colorado: Lost Creek Wilderness Area - Colorado - 11/13/09 03:25 AM
Lost Creek Wilderness Area - Colorado
Designated as wilderness in 1980, the Lost Creek Wilderness Area includes almost 120,000 acres of forest, river, and incredible rock formations amid the Tarryall, Platte River and Kenosha mountain ranges in the heart of Colorado. Running through the middle of this magnificence, is the 35 mile long Tarryall Valley.
The area was settled by miners and ranchers, drawn by beauty and hope for success, their future was carved out of this immense landscape. The valley is dotted with evidence of their time here, abandoned buildings telling the stories of the rough and rugged few … (47 comments)

colorado: Tarryall Historic Home Tour - I need Your Advice! - 11/11/09 02:58 AM
                      
 
                                   Tarryall Historic Home Tour - I need Your Advice!
 
Hey everyone, Sunday I went on an historical home tour - and I found a fantastic home! I want to share all the fabulous features of this property with you, and see what you think before I put in an offer. Of all the homes I saw, this one really caught my eye! Until now, although I love historical properties, I've always thought of them as 'money pits', and have been afraid to buy one, but this one doesn't look so bad.
Like most historical properties, … (35 comments)

colorado: Active Rain PhotoBlogger - Light, Shadow, and Texture - Rampart Range, Colorado - 11/09/09 01:27 AM
Light, Shadow, and Texture - Rampart Range, Colorado  
Rampart Range is one of my favorite places to go when I want to get out and take photos, and don't want to travel far. It takes me about 10 minutes to drive to this 60 mile long dirt road that runs along the ridge of the Rampart Range from Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, to just west of the town of Sedalia. The road winds around through rolling prairie and heavily forested acreage that is partly private, and partly National Forest. It offers the most spectacular views of Pikes … (26 comments)

colorado: Ladybug, Ladybug, Fly Away Home - Mountain Migration - 09/28/09 04:24 AM
Ladybug!  Ladybug!Fly away home.Your house is on fire.And your children all gone.

All except one,And that's little Ann,For she crept underThe frying pan.
                                                            
Britain, c.1744
 

 
In Medieval England farmers would set torches to the old hop (used in flavoring beer) vines after the harvest in order to clear the fields for the next planting. This poem was sung as a warning to the ladybugs that were still crawling on the vines in search of aphids. The ladybugs' children (larvae) could get away from the flames, but the pupae, referred to as "Nan" in some versions, … (26 comments)

colorado: I entered a Photo Contest - and I need your votes! - 09/12/09 10:44 AM
Hey Everyone! A friend told me about a fall photo contest sponsored by the Gazette newspapers, and I decided to enter :) There is a part of the contest called "Peoples Choice" that's determined by voters, rather than the judges. The theme is Faces of Fall, and I entered this face:
If you have a minute, and wouldn't mind - I would love it if you'd vote for my photo! (assuming of course, that you like it....  :) Click here to vote
Thanks! Debi … (37 comments)

colorado: Red Rock in Garden of the Gods, Colorado - 04/10/09 04:41 AM
                                                                               The Garden of the Gods  
The Garden of the Gods was dedicated as a city park in 1909 by the children of Charles Elliot Perkins. Perkins was a friend of General Palmer, who founded Colorado Springs, and encouraged Perkins to purchase the land that is The Garden of the Gods.  After his death, his family honored his request and gave the land to the City of Colorado Springs to be used as a park, on the condition that it would remain free forever to all visitors. 
 
  Many of these rock formations are over 300 million years … (23 comments)

colorado: Amazing - Nature's Art - 04/08/09 08:34 AM
 
 
A natural formation of the clay, not a carving! This was photographed in 'The Paint Mines' - East of Colorado Springs, near a town called Calhan. When I first saw it, I thought it was a carving - but NO! It is a natural formation. I was duly impressed!
 

 

She looks happy to be there!  
 
Position yourself above your competition - Utilize a "Real Estate Showcase" Slideshow DVD as a listing tool. Gift a DVD copy to the buyer at closing to share with out of town friends and family. Post it on … (43 comments)

colorado: Wordless Wednesday From Colorado-Paint Mine - 04/08/09 02:59 AM

 
 
Position yourself above your competition - Utilize a "Real Estate Showcase" Slideshow DVD as a listing tool. Gift a DVD copy to the buyer at closing to share with out of town friends and family. Post it on your own website. Post it on your blog to advertise your listings.
Photos taken by Debi Boucher, all rights reserved, may not be reproduced without express written permission.  Memories DVDs Photo Slideshow DVD and Web Presentations, "Real Estate Showcase", to assist with marketing and advertising endeavors. More affordable, more interesting, and more captivating than a virtual tour!
 
… (31 comments)

colorado: How to Recognize A Coloradoan - 01/30/09 03:42 AM
We're a different breed here...With a variation of breeds even within the state (note: Boulder!) And yes, sometimes we're even a bit snobby about it... (My mountains are BIGGER THAN YOUR mountains!) We are blessed with an incredible beauty that surrounds us everyday, in every season, all year long. From the majestic mountain ranges of the Western Slope, to the wide open plains of the East, the entire state is candy for the eye. And if you own a camera, well, Colorado is a dream come true. That's not to say we can't poke a little fun at ourselves from time … (21 comments)

colorado: Clouds - The Kiss - 01/27/09 02:50 PM
                                                                                                             The Kiss  
It's 68 degrees. A gentle breeze is blowing, I can hear it through the trees - the aspens are talking to me. A butterfly lands, right there, on the edge of the blanket on which I'm lying. She glows, almost irridescent, in the sunshine.  The clouds are big and puffy and rolling gently across the sky. And look! See that? A Teddy Bear kiss! Another perfect spring day in Colorado...
 

