GRAND OPENING FRIDAY JULY 15, 2011 FRED MEYER ~ WILSONVILLE, OREGON Our town of Wilsonville will have a new Fred Meyer, which is having a GRAND OPENING this Friday July 15, 2011 at 7am.  Lots of celebrating, cake cutting, Fred Bear and Clowns, free spaghetti dinner, and you could meet Mariel Hemingway all happening on Friday.  This celebration continues on Saturday and Sunday, with lots of give-aways and prizes, including gift cards if you are one of the first 200 visitors on either Friday, Saturday or Sunday. COME AND JOIN IN THE FUN Take a look at this video and see the great spirit in which these customer service people working for Fred's are in. Great fun.   07/12/2011

SPRING TURNED INTO SUMMER IN WILSONVILLE  Spring finally turned into Summer in the City Wilsonville and the change has been a gradual one this year.  My garden has had a slow start at least two to three weeks behind its normal schedule.  Yet who knows what normal really is, it frequently changes its mind.  This Spring Daffodils came and went, tulips the same, the Peonies were so beautiful and lasted for such a short time, Roses Blooming and sending out their sweet perfumes and then planting time for any annuals I might add for the summer time.    My tomatoes are growing like mad and beginning to bloom for a Summer harvest, the potatoes we planted are getting larger and my herbs are finally showing life.  The flower baskets I started from scratch are getting bigger and the blooms are be... 07/05/2011

2011 Summer Concerts at Oregon Zoo ~ Portland, OROregon Zoo Summer Concerts WOW, these are such great concerts for summertime family fun, date time fun or just a warm summer evening with fantastiz music from groups like Taj Mahal and Joan Osborne. Taj Mahal is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and Grammy Award Winner.  Joan Osborne has been nominated for six grammy awards and performed alongside notables such as Stevie Wonder, Melissa Etheridge, Lucianno Pavarotti, Spearhead, Bob Dylan and the Chieftains.  This concert is June 23, 2011. For a complete list of all of the concerts, please click here for Oregon Zoo Summer Concerts Schedule. All kinds of information are on this site regarding not only the Zoo Concerts but the zoo itself.  Plan ahead and enjoy this summer in style... 06/22/2011

  Your 2 Cents Is Worth Its Weight In Gold   Over the years I have been through classes, listened intently to people who have more experience than I do, read countless books, been through seminars both real estate and personal effectiveness classes.  I am good with people and seem to be well liked, and my brain does work.  I have owned my own business with employees, worked for others, and now an independent contractor in real estate.  Sometimes we just cannot see the forest for the trees and forget to walk on the path that leads to where we want to go, and sometimes we get a little lost and our brains freeze as though we were in the Antarctica in a snow storm. I know that in Real Estate price is really everything, then condition and then location.  Sometimes price, location, condition ... 06/13/2011

OPEN HOUSE  ~ SATURDAY ~ JUNE 11 ~ 1-4 p.m. 32525 SW Ladd Hill Rd ~ Wilsonville, OR 97070 Join us for a tour of this Country Property that is sure to tempt your curosity and fill your needs Visit, preview and enjoy this home at the best value around. A stately home with spectacular views of the Willamette Valley and the Cascade Range.  This 4336 square foot home is located on 9.85 acres, providing ample space for a large family and a secure and private living enviornment. Click one website link below for full view of home ~ You will not be disappointed Country Living At Its Finest 06/10/2011

  Acts of Kindness.....even if you think no one notices.....God Notices     Your kindness makes a difference even it is a very tiny act of goodness and you think no one notices, God notices.  Always remember that one little act of kindness can tilt the balance of an entire situation.       One little act of kindness can ripple in countless ways that you may never know about. So even if you think no one notices.....God Notices       06/07/2011

Throwing Away Fear and Remembering to Remember The other day I was reading a post that intrigued me and set my thoughts racing into many different arenas and my brain became so full it was hard to focus beyond my comments on the post.  A movie began to run in my head of my own life and many others' lives who I know intimately and not intimately, or are just people whose stories I know.    We are fragile beings really, in many ways very breakable, yet in many ways strong and sturdy and able to weather the storms that may lie in wait for us down the road.  The post spoke of hardships of having to begin over because of circumstances, the comfort they were used to and of perhaps not paying attention when they should have.   It spoke of the hurt and despair that ensues when you lose everyth... 06/06/2011

