3148 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT

860.666.8219

This past week was my younger son, Jakob's birthday. Yesterday we celebrated (again) with 2 games of Lazer Tag, and then ice cream for him and his friends at Mortensen's Ice Cream in Newington, CT.

They have over a dozen *homemade* ice creams and at least 15 different toppings to choose from. All of them had a blast with all the choices. They a 12 scoop sundae, 24 scoop sundae.. and the ultimate

200 SCOOP WHEELBARROW SUNDAE

I think this has got to be one of the LARGEST sundaes ever. So, if you have a birthday party, little league, sweet 16th celebration.. anything where there are a lot of people you can have one MAMOUTH SUNDAE... oh, did I mention.... you get to keep the wheelbarrow?

HISTORY OF MORTENSEN'S

Mortensen's was founded in 1915 with Elmer Mortensen delivering milk door to door by horse and wagon.

After having farms in Simbury, CT and Bloomfield, CT, he and his wife Joan moved to their farm in Newington, CT. Along with their seven children, they soon made Mortensen's A familiar landmark on the Berlin Turnpike. The whole *FAMILY* of cows were hard to miss grazing on the roof of their dairy Bar.

In 1976 they opened their present location, and began to make their own homade ice cream on the premisies.

Just as Elmer persisted in processing the best milk possible they are dedicated to serving the finest food and all natural ice cream anywhere!

Below are some more pictures I took.

FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ON REAL ESTATE.. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AGENT

Info about the author:

Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, which includes Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Berlin, Middletown, Wethersfield, Newington, as well as all other surrounding areas. Please visit me at www.CTrealtorMLS.com for all your relocation and/or local needs.

For real estate... all you need to know, is VALERIEO

If you're thinking about buying a home in Cromwell CT there are plenty of great buys in today's market. There is no better time than now to take advantage of these homes while interest rates remain at an all time low. For more information on Cromwell CT real estate's homes and/or condos please visit Johnson Real Estate to access the newest listings.

Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - 860.883.8889 cell - valerierealtor@sbcglobal.net

Copyright © 2009 - By Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - All rights reserved..... *** MORTENSEN'S PREMIUM ICE CREAM... NEWINGTON CT.... HOME OF THE WHEELBARROW SUNDAE ***

Preparation is everything. I counsel first-time buyers that their home inspection is primarily an opportunity for them to learn about their new home. The inspection will result in an owner's manual (the written inspection report) which they should save and review once each year that they own the property. This will help them keep up with the necessary maintenance of their home.

I remind them that their inspection contingency does protect them, in the unlikely event that the home has serious problems which we did not discover prior to making a purchase offer. If that is the case, the buyer can request that the seller either remedy the problem or make a financial adjustment in the buyer's favor. If a seller does not fix the problem, the seller risks losing the buyer plus has the burden of disclosing the property defect to any future buyer for the home.

With the benefit of also representing many sellers over the last two decades, I want buyers to concentrate on their top 3 priorities when making an inspection request. Over the years, I have seen most sellers are willing to correct 2 or 3 minor flaws in their homes. They are usually not willing to upgrade the house however (if they are not selling a new house, they won't be willing to bring the electrical system up to the current building codes for new construction).

Buyers who present the seller with a laundry list of 10 to 20 items to be repaired are not real buyers in the seller's eye. They are simply bad-faith negotiators, who offered an intial price and terms which they never intended to pay, planning to use the inspection results to re-open negotiations. In this instance, many sellers will refuse to do anything on the buyer's list, reasoning that since the buyer is not real anyway it doesn't matter how they respond.

The buyer ends up having to either walk from the property, be out-of-pocket for inspection and appraisal fees, receiving only their deposit back for their time and emotional investment (or move ahead with the purchase despite the seller's refusal to make any repairs).

Moderation in all things is still good advice (& applies to home inspection requests)!

This recent picture is a sign that is outside a gas station that closed about 2 or 3 years ago near my house. About 6 months ago, when gas prices were $4.30, we would drive by this station and think about how nice it would be to pull in and fill up for the price on the sign. Now 6 months later, no one would even go to this station because those prices are too high. I don't think anyone could have predicted prices coming down this low, but it would be nice to see it get below a $1.00 a gallon.

This is definitely last minute, but I have to blog about this. Today is the fifth annual Waterfall Festival in Newington, CT It is going on from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Market Square. This is a must see. There are artists doing their best on sidewalks. I've seen this in movies, ie Mary Poppins.. but never in person until today. There is also a chili cook-off going on as well. So this is not the run of the mill fall activity. I also saw arts n' crafts, food vendors, and live entertainment. I heard there would also be children's activities, but not sure what was coming off. The best part is that a portion of the proceeds benefit "Cuz We Care," this is a non-profit organization that makes pillows for cancer patients. For more information and directions, you can call. 860-667-2166.

Info about the author:

Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, as well as the surrounding areas. Please visit me at www.CTrealtorMLS.com for all your relocation and/or local needs.

Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - 860.635.0387 #2 - valerierealtor@sbcglobal.net

Copyright © 2008 By Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR, All Rights Reserved...*ARTISTS DRAWING ON THE SIDEWALK...REALLY *

STEW LEONARDS, NEWINGTON CT

APPLE FEST COOKING CLASS

In the Northeast this is the time of year for harvesting... and there is nothing better than a Farmer's Market to get these fresh items. If you are looking for your children to learn more about apple, and to make some great creations, you need to go to Stew Leonards either Friday, September 19 or Friday, September 26th. From 6 to 8pm children from the age of 7 to 12 years will sample 6 different varieties of apples.. then they will have the opportunity to make apple sauce, apple pancakes, homemade butter, apple turnovers and Waldorf Salad... the best part is they will be able to eat everything they make too. Did I mention that they will not make one of these.. they will be making all of these... you will have a chef on your hands.. speaking of chef.. every child will get an apron and a *chef* hat too. At the end of the session all children will receive a culinary medal for a job well done. All of this for $30.00 per child.. how can you go wrong?

For more information and to sign up call the Newington Stew Leonards. 860.761.8100

Info about the author:

Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, as well as the surrounding areas. Please visit me at www.CTrealtorMLS.com for all your relocation and/or local needs.

Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - 860.635.0387 #2 - valerierealtor@sbcglobal.net

Copyright © 2008 By Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR, All Rights Reserved...* APPLE FEST AT STEW LEONARDS*