Vern's Blog

Christmas Shopping is starting...Think twice before buying a Pet.

Vern Eaton /Realtor (WHISPERING PINES REALTY) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:54:44 -0600

With the shopping season upon us, I find that this Post by Bill Feela is very timely. Giving pet during the Holiday's can be a difficult thing if not thought through carefully. Read Bill's post and the comments and decide for yourselves.

Via William Feela Realtor 651-674-5999 No. Branch,MN (WHISPERING PINES REALTY):

There are many things that are purchased for Christmas presents. Pets being a popular one. But is it a smart one.

Most puppies and Kettens are very young when brought to anew home. They need love and attention. With all the presents that are received, many times the pet is set aside. Now it''s alone in a new home and scared.

The Christmas season is also a dangerous time for pets. So much fun stuff to play with. To Chew on and eat. Things that were not ment to be eaten.

If you must give a Pet for Christmas...think of doing this. Give the supplies, collar, food, food dish, toys. A picture of the Pet to be given a few days after Christmas. The rush will be done, and it will make a happier transition and a safer one for you pet and the whole family.

Make this a thoughtful gift..PLEASE!

"Bats"...They aren't just for Halloween anymore!

Vern Eaton /Realtor (WHISPERING PINES REALTY) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:29:29 -0500

Bill Feela has posted an interesting blog here. There are concerns and there are many benifits to having them around. Take a peak at the good.

Via William Feela Realtor 651-674-5999 No. Branch,MN (WHISPERING PINES REALTY):

A friend called and said he needed a favor. He said..."Bill, you are brave and not scared of anything right."

"Yea, sure", I replied...but I was thinking that I either wasn't scared or just really stupid. "What's up?"

Well, Last year he had bought a house. At the peak of it was a 'BAT' house. Now these have become more popular in recent years, it's just not so normal for them to be mounted to the house.

"Well, that bat house has to be moved before I can work on that side of the house, and , um, I was wondering...you know I just hate bat's."    Chuckling under my breath..."I will be over friday afternoon."

I won't go into all the qualities that make bat's good to have around, just the obvious is that they eat a lot of insects. A GOOD THING.   After plugging the hole so the bat's couldn't come flying out, (Normally don't bite, but being moved could upset them), I unscrewed the house from the home. I could hear the squealing inside the house.    As I pulled the Bat house down, one bat was hiding just behind the house and fell to the ground.

My friend became a magician...he disappeared! I set the house down and went over to the bat laying on the ground...

And picked it up. Although you do need to be careful for many reasons...I then showed his kids a good close up of the bat and explained the anatomy. They were awe struck at webbed wings and...

The teeth!   The house was moved and the bat was placed on top of the house so it know where to go come night time.

Fear of the unknown and rumors are what drive the hate for bats. Hopefully the kids will grow up without the fear and a better knowledge.

Lena's in Askov, Mn. A Quaint place to shop.

Vern Eaton /Realtor (WHISPERING PINES REALTY) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:39:22 -0500

Off the beaten freeway path between Mpls/St. Paul and Duluth, Mn. just a couple miles off interstate 35, is a very unique place to shop.

Lena's has become a staple place for the locals and many a traveler. Besides the gift and coffee, they also serve light lunches. Look around while you are waiting and see the various antiques that were common to the area during the early logging and farming days.

Lena's is in the middle of restoring the integrity of the old building. The major work is done with some of the fine tuning left. Lena's gifts are main streamed for the Scandinavian heritage. But, they also do a lot with and for the local population also.

The green house which is being shut down for the season has been very popular with the locals and cabin dwellers as well. Askov is a very small town with that small town feel. It is not uncommon to have two people walk across the street and stop in the middle and greet each other. Then have a car pull up and wait until they are finished and not even honk a horn!

On this day, a local liquid refreshment establishment was having an Octoberfest celebration. This elderly gentleman brought in his team of horses and hay wagon and gave free rides to all.

Askov is a great place to visit and relax. Come and see us!

Be careful who you ask advice from...

Vern Eaton /Realtor (WHISPERING PINES REALTY) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:01:51 -0500

William Feela wrote this Post the other day. Now think about it for a minute. We want and sorta expect people to call us because of our expertise. We try to convince FSBO'S that our expertise will make them money. Then we go to some cut rate shop to save a dime. How can we really complain about the public when we do the same thing.

Via William Feela Realtor 651-674-5999 No. Branch,MN (WHISPERING PINES REALTY):

My wife's kids gave her a new VCR so she could tape her shows. They talked to one of the 'experts' form Walmart.

Mistake #1

They were told this unit could be used to tape from an antenna without the converter box. They believed him.

