Melody Anderson

Dogwood Parade in Camdenton is a favorite of locals and visitors

Area residents always look forward to signs of spring each year, evidenced most noticably by the early redbud blossoms, and followed shortly thereafter by the dogwoods. Most years the dogwood blossoms coincide with the Dogwood Festival (April 16-19) which is a favorite local draw for residents as well as tourists. It always has been a favorite of mine.

There's nothing like a small town parade - with the marching bands, the floats, and of course, the Shriners! As always, there's the annual craft fair, the carnival, art show, 5k run, the annual Band Boosters silent auction and golf classic, music, and more - a little something for everyone. It's a weekend I enjoy every spring as it reminds me of earlier and simpler times.

For a detailed schedule of events visit the Camdenton Area Chamber of Commerce website.

Oh, and did I mention the fish fry? The Camdenton Lions Club fries up some nice fish!

(This was originally posted at http://www.PostcardsFromTheLake.com )

New Conventional Mortgage rates for Residential Real Estate

March 19, 2009

SERVICE RETAINED LOANS

30 YEAR RATE 4.625% APR 4.691%

20 YEAR RATE 4.625% APR 4.716%

15 YEAR RATE 4.375% APR 4.489%

RURAL DEVELOPMENT 4.750% APR 4.817%

100% LOAN - 30 YR. FIXED

SELLER CAN PAY ALL OF BUYERS CLOSING COSTS

INCOME GUIDELINES AND 2.00% USDA GUARANTEE FEE APPLY

**NOW ACCEPTING MORTGAGE PRE-APPLICATIONS ONLY @ www.fnb-lakeozarks.com**

**Quoted rates are subject to change without notice**

**Document origination fee of $250.00 on all loans unless otherwise stated**

**Loans in excess of 80% loan value require private mortgage insurance, which will increase the

Annual Percentage Rate over the life of the loan**

Snapshots from a winter stroll

After days of subfreezing temperatures last week, I took advantage of a pretty day Sunday afternoon to walk around at Ha Ha Tonka, located on the western south western tip of the Lake of the Ozarks. I was struck throughout the afternoon by the quiet there. I would pass people on trails now and then, and see an occasional fisherman at the water’s edge, but mostly there was only the sound of birds and rippling waters. Absent the lush greens and vibrant colors of other seasons, I saw how the winter season at Ha Ha Tonka offers a beauty all its own:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAjddJzSaGc

If you enjoyed this video and would like to see others as they are made available, visit my web blog www.PostcardsFromTheLake.com and subscribe to receive new posts as they are added.

(This video was originally posted to: www.PostcardsFromTheLake.com )

Winter weather stalls real estate showings for a few days.

Aside from a few cold days here and there, the Lake of the Ozarks area has had a fairly mild winter this year.

But this week we finally got to experience some of the delightful aspects of winter with our first snowfall of any significance. Today by noon all my neighbors and myself had shoveled our drives, cleaned off our cars, and taken a few minutes to talk about the weather - wondering how many more days until Spring.

But I, for one, am really appreciating a quiet day at home catching up on so many of the chores that are left for these types of quiet days.

Before this weather pattern moved in, I had been as busy these past few weeks as I generally am during the summer months with new listings and working with motivated buyers. We can all hope that the confidence I’m experiencing - in both buyers and sellers - continues and inspires others in the several weeks to come.

(This post originally appeared on my website: www.PostcardsFromTheLake.com )

Many religions offer ceremonies for spiritually clearing homes.

Having lived in New Mexico for many years, with its convergence of so many rich cultures and traditions, I have attended a number of house-warming ceremonies in which homes were blessed and cleared of any possible negative energies.

I recalled some of those practices today in conversation with a couple who were interested in a home for sale, but who didn’t like the idea of buying a home in which the former owner had passed. They hadn’t heard of house blessings before and so I offered to research some of the customs I have witnessed, and write about them.

From what I have experienced personally, whether the ritual is conducted by a Catholic priest, some Buddhist monks, a Shaman, or the homeowners themselves (as may be encouraged by theEpiscopalian church), the essence of the ritual remains the same: utilizing a combination of prayers, candles, incense, chants or holy water; negativity and evil are driven away while a spirit of peace, happiness, protection and well-being are welcomed in.

Home blessings are are also conducted in other traditions lesser known to those of us in the Midwest: Hindus may perform a fire ritual, a Qigong Master will attempt to restore the balance of chi, and from Hawaii there remains the enduring tradition of asking God to remove all suffering, to bless the home and to insure happiness.

Of all the videos I found of house blessings and clearings, perhaps the most unusual and unexpected story came from Ohio, in which a scientist hired a new age spiritualist to find and clear negative energies from a home that simply could not seem to make it to closing. (We’ve all been in that place, I suppose, where we’re ready to try anything, as crazy as it sounds.) Reportedly, two days after the clearing, the house went under contract for $15,000 more than had ever been offered before - and it closed.

As a potential home buyer said to me this afternoon, “Even if it helps me to mentally get past the idea of someone having died in that house, a house blessing may well be worth exploring.”