About Choctaw County, OK

There's this really ugly tree - well, it's really ugly in the winter when tree structure is all that you can see.

It leans out at an angle and has lost various limbs. Parts have died and had to be cut off. I'm not even sure what kind of tree it is.

Last winter the owners threatened to have it taken out.

Then Spring came, the tree was covered in leaves and kinda' pretty.

At least it wasn't ugly.

BUT when the recent cool nights hit those leaves and the sun to earth angle changed, that tree hit it's glory.

Fall at Lake Raymond Gary 2008.

For Real Estate around Lake Raymond Gary

Call me, Judi Barrett, Integrity Real Estate Services

580-212-5946

You’ve just finished building that new home and you were very very careful to make sure the contractor used energy saving construction techniques and products. Now it’s time to furnish it. You are also determined to have energy efficient appliances in your new home. After all, what’s the point is spending all that money and then have it go right out of the pocket in WASTED energy costs.

You’re not concerned about how to find the most energy efficient guide because they all have those bright yellow and black tags on them that are plainly titled in big bold letters, “ENERGY GUIDE”.

Since the Energy Guides was introduced in 1980 to the consumer, they have become the tool for choosing energy efficient appliances for the home.

Through the years, they have been improved in readability and have narrowed the range of the similarity of models compared on a label.

Energy Guide Labels still do have limitations. With so many different sizes and features, it is probably next to impossible to limit a label to only the size and with the features that you want. Pay attention to the size of the appliances that are being compared. A couple of cubic feet difference in refrigerator sizes can make a noticeable difference in its rating.

You may want to compare the cost of operation only on refrigerators of the size, and with the features, that you are shopping for. It is better to make a list of those refrigerators and then compare the costs of operation, from the yellow and black ENERGY GUIDE labels, of the refrigerators on your list. The same is true for other appliances that carry the familiar yellow and black labels:

freezers

water heaters

air conditioners

furnaces

dishwashers

clothes washers

heat pumps

pool heaters

Homes and Appliances that have carry the Energy Star Rating are especially good choices since they exceed energy efficiency standards set by the U S Government. Since it’s inception in 1992, it has been the catalyst for many improvements in appliances and office products energy efficiency.

You can compare Energy Star Rated products by name brands and models on the U S Government’s Energy Star Website. The chart for refrigerators and freezers has them listed in alphabetical order.

While you’re there, check out any rebates that might be available in your area.

So to revisit the topic of this post. You have built or remodeled a home to be energy efficient and you want to carry that forward into the appliances and other energy consuming products that you purchase for your home. The tools are in place to help you do that…use the Energy Guide Labels in a wise manner and look for Energy Star Rated Products. But also know that your energy consumption for those products may be double or more than what the label shows, depending upon your personal habits. Even though this may be true, if all similar products are tested in the same manner, your steps should still lead you to the most efficient purchases.

If you have property that you want to sell in Southeast Oklahoma, trust it to me, Judi Barrett of Integrity Real Estate Services, serving McCurtain and Choctaw Counties. Call me, let’s visit about it. 580-212-5946

Picture from the U S Dept of Energy

I have shopped and shopped. Looked and Looked. Thought and thought.

I wanted just the right flatware for the lake house.

I finally found it.

Gorham's discontinued design "Fish Out of Water".

Isn't this perfect?

Since it's a Gorham design, I believe it will be alright without actually holding it in my hand prior to purchase.

For those that are shopping for themed flatware for a lake house, fishing lodge, or cabin. There is also some nice themed designs at Basspro. They have some with different wildlife designs on the handles.

Also the Gone Fishin' design by Yamakazi is another fish design.

For me, it was the Fish Out of Water.

For all of your real estate needs, especially waterfront at Lake Raymond Gary, give me a call, Judi Barrett, broker Integrity Real Estate Services.

580-212-5946

If you're in Fort Towson and looking for a good restaurant, Fort Towson has a new cafe! The Iron Horse Cafe opened about 6 weeks ago in the Depot Building which is 1 block south of Highway 70. Take either Main Street, SE First Street, or SE Second Street. You can't miss it.