Tents are setting up, Artists putting out their wares and it is time for the   WILSONVILLE FESTIVAL OF ARTS Saturday June 4th and Sunday June 5th Town Center Park ~ 10am - 6pm Many people look forward to this event each year and this year is no exception.  A parade through the town called "Hoof Beats" leading to the Festival of the Arts. PLUS.... Many visual artists of all kinds, jewelery, paintings, sculpture, Student Art Tent, food, entertainment, a silent auction, authors and lots of people.  Water features for kids to play in and cool down from the 80 degree weather that is expected....where is your sunscreen?? This is a Festival I have thoroughly enjoyed participating in and perhaps next year I will again.....now I will have to not only work Real Estate but in my spare time....pai... 06/03/2011

A Tribute To All Our Military ~ Past, Present and Future Tomorrow is one day a year when we as a Nation can give back a little to our Armed Services by paying a tribute and respect for all the sacrifices they have made for us so we may live Free. Even if you are not from this great country of ours, you live in freedom because of them. Have a wonderful day and enjoy the video. I am Proud To Be An American ! 05/29/2011

Happenings in Wilsonville, Oregon   Happenings in Wilsonville, like any other small town, are many, and if you would like to know a little more about us, check out our website, City of Wilsonville in Oregon.     Water Features Open !  Murase Plaza Park and Town center Park ~ May 28, 2011~  10:00 am - 8:00 pm ~ The Wilsonville Water Features will open Saturday and will remain open daily through Labor Day weekend of this year.  Families   enjoy the water features, picnics and warm days in both parks.   Wilsonville enjoys many parks with their amenities throughout our fair city.  Click on parks for all the inflormation, and don't forget Wilsonville Festival of Arts 2011,  June 4 and 5th.  Plan a Visit With Us !               05/24/2011

  SPECIAL OLYMPICS ~ IN THEIR WORDS ~ TO INSPIRE GREATNESS   What a great thought "To Inspire Greatness".  "The mission of Special Olympics Oregon is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community."  Taken from their website.     My third grandson Grazianno has Down Syndrome, or is it UP Syndrome.  He just turned 7 and is the greatest kid.  Of course I would say that, he is my grandson, but he is.  When he was 18 months they found he had leukemia a... 05/23/2011

A CALL FOR ACTION from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS   Tell Congress: 20% down payments put the American Dream Out of Reach for most people.     There are many good things that the NAR does for Realtors and one of them is their Call for Action newsletters, by taking action and asking Realtors for help in the way of writing to their Senators and Congressmen.   I write a lot of letters to my elected officials both here in the State of Oregon and other states across our nation.  There is not a lot I personally can do to make a difference, but what I do know is that I can write to people who perhaps might listen and take to heart what I have to say and suggest.  Who knows, but I do receive answers back and some are lengthy letters, probably written by a staffer, but a few from my own... 05/18/2011

ave this date for the Wilsonville FESTIVAL OF ARTS 2011  ~ June 4th and 5th, 2011 ~ Hours 10am-6pm Saturday and 10am-5pm Sunday ~                 The Annual Wilsonville Festival of Arts is the signature event for the Wilsonville Arts & Culture Council. The Misson of the Council is to "promote and support arts and culture in Wilsonville; to provide access to arts and culture to all people in wilsonville; to provide a structure where Wilsonville area arts and culture organizations can work together."   The Wilsonville Festival of Arts brings juried artists, performers, area student art from both West Linn and Wilsonville High Schools, middle schools as well as grade schools.    There will be a silent auction (The silent auction proceeds go to student scholarships); live music; a "Meet the... 05/17/2011

