kerrville real estate: My Remodeling Project-Post 3 - 02/02/10 01:29 PM
Some of you are following the progress of my remodeling project and we are coming down the home stretch now.  The new front door is in but the trim is not painted yet.  Originally, I had intended on leaving the original doors but they were too bad to try to remodel so we went with new.
The primer was sprayed on the walls today and it looked weird to go in and see everything bright white.  The windows are covered with plastic and the floors covered with paper.  Yes, the floors are finished but you will have to wait to see … (7 comments)

kerrville real estate: An Easy Sunday Dessert - 01/24/10 08:18 AM
For those of you who love to cook like I do, it's another Sunday dinner.  Here's the Steak and salad.  But it's the dessert that made this one special.  Easy and superb, Strawberry Pie. 
 Fresh whole strawberries immersed in a thick gel and covered with whipped cream in a flaky pie shell.  What can be better than that!

 
 
                              
 
 
 
 
If you've never made Strawberry pie before, it is so easy.
Almost no cooking at all.

 
The only cooking is in making the gel.  Take 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1 1/2 cups water.  … (14 comments)

kerrville real estate: I'm Not Listening To You, I'm Thinking For Myself - 01/24/10 02:04 AM
After a conversation yesterday with an old friend, another conversation with another friend last night and listening to Meet the Press and George Stephanopolis this morning, my head is filled with all kinds of thougths and ideas concerning politics, religion, the State of the Union, the state of our families and country.  How do you sort out all the rhetoric, all the salesmanship and all the outright lies from people you think you can trust?
It is a big job and everyday, everyone of us is faced with the same dilemma.  I see and hear many people with great hearts and … (16 comments)

kerrville real estate: A Peach of a Sunday Sundae - 01/17/10 07:48 AM
Wondering what to do with old Christmas cookies?  Crush them and make a crust for lots of different recipes. Today I made up this recipe and it is delicious. Try it.                 
Peach Sunday Sundae
For Crust:        Butter your pan well and spread cookies out to form a crust.
For filling:          Mix 1 cup sliced peaches ( I used Fredericksburg peaches I got last summer and froze), 1/4 cup sugar (more if you like it really sweet), 2 teaspoons vanilla.  Spread on top of cookie crust.  Dot with butter.  Sprinkle with cinnamon. I use a lot because I love the taste … (11 comments)

kerrville real estate: There's something I'm forgetting... - 01/17/10 03:36 AM
It's 10:00 pm and the news is beginning.  Yes, there is a story on it tonight I have been waiting to see. Suddenly, the greatest blog post idea pops into my head.  Hurry, start the post before the commercials are over or just wait until it's off and then write it.  What a decision to make.  It's such a great idea, I can wait.
News, weather, popcorn, sports.  Popcorn?  Oh well, I'm stuffed.  Better check email.   Meow, meow, OK the cat wants to be put to bed.  Purr, purr, back to the computer.  Honey, can you get me...OK.  Chore 1, chore 2, … (7 comments)

kerrville real estate: My Remodeling Project-Post 2 - 01/02/10 12:00 PM
Many of you wanted to see the finished results of my remodeling project, so I thought I would take you through the steps.  This is the second post about my complete remodel of a small house here in Kerrville. 
                                                                                                 
We've had a good week even with the holiday, we've accomplished quite a bit.  The roof is now complete even though these photos were taken during the roofing process. I used a "weathered gray" color to go with the light beige color on the exterior walls.  White trim on the doors, windows and porch.  We will add a little more … (6 comments)

kerrville real estate: Serving Others and Giving Time Off - 12/31/09 02:51 PM
  The real estate business is like your baby.  You care for it, you nourish it, you protect it, you experience the joys and sorrows of growing.  It really is like having a baby.  You can't just walk away any time you please and go do your own thing.
Sure, everyone has to have time off to rest and recuperate.  I enjoy my time off like everyone else.  Most of the time, I am so exhausted from working, I mostly just recuperate. Today was a most enjoyable day.  I was able to give my agents and staff a valuable gift, time off.  … (43 comments)

kerrville real estate: Texas Weather - 12/29/09 02:22 AM
They say if you don't like the weather inTexas, wait a day and it will change.  Yesterday it was sunny and 60 degrees.  This morning it is snowing and sleeting.  Burr!  Tomorrow it may be back to normal 60's for this time of year.  I certainly hope so.
                                                                             It is actually snowing and sleeting in this picture. Not sticking to the ground yet.  Hopefully, it won't.
I am not a cold weather person.  I enjoy sunshine and blue skies.  I don't like wearing coats or scraping my windshield.  Gloves? never wear the things.  Bundling up means restricting movement to this … (15 comments)

kerrville real estate: A Complete Remodel and I'm Having Fun - 12/26/09 01:04 PM
I love to remodel old homes but I rarely get a chance to do this with my business being so busy.  Recently however, I bought an old house in a good commercial/residential area.  We are ripping out and remodeling almost everything.  Thought I'd give you a look at the before pictures and in a few weeks I will give you the after pictures.
       This is the lovely kitchen.                                                                                                            I hesitated to even show you the bathroom.
 
Kitchens and baths are the most important rooms for remodeling. Wait until you see the transformation.
 
