kentucky: A Nashville Treasure
- 12/20/09 08:21 AM
A couple of weeks ago Kathy and I had the joy of driving to Nashville and visiting The Gaylord Opry Hotel and Bellmeade Plantation. Our children had told us of the spectacular Christmas decorations at "The Opry" but Kathy and I had no idea there were over 8 acres of beautifu tropical gardens. On of the benefits of living in Lexington is the close proximity to so many cities. I have read Lexington is only a ten hour drive to 60 percent of the nations population. Nashville is only a three hour drive and Kathy and I easily did this trip in one … (0 comments)
kentucky: Spoiling Grandchildren, our privilege.
- 12/20/09 07:45 AM
I don't get to spend as much time with my grandchildren as I wish I could. There are mornings in which I have to drag myself away from them. Kathy gets to take care of them three or four days a week and treats me to her daily photo shots when I get home. Yes, these are the cutest grandchildren on earth. And yes we do spoil them. Caroline removes the ornaments and beads but Sam enjoys replacing them. Mom and Dad don't let Sam touch the ornaments on the tree at home. But Grammy lets Sam help put them back on at … (2 comments)
kentucky: Is it a "Wonderful Life?
- 12/19/09 01:19 PM
Kathy and I attended a radio play version of "Its' a Wonderful Life at The Lexington First Assembly of God church this evening. We were once again in awe of that beautiful story. The acting was very good in the radio play but we both agreed it would take dismal acting to make bad production from such a great script. Here are a few of my observations about the "Wonder" created by that play. Everyone has a story of being hugely disappointed by someone else. Someone dear to us has let us down, someone in authority over us has not been true to their word, and someone has cheated us out of our hard earned money. Such is life! … (7 comments)
Eight years ago my wife adopted a three year old blonde cocker spaniel. Kathy was won over by Abby’s big brown eyes and Jennifer Aniston haircut. Abby was, essentially, already full grown and set in her ways, but I have a hunch that Kathy wouldn’t have been much of a taskmaster. Kathy considers that having raised three pretty good kids, she’s entitled to a dog with challenging behavior. I keep telling her that Marley pioneered the acceptability of bad dogs. Kathy will only grudgingly agree that Abby isn’t exactly Lassie material. … (3 comments)
I planted 10 feet of green bean seeds in late June. When we lived in Seattle I would have planted the bean seeds in July, with the intentions of getting a crop during late August and early September before the shortening days and damp nights cause the beans to stop flowering. I like to grow pole beans. When we lived in Seattle my favorite bean varieties were Romano (a flat Italian bean) and Kentucky Wonder pole beans. It surely is a wonder that after 35 years living in Seattle, we are in Kentucky … (6 comments)
kentucky: Flippers Beware
- 09/13/09 07:39 AM
I have been in the proceess of getting a home ready to sell the past three weeks. When I bought it I was hoping to have it on the market next week. Things just take longer than I usually plan and of course it costs more to make the necessary upgrades than I had planned. I do some of the demolition work and help out a bit. However, I am not a finish carpenter and don't pretend or try to be. I contract out the work that I know I cannot do professionally. .I recently had a friend say to me, … (128 comments)
kentucky: Blending My Passions
- 08/10/09 02:55 AM
Today I begin my efforts to help the citizens of Fayette County Kentucky understand I am a Realtor Consultant that is on a mission to help anyone who works with me as a buyer or seller to become a gardener. I have experienced the value that a small garden can bring when selling a home. I have experienced the joy of seeing first time home buyers reap the harvest from their first garden. I was raised on a small organic farm in North Idaho. I owned my own very small organic farm in Woodinville, Washington for 25 years. When my two … (0 comments)
kentucky: Short Cuts with a Garmin
- 08/08/09 12:40 PM
Two Brothers, A GPS and a 4 Wheeler were all we needed to start a day of adventure. My brother Jeff drove out from Colorado this week with his wife Teresa, daughter Chris, and grandson Jared.Kathy and I met them at their camp site near Natural Bridge State Park Thursday and we set out in their 4 Wheel Drive truck for a day of exploring.Jeff was not in a hurry and he likes to explore the country, so we purposefully took the back roads to our ultimate destination of Cumberland Gap. The windy roads and elevation changed as we toured eastern … (0 comments)
kentucky: Racing Downtown, It Was Legal
- 07/18/09 10:25 AM
Lexington's Tour de France Last night I had the opportunity to help monitor the last stage of The Tour of the Red River Gorge held in downtown Lexington.
My task was to blow the whistle everytime a cycler approached the intersection of N. Mill and Main Streets. I was busy blowing for more than 3 hours. The first two races were very mild compared to the mad dog racing for the last 90 minutes of the 17 and 18 year olds. Fortunately there were no crashes on my watch although from my vantage point it seemed inevitable there would … (1 comments)
kentucky: Gardening and Friendships
- 07/18/09 01:48 AM
Gardens Open Doors to Friendship Growing a garden gives one so many opportunities to begin building relationships. One of my neighbor and I for a myriad of reasons were just not connecting. He is diligent about keeping his yard very neat. So while he was outside the other night I went over and immediately asked him if he liked tomatoes. I had just given all my tomatoes away to another neighbor so I hesitated just asking him but the time was opportune.
