Sevierville, TN

You know girls: BFF's that like to hang out together end up shopping, styling, and redesigning a room or even an entire home. The ideas get to flowing, maybe some great music, a glass of wine, and BAM! we have a redo! Stuff Happens.

This happened on an October Saturday in good ole Kentucky. I might add, if I didn't live in God's country - - East Tennessee, I would be honored to call Kentucky home. Lizette Fitzpatrick, Broker, Artist, and AR Ambassador, had invited me up for a day at Keeneland. We never made it to Keeneland this trip due to rain. But just take a look at what we did instead.

The kitchen was awesome to begin with, but Lizette said "I have been thinking of changing" and that began the fun. While she was elsewhere, I bagged up the greenery over the cabinets and rearranged some of her great accessories. We later shopped for a few additional goodies, and wow, stunning redesign.

After I had returned home to Tennessee, Lizette called and told me she had tweaked a few things and found a couple of items to complete the look. This vignette in the corner was one of her finishing touches that looks incredible.

Next time you have a rainy Saturday afternoon and two designing women around, just IMAGINE and DREAM and you can create a one of a kind sanctuary of your own. Fabulous fun!

One word of warning: I have been known to begin removing wallpaper while friends were out of the room...

We had our first snow in October up in the higher elevations, and nothing yet down here in Sevierville, but there's somthing in the air I think... it's cloudy and gray and the leaves have lost the gorgous colors, turning a deep russet. We spent last weekend raking and blowing them in the front yard, whcih was no small task as the yard is full of 100 year old hardwoods....they make a lot of leaves! We got this first batch gathered up and then the best thing happened-- the grand niece and nephew arrived from Florida to jump in the piles! They never had experienced it before and it was the perfect fall adventure!

Maybe it's not really that wintry today-- after all it's 53 degrees...but looking at the Christmas lights that have already been strung around our festive towns, I think it might just be close!

Is the Smoky Mountain Market Changing? YES-- and here's how......

Here are some indicators of the Real Estate Market in Gatlinburg and Sevier County as a whole:

• The average SOLD price in Sevier County as a whole has risen 11.2% in the last 30 days. The per cent of asking price that buyers ended up paying was 92.6% of the asking price. This indicates that list prices are coming into line with market expectations.
• The average SOLD price in Gatlinburg has risen 4.2% in the last 30 days with the per cent of asking price paid being 91.6%
• The most sales have occurred in the $150,000 to $200,000 range with the average sale price in Gatlinburg being $207,218 and in Sevier County being $178,265.

What does this mean? It means that if you are shopping in the $150K to $200K range, you can expect some more competition than in other areas of the market. "Deals" that come on the market in this price range may generate multiple offers very quickly.

In addition, list prices are coming into line with the market at an increasing rate. This means that "low ball" offers may not be as successful as they have been in past months.

it's the 75th anniversary of the Park this summer, and we did 2 fun things to celebrate. One was the annual night-trip to see the synchronous fireflies--this year we got smart and did it out of a campsite, so we were able to have a great grilled supper before hiking up to see the flies...actually I have to admit that one family member had a sore knee so I stayed in the campsite with him. Everybody left, it got perfectly quiet except for the rush of the stream below, and then all the firelies came--a private showing just for us! We saw as many as I have ever seen before---so fun!

Then this weekend we went to the performance of the Kxonville Symphony Orchestra in Cades Cove--we got there early and got a spot under a huge Maple tree--perfect shade for the day. The rain held off and we were able to listen to the music and soak up the Cove. Most of us were selecting spots where our ashes will be spread, we love it so much there. Torrential rain on the way home--so glad it waited!

There are so many reasons I think this is the perfect place to live--I just have to keep adding to the list!

• They let school out early and close the streets, print "We Love You Dolly" Posters in the newspaper to wave at Dolly when she leads the parade.

• The Home Depot lets you take carpet samples out on "The Honor System".
• You really CAN smell the honeysuckle while you are eating roasted corn and listening to country music at the Bloomin' BBQ festival.

• I saw 5 bears in Cades Cove this week!