My husband and I have had the pleasure of eating there a few times already and have enjoyed each meal.

If you like "home cooking" served with a smile, you have to check it out.

They are open 7 days a week:

Sunday 6 am to 2 pm.

Monday 6 am to 10 am.

Tuesday thru Satuday 6 am to 8 pm.

• Traditional Breakfast Items including eggs, pancakes, hash browns, sausage, bacon, ham, gravy, toast, bixcuits, french toast, and omelets. Or how about a breakfast burrito?
  

Coffee is Good! A good cup of coffee brings me back every time.

For the "light eaters", they offer three salads.

There's 5 choices on the Kids Corner Menu,

and many other choices for all other appetites including:

• 5 Dinners
  
  • Several Choices on Burgers
  • Seasonal Items such as Chili and Stew
  • Sandwich Choices
  • Several Sides to choose from
    
  • And everyone's favorites on drinks.

The Iron Horse Cafe has plenty of parking even for semis. So if you drive a truck on highway 70, turn it into the parking lot at the Iron Horse Cafe and take a break while you enjoy some good food!

Oh, let me not forget to mention: They have daily lunch specials at good prices.

When you're hungry, visit the Iron Horse Cafe. For all of your real estate needs in and around Fort Towson, call me, Judi Barrett - Integrity Real Estate Services at 580-212-5946.

Southeast Oklahoma is a true hunters' paradise. While most hunters would probably like to own their own hunting land, Choctaw County and McCurtain County in Southeast Oklahoma have thousands of acres available for public hunting. When we get hunting land to list, it always attracts a lot of attention, but when we don’t have any hunting parcels available, remember that you can live anywhere in our beautiful part of America and be close to public hunting areas.

For those living near Hugo Lake including those that have chosen to live on the water at Lake Raymond Gary, there are many acres of hunting land around Hugo Lake. According to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers site for Hugo Lake, there are around 26,000 acres available around Hugo Lake to the hunter. 18, 000 acres which are managed by The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and 8,000 more acres managed by the Corps”

“The lake area offers excellent hunting opportunities with over 25,000 acres of land available to the hunter. Bow hunting is permitted in and around most of the park areas. Kiamichi Park contains an archery practice range and is now a 3,000-acre Quality Deer Management Area. This makes Hugo Lake a “one of a kind” area, where quality archery hunting is available within walking distance of Class-A camping.”₁

Map of Hugo Lake, courtesy of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, is available on their site. The dam on Hugo Lake is on the Kiamichi River. The Kiamichi River flows into Red River about 18 miles downstream after leaving the Hugo Lake at the spillway located at Sawyer, Oklahoma.

Anywhere that you live in our area, you can’t be very far from Pine Creek Lake which is approximately 8 miles north of Valliant, Oklahoma. Again, according to the U.S. Army Corp:

“Hunting at Pine Creek Lake is in accordance with applicable Federal and state regulations. Unless otherwise posted, hunting is permitted in designated hunting areas with all legal weapons. Generally, all lands are open to the public for hunting except developed recreational areas and lands around the dam and other structures.”

There are two areas for archery only – 200 acres north of Hiway 3 and 120 acres west of Little River Park. This map of Pine Creek Lake indicates the many acres that are available to the public for hunting around Pine Creek Lake.

Broken Bow Lake area in McCurtain County is the area that many local hunters head to during deer season.

“With the exception of developed areas and certain Game Preserves, all project lands are open to the public for hunting. Deer are the most important big game species found in the area.” ₁

The Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area covers 250,000 acres and is a permitted area for hunting and other recreation. Details concerning the permit costs, etc. can be found on the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Web Site.

So if you want to live near where the hunting is good, come to Southeast Oklahoma. If you have huntin gland in our area that you want to sell, call Judi Barrett, broker at Integrity Real Estate Services about what she does to get your property noticed by buyers looking to buy hunting land in Southeast Oklahoma.

For all of your real estate needs in Southeast Oklahoma, call Judi Barrett at 580-212-5946 at Integrity Real Estate Services.

1.) U.S. Army Corp of Engineers

Turkey and quail photos courtesy of morguefile.com

Deer photo courtesy of U S Corp of Engineers