Sallie's blog... Baton Rouge Real Estate

SPACE SHUTTLE AND SPACE STATION FLYOVERS, BATON ROUGE, LA

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:36:23 -0600

Thanks to Bob Southard of Marietta, GA for bringing this to my attention. If you enjoy following NASA activities, you might like to step outside in the evenings to see the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle passing over Baton Rouge. Sunset this evening is 5:04 p.m. The weather forecast this week varies from sunny to partly cloudy, so the skies could be clear enough to see them.

For more interesting NASA information, you can visit http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/realdata/.

THE FOLLOWING ISS SIGHTINGS ARE POSSIBLE FROM FRI NOV 20 TO SAT DEC 05

SATELLITE	LOCAL	DURATION	MAX ELEV	APPROACH	DEPARTURE
	DATE/TIME	(MIN)	(DEG)	(DEG-DIR)	(DEG-DIR)

ISS	Wed Nov 25/06:53 PM	< 1	14	11 above NW	14 above NW
ISS	Thu Nov 26/05:41 PM	4	20	11 above N	13 above E
ISS	Fri Nov 27/06:03 PM	5	88	11 above NW	11 above SE
ISS	Sat Nov 28/06:29 PM	2	17	17 above SW	10 above S
ISS	Mon Nov 30/05:39 PM	1	17	17 above SSW	10 above S
ISS	Fri Dec 04/06:20 AM	1	15	10 above S	15 above SSE

THE FOLLOWING SHUTTLE SIGHTINGS ARE POSSIBLE FROM FRI NOV 20 TO TUE DEC 01

SATELLITE	LOCAL	DURATION	MAX ELEV	APPROACH	DEPARTURE
	DATE/TIME	(MIN)	(DEG)	(DEG-DIR)	(DEG-DIR)

SHUTTLE	Wed Nov 25/06:53 PM	< 1	13	11 above NW	13 above NW
SHUTTLE	Thu Nov 26/05:42 PM	4	21	11 above N	14 above E
SHUTTLE	Fri Nov 27/06:04 PM	5	87	11 above NW	11 above SE
SHUTTLE	Sat Nov 28/06:30 PM	1	17	17 above SW	11 above S
SHUTTLE	Mon Nov 30/05:41 PM	1	16	16 above SSW	10 above S

ONLY DAYS WITH SIGHTING OPPORTUNITIES ARE LISTED

The Power of Azaleas

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:24:45 -0600

My favorite time of year ... when all these azaleas are in full bloom! My backyard neighbor installed a border between our yards with lagustrum and bradford pear trees down the middle, indian hawthorne bushes on his side, and these gorgeous azaleas on our side. Thank you, Mr. Frank. We return the favor by taking care of the azaleas, especially watering when they start to droop in the hot summer months. I get worried as soon as I see a little droop ... these plants are just too beautiful to think of losing them. Hope you all enjoy the slide show.

Southdowns Subdivision Highlights, Baton Rouge, LA

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:03:59 -0500

In the early 1920's a 640-acre tract of plantation land was purchased by Alfred St. Amant for the purpose of developing a new neighborhood. At that time, surrounded by farmland and swamps, the new neighborhood was outside of city limits, and water had to be piped from a nearby artesian well. An interesting article about the history and ambience of Southdowns, "The Center of the Universe," was written by Ed Cullen. (The Advocate, March 22, 2009)

Situated within walking and biking distance to the Louisiana State University, this subdivision has the significant advantage of being close to shopping areas and Baton Rouge Beach, as well as City Park Lake and University Lake. Naturally, it is a preferred housing location for many LSU faculty and employees as well as students. According to data provided by OnBoard, LLC, almost 70 percent of residents have an undergraduate or graduate college degree. The average household income is $86,426.

The Southside Civic Association (SSCA) represents 12 subdivisions, including Southdowns. It exists to "preserve and promote the character and quality of life of the Southside area--one of the most beautiful and desirable areas in our city."