The next day I saw him in the yard greeting his wife as she came home … (0 comments)
kentucky: A Recipe to Grow For
- 07/16/09 01:31 PM
My Favorite Green Bean Recipe almost as good as Basil Tomato TartWe just had neighbors over for a garden meal. Kathy made this yummy bread tomato salad and fresh okra with tomatoes but I think my favorite is still the "Carter Green Beans." I picked the beans as they hung tantalizingly from the poles early this morning. I prefer pole beans. I really don't like bending over to pick beans and the pole beans stay off the ground which prevents rotting so common in wet and humid summers. Just the memory of eating Carter Green Beans is motivation enough each spring … (1 comments)
kentucky: Bounty, Beauty and Blessed Children
- 07/07/09 01:23 PM
Working from Home Working From Home This Morning I am taking care of my beautiful little granddaughter Caroline this morning while my wife attends her piano lesson and runs errands.I loved most of the time my children were growing up but there is something different and precious about my grandchildren. There is something so dear about the time I spend with my grandchildren. As I live out the last half of my life everything is so much more vividly precious.Every time I walk through the garden I am struck by the beauty of the beans majestically growing up their supports.
My wife Kathy is a remarkable woman and one of her many talent is cooking. We just had one of my favorite summer treats made with fresh heirloom tomatoes and fresh basil. Too bad I didn't make the cheese.
Try It, You Will Like It!
Basil Tomato Tart
1 unbaked pie crust 1 1/2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese OR 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese and 1/2 c. crumbled feta cheese 4 or 5 tomatoes 1 c. loosely packed basil leaves 4 cloves crushed garlic 1/2 c. mayonnaise 1/4 … (2 comments)
kentucky: Thanks Phil and Karen
- 07/04/09 02:54 PM
Well It Rained, Still a Wonderful CelebrationJust returned from a very soggy 4th of July celebration. Thanks Karen and Phil for inviting us to hang out with your younger friends.The Bratz were perfectly grilled Phil. The taste of the real charcoal is so much richer than gas grilled. That apple pie Karen brought back so many good memories of growing up in Idaho. And then the caramel home made ice cream! What a treat.The best part however was just getting to know you better and getting reaquainted with all the young families in your neighborhood. You both have such a gift … (1 comments)
kentucky: Celebrating the Fourth of July
- 07/04/09 08:04 AM
Phil Tallon invited us to the Fourth of July celebration in Wilmore. “It’s a real sweet parade,” he said. “It just feels like the idealized version of America.” So we agreed to meet his family and Andy, Hannah and Sam in Wilmore. The parade was scheduled to start at 10 am.
We brought our lawn chairs. Andy laughed when we asked if there would be opportunity to set them up. “There will be plenty of room.” We arrived at 9:40 and spotted Sam playing on the equipment behind the Methodist Church, although Sam was more … (2 comments)
kentucky: Evidence of Good Soil Preparation
- 06/28/09 01:27 PM
Today on want to show some pictures of my garden. This is mostly to validate my previous blog entry on soil preparation.
It is most important to emphasis our garden is growing without any chemicals of any kind. The soil was enriched with leafs and then I added about 15 pounds of bone meal, 20 pounds of kelp meal and 10 pounds of blood meal. The bone meal provides a readily usable phosphorous to help especially with blooming. The kelp meal gives your plant a very accessible potassium source which gives the plant turgor. It also supplies a bunch … (5 comments)
kentucky: Caring for the Soil
- 06/27/09 02:35 PM
soil preparation Yesterday I wrote about planning your garden and specifically where to plant on your lot. Today I am beginning to write about preparing the soil.The Humorist Dave Barry once said, "Your first job is to prepare the soil. The best tool for this is your neighbor's garden tiller. If your neighbor does not own a garden tiller, suggest that he buy one." AVOID TILLING IF AT ALL POSSIBLE The fact is if you can turn your soil without tilling you will have a much healthier garden. Borrow a good shovel or spading fork but DO NOT borrow a tiller. … (0 comments)
kentucky: Selling or Playing the Lottery?
- 06/25/09 01:20 PM
Setting the Price to Sell and Featuring the Positive I have written before about how pitfalls, like emotional issues to avoid when pricing your home to sell. Today I want to give you a concrete example about pricing a home. I just finished getting a contract approved on a home that was on the market less than two weeks. First the negative details about the home?It was not in good showing condition. A good friend helped the owner get the kitchen and adjoining family room organized and items off the wall and fireplace mantel. However the windows were very dirty, the … (0 comments)
Helping seller and buyers understand the value of the land they buy or sell is my passion. My work as a real estate agent is fulfilling because I am passionate about negotiating value. Sellers, let me help you maximize the value of your land even if it is just a small front yard. Buyers I will help you find a place even in the middle of Lexington that can help your family build a wonderful home. Give me a chance to look at your home, your land, your garden and I will give you some great ideas on how you can enhance the presentation of your home with a very small budget.
A couple of weeks ago Kathy and I had the joy of driving to Nashville and visiting The Gaylord Opry Hotel and Bellmeade Plantation. Our children had told us of the spectacular Christmas decorations at "The Opry" but Kathy and I had no idea there were over 8 acres of beautifu tropical gardens. On of the benefits of living in Lexington is the close proximity to so many cities. I have read Lexington is only a ten hour drive to 60 percent of the nations population. Nashville is only a three hour drive and Kathy and I easily did this trip in one … (0 comments)
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