Ellen Peric

Yes, the Jeep is ready.... our only snowfall this year fell Sunday afternoon while I was showing farms. I spun a little on the way home but my bigger concern was getting out on Monday to meet my clients at the office at 9am... OK - so it was only 3 or 4 inches, but we don't have the snow stuff down to a science here in NC. It usually takes me 35 minutes to the office - I achieved it in an hour... safe and sound.

Our driveway looked like a winter wonderland - *notice Boo Boo the cat in the lower center of the pic* -- she loves to go with me when I walk the dogs to get the paper. The next day the temperature rose to 51 - so the snow was mostly gone by Monday evening.

Our chics don't trust the snow - this one is giving a lot of thought to leaving the coop.

Donkey is concerned about his carrot delivery.

After last year, this is shocking! Every day 60 degrees and big beautiful blue skies like this? Well, it certainly makes listing this 165 acre farm a treat.... I walked the whole thing on Friday doing my Visual Tour... I had to take off my fleece jacket. We rarely get listings for this much land in our area - and this is unique because about 95 acres of it is cleared, fenced pasture! I love my job.

On Monday, New Years Day, my clients wanted to walk the acreage of this 68 acre farm just over the border in VA. It had been a while since i had walked it - but the owner said he had marked the boundary with red paint on some trees, so i shouldn't have a problem. I started along the side border, and quickly felt like it was not quite right. So turned back and headed a little south and sure enough - there were my red tree marks. From then it was easy, down a side of a huge hill to a creek, then back up a steep incline and ridge, then back down to the creek that flows beside the 1828 farmhouse, then back up almost to the main county road. We cut thru the woods to head back to the farmhouse and were crossing the creek when my client saw this turtle... it was a pretty warm day here - in the upper 50's... and he (or she) was chilling in the creek like it was the hottest day of the year. The next day of course the temperature zoomed down to a low of 22, high winds, etc. So i hope mr./mrs. turtle got all tucked into the leaves for a winter nap.

I meant, Are you a FB FAN of the Stokes County Animal Shelter??? Friend them and spread the word!!

thanks,

I told the seller of this 17 acre tract that i needed to wait to take pics - when a property is completely wooded - a picture of all green is not attractive! But today was perfect - some leaves have fallen after that rain last week, so you can actually "see" the woods. The colors aren't as bright as in years past - but still pretty awesome...Fall and Winter are actually the BEST times to look at land - you can see the terrain and views!

On my way out, i saw some of my former clients out at their barn so i pulled in to see the new baby "Raleigh"! Adorable! He's a miniature donkey. We both bemoaned some of our hay that got wet before it could be baled, and the fact that their road is getting paved FINALLY after 6 years on the list and whined about the lack of cell coverage in our area. How do you call 911 when the power is out and your phone has no signal? Do they accept Text Msgs???

Then I stopped by the recycling center on Sizemore Road to drop off my stuff and dropped by the Stokes County Animal Shelter to talk to my friend Sarah... someone brought in this little guy while i was there --- what a cutie! The animal shelter is having a month long exhibit at the Arts Council in Danbury next year and we talked about getting invitations, getting frames for some of the photos.... adding a video that plays on a loop.... and what about getting some props for Sarah so when she takes pics of these babies, she can tug on more heart strings??? Like little bows, bow ties or like this guy - a big plush bunny! We are going to make them so cute - folks can't resist!!! Are you a FB FAN of the Stokes County Animal Shelter ??? Well, you should be... we repost all her posts so we reach a large audience.

Ok, then back to the office... gotta upload those pics!