 
 
Photos taken by Debi Boucher, all rights reserved, may not be reproduced without express written permission.  … (17 comments)

colorado: 1 Degree Warmer Causes All This? - 01/24/09 02:24 AM
        Drought, the Pine Beetle, Wildfires, and Reduced Snow Pack  
Researchers have released the findings of a 50 year old study that claims trees throughout Western North America, from Canada down, are dying at a rate of two times the rate of 30 years ago. The reason? A ONE DEGREE rise of the average temerature in the West. ONE DEGREE! I've heard lots of talk about global warming over the past several years, and the talk is sometimes something like this: (in the midst of a sub zero Colorado day) "Global warming? You can't tell it by me!" … (12 comments)

colorado: Credit Card Protection for Customers - About time! - 12/19/08 04:57 AM
                                                                                   It's Coming, But They're In No Big Hurry....  
Regulators have finally voted to curb the discriminatory, unfair, and controversial practices of the credit card companies. That's the good news. The bad news is these practices will continue until the new regulations go into effect July 2010.
What will change? Banks will be prohibited from raising your interest rate unless your payment is more than 30 days late.
They will no longer be able to maximize penalties based on the way they apply your payments.
No more double cycle billing, which charges interest on the previous months balance.
You'll … (10 comments)

colorado: Help for Renters - Fannie Mae Changes Policy - 12/18/08 09:18 AM
             Renters Now Allowed To Stay In Foreclosed Homes Until now, when the renter's landlord failed to pay the mortgage, and the home was foreclosed on, the renter was just plain out of luck - facing eviction even if they had been paying their rent.  Single family homes, and multi unit investment complexes would see the renters forced to move out. In the case of multi unit properties, this lack of cash flow clearly makes it more difficult for the property to sell later. Going into effect on January 9, 2009, Fannie Mae will begin acting as landlord, and will sign … (16 comments)

colorado: Wordless Wednesday - Winter Storm - 12/17/08 02:42 AM

 
 
Photos taken by Debi Boucher, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced without express written permission. Prudential Professional REALTORS, ASP REALTOR, Woodland Park Real Estate, Woodland Park Colorado 80863 – Serving the City of Woodland Park, Teller County, Ute Pass, and Park County since 1997.
… (22 comments)

colorado: Speechless Sunday - From Colorado - Big Moon - 12/14/08 02:03 AM

 
Photos taken by Debi Boucher, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced without express written permission. Prudential Professional REALTORS, ASP REALTOR, Woodland Park Real Estate, Woodland Park Colorado 80863 – Serving the City of Woodland Park, Teller County, Ute Pass, and Park County since 1997.
… (44 comments)

colorado: Does Your Water Come From A well? READ THIS! - 12/11/08 01:33 AM
Submit an Augmentation Plan - Or Lose Your Water! Local news station, KRDO reported that 64 households in Teller County's Deer Mountain Ranch and Lakemoor West have been informed by the state Division of Water Resources that they must file a 'water augmentation plan' with the state by January 15, or stop using their wells by January 20. If they fail to do so, they will face court action. An Augmentation Plan is one that outlines how and when the water used will be replaced so as not to deplete the source of water to a senior appropriator, (see 'What are … (15 comments)

colorado: Wordless Wednesday - What's wrong with this picture? - 12/10/08 09:56 AM

All Photos taken by Debi Boucher, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced without express written permission. Prudential Professional REALTORS, ASP REALTOR, Woodland Park Real Estate, Woodland Park Colorado 80863 – Serving the City of Woodland Park, Teller County, Ute Pass, and Park County since 1997.
… (15 comments)

colorado: Woodland Park, Colorado - Current Market Information - 12/05/08 04:03 AM
Current Woodland Park Home Values Compared to One Year Ago
The following provides information for the differences in home values in the City of Woodland Park between October 2007 and October 2008.
 
 
 
On the average, our prices are down 4.3%, with the greatest drop in values affecting 4  bedroom homes which are down 10%, 3 bedroom homes down 5.7%, and 2 bedroom homes down 4.1%.
Current Average                                                    1 Year Ago Average
2 bedroom - 162,500                                                  169,500
3 bedroom - 200,000                                                  212,000
4 bedroom - 294,000                                                  326,600
 
The average price per square foot in the past year has … (0 comments)

colorado: Remodeling Projects - What Pays Off and What Doesn't? - 12/03/08 11:01 AM
Cost Vs. Value - Home Improvement Projects
REALTOR Magazine has come out with this year's report on the home improvement projects that will best help in getting the home sold, and give the seller the most return for their money. Based on national averages, they say, exterior remodel projects such as siding, decks, and replacement windows will provide the most return. On the inside, only a kitchen remodel comes close to the same return, and a minor upgrade will return more than a major remodel, 79.5% vs. 76%.
The following percentages are REALTOR Magazines' 2008 Colorado average returns on the money … (7 comments)

colorado: Wordless Wednesday-Kasey - 11/05/08 12:16 AM
Wordless Wednesday- From Colorado
 
            
 
 
 
All Photos taken by Debi Boucher, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced without express written permission. Prudential Professional REALTORS, ASP REALTOR, Woodland Park Real Estate, Woodland Park Colorado 80863 – Serving the City of Woodland Park, Teller County, Ute Pass, and Park County since 1997.
 
… (18 comments)