Whether you're considering purchasing your first home in the next few months or you'e never given it two thoughts, you will find this presentation both interesting and valuable. There's an offer for you at the end. Please enjoy.

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In my typical last minute fashion a trip to the card section of the grocery store was part of my February 14th schedule. You have to appreciate a personality like mine that has to pick the EXACT RIGHT VERSE. Because of that I am forced to read each and every card in the appropriate section. This years PLANNED last minute trip was eye awakening as my selection was down to 5 "I love my husband" options. Whew, what a time saver.

However, with the extra time which was already planned into my trip I found myself pulled to the next isle where "Easter Baskets" candies, and my favorite Cadbury Eggs were already on display. WOW....... I almost scrapped the Valentine card in favor of the Tazmanian Devil Easter Basket as Taz is my husbands best friend. I paused to ponder the multitude of stuffed creatures that have entered my life and couldn't handle purposefully adding one more to the collection. Driving home with my card I wasn't thinking about how quickly the market changes seasonality to entice the buyer to spend. Instead my mind was on the coming of Spring, my faith, celebration of Christ's Resurection and all that cycles new that is triggered by the Easter display.

Easter and Spring. New growth, new life, new beginnings and on Long Lake time to break out all the fishing equipment, clean out the tackle box and get ready for another soulful season of fishing. Long Lake residents enjoy a month of 5 mile per hour putzing which follows our opening day. In this fashion the waterfront community begins to awaken and slowly opens the lakeside doors and windows in quiet preparation for the coming high season of water recreation. We are a lake that gives full access to the public and I truly enjoy the social life that is part of being a member of such a community.

I fish the way I hunt. It's about the process not the capture. My hooks are barbless and most of the time I'm just practice casting. I love tying flies and the art of fly fishing amazes me. When I was single I traveled with my gear in the trunk of my car. Now that I've settled on the lake with my husband it is always close at hand. It you decide to join us this year, please look for us at the Southeast end. We've got the American flags in lighted planters on the dock. Stop and say hello.

Thurston County has specific regulations regarding boating operations and water safety on lakes. Below are key provisions of Chapter 16.04 as it applies to Long Lake:

• For the first 30 days of fishing season (fishing season opens April 27 this year) the speed limit is 5 mph around-the-clock. The rest of the year, watercraft can travel up to 45 mph in open basins EXCEPT at night and in the morning, when the speed limit is 5 mph. (The 5 mph limit applies after
  8 p.m. or official sunset, whichever comes first, to 11 a.m. in the morning. (The U.S. Naval Observatory Web site allows viewers to estimate sunrise and sunset times.)

• After sunset, all crafts must use proper running lights.

• Crafts operating over 5 mph must be at least 200 feet off the shoreline. This must be observed because swimmers and nonmotorized craft tend to gather within the 200-foot safety zone. This rule also reduces the impact of wakes upon shore banks.

• Crafts operating over 5 mph, including personal watercraft or "jet skis," must also remain at least 100 feet away from all other craft and persons.

• All watercraft must travel in a counter-clockwise direction.

• All water skiers must have at least three people: a driver, an observer, and a skier. The observer is required to watch the skier at all times and to use a red or orange flag to signal when a skier is down in the water. All water skiers are required to wear an approved flotation device.

• Personal flotation devices must be on-board all watercraft, with one device required for each person and easily accessible. Children 12 years old and younger must wear a personal flotation device at all times if traveling on a vessel that is shorter than 19 feet.

• All personal watercraft (or "jet ski") operators must wear an approved flotation device.

• It is illegal to operate any craft while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Thurston County Lakes Long Lake is my favorite because it is home, but there are 45 named lakes in this beautiful county. This link will

Fish Facts For Good Health

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 Plan

Controling Eurasion Milfoil

Noxious Invasive Species

It's all about the value of the land. For a few extra dollars in taxes we enjoy the comaraderie of living in a recreation community. Just try to get my husband to leave his water toys in summer and go on vacation. We live a life at home that is "on vacation" and enjoy each changing season that is part of this wonderful Pacific Northwest environment.

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 pockets of water are reappearing. There'll be no ice skating but next summer should see a reduced flea and mosquito population. And the neighbors who's yard became home to our population of wild waterfowl will have a nice green lawn.

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 and homes to tour. So, here's a moment of pause to report that our dock is once again approaching the winter "fully" under water phase. It's built on two levels with a dropped down swim platform that makes getting on and off the waverunner much easier. That sectionis two inches below the water level. It's always interesting to wager on whether the weather will reach to top of the main deck. So far it has come to 2 inches below. Maybe this year.