Mistake #2

When they unboxed it and tried to install it, they found out that there wasn't even a port in which to hook the antenna to. It only will recieve from Cable or Satalite.

Mistake #3

With a few phone calls, we found there is NO unit out there that will record directly from the Antenna.

My mistake....When I bought the TV from a 'kid' at a different cheap store...I told him what I wanted to do. He said..."NO PROBLEM!" YEA RIGHT...the TV does not even have out ports so that you can hook the VCR up to it and record. (That's the way you need to do it for HD TV's).

I Vow here and now to only go to professional TECH people and get the proper information the first time. I Vow to pay a few dollars more for their expertise just like others pay for mine.

And you know what...I will save mony in the long run and a lot of time and frustration!!!!

Prayer Request for my granddaughter. (UPDATE)

Vern Eaton /Realtor (WHISPERING PINES REALTY) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 22:34:50 -0500

This is a very heart felt situation. The little girl is the grand daughter of my Broker Bill Feela. Bill is there for almost everybody when someone needs him. Please give this a read and include him and his family in your prayers!

Thanks

Via William Feela Realtor/Broker/Own North Branch,MN (WHISPERING PINES REALTY):

Good morning to all. An update on Corrina's surgery. She went into surgery mid afternoon yesterday. She went in with us finding out that she had 2 problems and possibly 3, with her heart. With prayers abound the steady hands of the Dr.s and his team, they fixed the problems she had in very short order.

As with any surgery, there is a risk even after it's all done. The plan is to take her off the ventilator this morning and then later afternoon bring into a semi conscience state. Then tomorrow they will bring her fully awake and in 5- to 7 days after that she will be able to go home.

From the parents, and all the family, Thank You for all the heart felt prayers that were given. We believe without them this journey would have been much tougher. The say there are angels among us, and many of those are still alive, here on this earth!

One Event can change your life....

Vern Eaton /Realtor (WHISPERING PINES REALTY) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:52:23 -0500

This Blog was Posted by my Broker. Bill is a careful but very hard working and very talented in many areas. This life was nearly snuffed out and could have been with just a little different cucircumstance. Please Read this Blog and think about your own lives and the people it would affect.

Via William Feela Owner/Broker North Branch,MN (Whispering Pines Realty):

This may sound old, but it happened to me TODAY. The Event rattled my inner mind so much that I have been numb most of the afternoon.

With the event of Digital TV looming very close, and our antenna being very old, it's time I got in gear and put up the new one. The old one only picked up 2 of the 10 available channels.

I have my pole for the antenna, all 27 feet of it, laying on the ground. Because of our treed lot, there is only a small choice of locations and one is just a little ways from our Power line.

I looked so that I would not run into the line and started to lift it into place. The bottom of the pole moved and so I moved over a bit. Now steady, I continued to lift it in place. Then I could not lift it anymore...and I looked back, and the last 6 inches of the metal pole was pushed up against the power line.

I DROPPED IT RIGHT AWAY!!! I sat on the ground shaking, knowing that even though the power lines are coated, it still could have been the end of my happy face on this side of the sod. This event has shaken me far more than anything in my life.

I sat there and even seen my self lying there motionless in my mind. The impact on my family would have been traumatic. In so, I thought of all the things just in the last few weeks that I had not done just because I was 'busy' with other things!

NO MORE!! I see my Atty. thurs to update my will. The fishing date with my DAD is TOMORROW! Friday I am seeing both my sons for some much over due time together.

DON'T WAIT FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN TO DO THE THINGS THAT SHOULD BE FIRST.

I believe I got a second chance, and with the Lord's help...I won't waste it.

Hymn Sing...Sing-a-Long.

Vern Eaton /Realtor (WHISPERING PINES REALTY) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:57:14 -0500

Bill Feela, From North Branch has posted the following. It will be a great follow up to the Easter Season. Please join him and his fellow church family in this casual fellowship event. We all need to come together in today's world and this is a great chance to do just that. I am going, hope to see you there.

Via William Feela Owner/Broker North Branch,MN (Whispering Pines Realty):

Come one, come all!!! Spring Lake Lutheran is having a sing-a-Long coming up. This is a great time for Fellowship and making a new friend.

Come join us on Sunday, April 19th 7pm.

A non-perishable food donations will be given to a local Food Shelf.

Refreshments will be served afterwards.

Please come join us.

Mark your Calanders!

Country Living...

Vern Eaton /Realtor (WHISPERING PINES REALTY) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:24:33 -0500

5 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath, on 6 acres just a few miles from quaint Askov, MN. This area lends itself to the sprotsman with many lakes and rivers for recreating along with thousands of acres of state and county land to explore. There is more acreage available. Over 2200 feet of easy living for only $140,000.

Contact me today!