The Krewe of Southdowns runs its famous Mardi Gras parade through the neighborhood on the Friday night before the Baton Rouge Spanish Town parade. Some call it a "warm-up" for the big parade the next day. What a great place to live to have a front-seat view of Mardi Gras!

Full-service restaurants nearby include the Acme Oyster House and Parrain's, both serving Louisiana seafood specialty dishes.

There are only six homes for sale in Southdowns, ranging in price from $153,000 (1,295 sq ft) to $1,595,000 (5,368 sq ft). If you or anyone you know is interested in buying a home in Southdowns or any other subdivision in the area, please call me. I would love to assist you in your home-buying plans.

Call Sallie at (225) 266-3562

Horses of the Storm ... Hurricane Katrina Revisited

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:23:24 -0500

Here we are at the the 4-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and right in the middle of another storm season. So far this season has been an easy one with no major storms. However, residents are getting prepared, and taking care of our pets is a major concern.

The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine played a major role in the rescue and care of pets from New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. The school's website provides important informaton for anyone living with pets in storm-prone areas.

Ky Mortensen, director of advancement for the Equine Health Studies Program, has written a book entitled Horses of the Storm: The Incredible Rescue of Katrina's Horses. The book review states that in the midst of Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005, was born the largest equine rescue ever. Ky presents readers with a collection of gripping and ultimately inspiring first-hand accounts of how the LSU's Equine Rescue Team spearheaded a dedicated group of heroic staff and volunteers that saved hundreds of horses. Horses of the Storm will also contain take-away tips to prepare horse owners before, during and after a disaster. This book is available in paperback on-line at Barnes & Noble (www.bn.com) and Amazon (www.amazon.com). **** A portion of the proceeds goes to the LSU Equine Health Studies Program. (reprinted from LSU website)

For more information on hurricane preparation visit: http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu/hurricane_information.htm#Pet_Owners

This photo from my own collection is the sculpture/fountain in front of the LSU Vet School.

SPEECHLESS SUNDAY ... Nisky Hill Cemetery (Bethlehem,PA)

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 09:59:18 -0500

LAKE AT WHITE OAK, May 2009, Yard of the Month Award

Sat, 23 May 2009 08:58:26 -0500

Congratulations to the homeowners for a lovely yard and garden. You make us all proud to be living at the Lake at White Oak.

Yard of the Month Award, April 2009, Lake at White Oak

Tue, 05 May 2009 16:24:35 -0500

18533 North Lake Shadow Dr.

Beautifully designed and landscaped yard with an inviting entrance and

gardens to view along the way toward the front door.

Great job! Congratulations to the homeowners.

Baton Rouge Art League

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 11:25:09 -0500

Members of the Baton Rouge Art League gathered at the LSU Rural Life Museum to decorate for the organization's 75-year Diamond Jubilee Art Exhibition and Sale. This annual event is held to raise funds for the purchase of a painting for the Art League's permanent collection. Guests are invited by Art League members, and attendance is by invitation only.

Carol Arabie and Jamie Berdon arrange a large vase of willow, palms, and other greenery. Jamie stuffed a half-dozen fresh, large, white hydrangea blooms in the bottom of the vase to make an attractive base for the plants.

The Baton Rouge Art League was organized in 1934 to:

1. cultivate appreciation of art among its members and the community,

2. hold an art exhibit each year,

3. try to purchase one painting each year,

4. work toward developing art in the public school curriculum, and

5. present a scholarship to an LSU student native to Louisiana.

The Art League's permanent collection of artwork hangs in the Louisiana State Archives.

Yard of the Month, April 2009, The Lake at White Oak

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 09:26:08 -0500

April 2009 Award Winner

5648 North Shore Drive

This beautiful home sits at the entrance to the north side of The Lake at White Oak Subdivision. A wide expanse of colorful gardens and green lawn gives owners and visitors a welcome invitation to see more of the neighborhood. Congratulations to the homeowners. We appreciate you!

