Long Lake is located about 5.5 miles from Olympia. As a homeowner on this beautiful waterfront community I enjoy the value of this amazing recreational community. Long Lake is one of 45 named lakes in Thurston County. Homeowners here take a strong management stand toward preserving this natural resource through proper management. Lake life comes with a challenge of stewardship. Long Lakes Management District has taken over where the county leaves off. As homeowners we opt to take steps to cover preventative and palative measures to control the following concerns. It does mean that ownership includes the cost of these measures which are added to our anual tax statement.Long Lake Integrated Management PlanControling Eurasion MilfoilNoxious Invasive SpeciesIt's all about the value of the l... 02/10/2007

Thurston County, in Olympia Washington has about 54 named lakes. As a local lake dweller I enjoy the territorial view and seasonal changes Long Lake. I grew up hear. Mom's house is right next door. This January has been particularly cold and in the past week we enjoyed watching ice grow across the waters surface area. I stood in the front window one morning and could see the ice spreading into our cove as it slowly chased the ducks into the last patch of open water along the edge of a neighbors yard.  This is a color photo that appears in sepia tones due to the stark whiteness of the snow. Taken at 9am the morning it snowed. It's been about 10 years since the lake has frozen. The bonus of snow cover is a combination I can't remember seeing in my lifetime. The snow has melted off now and... 01/18/2007

I was raised on one of the regions many lakes in Thurston County which has more than 54 named lakes. Large and small  Thurston County Lakes  are a key component to our fishing and summer water recreation. Maybe all that water I absorbed swimming has inurred me to the rain. Barring the folks that get cause by natures unexpected catastrophe I really love the change in season.I grew up on Long Lake which is the largest full use recreation lake in the area. My husband and I now live in a home built next door to the house that dad built. Mom lives there still with three cats and two dogs. One cat and dog are mine, but they love gramma and took shelter with her when we built the house and never moved back. Looks like another record rainfall is coming down right now and I've got people to meet... 01/07/2007

A Chehalis area home burned to the ground this morning. I'm only out one lockbox. The family lost almost everything.I got the call at 9:30 this morning from the neighbor who is the local publisher of a real estate rag. He called to say my listing behind his house was burning to the ground. Seller had been contacted and was on his way. On the 40 minute \drive to the property I made a lot of calls..... What can you do when you deal in homes, but put the word out to everyone who might know of some temporary housing for this family.I could see the smoke on the hillside as I approached the freeway exit and took a final call from the Fire Department Investigator telling him I was almost there.  It didn't feel so special "like on tv" to be able to say let me through your roadblock. It didn't f... 01/05/2007

You'll find me not fully recovered from Christmas and expecting two more gatherings before New Years, but I wanted to pause and share a story obout a project buyer, give special thanks to an affiliate and publish my new listing in Chehalis Washington.I'll start with the buyers who I got as to a referral from another Keller Williams agent from out of area. The buyer, who I have worked with for the past two months turned into my Christmas gift to self this year.  You know the one where a 25% referral will go to another agent, they are approved but at a level that won't purchase a home in the area, nothing on the market is large enough to fit their needs, takes all your time, is sub-prime with lenders but family just captures your heart and head. My base of operation is out of Olympia Wash... 12/28/2006

If your home is on the market, here are some ideas that may speed the selling process:· Make sure you and your Realtor have verified that your home is priced correctly· Make your home “show” the best by:-Making it the cleanest-Eliminating clutter-Keeping the yard trimmed and clean-For showings, keep the lights on in every room and if safe to do so, have the fireplace going-Use a couple drops of vanilla on a cold light bulb, then turn it on-Consider having your home professionally “staged”Write me with your comments or questions at Astickland@johnlscott.com or add a comment here.Talk to Top at www.TALKtoTOP.com 09/17/2006