Chris Hurd

A purely personal list subject to change (guaranteed!) of my favorite things to do in Burlington Vermont throughout the year:

10. Summer picnic pilgrammage to enjoy a sunset at Waterfront Park on Lake Champlain,

9. A show at the Flynn Theater followed by profiteroles for dessert at the "Trat",

8. An evening stroll down Church Street,

7. Finding a parking spot,

6. JazzFest in June,

5. First Night,

4. Burlington Bike Path,

3. Coming in by boat to the Community Boat House to hang out on the docks for a sunset, dinner, drinks or all 3,

2. Christmas Lighting Ceremony on Church Street,

1. 4th of July fireworks on the waterfront.

If you would like to add a comment or add your favorite Top Ten list, please do so by posting a comment here at Hurd's The Word or go to my website at Burlington VT Real Estate

Christmas has come early this year. I was rejoicing reading the Free Press this morning about the successful efforts of the Charlotte Land Trust to preserve 40 acres of open land west of Mount Philo, near State Park Road. A three year effort has paid off and I would like to express my deep gratitude to all who had a hand in making this preservation of important land a reality.

The Charlotte Land Trust recognized two main purposes for conserving this land. The first was for the property's prime agricultural value and the second was for preserving expansive westerly viewsheds from atop Mount Philo.

Who among us hasn't rejoiced in those spectacular views earned with only a short (30 min) hike to the top of Mount Philo to view the beauty of our Champlain Valley, Lake Champlain, The heart of the Adirondack Mountains, westerly sunsets that are superlative, walking with loved ones and our dogs, watching the bi-annual migration of Canadian Geese, Snow Geese, or Peregrine Falcons in jackknifed dive into the now preserved meadows in search of a meal.

Yes. It feels like Christmas Day allright!

Charlotte residents contribute to the conservation funds each year through 2 cents of the tax rate. This was authorized by the voters in 1996 and re-ratified again in 2006. Every ten years a revote must occur to reapprove the allocation of resources. In excess of a dozen properties have been conserved with help from this fund.

If you would like to make a contribution to the fund, you may do so by writing to the Charlotte Land Trust at P.O Box 43 Charlotte VT 05445. Their website is at present under construction at http://www.charlottelandtrust.org/

As always, if you would like to add your comments here at Hurd's The Word, please feel free to do so or go to my website at Burlington VT Real Estate.

We have a glorious full moon upcoming on Tuesday, January 22nd. I celebrate such events. It's quite possible my love of full moons began while as a young child being read Goodnight Moon by my mother over and over night after night. That reassuring story and the gentle melody of my mum's voice comforted me to sleep as I found my sweet spot amidst the tangle of my sheets and cozy Hudson's Bay blankets. Years later, I, as have many of us, read this same classic story to my/our children.

In a newer book, On The Day You Were Born, it's author Debra Frasier pays loving homage to the moon as if it were a present to look forward to each and every month all our lives. She writes, "On the day you were born the quiet Moon glowed and offered to bring a full, bright face, each month, to your windowsill...". When clouds hide my dear friend from time to time (it's inevitable), it only makes my heart yearn for the next one all the more.

I've been giving precious thought about how to celebrate January's soon full moon...

Several Januarys ago, a friend and I hiked up Camel's Hump on a cloudless night. The wind lay still. As we ascended from the Huntington trailhead, my heart quickened its paces. Warmth radiated to the tips of my fingers and toes in the twenty degree below zero air. Snow on the trail and in the woods reflected the sun's light from the face of the moon illuminating everything. As our eyes became accustomed to the unfolding scene around us greater and greater details were discovered. Shadows of tree branches crisscrossed the worn, snowy trail. I was floored by how much I could see on that night. I think I read somewhere it takes 30 minutes or something like that for our eyes to adjust to the night away from all artificial lights. As time passed, I thought, my, oh my, I could read a book in this light. Such beauty!

We stopped along the trail several times to drink water and savor our steaming hot chocolate from my treasured thermos and just "be". We passed ‘nary a soul on this night. Where was everyone I thought? Could we count ourselves amongst the very privileged few to be witnessing such beauty? Skyward we went. The trail sharpened its angle. More layers were peeled and stored in our packs. I was in a silk weight T shirt and yet somehow I was warm.

