Melinda Peterson Grants Pass Southern Oregon Real Estate Cafe

Jacksonville, Oregon is Voted One of America's Top 10 Coolest Small Towns! Just across the border from California, the old gold-rush town of Jacksonville, Oregon is getting its second wind from liquid gold. With 17 wineries located in the surrounding Applegate Valley, and a climate that's ripe for growing multiple types of grapes, Jacksonville, Oregon is a refuge from the tourist whirl of Napa.

Herb Quady is among the residents integral to the burgeoning scene. Quady, whose father, Andrew, produces dessert wines at Quady Winery in Madera, Calif., opened the Quady North tasting room in April (255 California St., quadynorth.com). "There isn't anyplace in California that's nearly as cute," Quady explains of his move. "We're all about the bucolic southern Oregon life." The best way to tap in is at South Stage Cellars, which stocks bottles from nine area wineries (125 S. 3rd St., southstagecellars.com). The Garden Bistro at the five-room McCully House Inn & Cottages showcases local growers of a different sort, with food products from 27 area purveyors, including cheese from the goats at nearby Pholia Farm (240 E. California St., mccullyhouseinn.com, rooms from $135). The lifestyle drew Constance and David Jesser, a chef and a commodities trader, respectively, from Sonoma five years ago to open Jacksonville Mercantile, where the shelves are filled with provisions like black-truffle-roasted almonds, meant to pair perfectly with a bottle of Quady North viognier (120 E. California St., jacksonvillemercantile.com).

For more information about Jacksonville, Oregon - contact Melinda Peterson Broker - Real Estate Cafe

1738 NW Highland Ave - Grants Pass, Oregon 97526

Beautifully remodeled 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1533 s/f home for sale on .19 acre in a desirable NW Grants Pass, Oregon neighborhood. Spacious kitchen featuring newer appliances, cabinets, counter tops and more. Beautiful gas fireplace & oversized utility room. Detached 2-car garage is set back from the road allowing for ample parking. Large rear yard is fenced and private. District 7 Schools and within walking distance to parks and shopping. $173,250. MLS#52905410

For more information regarding Grants Pass Southern Oregon Real Estate - contact Melinda Peterson - Broker Real Estate Cafe 541-659-1620

Realtors are like Kindred Spirits! A kindred spirit is someone who feels and thinks the way you do and understands you better than you understand yourself. A kindred spirit is a person who shares the same view of life as you. They are people with whom you communicate and understand nearly effortlessly, and when you don't agree, then you agree to disagree without arguing. You know they will share your assessment of situations and people. You don't necessarily have to be alike because there is an absolute understanding between you, and an easiness to your relationship. A kindred spirit is a rare kind of friend.

On first meeting a kindred spirit, you feel that you have known them all your life. You can laugh and cry with them, and because they know you inside and out, they will not judge you. They are beings for whom you would drop everything to help and you are not afraid to express your feelings to them. They are there for you when things are great and are still there when things are going horribly wrong. A kindred spirit is one who can almost share your own spirit in a sense, they know what you are feeling or thinking and you can finish each other's thoughts.

Like love, having a kindred spirit isn't something you can easily explain. You just know it when you have it. Kindred spirits are extremely hard to come by. Like-minded souls are highly sought after. Finding a Kindred Spirit is an ultimate treasure. Finding a good Realtor is priceless. Realtors are like Kindred Spirits!

For more inspiring stories, contact Kindred Spirit Realtor - Melinda Peterson - Broker/Owner Real Estate Cafe - Grants Pass Southern Oregon Living

Covered Bridges in Oregon are a sight to see! Oregon has the largest collection of covered bridges in the West and one of the largest in the nation.

The covered-bridge-building tradition in Oregon dates back to the 1850's. Out of necessity, pioneers built with the materials at hand. Douglas fir was abundant in western Oregon and well-suited for bridge construction. To increase their useful life, houses were constructed over the timber trusses to protect them from the damp western Oregon climate.

The heyday of covered bridge building in Oregon occurred between 1905 and 1925 when there were an estimated 450 covered bridges in the state. By 1977, this number had dwindled to 56. The picture (above) is the Grave Creek Bridge in Sunny Valley (Southern Oregon), which is located approximately 14 miles north of Grants Pass, Oregon.

For more information regarding Southern Oregon Living, contact Melinda Peterson - Real Estate Cafe

It's a sad day in Grants Pass, Oregon today for the Dutch Bros. family, as Dane Boersma, who founded the Dutch Bros. coffee empire with his brother Travis 17 years ago, died early this morning from Lou Gehrig's disease.

Boersma, 55, was diagnosed with the debilitating disease in 2004. A service is set at 1 p.m. Monday at Parkway Christian Center, 229 N.E. Beacon Drive, Grants Pass.

The brothers launched the company with a coffee stand in 1992 in Grants Pass, Oregon. Today Dutch Bros. has more than 150 coffee stands in seven states. It recorded more than $50 million in sales in 2008, Travis Boersma said.

Dane Boersma is survived by his brother Travis, wife Sandy, his daughter Dana Sawyer, and his sons, Brant and Jonah Boersma.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Dutch Bros. family during this difficult time.

For more Southern Oregon Living news, contact Melinda Peterson - Real Estate Cafe