatchikian. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Gerry Khatchikian, Realtor Associate with Prudential Red Lodge Real Estate.

Mommy, Where Do White Deer Come From?

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:26:39 -0600

This is an unexpected follow-up post to A Very Bright Deer Hiding Behind the Tree in Red Lodge, Montana.

My outdoor Christmas light deer decoration was visited by two deer this morning.

I assume these deer wanted to come by and check out the latest deer on the block.

I thought it was pretty funny to see them hang out next to my Christmas deer decoration.

I am glad I was able to capture this interesting deer reunion!

Put your cursor on the photo to see what they might have said after getting acquainted with the white deer.

Happy holidays from Red Lodge, Montana.

Gerry Khatchikian, ASA, TRC (4 languages spoken: English, French, Spanish, Armenian)
Realtor Associate

ASA: Associate of the Society of Actuaries TRC: Transnational Referral Certification

Prudential Red Lodge Real Estate
PO Box 947, 103 South Broadway
Red Lodge, MT 59068

406-446-2123
800-752-2499

Gerry@RedLodgeLand.com
www.PrudentialRedLodgeRealEstate.com

Festival of Lights - The History of Hanukkah

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:52:34 -0600

Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah) begins tonight.

Hanukkah is also known as the Festival Of Lights and is Hebrew for dedication.

Here is a good video that explains the history of Hanukkah.

http://www.history.com/video.do?name=culture&bcpid=1681694254&bclid=1675979339

I want to take this moment to wish a "Happy Hanukkah" to all of my friends, clients and prospects who celebrate this festive time of the year.

For some interesting U.S. stamps commemorating Hanukkah, check out the following post by Russel Ray: MC, SG, HH, HH, HK, and HNY - Part four: Happy Hanukkah!

Name that Photo! What Is that Thing on Top of the Roof? - The Big Reveal

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:58:42 -0600

This the reveal post for Name that Photo! What Is that Thing on Top of the Roof?

We had a pretty good participation for this guessing game.

We had lots of interesting anwers and I want to thank everyone that entered a guess and made it fun reading the comments.

The first person who came up with the correct answer was: Mary Douglas, REALTOR ®, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado (United Country Ponderosa Realty) . She put all the clues together and determined that the thing on top of the roof was a flying pig. It is featured in the logo for Babcock & Miles. You could see it on their website at www.babcockandmiles.com . They were one of my most memorable stops along this year's Christmas Stroll. They were the ones with the delicious pink pig with wings cookies which I took a photo of and shared in my post: Red Lodge Christmas Stroll - Two Evenings Full of Good Food, Music and Memorable Characters - Photo Journal of December 5, 2009 .

Beside the website mentioned above, you can get more info about Babcock and Miles by visiting my post: Babcock & Miles - Merchants of the Delectable .

OK, enough words and let's get to a non-blurry version of the same photo to reveal the Babcock and Miles flying pig which appeared in time on the roof for the holiday season. Here it is as photographed on the second night of the Christmas Stroll.

Thank you again to everyone who played. Special mention to Elizabeth Bolton - Cambridge MA Real Estate Agent (Coldwell Banker Cambridge, Massachusetts) for also getting the correct answer and to Deborah Stone (Realty Source-Bankers Hill- San Diego, CA) for being the first to realize it was something with wings.

A Very Bright Deer Hiding Behind the Tree in Red Lodge, Montana

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:11:29 -0600

A Very Bright (Bright with Lights!) Deer Hiding Behind the Tree in Red Lodge, Montana

The following are 3 photos of the same night scene photographed on December 8, 2009 in Red Lodge.

The first photo was taken standing up and trying to stay still with the camera in my hands. Of course, that is something that does not work for taking good photos at night. The photo is blurry but I got an interesting light effect as a result.

The second photo was taken with the beanie bag technique,a great tip from Al and Peggy in their post: Friday Photo: How To Take The Perfect Night Shot .

The third photo was the second photo modified in Picasa. I reduced the glare by making it a back and white photo for the right portion of the photo (also added a bit more contrast) but kept the color for the tree lights.

It is always interesting to see the multiple variations possible with the same scene from the way it is photographed and from the additional touches done via a photo software. Which one of the above 3 photos is your favorite?

Since we are on the subject of bright lights and blurry photo, you should check out Name that Photo! What Is that Thing on Top of the Roof? for a very blurry photo and see if you can guess the right answer (the reveal will be done later tonight).

Happy holidays from Red Lodge, Montana.

