Brainerd Lakes Real Estate News

 photo by K@telyn

Since a stager on Active Rain suddenly finds herself with child and is wondering "what to do with her growing business", I though a few  quotes from other women on the subject might be in order. I know that I have had many interesting and fulfilling jobs, but motherhood (if that is a job) has been the best of all.  The others have come and gone, but I will always be a MOM. Now that my own children are starting out on their own , I'm finding a whole new group, that aren't biologically my children, but call me Mom just the same.

Former ABC World New Tonight co-anchor Elizabeth Vargas, explaining why she left the program when she became pregnant with her second child, on The Oprah Winfrey Show

"I was finding it more and more difficult to do that job the way I wanted to do it, which is 100 percent.... and still be a great mother.

Susan Dryden Whitson, on why she gave up her wireless device and job as Laura Bush's press secretary in order to pursue motherhood, in the Opelika-Auburn (Ala.) News

"Blackberries don't make babies."

Paula Friedrichsen in her book The Man You Always Wanted Is The One You Already Have.

"Kudos to you if you're the first to cook meals for the infirm, head up the nursery program at church or donate time to the local orphanage.  But keep in mind that your greatest ministry is as a wife." 

The three basic neutral hues used to be black, white, and beige.  Their inherent beauty was that they went with everything - the simple choices.  Then along came camel, taupe, and gray which provided more variations on the basic theme.  Today, however, the "new neutrals" have a completely new definition.  These are colors that simply and beautifully complement most of the other colors in the spectrum.

The right shade is the sticking point.  A soft buttery yellow will go with about everything, but school bus yellow looks best on buses,  rain slickers, and children's rubber duck boots.  Imagine a pale mustard shade that is not too bright and not too dull, but just quietly remains in the background, allowing furnishings to take the center stage.

 The same can be said of green. 

Spring green or something closer to sage are your best options; think of how the first greens of spring complement every flower and how a dusty herbal shade has chameleon qualities.  In fact , many of today's new neutrals come directly from nature,  or the growing coffee business.

Latte, cappuccino, espresso, mocha -  are now common paint colors and very popular. 

 I added this photo of "Stage This -  Please " to just make your day!!

This is just a photo I found at Creative Commons - I thought the paint color was similar to a school bus yellow and the items just a hoot! 

                                                                                                                photo by mirror ghost
 

The Gull Lake Dam is located on the Gull River about a half mile below the outlet of Gull Lake. It was put into service in 1912 -- the last of the Headwaters reservoir dams constructed. The designers were Col. Francis R. Shunk and George Freeman. This team also designed Lock and Dam No. 1 on the Mississippi River in Minneapolis in 1917.

The control structure is built of reinforced concrete supported on timber piling. There is a log sluice and a five-foot fish way in addition to five sluice ways.

The seven-room dam tender's house, completed in 1912, is of concrete and beam construction. The exterior is finished with concrete panels. It is a good example of the then popular "Craftsman" style of architecture. One characteristic of the style is its honest, straightforward treatment of materials. Brick, stucco, and frame Craftsman style houses were built in many Minnesota cities and towns between about 1905 and 1920. The exposed rafter ends at the eves, grouped windows, and simple board trim are notable details associated with this style. The dam tender's house is eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The prehistoric archeology of the Gull Lake dam site is of particular significance. There are 12 complete and several partial burial mounds, representative of the Woodland Culture that established permanent villages in this area about 800 B.C. - A.D. 200 and A.D. 600 - 900. Archaeologists have studied the burial site, and an interpretive center provides information for visitors. The burial mounds are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Gull Lake occupies a basin formed by a receding glacier.  In the early 1900s, it provided water for navigation in the Mississippi River below the Twin Cities, for  floating logs to saw mills and for powering flour and lumber mills.  Now, the dam is utilized for flood control and to enhance recreation and wildlife.

 For more information contact:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

Resource Manager

Gull Lake Recreation Area

10867 E. Gull Lake Drive

Brainerd, MN 56401    218-829-3334 

Jesus came that we may have life and have it abundantly.

John 10:10

 What does that mean- "abundantly"?  The dictionary describes the term as - plentiful, rich, in fullness to overflowing, wealth.

ABUNDANT FAITH - Overflowing faith - what does that even look like?  Faith is not stagnant - it flows into us and out of us, and we are changed in the process.  When genuine faith is placed in the hands of a living God, when faith is allowed to permeate every aspect of our lives, it is contagious!

Others will be inspired , knowing that God will do what He has promised to do.

