Susan Emo in Gananoque/Kingston/Brockville

Saint Valentine really got around . . . this is one busy busy Saint!

Or, was there two different Saints?

Did you know the Patron Saint of Epilepsy is also Saint Valentine? (along with another 40 Saints!)

It seems the bigger, greater the disease, the more saints that were assigned to the task!!

There are two saints with the name Valentine who are worshipped in the Roman Catholic Church:

Valentine of Terni, patron saint day February 14, and

Valentine of Rhaetia, patron saint day January 7.

Historically, people with epilepsy are portrayed in images of both these St. Valentines. (most scholars believe they are the same person)

" Saint Valentine is also the Patron Saint of:

affianced couples,
bee keepers,
engaged couples,
epilepsy,
fainting,
greetings,
happy marriages,
love,
lovers,
plague,
travellers,
young people.

He is represented in pictures with birds and roses", from the Saints & Angels website.

Many tourists visit the saintly remains on St. Valentine's Day, when the casket is carried in solemn procession to the high altar for a special Mass dedicated to young people and all those in love."

I always loved that part in the spy thrillers where the message would self destruct after being read.

Now, we have that same ability with some of our more sensitive or confidential emails . . .

OneShar.es has a smart solution to safeguard sensitive information
that’s very Bond, James Bond!

"The web tool allows people to easily share private information, whether its via your mobile device (apps for iOS and Android) or your browser window. The recipient has one chance to view the information and when he or she closes out, it self destructs." (from their website)

Don't take a chance, take care, and protect your details with a message that self destructs!

If you're looking for a Gananoque Realtor who will safeguard your confidential details, call Susan Emo in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 NOW!

Just in case you needed one more reason to buy a home in Kingston Ontario . . .

Kingston came in first place in Amazon's 2012 contest

The Most Romantic City in Canada !!

I was born and raised in Kingston so this comes as no surprise to me. I now live just a few minutes outside the City, in the Town of Gananoque which is equally (or greater) romantic but this contest was limited to Cities in excess of 80,000 people. (we have 5200 if we're lucky)

The fun part is both places are equally gorgeous, both situated on water, Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence River respectively. Both are filled with fantastic architecture and amazing history (think War of 1812) (think home of Canada's first Prime Minister). You can easily be within 20 minutes of hospitals, university, college, theatre, world class boating, (Kingston being the fresh water sailing capital of the world - 1976 Summer Olympics) the military base CFB Kingston, and wonderful employment opportunities abound; pretty much a self-sustaining community.

We still have a healthy and thriving housing market that has something for everyone; first time buyers, investors, families, downsizers, vacation property and of course, the multi-million $ luxury market.

I suggest you make a visit to our fantastic ROMANTIC community and see for yourself. Until you can physically get here, take a look at this wonderful website for more information and gorgeous photos

And when you do get here, get in contact with me and allow me the honour of introducing you to your next home!

Congratulations Kingston on being named Canada's Most Romantic City!

The Chew (a tv cooking show) spoke of the 60's being a time when people realized they could afford to entertain at home by way of dinner and cocktail parties. It became a time when food was more than just sustenance. It was a time of the ever popular Avocado Green appliances too.

Then we went thru the seasons of almond, black, white and stainless . . .

Guess what?

Nowadays, many people can't afford to go out to eat so they've come back to home entertainment. Dinner parties are huge again!

Also, the ever popular coloured kitchen appliances are making a comeback.

Not only have high end Italian kitchens brought back colour such as the vibrant red cabinets (and also avocado green!),
Viking Appliances, for example, now come in such a variety of colours - take a look:

And, if you're not wowed by coloured stoves and ranges, and you're in the market for a new refrigerator, what about these fantastically cool refrigerators by Coolors . . .

From Coolors website:

"With Coolors’ silk screening process, the fridge becomes a unique work of art, featuring images and colors to suit your individual sense of style. Converting your favorite vacation photo into a work of art by one of their masters, you now can ornament your appliances and take them from drab to fab. And you’re bound only by your imagination – choose a coordinating color for the range hood, or a complementary pattern to finish your panels, resulting in a unified and original look. For more kitchen decorating ideas and to check out these cool, colored kitchen appliances, visit Coolors."

These aren't your Grandma's Avocado frigs!!!

Even though we seem to be traveling back in time with our choices, we're doing it in a fresh new way. So invite your friends round for game nite with fondue and shrimp cocktails - enjoy!

And, if you're looking for a fresh place to call home, give me (Susan Emo - Your Gananoque Realtor) a call and let me help you find the perfect place to have friends over!

photos from Viking and Coolors.

Gananoque, ON

Each month I like to take a look back at my most viewed posts and see what is getting read the most. Often what is getting the most views doesn't match up with the most comments left. This is encouraging to me because I block any comments from non-members to avoid the dreaded spam. So if I'm seeing alot of Views, it tells me that perhaps it is the public finding, and reading my posts.

But then again, I KNOW it is the Public finding me because month after month it is my Localism posts that get the highest count.

I love it when I get an email from a customer commenting on something they've read online. Or simply thanking me for pointing them in the right direction. Not every message is going to lead to a listing or a sale but they don't need to. I want to be a known name in my community. I love being the Go-To-Gal for information. I really enjoy the relationships that form from being an on-line personality!

I'm not afraid to let my personality show in what I write and I hope those that read me, enjoy it too. Thanks for reading!!

Susan Emo's Top Five for the month of January 2012 are:

• 1394 Views LOOKING FOR A HOME IN GANANOQUE? NO MATTER WHAT YOUR PRICE RANGE, WE'VE GOT IT!
  
  
• 1436 Views WHAT'S NEW ON THE MARKET IN GANANOQUE SO FAR IN 2012?
  

• 1816 Views DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
  
  
• 1841 Views SUSAN EMO's (Your Gananoque Realtor) MOST VIEWED BLOG POSTS FOR DECEMBER 2011
  
  
• 2000 Views GANANOQUE CURBSIDE PICKUP FOR CHRISTMAS TREES