Gerry Khatchikian, ASA, TRC (4 languages spoken: English, French, Spanish, Armenian)
Realtor Associate

ASA: Associate of the Society of Actuaries TRC: Transnational Referral Certification

Prudential Red Lodge Real Estate
PO Box 947, 103 South Broadway
Red Lodge, MT 59068

406-446-2123
800-752-2499

Gerry@RedLodgeLand.com
www.PrudentialRedLodgeRealEstate.com

Red Lodge Christmas Stroll - Two Evenings Full of Good Food, Music and Memorable Characters - Photo Journal of December 5, 2009

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 02:44:40 -0600

Red Lodge Christmas Stroll - Two Evenings Full of Fun, Food, Music and Memorable Characters - Photo Journal of December 5, 2009

On the second night of the Christmas Stroll in Red Lodge (www.redlodge.com/stroll), I made my way out of the Prudential Red Lodge office (www.PrudentialRedLodge.com) from the back door.

Anyone feeling in the mood for some disco dancing?

I went through the parking lot and across the street to my favorite wine and speciality food store: Babcock & Miles (www.babcockandmiles.com). It was snowing and it added a sense of magic to the evening.

Not only did they have a master chef at the store which was dishing out some mouth watering gourmet food, but they also had some very original holiday cookies.

Next, I took a break along my stroll to watch and listen to a band playing some holiday music.

Next stop is the Sylvan Peak store (http://www.shopredlodge.com/shoprl/pc/_store_level_3.asp?IDBrand=5) which was packed with night shoppers. There, behind the counter, I saw a friendly face who managed to surprise me with her elf appearance.

Oh my! Those were some big ears for an elf! Do You Hear What I Hear?

As I stepped out to the snow to continue my stroll, I noticed that there were many local residents who decided to have their dog participate in the stroll. Here is a photo I managed to snap while on the go.

The street was full of unexpected and memorable characters!

In the photo above is my dear friend Susan which I managed to convince to pose in between two enormous cookies (they were promoting girl scout cookies and raising funds for the boy and girl scouts of Red Lodge).

Just after seeing the giant cookies, I came across another surprising appearance in a store window.

These beautiful ladies were striking interesting poses in the window and were promoting a health and fitness store for women.

I continued North and got to Kibler and Kirch (www.kiblerandkirch.com), a great furniture and interior decor store. The place was very well decorated for the holidays! There was more delicious food awaiting as well some more holiday musical entertainment. Talk about more treats for the eyes, the ears and the stomach!

After another interesting indoor visit, I ventured back outside and continued my stroll North and headed to Lights on Broadway (www.manta.com/company/mm0bthp).

When I got there I was greeted by the owners Tammy and Laurie and they did not waste any time to ask me if I wanted to try their chili or the egg nog. I could not resist trying the lightly spiked egg nog. Here is a special chandelier that was altered to display the holiday colors.

Drink in hand, I thanked the hostesses and went outside to continue my stroll. All along main street, there were many fire pits in place for those wanting to take a break and get some warmth around a nice fire. I thought they added additional ambiance to the Christmas Stroll. You be the judge by looking at the following photo.

The snow was continuing to fall. It was interesting to see the various reactions of the people strolling on main street. Some were walking at a fast pace between stores to avoid getting too much snow on them. Some were happy to see the snow and to take their time enjoying every bit of the outdoor stroll. There were also those younger ones who loved the snow and took advantage of the street being closed to automobile traffic to make snow angels.

Here are two other characters that appeared along the stroll (only one is real).

Even at the Christmas Stroll in Red Lodge, seing a real indian is not something you would expect. One of many memorable characters and likely the most special and unexpected person that I got to encounter along my stroll.

One other unusual photo posted in my blog. One of me in front of the very popular Red Lodge sign: the Red Lodge Cafe sign. I am wearing my Montreal Canadiens winter hat ("tuque" as they would say it in Quebec).

This completes the photo journal of my fun filled evening of Christmas strolling in Red Lodge!

Happy holiday season from Red Lodge, Montana. It's Good to Be Here!!

Gerry Khatchikian, ASA, TRC (4 languages spoken: English, French, Spanish, Armenian)
Realtor Associate

ASA: Associate of the Society of Actuaries TRC: Transnational Referral Certification

Prudential Red Lodge Real Estate
PO Box 947, 103 South Broadway
Red Lodge, MT 59068

406-446-2123
800-752-2499

Gerry@RedLodgeLand.com
www.PrudentialRedLodgeRealEstate.com

Name that Photo! What Is that Thing on Top of the Roof?

