…but we need the moisture!

Well, it’s the last day of April and we awoke to a beautiful white, snow covered world with huge flakes swirling in the wind.  That’s the positive spin on it.  There are a lot of other things we could say about the date and the weather and the garden…ah well.  What are you going to do!  We have been talking about the weather since people first talked and still haven’t had too much affect on the weather.

Let’s just enjoy the pretty white snow, the fresh smell, and the perennial discussion topic!  Besides, all the pretty white stuff has already melted, here anyway…the mountains are another story.

and “WE NEED THE MOISTURE!”

A Day Late

I’m about to type an unlikely post and it’s a day late to boot.  Yesterday was Earth Day.  I have honestly never considered many of the environmental issues that are front and center these days.  When the whole thing become a political debate it lost even more appeal to me.  I certainty have never been anti-environmental, I just never gave it a lot of thought. We live in very rural northwestern Wyoming where the mass waste of energy is not in our face.
I have never littered and have been known to pick up after those that do but other than that I’ve never been terribly passionate about it.  However…. I have 10 year old daughter who is very passionate about taking care of the earth and I am PASSIONATE about her.  So….I’m going green with her.  Here are some things that we have started doing in our home to take care of the earth and keep our girl happy.

• We are phasing into energy saving light bulbs as our old ones burn out.  (I don’t hate them as much as I used to even though lights having to “warm up” seems like a step back in time)
• We take our cans and bottles to the recycling center in the grocery store parking lot. (Please take the bear-proof recycle bins to Yellowstone Park where they belong and give us some that you can open without busting a fingernail)
• I have switched to green Shaklee cleaning products.  (I love them.  Kids can safely use them and if the girl strong armed me into all these changes she can pick up a sponge and help me celebrate change)

• I only drive my SUV when I have to and the rest of the time I drive a car that gets 26 miles to a gallon.  (Sorry no electric car for me….yet.)

I still have a loooong way to go….or so she tells me.  The next twelve months I hope to make a few more changes like

• Maybe buying some (20 or 30) of those reusable shopping bags so I don’t have to throw away so many of the plastic ones.
• Not letting my car run while I’m not in it.  (This will be a challenge as Wyoming mornings are c-c-cold)
• Getting a tankless water heater.

My environmental attitude is a work in progress just ask my daughter.  I appreciate her patience with me and together as the rest of our family members get on board we will make a difference.  It’s a small difference but I remind her often….if everyone would do a little it will become a lot.

Happy Belated Earth Day to you all!  Especially you Summer!

Sarah Johnosn/Mom

Tough Love

In today’s market, people want turn-key homes. Often times both husband and wife are working, and they are going to spend as much money as they can afford on the purchase of their home. They won’t have the extra money to redo it. That’s why it’s sometimes harder for an existing home to compete against new construction and other homes that are on the market. If your home is less than top-notch in appearance, you can expect the buyers to demand a discount.

Just yesterday we had someone ask us, why is it that we have to get our homes in the condition that we have always wanted it to be in for ourselves in order to sell it? Have you always wanted to fix that nick in the wall, or maybe paint the living room, replace a door? Now that you are selling the house and looking around to all your competition on the market it might be the right time to go ahead and bite the bullet and do those repairs and replacements. The less work a buyer sees when they are looking at your house the less deductions or repairs they will ask for in an offer.

So if you are ready for some tough love and maybe a to-do list that you might be overlooking we can help you with that. Give you suggestions of what we know either the buyer or lender will ask to be repaired in a offer to buy your house or property.

Lisa Marchant

Our Blog Contest Winner…Tyler Schiltz!

Thank you, Tyler and all of our blog commentators!  We appreciate your input and help making our blog a dialouge.  This is what we’ve been looking for.

We asked Tyler to pose for the camera so you can enjoy his winning smile.  We didn’t interrogate him about where he’ll spend his certificates, we’re certain he’ll spend them well.

There’s a good blog topic to discuss:  how would you spend $150 in mad money?  Something extravagant?  On bills?  Half and Half?   Would the spending be different if it was $15?  or $1500?  Let us know how you’d spend mad money.

Making Your House Your Home

We bought the new house in January.  Now it’s April and we painted the old pink beauty salon gray to help it become the fly tying room.  The new red curtains replaced the pink curtains.  Other than the pink beauty salon, when we bought the house I thought the colors were pretty good.  Then I realized the guest bathroom was a pale pink and it became the next project;  I bought antique white paint.  The new light camel colored master bedroom drapes replacing the blue will tone down the blue bedroom.  Did I mention we need new living room furniture?  I think the painting and redecorating is necessary to help a new house become more your new home.  Ah well, this is all to be expected and I realize the process will never be completed…just don’t tell my husband!  We don’t want to interfere with the fishing!  I’m fortunate that his thoughts go to tying flies and fishing and he leaves the nesting to me and he’s happy with whatever I do with the house.  Making your house your home comes from the heart, whether is a one person project, couple project or the whole family’s involved.

Jyl Duffy

And the Winner is…..

Sarah Johnson!  I can’t believe it….I won my own blog contest.  It must be my lucky day…..or maybe it’s April Fools!

The REAL winner was chosen with the help of this little tool.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

14

Timestamp: 2010-04-01 15:36:25 UTC

And the winner really is……….

Tyler Schiltz!

I numbered all the comments (except those from Jyl, Lisa or I) and Tyler’s was the 14th!  Yea!  Tyler…I can’t wait to hear which prize you choose!  Tyler and his wife Amy have just recently listed their business with us.  The Box Office Videos and More here in Lovell.

Thanks so much to all of you for joining in on our fun!   We are going to do another contest over on our Facebook Fan page. If you are not already a fan join in over there so you can get in on the next contest.

Sarah Johnson