Barn at Sunset along Hwy 47 and the Nehalem River Vernonia Oregon     Looking back through old photos, this is one that reminds me of my drive home to Fishhawk Lake along country roads in the winter seasons when the sun sets earlier and silhouettes come out around 5pm as the sun wanes. The low temperatures but clear days can offer some hues that are like visual dessert for a photographer. This is a sharp curve along The Nehalem River that makes it a challenge to stop and photograph without putting oneself in harm's way. Ah, what we go through to get a good shot!               01/13/2013

  Be Thankful for Mother Nature       In viewing what has transpired on the east coast recently, we may need to step back in time, recall what we in Vernonia and Fishhawk Lake went through about five years ago, and be thankful that Mother Nature gave us a break.       Many of you in our communities ofVernonia and Fishhawk Lake remember all too well the flood of '07 and are quite aware of what people are going through in the aftermath of such devastation.         Some of you were able to eventually rebuild here, some had to walk away. In the last five years it has been a tough go for some of our neighbors, friends and family, yet I want to share something positive that the F.E.M.A .(Federal Emergency Management Agency) insurance adjuster said to me when he walked into our Vernonia Realty... 11/06/2012

     Halloween Ghosts and Goblins ActiveRain Style     One of the things I love most about living on a lake in the country is to take pictures. One of the things I love most is  spending HOURS playing with those photos and seeing what I come up with….all for free (I use iPiccy.com I used to use PicNik, but it's no longer around...) They offer all kinds of ways to tweak color, framing, effects. Last year, some of my favorite bloggers used enhancing  for Halloween.     Cindy Westfall changed her profile for some scary results (that also look kinda sexy!)         On the other hand, William Johnson took the same style of effects and used something completely different. Great haunted ship!       Lightening, moons…it’s all soooooo scary.   Can you guess what this is??? One of your favorite Go... 10/28/2012

After a wild week last week with visits from my dear ActiveRain friends, Debb Janes and Mel Peterson, (their recent blogs,mine to come soon) the very day that they left my husband brought home our newest “addition”. Kasa Jenna Boxman is our new Golden Retriever, eight weeks old today. Today I took her and her mentor, our 3-year-old Golden, Takoda (Mr. “T”) to the office with me for some “floor time”. This video shows how they did as Greeters for Vernonia Realty.       We ended up heading to the vet’s office an hour and a half away from Vernonia, so it was a full workday for my kids. “Floor Day” can take a lot out of you!   06/11/2012

A sad tale this is. This home had been on the market for a very long time. It had been bought, totally remodeled and put up for sale for a long time, going through two different realtors. It had been bought in February of ’08 for $59,900 and 7 months later, after an extensive remodel, went back on the market at $230,000. It was listed til yesterday for $100,000 less.       It has stood vacant all of this time. Until yesterday it was “sellable”.  I drove by yesterday and saw firetrucks. These are the pictures I quickly took today.   It could be  arson or possibly squatters, but regardless, it’s sad to see this just the same.       Everyone loses in a case like this. The owner, the realtor, a future buyer. This is a nightmare no one wants to have happen.     Gayle Rich-BoxmanRealtor® Vern... 10/28/2011

Drive by shooting….got your attention, didn’t I?  Well, this one didn’t hurt anybody, but it sure made MY day!   This is a small collection of what I get to see on my drive from Fishhawk Lake in the big city of Birkenfeld Oregon (ha!) to the bigger city of Vernonia Oregon where my real estate office is located.       Mist is located 8 miles from my home on Fishhawk Lake. This was one of my first "shootings".   Right after this home is where Highway 47 goes through Mist and heads into Clatskanie, Oregon.     I’ve always thought this little guy looked kinda lonely.     I have friends here and always beep when I drive by.       I’ve driven by this place many times in the last eight years and finally stopped to take a few shots—without bullets, of course.       Along the road is this sign: ... 09/30/2011

Vernonia Pioneer Museum-A New Addition to an Old Heritage This Vernonia Oregon historical building  is recognized nationally,  and is registered as an Historic Place being described as the Oregon American Lumber Company Mill Office. Built in 1924, it is #52 on the Walking Tour.       The Vernonia Pioneer  Museum includes artifacts from throughout the county. You will see a variety of rocks and other items from the local Native American tribes. Admission is free and it is a wonderful place for families to visit. Vernonia Museum is an ADA accessible building. We welcome groups, but appointments are encouraged.    In addition to that, we have logging information, pictures and tools, as well as items depicting the life of early settlers in the Nehalem Valley region. Back in the 20s, it used... 09/27/2011