The Stillness. The Solitude. That ethereal light. But the best was yet to come...

At tree line, I replaced my damp "T" shirt and put on my driest fleece and layered up as we reached for the summit. When we broke free of the gnarled krumholz, joy leapt from my heart as a most stunning sight sprawled out beyond my feet. The lighting was other worldly. Like a negative of an old black and white photograph from Snowflake Bentley's collection. There we were perched on the upper reaches of the spine of the Green Mountains. To my right, I could see clear down to Mount Mansfield and well beyond. I rubbed my eyes testing myself and my wits for what my mind interpreted. I hadn't seen such a sight in Vermont ever before. Everything was so crystal clear. Straight ahead of us lie Vermont's Champlain Valley with all her teensy twinkling lights with people cozy in their homes. I blew kisses and loving thoughts to my children asleep in their beds in Burlington and I thought how lucky I was that my body could bring me to this spot, to this moment in time.

I want to see that light again...

Today, I'm hoping and praying for clear skies this Tuesday night as thoughts near of packing my pack.

Please share your full moon stories by posting a comment here on Hurd's The Word or go to my website at: Burlington VT Real Estate

Goodnight Moon.

Can we possibly be any luckier than we are?

Living in the shadow of mighty Mount Philo, we don't even have to get into our car to reach the mother of all sledding hills.

For those of you looking for the best sledding on the planet, look no further! When our glorious state park, which has won awards as Vermont's best in past years, closes its gate after the last leaves have fallen, those in the know start getting really, really itchy. There's a buzz in our house.

Questions begin their annual percolation. Past year's memorable runs generate laughter and anticipation... Will we have a great snowy year? When will it snow? Remember last year, when I passed you like you were standing still? How 'bout the air off the crazy jump? When can we SCREAM on our first run of the season down the closed road?

God Almighty, that first run of the year is always premo!!!

EVERYTHING about this run tops the classic category. About a mile of uninterrupted bombing down on your tummy, knees, or your bum. 2 hairpins, two steep sections (one on the upper third and the second on the lower third), sensational views on the walk up, on top and at the bottom when you roll off your sled in utter ecstatic hysteria!

To get it better than this you'd have to take the 1 mile bobsled at The Olympic Center in Lake Placid for over a hundred bucks and sign a slew of liability waivers.

Hey. On Mount Philo, it's ALL FREE.

The range of sleds is vast. Mad River Rockets, Hammerheads (our choice!), Trays, and all sorts of crazy derivations in between. Anything fit to get you down, in mostly one piece.

All this thinking, writing and describing has me cooked up in a frenzy.

Look.

I gotta go. Gonna grab my son and daughter and have today's death slalom duel.

If you hear us yelling, kindly get out of our way

If you have any great sledding stories on Mount Philo to share, please post a comment here at Hurd's The Word or if you know of any great hills absolutely post them here!

Based upon information provided by the Northwestern Vermont Board of Realtors (NVBR) as of today for the year of 2007, there were 1,678 residential, townhouse/condo and land units sold within all towns in Chittenden County with a total listed volume of $499,610,659. Divide this number by the units sold (1,678) and you get an average listed price of $297,742. Juxtapose this figure to the actual total sold volume of $486,985,952 then divide this number by the units sold (1,678) and you come up with an average sold price of $290,218. Are ya' having an ADD moment yet?

So, "what's up Chris?" you're asking. Well, here you are. These numbers produced a list-to-sell variance of $7,524 or (drum roll please) a 97.5% list to sell percentage. Average days on the market for these 1,678 properties was 82.

Armed with solid numbers, buyers and sellers alike can manage their expectations and the current realities of our local market.

Call me at 802.238.5256, email me at Chris@ChrisHurdVT.com or post your comments here at Hurd's The Word.

Towns included in these single family residential figures for all of Chittenden County: Bolton, Buels Gore, Burlington, Charlotte, Colchester, Essex Junction, Essex, Hinesburg, Huntington, Jericho Village, Jericho, Milton, Richmond, Shelburne, South Burlington, St George, Underhill, Westoford, Williston and Winooski Vermont.