Wii...Wii

Vern Eaton /Realtor (WHISPERING PINES REALTY) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:02:35 -0600

I am Re-Posting this Blog from William Feela. It is about the WII game that adults love as much as the kids do. The reason for this re-blog, is I have just seen the benefit it has on the older generation. The Senior home I visit has had many a resident that could hardly get around. After a couple months of this game, many are moving around with much more ease and are a lot happier. Their days are filled with enjoyment.

Make a seniour happy...give a WII today!

Via William Feela Owner/Broker North Branch,MN (Whispering Pines Realty):

Yea...I mean the video Game! I thought my wife was out of her mind when she purchased one. Then I was surprised at how much fun we had the first couple of weeks.

Then she went and bought the Fitness game with the step board. We are both looking to tone up a bit and loose a few pounds, and thought this may be a way to do it while having fun. I fyou haven't tried it, but thinking about it...GO FOR IT! The program and board together keeps track of your fitness routine and talks to you kinda like a trainer. It know how much you weigh, how much you gain and loose and gives tips on what to do.

Now, when I have a few minutes here and there, and feel like just getting out of my chair for a few, I toss in the program and do a few short routines and WALLAH...it tells me...I gained another pound and i should try to control how much I eat....DAMN Game!LOL

Around this area, every Nursing facility has one of these games and the residents are getting their therapy using this realistic game. Low impact, and fun. The bowling is the most popular. some of the homes have leagues that have formed. They are keeping busy and are having less health problems.

Who would have thought a video game for kids would have been such a hit with the Seniors and other adults?!

Askov Hobby Farm!

Vern Eaton /Realtor (WHISPERING PINES REALTY) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:36:55 -0600

If you want country living at it's best...look to Askov, Mn. A manufactred home on 40 acres. Room for the horses kids and to hunt all in one. Thousands of State land close by to play on also. The school is rated as one of the best in the rural area surrounding this community.

Priced below market value at $210,000 and seller will consider a contract for deed.

Call Vern at 320-630-6995

Need Bare land to hunt or...

Vern Eaton /Realtor (WHISPERING PINES REALTY) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:22:01 -0500

It's warming now and soon everything will be green. Looking for land to hunt or camp or.....can be challenging even at the best of times. Right now you can see without the trees, walk without knee deep snow, and get a feeling if the ground is relly high or only high when the weather is dry. Get out and start looking. Land won't be available forever!

40 Acres of serenity

Vern Eaton /Realtor (WHISPERING PINES REALTY) — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:45:54 -0600

Up in the northern woods of Pine Cty, therre is a piece of heaven that sits quietly on a tar road. You can hunt, hike, or just hide from the world. this property is loaded with potential, and has a mixture of wooded and open lands with a small amount of loww on one side. Call me for a map of the area and the State Land close by.

159 Acres of Prime Hunting land

Vern Eaton /Realtor (WHISPERING PINES REALTY) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:52:44 -0600

This parcel has something for most types of hunting. Some mature trees, an area that has been recently logged off, some meadow land and other low ground. The property is tucked back on a low traffic road and will give a wide array of hunting chances....Bear, Dear, Partridge, Wild Turkey's are on the increase in the area. Squirrel, and more. The are plenty of varmit hunting chances, or try you r hand at trapping. Contact me for more details. Located in Northern Pine Cty

concerns on a lake home/cabin

Vern Eaton /Realtor (WHISPERING PINES REALTY) — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:26:43 -0600

In todays world of "Clean Water" purchasing a lake property is a bit mor complicated. Many lake properties have severe restrictions when it comes to "waste water". Your Real Estate agent should be well versed in septic issues in the counties where you are looking. Many counties have stricter controls then even the state does.....and this can add up to a lot of additional costs in buying a property if you find out to late. I am well versed in the septic concerns, and will advise you as to what needs to be doen and where to go for answers.

Lake Homes

Vern Eaton /Realtor (WHISPERING PINES REALTY) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:38:30 -0600

If you are thinking of a lake home, now is a graet time to check out the lake activicty. Jump on the snowmobile or 4 wheeler and circle the potetial(s) lake and see how built up they are. Much of the lake traffic will be from the current residents. A lake with undeveloped shoreland will have less traffic and quieter times. Also check to see how big the Public access is, that will tell how much other traffic may be on the lake at a time also......happy searching.

Advice

Vern Eaton /Realtor (WHISPERING PINES REALTY) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:59:36 -0600

Prices are down, but interest is up! That is interest in buying. Lake property will be one of the hottest properties this spring. Every year it gets harder to find a nice lakeshore property. Many properties are handed sown to family members from generation to generation. Many others are bought together as families. There are many reasons to purchase a lake property...contact me for some ideas to consider when thinking of buying on of these low number of properties.