Really Old Photos

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 09:11:31 -0500

About 3 years ago I started exploring my family's history on ancestry.com, and rootsweb.com, and all over the internet, looking for any website with information about my ancestors. All of my documentation includes as many old photos as I can find. And there's another project -- scanning old slides and black and white negatives. My relatives have been very helpful in putting up with me and my requests for scanned images of their old photos. After the scanning is finished, I might end up with a great photo, but if not, then there is the restoring phase. That's the fun part. Here is my most favorite photo of my grandfather (on the left) and his older sister. Don't they look like little angels?

The first photo is the original digital image that my cousin sent to me. The one below is my restored version.

I used JASC Paint Shop Pro to make the enhancements. The clone tool seems to be the one that I use the most. I just copy a small portion of the photo background and paste it randomly around the area to cover up scratches and imperfections. Some photos might take some time to fix, but I think one hour is the most I have spent on any one photo. When the results turn out the way I like them, and I can turn around and share the photos with family members, it is well worth the time.

YARD OF THE MONTH, Lake at White Oak, Baton Rouge, LA

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 15:48:18 -0500

March 2009

18432 North Lake Shadow

Winter Wonderland ... SNOW in Baton Rouge!!

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 10:57:27 -0600

Weather forecasts called for snow, but who would have guessed anything liked this! My husband got up in the early hours around 5:30 am to take out the dog, then came in and woke me to see! And of course we had to wake our daughter. Here we were, up before sunrise, and got a lot of photos. We spent the whole morning playing in the backyard with the dogs ... they loved it!! At one point it was very much like a blizzard. We got about 4 inches in the Lake at White Oak. Some neighborhood boys came around and made a snowman for us ... nice kids!!

Merry Christmas, Sallie

Yard of the Month Award, November 2008, Lake at White Oak, Baton Rouge, LA

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 09:14:43 -0600

18422 North Lake Shadow Drive

Colorful crotons and ceramic pots adorn these beautiful gardens. Special features like the blue

glass ball add focal points that highlight the area. In September and October there were no awards

due to the impact of Hurricane Gustav. The streets in LAWO were lined on both sides with 8-foot

high piles of debris. It's nice to have everything back to normal, and these gardens show how

much work has been put into the cleanup project. Congratulations to the homeowners.

Tag -- I'm IT!

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:48:15 -0600

I have just been tagged by Chris Fisher for this meme.

Here is the way it works:

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 56.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next two to five sentences.
5. Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book or the intellectual one. Pick the Closest.
6. Tag five people to do the same

*The one book that this can not be is the Bible*

The bookcase behind me in my office is piled with books, so I picked the one on top.

Until the Final Hour: Hitler's Last Secretary. My book club met to discuss this book yesterday.

"We were right up under the roof in two little rooms of the old Haus Wachenfeld, which had belonged to Hitler's sister and later became the Berghof. Everything had been modernized and improved. Mine was a delightful, femine little bedroom decorated in pale blue and white, with a toilet mirror, a little desk and a lovely bed." (p. 56)

A good companion book to this one is Night by Elie Wiesel. The two books show stark contrast between what was actually going on in the concentration camps and the young uninformed mind of Hitler's secretary. Serious reading and well worth the time.

Now I get to tag 5 ActiveRainers, from the Pets are People Too group:

Chris Ann Cleland, Jane Grant, Lyn Sims, Jim Frimmer, and Mark Duncan

Enjoy!

Night Lights at the Lake at White Oak

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:02:32 -0500

YARD OF THE MONTH AWARD FOR AUGUST

18312 Weatherwood Drive

This was a fun experiment. When the homeowner asked if I had driven by during the evening to see the lighted gardens, I had to admit "no" to that, but what a great idea (and truly an experiment) to take night-light photos. First though, I had to figure out how to use the manual adjustments on my camera. With a tripod, and accompanied by a hoard of mosquitoes, I set the f-stop to 16 and let the camera set its own speed. And voila! Some very pretty colors. Gorgeous beds of caladiums and a beautiful yard at the Lake at White Oak. Congratulations to the homeowners.