ABUNDANT HOPE -   Every day is unpredictable, full of issues that can capsize our well-laid plans and dreams.  When we find ourselves off course, we can haphazardly reach out for anything close enough to hold on to.  Scripture promises a hope that is reliable, restorative and eternal; we have an anchor in Jesus.  We don't need to be displaced and disoriented by the storms of life.  God has made provision for us to ride life's waves rather that being crushed by them.

ABUNDANT LOVE - We love God, or maybe we just love the "idea" of God.  Do we desire Him or what He brings?  The truth is that He loves us deeply and longs for intimacy with us.  He also wants us to love ourselves as a prerequisite to genuinely and generously love others.  We can't freely give what we don't fully possess.  Without the Creator of love, it is impossible to freely pour authentic, selfless and unconditional love into others.

Living a life filled with a steady diet of faith, hope and love will make our lives healthier, fuller, more satisfied and whole.  Our lives will be transformed, and we will impact all those around us. 

Our God loves us so much and desires for us to live above the cirsumstances of our lives - He longs for us to live abundantly!  Not only is that His desire, but He goes the extra mile to teach and help us reach that goal as well.

Like Peter walking on the water - keep your eyes on your Lord and keep walking! 

 Spa for the Soul Retreat for women

October 5-6, 2007

Lake Geneva Christian Center

Alexandria, Minnesota 

 need more information? 

 Small houses can appear larger and more cohesive if similar colors are used throughout the spaces. This is a trick that designers often use when dressing up a show home, especially the pre-fabricated ones.  They usually are smaller that most stick built models, but employ many innovative tricks to maximize the spaces.

• One is the use of wall color - it doesn't need to be white, as shown in the photo, but lighter colors reflect more light and thus give the illusion of space.
  

•  Curtain rods set much higher that the window frames bring the eye up and let one think that the windows go all the way up.

• Continuing the same flooring throughout, in this case, wood laminate, lets the eye roam , gives a more cohesive look, and flows naturally from room to room.
  

• A few main anchoring colors with offset accent colors - if you have dark furniture, as in the photo example, then light accessories

• lots of greenery bringing that outdoor look inside and the green color is very soothing.

• Scaled down furniture-  here a sleek love seat instead of an oversize stuffed sofa.  Petite sized "ladies chairs", not fragile- just smaller.

• Wood floors - step up the style of any room.  Natural stone and specialty tiles are great choices to add to the ambiance.
• Quality cabinets are a long term investment and make your openings and closings effortless.
• Ceiling details - add architectural interest all the way to the top.
• Custom mill work overall adds the touch of luxury.

"Spluge on finer materials to build your home: these materials create your homes character and personality," says interior designer Leah Muller

"It's a balance," says designer Alan Hilsabeck.  "Put your money where it is going to make the best investment." 

As a home stager with Re$ale Design and Home Staging in Brainerd, MN, I have often seen some of these added touches make a big difference in the appearance of a home.  There is even a peel and stick crown molding product for the fast and easy application. 

 photo by anneia

Ceiling medallions come in a plaster or a  molded plastic that look very good on a higher ceiling. 

Laminate wood floors are certainly much improved and very durable. 

                                                                                                        
                                                                                                         photo by Jonathan Strange

     For those of you in the Brainerd Lakes area that have had the good fortune to meet Father Seamus Walsh of the Brainerd Area Catholic Churches - you will know that his leaving will leave an impression on many.  Walsh has considerable Irish charm and a  hefty dose of wit to go along with his Irish accent. A priest in Minnesota for more that 40 years, Walsh kept in touch with his Irish roots and his Irish relatives .  Walsh says that his greatest challenge in serving in the Brainerd Lakes area was to united the three Catholic churches - St. Francis, St. Mathias and St. Andrews - in an effort to consolidate services without having to close any of them.

     Walsh also was involved with community programs , which is how I met him, and the Bridges of Hope.

      Parishioners of the 65-year-old priest thought of him as a fun, caring person and great at communications.  Off the job he is interested in aviation and hunting. 

     Goodbye, Seamus -" may the road rise up to meet you".

  The Wills for Heroes program will pair attorneys with emergency medical technicians, firefighters, police officers, corrections officers and their spouses or surviving spouse to draft  at no charge basic estate planning documents. This is a new pilot program just launched by the Minnesota State Bar Association. They can also receive help with other legal documents such as powers of attorneys and health care directives.  These services usually range in the $1000 - $1500 fees.

     First responders are able to schedule on site clinics through the Minnesota State Bar Association on the first and third Mondays of each month, starting in August. Check with any local attorney in your Minnesota city for more information.

photo by violentz 

     Wills are important for any individual who want a say in how their children are cared for or how their possessions will be distributed after their death. Even more important are those with high risk jobs, but it is not something that younger people are used to thinking about.

photo by emptysquare                                                                                   photo by RikinIllinois