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:13:34 -0600

This is something that I noticed at night on top of the roof of one of the stores during the Christmas Stroll.

It was lighted at night and used as decoration on top of the roof but can you tell me what it is?

Of course, the photo is blurry. I did not have a tripod and I did not do a good job to hold the camera still, at least not for this photo. But wait! This should make a good photo to submit in the "Name that Photo" group, no?

I will reveal the answer on Wednesday night. Have fun playing!

Red Lodge Christmas Stroll - This Year's Most Memorable Holiday Character!

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:50:51 -0600

Red Lodge Christmas Stroll - This Year's Most Memorable Holiday Character!

As I am getting ready to post the photos of the second night of the Christmas, I wanted to share this year's most memorable holiday character strolling on main street. Normally that would be Santa. But this year, I believe this Saint Bernard takes the honors. Since many of you commented on his good looks in my previous post (Red Lodge Christmas Stoll - A Couple of Photos of December 4, 2009), I decided to feature him in this post while you wait for the post with the photos of the second night of the Red Lodge Christmas Stroll.

Please don't drool too much while you wait for my next post on this year's Christmas Stroll in Red Lodge. :-)

Stay tuned for more photos of the Christmas Stroll! Woof!

Gerry Khatchikian, ASA, TRC (4 languages spoken: English, French, Spanish, Armenian)
Realtor Associate

ASA: Associate of the Society of Actuaries TRC: Transnational Referral Certification

Prudential Red Lodge Real Estate
PO Box 947, 103 South Broadway
Red Lodge, MT 59068

406-446-2123
800-752-2499

Gerry@RedLodgeLand.com
www.PrudentialRedLodgeRealEstate.com

Red Lodge Christmas Stroll - A Couple of Photos of December 4, 2009

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:47:31 -0600

Red Lodge is in the midst of the Christmas Stroll. Last night was the first night of two of the Christmas Stroll. It was a very busy nights as visitors and locals were out strolling on main street between 6pm and 9pm.

I was mainly at the office helping, meeting and greeting people. We had plenty of food, appetizers and drinks to welcome everyone that dropped by. Champagne was a very popular drink for those coming in. We had tons of food like cooked ham, shrimp, spicy meatballs, sausages and hot soup.

Here are a couple pictures I took late around 8:45pm when the traffic slow down at the office. I hope to take a few more pictures tonight. I got to go get ready for tonight's Christmas Stroll!

Gerry Khatchikian, ASA, TRC (4 languages spoken: English, French, Spanish, Armenian)
Realtor Associate

ASA: Associate of the Society of Actuaries TRC: Transnational Referral Certification

Prudential Red Lodge Real Estate
PO Box 947, 103 South Broadway
Red Lodge, MT 59068

406-446-2123
800-752-2499

Gerry@RedLodgeLand.com
www.PrudentialRedLodgeRealEstate.com

Red Lodge MLS - Market Report - Residential Stastistics as of 11/30/2009

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:07:38 -0600

Red Lodge MLS - Market Report - Residential Statistics as of 11/30/2009

	Active*	Contingent & Pending	Sold in 2009 (Jan 1 to Nov 30)	Avg Sold Price of Sold Listings 2009 (Jan 1 to Nov 30)	Sold in 2008 (Jan 1 to Nov 30)	Avg Sold Price of Sold Listings 2008 (Jan 1 to Nov 30)
City of Red Lodge	97	10	46	$237,751	52	$291,050
Cities Other than Red Lodge	75	4	32	$187,056	39	$219,272
Red Lodge MLS (TOTAL)	172	14	78	$216,042	91	$261,076

* Includes Contingent and Pending

Breakdown of Residential Actives

	City of Red Lodge	Cities Other than Red Lodge	Red Lodge MLS (TOTAL)
$0 to $49,999	0	2	2
$50,000 to $99,999	0	6	6
$100,000 to $149,999	7	8	15
$150,000 to $199,999	14	9	23
$200,000 to $249,999	20	9	29
$250,000 to $299,999	14	11	25
$300,000 to $349,999	17	5	22
$350,000 to $399,999	6	5	11
$400,000 to $499,999	2	2	4
$500,000 +	20	15	35
TOTAL	97	75	172

The above statistics are for information purposes only. Accuracy can not be guaranteed.

Gerry Khatchikian, ASA, TRC (4 languages spoken: English, French, Spanish, Armenian)
Realtor Associate

ASA: Associate of the Society of Actuaries TRC: Transnational Referral Certification

Prudential Red Lodge Real Estate
PO Box 947, 103 South Broadway
Red Lodge, MT 59068

406-446-2123
800-752-2499

Gerry@RedLodgeLand.com
www.PrudentialRedLodgeRealEstate.com

Winter Wonderland is Back in Red Lodge! Time to Get Ready for the Christmas Stroll!

