Carol Smith

My dear friend Elizabeth Nieves had written a while back about a beautiful place from her childhood - Quail Roost Farm. 

Elizabeth related a story about what a grand place it was and how beautiful it appeared to her as a child.

Well, being one to pay attention at times, I decided that I had to see this piece of heaven for myself.  So today, being a beautiful sunny day, I hopped in the truck and journeyed the 38 miles to Quail Roost Farm. 

I have to tell you ... Elizabeth was not kidding when she said it was a beautiful place. 

I was, literally, speechless while walking the grounds and poking around in the barns.  There was a majestic peace that had me totally relaxed.  So much so that I didn't want to leave, even though the sun was getting lower in the sky.  I do believe I would have stayed there forever.

So, in thanks to my dear friend, I am sharing some photos that I took while enjoying the peacefulness known as Quail Roost Farm.  (Not to mention I'm using the slideshow program she recommended!)

I do hope you'll enjoy the show.  I can't wait to go back out there.  I'm sure you'll understand why ...

This post is about customer service.

It's not all about Real Estate.

It's not all about 'our business'.

It's about CUSTOMER SERVICE.

I have recently been blessed to have received some of the absolute best

CUSTOMER SERVICE.

A couple of weeks ago I needed to purchase some ink cartridges for my printer.

Simple enough task, some would say.

And being slightly unfamiliar (still) with my new area I made a trip to Burlington, NC and discovered

a wonderful little shop called

Rapid Refill.

This little store has all the cartridges you could ever want.

I didn't remember the exact cartridge numbers, so the clerk looked it up for me by my printer model.

Unfortunately, I received the wrong cartridges but didn't realize it till a couple weeks passed.

I took the cartridges back to the store and was assisted by Babs.

I explained my situation, that I didn't have the receipt, etc. and she looked up the sale on their computer

by my name. She then verified the correct cartridges I needed and the exchange was done.

No fuss, no muss, no hassle.

This can be pretty common in many places, I realize that.

But what sets this business apart, in my mind, is this:

I got a follow up phone call about a week after the exchange.

Babs called and left me a voice mail that she was just checking to make sure I was

happy with the product, that I had gotten the correct product, and to please let them know

if there was anything else they (Rapid Refill) could do.

Well, I don't know about you, but I have never encountered such exemplary customer service in a

retail setting. This type of thing has made me a lifetime customer of

Rapid Refill.

And the icing on the cake? Rapid Refill is a truly "green" business. Their recycling programs are

awesome.

And all it took was a phone call.

Pretty simple, isn't it?

Do you do the simple things? Do you follow up with clients like you should?

Are you ready to get better about your follow up habits?

I am.

And all because of a phone call from Babs at the Rapid Refill Ink store.

Sometimes it's the simple things in life that we take for granted.

Maybe we shouldn't.

Check them out! Maybe you will be fortunate enough to have a franchise near you!

Peace and quiet.

Hubby and a friend have taken off to Raleigh for the day.

House is quiet.

Dogs are sleeping.

Cat has found a sunbeam and is doing her usual sunbathing.

Sitting here ... listening to the sounds of silence ...

only interrupted by the sound of the keystrokes on the computer.

WHOA!!!!

What's that!?

Stand up, look out back door ...

quietly .... quietly ....

WOW! he's beautiful!

Remove camera from its bag ...

focus through window ...

(thank God I cleaned windows yesterday!)

He's sure enjoying those juniper berries ...

but he's so hidden ... has to be a better angle ...

Tip toe to back bedroom on other end of the house ...

don't want him thinking he's in danger ...

Awwww - he's so beautiful!

He knows I'm watching him ...

His arrogance is so apparent ... he knows he's handsome ...

But he's going to play hard to get ...

Ohhh, don't you play shy with me ...

You know you like this picture taking thing ...

Ooops! He's gone to find his mate.

Maybe they will come back later and visit again.

I'd sure like to know them a little better.

Perhaps some black oiler sunflower seeds will do the trick ...

**** Photos are the exclusive property of the author. Please don't use them without my written permission.****

Hello again! Nice to see you back.

Yesterday I promised you a short tour of the Sara P. Duke Gardens that are on the ground of the illustrious Duke University. Duke University is located in Durham, North Carolina, and is one of the most impressive campuses I have seen in my entire life.

And that's saying something for a girl that grew up around Harvard!

Our spin through the gardens was brief this time. We had spent the afternoon doing some serious goofing off and time had just gotten away from us. But in the spring you will grow weary of my photos of these beautiful gardens. They are really something to see!

Keep in mind these photos don't reflect the lushness that would be present in spring and summer. The trees are rather dormant now, and the flowering plants are in "nap mode" so as to be able to provide us with a spectacular show of color and fragrance in the spring. I can't wait. This place is spectacular!

If you ever have the opportunity to visit the Duke Campus I strongly recommend taking a couple of hours and walking the gardens.

This is one of the most peaceful places on earth - all the while filled with people and dogs. Surrounded by people. yet feeling alone and at peace with the world.

**These photos are the property of the owner of this blog. If I catch them on your site without my permission we are going to have to have a chat. Please ask if you'd like to use them. **

Hey there! How ya doing? How was your Sunday?

Mine was wonderful. Had a lazy morning, drank a pot of coffee and decided that today was the day to go into Durham and putter around for a while. See something different. Do something different.

So off we go, my husband and I.

First stop ... Tiger Direct Computer Warehouse. Now, let me tell ya, if you are a 'toy' person that just loves all those little add-ons for your computer or sound system, then you need to find a Tiger Direct store immediately - if not sooner. My hubby thought he had died and gone to electronic heaven!

After our time at Tiger Direct we headed on over to the Warehouse District and Brightleaf Square. I just love that place! So quaint, so charming and so eclectic. There's a little something for everyone in Brightleaf.

Across the street from Brightleaf is a most unusual and interesting shop called Morgan Imports. Well, it so happened today that Morgan's was having an open house with lots of neat stuff on sale. Soooooo - naturally ... I had to go inside. OK - maybe not had to but certainly felt compelled to.

Once inside .... all I could hear was a particular Christmas song ... It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.

And then there was even MORE stuff ...

And MORE and MORE stuff ...

I am totally a kid at heart - especially where Christmas is concerned.

I love the way the season seems to inspire people to smile a little more, laugh a little more, and even share a little more. OK - a lot more.

The season where we celebrate Christ's' birthday has a magical touch to it. Magical enough to make people realize that there are many that are less fortunate than we are. That there are people in this world who never know the creature comforts we all take for granted.

And people who, for whatever reason, won't be a part of the celebration of Christ's birthday. People who won't know the happiness and laughter of a family at the dinner table. People who will despair over their situation and will feel so left out and alone.

When you see the trimmings for a festive holiday season, please think of those that are less fortunate and make a donation to that bell ringer for the Salvation Army. Consider taking a couple hours of your time and serve a Christmas meal at a shelter - and watch the faces of those that come to eat. Smile at them - let them know that they do, indeed, count. That they have a place in this world just like you and me.

Stay tuned ----- tomorrow we will take a very brief tour of the Sara P. Duke Gardens at sunset. I think you'll like it!