Devon I enjoyed reading your lovely poem, so refreshing. You have done an excellent job. Thanks! Just like you I often turn down meeting friends for lunch because I would much rather find time to deadhead the spent blooms on my roses bushs or to get in that first fertilizing for the season. Gardening for me is very theraputic, so relaxing, so peaceful, I love it. I just realized this week that my Billy Baffin, Blue Jay, White Cockade, Red Fontain attracts a lot of buzzing bees, which can be pretty scary, but nice. Brandy, what comes first your birthday or christmas? Well I checked your member page and your birthday is after christmas. Well now is the time to start telling your love ones, boyfriend or husband that you need a nice digital camera. Give them plenty of time so that you can get a top notch camera. Its a must have. Niecey

Not being able to find the right button to turn off the flash on my wife's camera did make for some different effects on those. If they were spirits, they were cold ones as they peppered me. ;)

Shenandoah, I sell RE on and around Lake Norman and Charlotte. What is your MLS #? I would like to take a look at the listing. Also, if you are located on Lake Norman, did your agent explain to you that there are 7 years worth of inventory of just waterfront homes? Right from the start, you have a 50 / 50 chance of being a winner or a loser as far as geting the home sold. Like Chiuse said... you CAN NOT chase the market downwards. You have to price it a bit below market value to get serious interest. What Buyer in their right mind is going to pay market value for a home, knowing that in two months it is going to be worth less. They want a cushion. They will get it. From you, or from the guy down the street. Do not sell the boat slip to your neighbor! If you do, you just decreased the Buyer pool even further. Buyers are making their decision on one thing and one thing only right now, and that is perceived value. In other words, price. It is not true that you can not sell your home. you just need to price it right. A lot of agents do not know how to do this in a market like this. Your appraisal of 12 months ago means nothing to no one. Throw it away. Find what compareable homes are selling for, and then price it at least 15% under those. You need to sell. Interest rates are going up. Each time they do, your Buyer pool gets smaller. Do not get caught up with lowering your price little by little, and never being in front of the curve. You spent your savings and borrowed money for the stager. You need to sell tomorrow! Do not let yourself become one of those that gets foreclosed on or forced into a short sale. Speak with your agent today and come up with a good plan. Good luck.

Devon, I don't know if you will come back to view this as no one else has commented on your lovely words so you could be a bit disappointed. I would just like to say that you made everything sound so beautiful that I could imagine it all in my minds eye. We maybe failed a little when our children were young to instill in them the beauty of the world around us, but are trying everything to instill it in them now and in our grandchildren. We take them places where they can enjoy nature in it's rightful setting and have tried to create a garden where nature would want to dwell. It is a haven of peace. Alison Here is a link that might be useful: Alisons pond and garden