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:39:48 -0600

Winter Wonderland is Back in Red Lodge! Time to Get Ready for the Christmas Stroll!

Red Lodge's Christmas Stroll is only a few days away! It will take place on December 4 and 5 (for more info about the Stroll, visit: www.redlodge.com/stroll/). The town is gearing up for this very popular annual event and what better way for Mother Nature to help out than by painting the town white with a fresh coat of snow this morning.

This is only a teaser post. Come back later this week to see my best photos of last year's Christmas Stroll and a preview of this year's Christmas Stroll festivities. Stay tuned for more on the Red Lodge Christmas Stroll.

It's Good to Be Here!!

Gerry Khatchikian, ASA, TRC (4 languages spoken: English, French, Spanish, Armenian)
Realtor Associate

ASA: Associate of the Society of Actuaries TRC: Transnational Referral Certification

Prudential Red Lodge Real Estate
PO Box 947, 103 South Broadway
Red Lodge, MT 59068

406-446-2123
800-752-2499

Gerry@RedLodgeLand.com
www.PrudentialRedLodgeRealEstate.com

It is December 1st - One Month Left to 2010!

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:05:00 -0600

It is December 1st - One Month Left to 2010!

It is hard to believe that we are already in December. Time seems to fly by. Snow was steadily falling this morning in Red Lodge as a reminder (at least in this part of the country) that we have entered the last month of the year. As I was sipping my morning coffee, I noticed the following 3 visitors perched on a blue spruce right outside the window. They seemed to enjoy the quiet surroundings and were not on any time constraint (lucky for them). It did not take me long to realize that this was the first photo opportunity of the month. :)

Happy month of December!

Gerry Khatchikian, ASA, TRC (4 languages spoken: English, French, Spanish, Armenian)
Realtor Associate

ASA: Associate of the Society of Actuaries TRC: Transnational Referral Certification

Prudential Red Lodge Real Estate
PO Box 947, 103 South Broadway
Red Lodge, MT 59068

406-446-2123
800-752-2499

Gerry@RedLodgeLand.com
www.PrudentialRedLodgeRealEstate.com

Butternut Pumpkin Peanut Soup

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:21:53 -0600

We tried this soup at Thanksgiving and everyone at the table loved it.

Thank you Myrl for sharing this great recipe!

Via Myrl Jeffcoat (GreatWest GMAC Real Estate):

My house is already quite busy getting ready for my family coming home for Thanksgiving. Did I ever mention that I have 4 children, and 7 grandchildren?

This morning I was hauling out the special recipes everyone likes.

The children of one of my daughters, will eat anything and EVERYTHING that is put in front of them. They will even eat things falling from the table, if my dog doesn't reach them first.

Then there are the children of my youngest daughter, who are picky eaters. One of them, my 9 year old grand-daughter is an avid Macaroni and Cheese eater. She doesn't want any special gourmet Mac and Cheese, like Nana makes - She likes it straight out of the Kraft box, cooked with the directions of the side panel, and "unmessed" with.

My oldest daughter is a vegetarian, so you can begin to see what is involved while cooking up a Thanksgiving feast at my house. However, there is one particular soup that they ALL seem to enjoy.

Here's the recipe:

1 Butternut Squash - peeled, cut in chunks, steamed or baked

1 Pumpkin (small) - prepared the same as the Butternut squash, or can substitute canned.

½ Cup Peanut Butter (smooth)

1 14oz can Coconut Milk

2 14 oz cans Chicken Broth

1 Tablespoon Ginger - grated

1 stalk Lemon Grass - cut into 3" - 4" lengths

Anistars (1 or 2)

1 tsp. Cinnamon

1 Tablespoon Garam Masala

½ tsp. Nutmeg

1 Tablespoon Allspice

1 Tablespoon Curry Powder

Preparation: Once Squash and Pumpkin have been cooked tender, put in blender and process with Grated Ginger. Place in large stock-pot with Chicken Broth, Peanut Butter, Coconut Milk. Simmer at low temperature.

Using a 12" square of cheese cloth, create a pouch to contain the Lemon Grass and Anistars. Add to soup and continue simmering.

Add desired spices - Cinnamon, Garam Masala, Nutmeg, Allspice, Curry, etc.

Simmer for an additional half hour, discard the cheese cloth spice pouch and serve.