This is the second season for this dock. The old dock never wet under water. But that was because the pilings lifted out of the ground and turned it into a float each winter. We were never certain in the springtime just how it would settle back down. It was never level and often quite deformed, but it kept up the fight for the duration of it's life. And lost the battle to Kappert Waterfront Construction's pile driver hired to build it's replacement.

New Dock Old Dock & Pile Driver

You will find Thurston County is the home of our capital city Olympia Washington. As a community, Thurston County demographic reports indicate a population that contains about 75,000 households. As a major employer, The State skews local employment ratios of blue collar to white collar at 1.6/10. Though if you saw the relaxed Pacific Northwest Professional wardrobe you would never guess the ratio on your own.

As a local Real Estate Professional in Olympia WA, my relocating clients, both buyer and seller rely on my ability to direct them to information so that they can research their potential new neighborhood. In Thurston County currently:

• Average age is 36.4
• Median income is currently $52.4
• Crime rate is 13% below the national average
• Weather risk factors affecting our region are minimal except for Earthquake at 123% over the national average.Pacific Northwest Earthquake Information

Barring the 1998 earthquake I experience from under a pew during a funeral for a cousin, it's a gorgeous place to live. The key to any area is to know what to expect, how to prepare, and how to react.

Earthquake Hazard Information You Should Know

• Best Guess - When & Where Will the Next Big Earthquake Occur?
• Ground Motion Expectation from Future Earthquakes
• Earthquake Hazardous Areas Map for Washington
• Washington State Earthquake Hazards
• Business preparation strategies
• Home&Family preparation strategies

The evergreens are brilliant green in the winter months as they feed on a blend of sunshine and wet. We are a winter wonderland of sports which includes access to Crystal Mountain, Snoqualmie Pass, and White Pass skii areas within an hour drive of home. Trail bike riders will appreciate the mudder season in Capital Forest which borders the Delphi area in West Olympia with water steams and tributaries running down to our famous mud flats of Oyster Bay.

This is home and I'll keep it with all it's blustery days and varied moods. I'm heading out into the rain to meet a client -- Like a true native, I'll leave the umbrella at home.

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 feel special at all. I parked on the street and made my way down a driveway lined with City of Chehalis emergency vehicles. This is one of those areas where a series of small pump trucks run hoses to each other in order to get into tight areas. What an amazing group of people.

I made my way around the last bend and the site in front of me took my breath away. I lost it. Not even mine and the heartache was so strong that I stood and cried. Deep breaths... stoic calm and I turned to see my people coming down the driveway.

It could happen to any of us.. My sellers said, "Thanks goodness we took your advise and all our personal memorabilia is in storage and the dog is living with other family" Nobody was home.

They've check into a motel and decided to cry for the day and then figure out how to move on.

Keep them in your prayers as we look for temporary housing. Oh my,,,,, there's my husband and we have room in the basement as a last resort... I better go smooze and hold tight and say my own prayer of thanks.

There, but for the grace of God, go I.

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 Washington. I work from home as the Keller Williams Realty office closest to me is in Tacoma. These buyers were in my old favorite stomping grounds in Centralia which is 45 minutes South of my home. I still love working in Centralia, Chehalis area through Lewis County. The drive is very soulful.

I was blessed in meeting these folks who have not much but a love of family and others which is so freely shared that it is palpable. Meeting them triggered an inspirational push of self to a new level of service as I committed to learning how and connecting with any realtor, investor, contractor, and cancelled or expired listing owner I could contact looking for that one deal that would create a win/win. After meeting many great people and hearing a fair share of no's one came back after a "no way" and said "yes I'll drop my price $30k". What a great joy to share with my buyers who had recently outgrown their rental home due to taking in a parent with special need. We get gramma out of the master bedroom and daddy off the couch.

THANKS TO WIN HOME INSPECTIONS, OLYMPIA WASHINGTON, JOHN BERGFORD

Now an additional special thanks goes out to John Bergford of Win Home Inspections.John has volunteered his service to inspect the property. You can bet this realtor will be making a donation to John's favorite Mexican Youth Ministry program as a thank you.

You are great John.

FIRE DESTROYS CHEHALIS WASHINGTON LISTING - LEWIS COUNTY This home burned to a shell on 1-5-2007. Sellers had planned moving to Olympia Washington where both are employed. Chehalis Washington, Executive Home for sale $325,500