New Listing in the Lake at White Oak, Baton Rouge, LA

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:03:13 -0500

Price change 6/14/2009

$299,000

Louisiana Pet Rescue Groups

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:21:45 -0500

REALTORS, Help People, Help Pets

The most recent news about pets and the economy ... pets lose again. Homeowners feeling the effects of recession, even if they aren't in foreclosure, are giving up dogs that they can no longer afford to feed.

There are many rescue groups trying to find homes for deserted pets. Here are a few contact links for groups in Louisiana.

Creole Poodle Club Rescue http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/LA135.html

Hokies Hounds Beagle Rescue http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/hokieshounds.html

Louisiana Weskie Rescue http://louisianawestierescue.org/

Schnauzer Rescue of Louisiana http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/LA87.html

Friends of Rescued Mastiffs, Inc. http://www.conceptsdesign.com/mastiff/

Muttshack http://www.muttshack.org/about.htm

CAAWS http://www.caaws.org Ace, yep, that's me, the, highest card possible in the deck. Unless of course you are playing Go Fish. But who likes to fish? Oh yeah, labs love the water, and I am no exception. I'm trying out for the swim team this coming summer.

Baton Rouge Sign Thief Stopped

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:19:29 -0500

SIGN THIEF STOPPED !!

Front page news. My husband said "Sal, they got the sign thief" so I looked at the Metro section of the morning paper. "Where is it?" "Front page," he said. There it is, at the top of "The Advocate" front page. http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/26028934.html

All of the Realtors in Baton Rouge know about the Sign Thief. And most of us have had our own experiences with disappearing signs. His argument is that he takes signs only from public property, and he surely feels that he is doing his civic duty. One Realtor made a very determined effort to place her sign in a landscaped garden that is within the subdivision's common private property. Before her open house opened, the sign was gone.

In one discussion at the office, another Realtor said "Just get over it. It's the cost of business." Yes, signs do cost money. The larger issue is that without signs there is less traffic coming into an open house. And that's a much bigger hurt.

According to the newspaper article, the Sign Thief's neighbor will be very happy when the Sheriff's Office forces him to clean up those stacks of signs from his property.

There are a lot of very happy Realtors in Baton Rouge this morning. Thank you, David Richardson and Rick Truax, for filing a complaint with the Sheriff's Office.

Lake at White Oak -- Love our Lakes!

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:01:16 -0500

At the Lake at White Oak, there are two lakes, referred to as the Upper Lake and the Lower Lake. The Upper Lake is the smaller one between Hagerstown Rd and North Shore Drive. The Lower Lake is the larger one, between North Shore Drive and South Shore Drive.

The lakes are a terrific feature of the neighborhood. See all that green on the right of the photo? All of that land, full of trees, belongs in part to subdivision community property, private property, and hunting clubs. The Amite River runs through that area and is navigable, of course, when the water level is high enough. It is a favorite route for boaters to head on down to Fred's Restaurant and Bar. The area surrounding the lakes provides a great place for walking, jogging, biking, fishing, photography, and bird watching. There is also a playground for the kids, or grownups.

The forested area is a habitat for a lot of animal life, too. It's a good idea to drive slowly through the neighborhood at night with a careful watch for deer crossings. And birds, of course, love this protected area.

If you are interested in looking for a home in the Lake at White Oak, you can find a list of homes for sale at www.lakeatwhiteoak.com. Take a peek at photos of Yard of the Month awards. And call me for more information on any of these homes.

Sallie Williams at www.SallieWilliams.com (225)266-3562

Lake at White Oak, Baton Rouge, LA ... YARD OF THE MONTH AWARD, July 2008

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 08:24:24 -0500

Picture perfect gardens. Laden with neatly-placed bunches of caladium and coleus plants. A stroll around this front yard in the shade of a large oak tree is a pleasant experience. Begonias and hostas add to the texture and color that make this garden well deserving of the yard of the month award. Congratulations.