 
  The front … (14 comments)

kerrville real estate: Thankfulness for a good year - 12/26/09 12:18 PM
Now that Christmas is over and the gifts are unwrapped and the leftovers are eaten, are you feeling a little letdown or overly tired?  I am.  So, I spent most of the day just resting.  It feels good.  What a busy last two months I have had with parties, shopping, cooking, decorating and still running a business.  Trying not to forget anything or anyone, I woke up most nights thinking of someone I might have left off my Christmas list, only to find the next morning, they were there all along.              
My sleep has been hampered recently with too much … (6 comments)

kerrville real estate: 100,000 points; thought I'd never make it! - 12/02/09 12:17 PM
That 100,000 point figure seemed so far away and yet here I am.  I know I am way behind others that started blogging about the same time I did.  Never the less, here I am.  I finally made it.  Just like the tortoise and the hare, maybe, I didn't quit only stopped for a few coffee breaks along the way.
You didn't know there were Starbucks along the way?  Now, you do! 
 The path has hills and valleys, steep inclines and rugged cliffs you can fall off.  It also has some of the most beautiful meadows to lie down in and … (20 comments)

kerrville real estate: It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas - 11/22/09 02:15 AM
Yes, Everywhere you go,  You see the displays coming out with Christmas toys and gifts.  Christmas trees, candy canes, food, candy, gifts, everywhere.  Our Lighted Christmas Parade was last night in Downtown Kerrville.  How did the time pass so quickly?  Here we are at the end of the year.
                                          
Did you accomplish all your goals for the year?  Remember, when you made those goals back in January?  Did you follow up on your leads?  Did you follow up with your clients after the transaction closed?  Most of us probably did not do as good a job with these things as … (12 comments)

kerrville real estate: Splashes of Color - 11/15/09 01:59 AM
I wanted to get some really great photos of the beautiful Autumn colors now present in the Hill Country but my schedule has been too busy.  As I was driving across the Guadalupe River bridge yesterday I snapped this photo of the Cypress trees in full color.  It is not the great  planned shot I wanted but I'm sure you will enjoy the color none the less.  Cypress trees line the banks of every creek and river in the beautiful Texas Hill Country and pretty scenes like this are to be found all over.
 
                                                                  
 
Lost Maples is … (9 comments)

kerrville real estate: The Old Place on River Road ( a scary story) - 10/31/09 11:50 AM
Have I ever told you about the old place on River Road?  Well, take a load off and sit a spell.  Let me tell you about one of the scariest places I've ever been.
It was way back in 1989.  I didn't live in the beautiful Texas Hill Country then but I used to come visit often.  I loved this area and every chance I got, I came here.  It was Valentine's Day and my husband wanted to make it wonderful for me so he asked what I wanted.  Of course, my answer was always the same.  I want to go … (13 comments)

kerrville real estate: Listening is the key to success - 10/24/09 02:45 PM
             I have been complemented in a most unusual way.  One of my clients asked me if she could write a blog post about her experience with me and my office in buying a property.  She sent me the post this evening and I was so surprised and pleased.  Normally, it would be me, writing about my clients but now it is switched around and she is writing about me.  I was so surprised!  She was so complementary and expressed her feelings of gratitude to having found her dream home in such a quick and easy manner.
                                                                                (This is not the … (41 comments)

kerrville real estate: Dear Diary, I'm tired and it is late - 10/20/09 03:42 PM
Dear Diary,
I want to write a blog post tonight but I am tired and it is late.  So much happened today, I don't know where to begin.  My office was busy all day long with people coming and going, in and out of both doors.
Well, of course, it would be busy.  We are building the new room for our office.  So the carpenters were busy hammering and nailing and finishing up the trim and the baseboards.  Then the telephone man was installing new telephone jacks and adding another line.  He was in and out of every room checking the … (10 comments)

kerrville real estate: It's Spring Time in October - 10/09/09 12:31 AM
It finally has happened.  We are finally getting that precious liquid falling from the sky.  Yes, it is raining in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. 
This summer was the hottest summer on record for the Texas Hill Country.  More days with 100 degree weather than had previously been recorded in the history of our State.  To make matters worse, we had almost no rain for two solid years.  The summer of 2007, it rained almost every day but come September, the faucets were turned off.  So little rain for two years and then record heat.  People here were wondering if it … (8 comments)

kerrville real estate: TRY, The Real You - 10/04/09 04:45 AM
I have recently read Gary Keller's book "The Millionaire Real Estate Agent" and found it very helpful.  There is an short part in one chapter titled "The Real You".  It is an acronym for the word TRY.
In my last blog post, Live Life Once, Live It to the Fullest, I said to try and fail is not to fail, but failure is failing to try.  Right after I wrote that post I came upon a chapter in the book talking about trying.  With the analogy of TRY equals THE REAL YOU, I had to spend time pondering this statement.  I asked myself many … (15 comments)

kerrville real estate: Live Life Once, Live it to the Fullest - 10/02/09 02:47 PM
"You only live life once, so live it to the fullest!"
This old saying was something I learned early in my life.  I didn't necessarily always do this but for the most part I have.  Anything I ever wanted to do, I have done.  I always promised myself not to grow old and have regrets for not taking a chance and trying things. 
My parents taught me, to try and fail is not to fail, but never trying is real failure.  "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again".  Remember that old saying, I put it to memory and used … (14 comments)

kerrville real estate: When Was The Last Time You Looked? - 09/28/09 01:30 PM
When was the Last Time You Looked at your e-mail signature?  It is one of those things we use everyday but just pass over and never really look at it with the eyes of a stranger.  Does it really represent you?  Does it speak to others what you want it to say?
First of all, is all the information correct?  Or has it been a while, and the numbers are outdated or the address has even changed.  Maybe lots of things have changed if you haven't updated in a year or two.  Stop and look at it.  Does it have anything … (9 comments)

 
Ricki Eichler McCallum, Broker,GRI,ABR, e-Pro, TAHS (CastNet Realty)

Ricki Eichler McCallum

Broker,GRI,ABR, e-Pro, TAHS

Corpus Christi, TX

More about me…

CastNet Realty

Address: P O Box 213, West Branch, MI, 48661

Mobile: 361/944-2051



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