*Note - This recipe is very forgiving. You can increase or decrease amounts of spices to suit your taste.

Sunset Photos from Absarokee, Montana a.k.a. Big Sky Country

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:24:08 -0600

Sunset Photos from Absarokee, Montana a.k.a Big Sky Country

The following photos were taken in Absarokee (about 30 miles northwest of Red Lodge, Montana) on Thanksgiving day. The sky was so mesmerizing as the turkey was getting ready that I seized the opportunity to take these photos which I am happy to share with you.

This first photo includes the moon (top left of photo).

Here is a panoramic photo (taken a couple of minutes before) so that you can get a better sense of the beautiful landscape and sunset sky.

Here's one to highlight the view of the Beartooth-Absaroka mountain range.

And here's one to leave you with (a zoom towards the sun setting and hiding behind the mountains).

There is something about a sky without any obstructed view no matter which way you look especially at dawn and dust. No wonder they refer to Montana as big sky country.

It's Good to Be Here!!

Gerry Khatchikian, ASA, TRC (4 languages spoken: English, French, Spanish, Armenian)
Realtor Associate

ASA: Associate of the Society of Actuaries TRC: Transnational Referral Certification

Prudential Red Lodge Real Estate
PO Box 947, 103 South Broadway
Red Lodge, MT 59068

406-446-2123
800-752-2499

Gerry@RedLodgeLand.com
www.PrudentialRedLodgeRealEstate.com

Happy Thanksgiving from Red Lodge, Montana - The Attitude of Gratitude

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:52:32 -0600

Happy Thanksgiving from Red Lodge, Montana - The Attitude of Gratitude

I heard the following poem by Melody Beattie for the first time at tonight's Thanksgiving dinner and I wanted to share it with you to say thank you for all the friendships here on ActiveRain.

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."

I extend my best wishes for a happy and healthy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

Moose Monday - Imagine Seeing These Right Outside Your Window!

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:02:45 -0600

Moose Monday - Imagine Seeing These Right Outside Your Window!

The above photo was taken on February 13, 2009. One of our tenants called the office and asked me to come see the view from his window. Red Lodge is a beautiful town to visit and live in. Even the moose think it is a very beautiful town to visit. These moose decided to pay our tenants a visit and enjoy their backyard. It was a first moose sightings for these tenants and they were very surprised and excited to see them right outside their window (you could not ask for a closer look!). A couple of weeks later I called the tenants and gave them a couple of printed photos of the moose in their backyard (see following post for one of the two photos: Moose Monday - Moose in the Backyard in Red Lodge). They were very pleased to have a memory of their moose-ly exciting day in Red Lodge!

Happy monday and have a great week!

Gerry Khatchikian, ASA, TRC (4 languages spoken: English, French, Spanish, Armenian)
Realtor Associate

Moose Monday - Not Your Usual Moose Crossing in Red Lodge!!!

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:51:16 -0600

Not Your Usual Moose Crossing in Red Lodge!!!

The following is the continuation of Moose Monday - My Moose-ly Positive Experience in Red Lodge, Montana and the last part of this 4-part series. To start from the beginning of this moose chase, click on the following link: Moose Monday - Big Bull Moose in Big Sky Country!

It has been about 30 minutes since I first spotted the Bull moose near Grizzly Peak Mountain Homes subdivision in Red Lodge and decided to go on a moose chase (my first). My heart is beating fast with excitement. As I am parked at the Ranger Station parking lot South of Red Lodge, I watch the moose start coming down the hill (towards Highway 212) and disappear behind a few trees. I decide to start the car and go South on Highway 212 to see if I can snap a few more good photos of this big bull moose.

Less than a few seconds later, I think I see the moose running behind trees (on the West side of Highway 212). The moose jumps over a fence between two properties. To my surprise, I see very fast movement through the trees near the fence. Did the bull moose pick up speed? There is fast and very fast! What moved was too fast to be a moose but perhaps something caused the moose to run even faster than what I had seen so far. I slow down the car, pull the car on the edge of the highway (in the emergency lane) and put on the breaks (the only car I see then is one car that was also pulled on the side of the road which I imagined had also stopped to admire the events that were taking place). The suspense what killing me but I did not have to wait too long to get the explanation. Out of nowhere, two white-tail deers jumped on the highway and crossed the street and start going South on the East side of Highway 212. I assume they saw the big bull moose coming towards them and decided they were better off staying as far away from his big antlers as possible. I don't get to catch my breath from this unexpected deer appearance that I get to see this big tall moose come out of behind the trees and also cross the street. This would be my final chance to capture a photo of him. The following is the last photo I took of my moose chase.

