Bullard, TX

Christmas trees are the beauty of the season with lights, balls and angels. We love the season for sharing with family and friends. This year is especially meaningful to me because this year my neighbor nearly died. She spent 7 weeks in the hospital and before that we had not really been close just "speaking" neighbors so to speak. I promised her children, since they worked during the day, that I would check on her daily and we have become close friends. I told her that she has made my Christmas very special! Christ is the reason for this season!

I want to wish each and everyone a Blessed Christmas!

For those of us still kids at heart! This is a Christmas tree at our local pharmacy.

Merry Christmas!

I tried thinking of things I had accomplished this year so I could write a note to my best friend in Florida so...besides living in the moment of each day I had a hard time thinking of accomplishments in 2010. But a light bulb went off and I thought about the two spec houses that my husband and I built (sold one, one to go!) then we sold another house that we had built and leased. We are very blessed!

We had two daughters get married this year then one of them and her husband went to Seoul, South Korea to teach school for a year. So two wedding in one summer made for a busy summer.

I recently took a drawing class at our local Tyler Junior College had a wonder time! Learned to use materials I had worked with before but this class pushed me to my limits; we worked on a lady's portrait 18" x 24" (I had never worked that large) then the teacher encouraged me to work darker! I did it!

After this I enjoyed the wonderful fall colors what more can a person ask for! I thank God daily for these blessing so simple! Hope all have a blessed Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

As a person I have been through the construction of two homes both times I have been involved in the design of the blueprints and construction. The experiences were as different as day and night! The first was a two story within the city limits and under City Approval plus was in a gated community with an HOA! Before even buying the lot we met with the developer about the restrictions in the subdivision as our home would be the first two story in the subdivision. What if the restrictions had something in them that we didn't want to live with? The builder we worked with was wonderful; any questions we had he answered, he was on the job site every day. His subcontractors knew his expectations; they worked within those bounds and he used the same subcontractors on all his jobs. Years later I have determined that using the same subcontractors makes all the difference because they know each others work and how to work behind one another.

As a Bullard, TX REALTOR® I have very few REALTORS® ever ask for subdivision restrictions or if it is a lot for deed restrictions. So how does the person know if they want to live there with the restrictions that are in place?

With the construction of our second (and present) home I was involved with the design of the blueprints and construction, again before buying the lot; we wanted to know the subdivision restrictions. This experience was a nightmare! Our contractor was not on site every day. The best I can say about our present home is that it has "good bones" because the framer was meticulous.

Since having both experiences, I am now a Bullard, TX REALTOR® and a builder's wife who is totally immersed in new construction, I still ask the question, "What are people looking for in new construction?" We only build sec homes trying to make every square foot useable space, with quality material and appliances. The colors, flooring and interior are quality while keeping the price affordable. (Insert interior pictures) We have started our eighth house in two and half years using the same subcontractors and suppliers.

• Can a REALTOR® or client tell anything about the contractor by the way the construction site is maintained?

• Do you know if the house has good "bones"?

• Building in the country usually has County requirements which may be different than building within the city.
• How do you know if the contractor is building to code in the area you want to build?
• If buying an already built new construction do you ask for a list of the subcontractors, care instructions for flooring materials used, what kind of water system used, where is the cut off valves located, etc.?

I would want to know as much about restrictions, and building requirements as I would about the materials used in construction.

The residents of Bullard could have an alternative to walking in the streets when the new trail system is constructed along the frontage of Farm-to-Market 2493 - the former site of the railroad.

A trail system would provide a path from Bullard High School on Houston to The Brook Hill School on FM 2493. A couple of years ago this path was cleared of brush by the Bullard High School Key Club and Kiwanis members.

It is the hope that as the district grows there is a possibility more students will use walking as a means to get to school. Therefore, this trail system would give the students a safe option. It would also be a place for families to spend time together.

In addition to the proposed trail, a new building for the Bullard Area Chamber of Commerce is in the works. The building would be on a one-third of an acre in downtown. Design plans have not been drawn. Look for some fundraising in order to build the chamber building. But hope from the Bullard City Council is for the building to be completed by the end of the year.

As a member of the Bullard Area Chamber of Commerce and a Past President of Kiwanis this is a wonderful project for all the community to enjoy.