Lake at White Oak, Baton Rouge, LA ... YARD OF THE MONTH AWARD, June 2008

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:38:45 -0500

6016 Arborwood Court

Approaching this Arborwood Court cul-de-sac, you take in an extraordinary view of a large crepe myrtle tree in full bloom - absolutely stunning. A quick turn around the cul-de-sac, and you will see the June Yard of the Month.

The front gardens on both sides of the walkway show a selection of flowering plants and colors that are a nice complement to the color of the front porch.

White and red caladiums. Yellow ixora, daisies, and lantana. Purple gomphrena and Mexican petunia. Red ardesia berries. All of the plant materials are arranged in a pleasing pattern that welcomes guests to the front door.

Another well-deserving Yard of the Month in the Lake at White Oak. Congratulations to the homeowners.

Lake at White Oak, Baton Rouge, LA ... YARD OF THE MONTH AWARD

Sun, 25 May 2008 15:14:22 -0500

6021 Huckleberry Court

The tall oak trees in this yard on a quiet cul-de-sac in the Lake at White Oak provide the house with cool shade and protection from the afternoon sun and a garden for shade-tolerant varieties of plants. The garden in the front yard is full of hostas, ferns, and ivy that provide a green background for flowering plants like begonias, petunias, agapanthus, and indigo. There is a daylily garden along the side of the house that was in full bloom a few weeks ago when the judges toured the neighborhood for an award-winning yard. A huge multi-colored lantana surrounds the mailbox. A few garden statues like the little bunny hiding in the liriope and a squirrel sitting on the side of a birdbath add interesting focal points.

The house itself is typical of the beautiful homes in the Lake at White Oak. Arched walls on the front porch and a brick wall that creates a patio garden make this house special. A large urn with sunflowers greets guests at the front door. Curving gardens accentuate the beauty of this home.

Congratulations to the homeowners. We'll be driving by to get great ideas for our own gardens!!

Lake at White Oak, Baton Rouge, LA ... YARD OF THE MONTH AWARD

Thu, 01 May 2008 15:44:30 -0500

APRIL 2008

18432 North Lake Shadow Drive

The April yard-of-the-month award has been given to the home and garden at 18432 North Lake Shadow Drive. A finely landscaped yard is highlighted with lantana, indigo, viola, and a variety of green shrubbery. Crape myrtles make an early spreading canopy over a small garden with ceramic pots and a bench. Evidently these crape myrtles were not trimmed back so they provide a fine addition to the spring garden. Congratulations to the homeowners for a well-deserved award.

Lake at White Oak, Baton Rouge, LA -- Price trends

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:58:10 -0500

Over the past 7 years of sales in the Lake at White Oak subdivision, the average price per square foot of living space has increased by almost 30 percent. Most of that increase, 26 percentage points, has actually occurred over the past 4 years. While there has been a decline in the number of homes sold annually, the average price per square foot has maintained a steady increase. Demand for homes in this subdivision remains high due to the amenities provided through the lakes and trails, and also due to the diligence of owners in the care and appearance of their homes.

Lake at White Oak, Baton Rouge, LA ... YARD OF THE MONTH AWARD

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 18:10:15 -0500

18210 Weatherwood ... Congratulations!

March 2008

This is the time of year when a garden like this stands out. A neatly trimmed yard highlighted with snapdragons and petunias is surely deserving of this award.

These past two weekends have been very busy for many homeowners, as can be seen be piles and piles of tree cuttings and debris cleared out from the winter gardens, stacked up at curbside, waiting for the Monday morning pickup crew. Crepe myrtle trees have been trimmed back, and grass is still a combination of new green and winter brown.

This lovely garden on Weatherwood Drive is a sure sign of spring at a time when making a pretty garden is not so easy.