Notice the back of the two white-tail deer running on the side of the road (in between the moose's feet). What are the odds of capturing a bull moose and two deer in the wild in the same photo?

Here is a zoom of the above photo so that you can see the white-tails! :)

This completes my moose chase adventure. Till next time! Come back next week for a new moose photo.

Have a great Monday and start to the week!

Moose Monday is a New Active Rain Group!

You can click on the following link to see more moose photos and/or to join this group.

Moose Monday

This is the Group to share everything that is Moose. It can be an actual photo of a real moose, anything (object, work of art, etc.) that depicts a moose and/or a story involving moose. Start your week well with Moose Monday!

Gerry Khatchikian, ASA, TRC (4 languages spoken: English, French, Spanish, Armenian)
Realtor Associate

Red Lodge MLS - Market Report - Residential Statistics as of 10/31/2009

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:27:57 -0600

Red Lodge MLS - Market Report - Residential Statistics as of 10/31/2009

	Active*	Contingent & Pending	Sold in 2009 (Jan 1 to Oct 31)	Avg Sold Price of Sold Listings 2009 (Jan 1 to Oct 31)	Sold in 2008 (Jan 1 to Oct 31)	Avg Sold Price of Sold Listings 2008 (Jan 1 to Oct 31)
City of Red Lodge	103	13	46	$238,186	51	$293,424
Cities Other than Red Lodge	63	4	32	$187,450	35	$229,396
Red Lodge MLS (TOTAL)	166	17	78	$216,992	86	$267,366

* Includes Contingent and Pending

Breakdown of Residential Actives

	City of Red Lodge	Cities Other than Red Lodge	Red Lodge MLS (TOTAL)
$0 to $49,999	0	0	0
$50,000 to $99,999	0	8	8
$100,000 to $149,999	7	8	15
$150,000 to $199,999	12	10	22
$200,000 to $249,999	23	5	28
$250,000 to $299,999	11	10	21
$300,000 to $349,999	16	1	17
$350,000 to $399,999	8	3	11
$400,000 to $499,999	3	4	7
$500,000 +	23	14	37
TOTAL	103	63	166

The above statistics are for information purposes only. Accuracy can not be guaranteed.

Gerry Khatchikian, ASA, TRC (4 languages spoken: English, French, Spanish, Armenian)
Realtor Associate

ASA: Associate of the Society of Actuaries TRC: Transnational Referral Certification

Prudential Red Lodge Real Estate
PO Box 947, 103 South Broadway
Red Lodge, MT 59068

406-446-2123
800-752-2499

Gerry@RedLodgeLand.com
www.PrudentialRedLodgeRealEstate.com

Sky Paintings by Mother Nature Above Red Lodge - Take a Look!

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:05:45 -0500

I got inspired by Debi Boucher's recent post on the virga clouds (Active Rain PhotoBlogger Group - Virga) and decided to share some of my recent photos of the clouds in the sky here in Big Sky country (nickname for Montana).

The first painting was photographed in the morning of October 15, 2009. The little patches of white here and there in the clouds complement the white on the ground. The finishing touch was the orange glow seen in the middle and bottom of this painting.

The second painting was photographed in the morning of October 24, 2009. With the accent on the orange color, I think it was Mother's Nature way to remind us that Halloween was only one week away!

The third painting was photographed in the morning of October 26, 2009. It looks like Mother Nature drew a laurel's wreath right above the mountain.

And the last one of this series of 4 paintings was photographed around noon on the same day as the previous painting (October 26). I thought this was an interesting group of clouds and Mother Nature made sure that they stood out by stroking them in white and with a big brush!

Mother Nature always amazes me with her paintings of the sky here in Red Lodge as well as everywhere else int he world. Not only she gets up early and likes to surprise us with her amazing paintings in the morning but she also creates amazing masterpieces all day and especially at night so that we can end our day on a good note (you will know what I mean by visiting my following posts: Moon Over Red Lodge - Painting by Mother Nature and Friday Foto - Red Lodge By Night). What can I say? She is a tireless woman and she makes our life so much better thanks not only to her beautiful paintings in the sky but also all her wonderful creations on Earth.

I hope you enjoyed this small sample of her sky paintings. Which one was your favorite painting out of this series of 4 paintings?