IS THERE A TREASURE THERE ?  I AM ON THE HOOK ~  CLEANING, CLEARING ~ GARAGE SALE SEASON           Okay, here we go again, our yearly garage sale, for our own household, next weekend.  Not my favorite thing to do...I don't like going through the boxes I put all of those saved items in.  You know the ones I might just need sometime..but I don't really know when that sometime is.   I have plenty, and I do mean plenty of dish sets, glass wear, platters, serving dishes for all of the dinner parties I have not been having.  Lots of what most people call knick-nacks, figurines, vases, and cooking dishes I don't really use anymore and have at least two or three of.  These are things I have been having a difficult time giving up over the years.  Do I need them?  Have they been used or even seen... 05/13/2011

        Memorial Day will be upon us soon ~ Remembering The Brave              It is another summer of freedom for all of us thanks to our Armed Forces. Personally I wonder if most Americans understand the sacrifices that pay the tab for us and for our freedoms, all politics aside. This link was sent to me by a very dear friend who understands what freedom means and how we as a people have kept our freedoms since the beginning of the creation of our great nation, the United States of America. Perhaps you could set a place at the Holiday table or picnic blanket for those who won't be able to make it, but I believe, still watch over us. The event shown in this presentation was a dinner given at the Marine Corps Museum ( Quantico, Virginia ) for families who lost loved ones in combat.     ... 05/12/2011

          City of Wilsonville ~ OLD TOWN SQUARE & Fred Meyer       We are on track for a July 2011 opening for the Old Town Square.  Fred Meyer (The Kroger Co) is the anchor for this 262,000 square foot retail complex.     Fred Meyer is overseeing a 145,000 square foot building and the remaining 117,000 is being developed by Gramor Development.   Already many tenants are planning to move into the development, some of them are: First Tech Credit Union, Go Wireless, Great Clips, Mango Tango Frozen Yogurt Treat Perfect Look  Vivid Nails Salon Qdoba Mexican Grill Subway Oswego Grill McMenamins Pub.    A boon for the City of Wilsonville and all of the residents.     05/11/2011

  WORKING ON A NEW WEBSITE FOR MY WATERCOLORS....FINALLY I am finally working on a new website for my watercolor paintings.   I have been wanting to do this for a long time and have others ask me, where is your website, how can I see your paintings.  So, now I am just in the beginning process and like how it is beginning to come alive.   Boy, it is a lot of work and thought that goes into it, so when I am done, I will publish, not quite there yet though.     This is a project to get my teeth into, in my spare time.     These are just a few of many paintings that will eventually be on the website I am creating.     05/07/2011

                                           Wilsonville OR Home is Staged and SOLD! Quality new construction in Wilsonville's Cross Creek / Canyon Creek neighborhood.  Private quiet & peaceful setting near greenspace with no through traffic.  Sculptured hardwood floors, soaring ceilings with large windows allow for a light-filled open floor plan.  Spacious kitchen has adjoining butler's pantry; den on main with French doors.  Great location near prime shopping and I-5 access.   05/07/2011

  OKAY...I READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE GERM PATROL..WAS I GUILTY? In Thursday's paper May 4, 2011 I read an article in the magazine part regarding the GERM PATROL, or how you can keep a cleaner and safer kitchen, by Kathleen Purvis of the Oregonian.  I was very interested to see just how clean my kitchen was.  The article said it could be the dirtiest room in the house.  They came up with an amazing list, some I have taken for granted and some I do already, and some I just did not know.  Hmmmm, how many years have I been cleaning my kitchen?      Here are a few:  People with pets are 6 times as likely to get salmonella based infections.  What?  Well, I guess if you clean your pet dishes or bowls in the kitchen sink, dumping the water out, the likelihood of contamination is pretty great.  ... 05/06/2011

LOCAL FARMER'S MARKETS ~ FRESH, FRESH, FRESH             It is that time of year once again and the farmer's markets are beginning to open around the area.  We always look forward to the markets and the fresh and organically grown produce each week.        Some of the markets have lots more than just the fresh produce, they have vendors with cheeses, honey, sandwiches, baked goods, and some soft goods.  I have purchased some of the best aprons at a farmers market.  Who wears aprons anymore?  Well I do, sure saves my clothes when I am cooking and throwing sauce around, or canning fresh produce, a season not to far away.  They also have a wonderful array of locally grown flowers for very reasonable prices.       We have at least six markets opening by May or June in my area alone.  They a... 05/03/2011