Gerry Khatchikian, ASA, TRC (4 languages spoken: English, French, Spanish, Armenian)
Realtor Associate

ASA: Associate of the Society of Actuaries TRC: Transnational Referral Certification

Prudential Red Lodge Real Estate
PO Box 947, 103 South Broadway
Red Lodge, MT 59068

406-446-2123
800-752-2499

Gerry@RedLodgeLand.com
www.PrudentialRedLodgeRealEstate.com

Not-So-Wordless Wednesday - The Light Above the Curtain

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:59:38 -0500

The following photos were taken in Red Lodge at sunrise on October 21, 2009.

I was a foggy morning. I took the time to stare at the morning sky and enjoy this unusual curtain effect.

The sun took a little longer to makes it appearance but I was in no hurry. I stood there and waited to see what other surprise Mother Nature had in store that morning. A few moments later, I was rewarded for my patience and was able to capture this beautiful view of the sun peaking over the fog curtain (the fog completely disappeared a few hours later and it was a nice and sunny day in Red Lodge).

It's Good to Be Here!!

Gerry Khatchikian, ASA, TRC (4 languages spoken: English, French, Spanish, Armenian)
Realtor Associate

ASA: Associate of the Society of Actuaries TRC: Transnational Referral Certification

Prudential Red Lodge Real Estate
PO Box 947, 103 South Broadway
Red Lodge, MT 59068

406-446-2123
800-752-2499

Gerry@RedLodgeLand.com
www.PrudentialRedLodgeRealEstate.com

Moose Monday - My Moose-ly Positive Experience in Red Lodge, Montana

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:04:40 -0500

My Moose-ly Positive Experience in Red Lodge, Montana

The following post is the continuation of: Moose Monday - Going on a Moose Chase in Red Lodge, Montana

After pausing and looking towards me, the bull moose decided to run on Ski Run Road and he picked up lots of speed! I was wondering whether I had b.o. (I had not had time to shower yet that morning) and he could smell it from 100 yards away or if he did not recognize the type of car I was in and beileve it to be a very large predator. As much as I could step on the accelerator and catch up with him with my car on Ski Run road, I made sure I did not make the moose feel threatened by the paparazzi and left plenty of space between him and the car. The last thing I wanted was to have him turn around and come charging towards the car. I was lucky to not have any other cars on Ski Run Road and actually slowed down (after making sure there was no car behind me) to capture the following photo with my camera's zoom lens.

Note: Ski Run Road was a quiet street on that day in October, it is mainly used by residents of the area but once the Red Lodge Mountain ski resort opens after Thanksgiving, it becomes a busy street with all the skiers traveling to get to Red Lodge Mountain and back to town. Also don't let the above photo fool you, the moose is taller than it may appear, most of the bottom portion of his feet is in the snow!

He was head towards the National Forest Service ranger station on Highway 212 South of Red Lodge. I hoped he was not going to report me to the Ranger!

He must have understood the road sign (seen in the photo) and made a sharp left turn to go down a ditch by the side of the road and then climb on a hill which runs parallel to Highway 212. I had to continue down Ski Run Road and turn left on Highway 212 to actually park in the ranger station's parking area and capture a few more photos of the bull moose.

Here he is on the hill (next to Highway 212) and behind the National Forest Service ranger station.

And here is a better one as I was also able to capture some of the Fall scenery in the same photo.

By the way, the snow in Red Lodge in the above photos, has all melted as of the day of this post.

I hope you enjoyed the photos of the moose chase. I will conclude the story with some additional photos in next week's Moose Monday post (Moose Monday - Not Your Usual Moose Crossing in Red Lodge!!!). Have a great week!

Moose Monday is a New Active Rain Group!

You can click on the following link to see more moose photos and/or to join this group.

Moose Monday

Gerry Khatchikian, ASA, TRC (4 languages spoken: English, French, Spanish, Armenian)
Realtor Associate

Moose Monday - Going on a Moose Chase in Red Lodge, Montana

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:00:43 -0500

This post continues where my previous Moose post (Moose Monday - Big Bull Moose in Big Sky Country!) left off.

By the time I got in the car, a couple of minutes had already gone since my bull moose sighting. Will I get the chance to find him to take some more photos? I am thinking to myself, he should not be difficult to spot with his impressive size and Mother Nature's recent painting of the ground in a bright white. Wait! I can see some moose tracks on the snow! It looks like he was headed South towards Ski Run Road. I am hoping he did not go too far and out of sight from the road as I had no intention to get out of the car to chase him on foot (moose are beautiful to watch but keep in mind they are wild animals and they will attack if they feel threatened).

So I drive down to Palisades Campground Road and just before I get to Ski Run Road, what do I see cross the road in front of me? The Bull Moose! Time to reach for the camera but no luck! The bull moose is on the move and picks up speed after noticing my car. He dashes through the open field and is headed towards the Red Lodge Mountain. I could not believe how fast he was running especially for his size. By the time I get the camera, he had managed to get behind some trees and I could not get a good photo of him from Palisades Campground Road. So I decided to turn right on Ski Run Road and follow him and hope he gets away from the trees.

Sure enough he predicted my move and decided to go back on his steps, across Palisades Campground road, over a fence and across someone's private property. The snow on the ground was deeper and he somehow slowed down. I did manage to turn around, come back on Palisades Campground Road and stopped the car on the side of the road. I finally caught my lucky break! He decided to stop for a few seconds as he turned his head to see who is this crazy guy chasing him in a car for the past few minutes. Once he realized I was not carrying a gun and all I was really interested in was a few good photos of him, he quickly glanced at my camera. I missed the photo when he was looking my way for a second but here is the precious moment that I was able to capture.

Here is a close-up of his face and his big antlers!

I got a few more photos of this big bull moose. There was a little bit more moose chasing! See the continuation at: Moose Monday - My Moose-ly Positive Experience in Red Lodge, Montana

Gerry Khatchikian, ASA, TRC (4 languages spoken: English, French, Spanish, Armenian)
Realtor Associate

The Snow is Melting in Red Lodge, Montana. We Are Returning to Fall Weather!

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:35:46 -0500

The Snow is Melting in Red Lodge, Montana. We Are Returning to Fall Weather!

You never know what to expect with weather when you live at 5,555 feet above sea level and in beautiful Red Lodge, Montana. We had above seasonal temperatures in September and then we were surprised by Mother Nature with snow on September 30th and early in October. For those of you who left me comments in my previous two posts with regards to "snow already?" I just want to assure you that most it is gone. I heard that some of you back in the Northeast may be getting your first snow fall today.

The following photo was taken right at sunrise on Friday, October 2009. Snow came early but I am happy to report that it did not stick for long and the green grass is back!

Fall is back in Big Sky country! But who knows we may be getting some more white stuff before the end of the month. As long as it does not get cold, I am happy.

Have a great weekend!

If you enjoyed the above photo and want to see more photos of Mother Nature's recent creations here in Red Lodge, Montana, just click on the following links:

Wordless Wednesday - A Cute One Amongst All the Foliage

Moose Monday - Big Bull Moose in Big Sky Country!

The Fall Colors in Red Lodge - Yellow, Orange, Red, Green... and White? Where Did Fall Go?

Gerry Khatchikian, ASA, TRC (4 languages spoken: English, French, Spanish, Armenian)
Realtor Associate

ASA: Associate of the Society of Actuaries TRC: Transnational Referral Certification

Prudential Red Lodge Real Estate
PO Box 947, 103 South Broadway
Red Lodge, MT 59068

406-446-2123
800-752-2499

Gerry@RedLodgeLand.com
www.PrudentialRedLodgeRealEstate.com

Wordless Wednesday - A Cute One Amongst All the Foliage

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:30:45 -0500

Moose Monday - Big Bull Moose in Big Sky Country!

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:34:06 -0500

Big Bull Moose in Big Sky Country!

This bull moose was spotted just south of Red Lodge, Montana on the morning of October 6, 2009.

I got alerted to his presence by my dogs who kept on barking. He was standing there (big and tall) and I could not believe his sheer size and the contrast of his figure with the snow (hard to miss seeing him once you have your head turned in the right direction!). I was able to get my camera and take this photo through the slight opening of my door. However, the loud barking of my dogs also alerted him of my presence and he did not want to stay around for more photos. He started running away and not even my powerful zoom lens could snap another good photo of him.

My previous bull moose sighting was about a year ago and in the same spot as if the moose (not sure if it the same one) decided to pay me an annual visit. Not sure what hit me (perhaps the fact that I was running out of photos to share on my Moose Monday group and needed some new ones) but it took me a few seconds to decide to go on a moose chase, a first! I made sure to attend to the dogs and leave them securely in the house, put on some warm clothes (I was still in my comfortable morning clothes but did not bother changing, only adding more layers), put my winter boots on, take my camera, hop in the car and go on a moose chase! The adrenaline was rushing in me....

See the continuation at:

Moose Monday - Going on a Moose Chase in Red Lodge, Montana

Gerry Khatchikian, ASA, TRC (4 languages spoken: English, French, Spanish, Armenian)
Realtor Associate