Olga's Stories
GHOSTS AND GOBBLINS
Since Halloween is just around the corner, I began thinking about all the “Trick and Treaters” that will be coming to my door I absolutely love that night! The children, especially the little ones, don’t really know what to expect. Their big eyes look up at you and when you hand them a treat, they almost seem surprised. I’m sure Mom and Dad have rehearsed with them and told them what to expect, but they really haven’t grasped it until their little bag is half full. Their costumes transport them into another place, a castle, a Batmobile, or into a prehistoric time. How wonderful to go somewhere you have only heard or dreamt about; an enchanted place that will transport you into a completely new existence.
My husband and I felt that way as we crossed the California border into Nevada. We were each driving a vehicle and we both stopped at the side of the road. After a hug, we both yelled, “Hello Nevada. We’re home!” It’s amazing, but we still feel the same way after twenty years. Let me help you feel the warmth of our Valley. Call me when you want me to join you in the exploration of this enchanted place and a new future in our Carson Valley.
Sincerely,
Ollie
SUMMER IS ON THE WAY
Summer is on the way! The birds are singing, the varieties of tomato plants are being discussed in the nurseries, the flowers are blooming, and everyone is ready to vacation. Isn’t this a wonderful season?
I sincerely marvel at how each season brings its own uniqueness to our lives. Our taste buds scream for the summer fruits, watermelon, peaches and nectarines; the barbeque is the focus for all the chefs in our families, and the back yard becomes the restaurant of choice. Our bodies want to experience the warmth of the sun and the cool of a sparkling refreshing pool. This is what summer is all about.
Our beautiful valley is as refreshing as that cool pool. The farmers reap the rewards of bales of alfalfa and hay, the parks are full of laughing children and periodic evening concerts. There is a relaxed feeling to every day life. Our windows are open to the breeze and the fragrances of the flowers in our yards. Is this Heaven on earth? Plan a visit to the Carson Valley and see for yourself.
SPRING IS COMING!
I am amazed at the tenacity of Mother Nature. Our winter does not want to leave and it continues to blow its frosty breath in our direction. And yet, I see green poking through in the lawns and fields. My friend tells me her daffodils and tulips are poking their heads through the dirt trying, bravely, to launch their beautiful blossoms for all to see and enjoy. I’m sure, if they could speak, their comment would be, “We’ll try again tomorrow.”
There are some people who exhibit the same dedication to their goals. Once they have established where they want to be, they never waver or deviate from their objective. I truly feel that resolve and commitment will eventually bring success to all that have the tenacity to keep trying, despite the odds and stumbling blocks thrown in their path.
My family and I set a goal back in 1986 to move to a better place, a peaceful and beautiful Valley called the Carson Valley. It took two years to fulfill our dream. Follow your dream, you will preserver. Please call me if I can lend a hand to help you along.
THE PUMPKIN PATCH
It seems so recent that I was involved in the serious business of choosing the perfect pumpkin from hundreds in a pumpkin patch. It had to be absolutely perfect, not quite round, no blemishes and BIG! The children would each have a different version, each one having their own idea of what was perfect. Usually, we would wind up with at least three pumpkins, each of them, of course, absolutely perfect.
I think real estate is very much like that. Each of you recoginizes your own needs and desires. We all find beauty in different ways, some look at the view, some look for size of the home or lot, some look at the neighborhood. And, isn't it wonderful that we, as individuals, have our own view points as to which pumpkin is the most perfect?
I would love to guide you to that pumpkin patch and help you find that perfect treasure.
WE BELIEVE!
Two words began appearing all over town along with yellow and black ribbons tied to fence posts, trees, light poles and anywhere they could be fastened. The two words? WE BELIEVE.
In November, Joey went with his Dad to cut the wood they would need for the coming winter months. He really looked forward to the time he spent with his Dad and his Dad felt the same way. Unfortunately, on this day, Joey was struck down with a huge tree branch. Our Care Flight helicopter medics kept him alive until they could get him to our Reno hospital and a miracle neurosurgeon, Dr. Song, saved his life when they arrived and in the following days and nights.
In March, Joey came home in a wheel chair. He was talking, laughing and enjoyed all the folks who waited for him outside his home. He celebrated his birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas, all at the same time. He still can’t walk, but we are all convinced that, in time, Joey will get out of that chair and once again play his beloved baseball and hit a home run out of the park.
I can’t talk to each of you to ask how you are, what you are going through with this tough economy, what tests you have had to endure in the last year. But, I truly believe, when you go to bed each night and when you awaken each morning, if you say those two words, I BELIEVE, you will survive and in time, you will conquer all that has affected your life. Keep your hopes alive and, when you can, visit this wonderful, caring community. Your heart will be glad and so will I.
WINTER
As I type this, I’m looking out my office window at the most magnificent scenery I could ever imagine. The pure white snow on the mountains and in the valley almost blinds you with its brightness. My dog, Max, absolutely loves it. He literally buries his head in the snow and scoots along like a train going through snowdrifts. As I have often stated in my letters, each season seems to bring its own beauty to this unique valley.It has been a very short year, at least it seems that way. It will probably take me at least a month or more to get used to writing 2008 on my checks.
I’m hoping you and your family had a wonderful Holiday and you are looking forward, as I am, to the New Year. I always approach January 1st with so much anticipation. It just seems that it’s an opportunity to start over and work toward all the dreams we couldn’t finalize in the previous year. If your dream includes a move to this beautiful valley, give me a call and we’ll work toward that goal together.
DREAMS FOR SANTA
The time was ticking away. Only seventy-two hours left before Santa was due. I was frantic.
My seven-year-old son was a Los Angeles Rams fan. He loved the team. He knew every player, the coaching staff and most of their favorite plays. And, all he wanted from Santa was a Rams helmet and shirt.
My son was at an age where the fantasy of Santa was being questioned. He truly wanted to believe that he existed, but the doubts would filter in. I wanted to give him one more year of believing that something wonderful like Santa really existed. And, I could not find the only two gifts that Santa was to bring on Christmas morning.
Now, this was before the Internet and EBay. I had to use public transportation to get from here to there. I used the telephone as a means of research and found a few stores that carried the NFL teams promotional items, but, not in my sons size. I was frantic. Why had I waited so long to bring his wish home? I berated myself for procrastinating. I had to find a way.
Finally, after at least 20 calls, I found a store that not only had the items, but, they assured me they had his size. The store was across town, at least an hour by bus. Needless to say, as I traveled across town, I marveled at my good fortune and promised myself that I would never wait until it was almost too late to make a dream come true.
Come to our beautiful Carson Valley and see if your dream is here. I’ll be waiting for you.
FALL PUMPKINS
It seems so recent that I was involved in the serious business of choosing the perfect pumpkin from hundreds in a pumpkin patch. It had to be absolutely perfect, not quite round, no blemishes and BIG! The children would each have a different version, of course, each one having their own idea of what was perfect. Usually, we would wind up with at least three pumpkins, each of them, of course, absolutely perfect.
I think that real estate is very much like that. Each of you recognizes your own needs and desires. We all find beauty in different ways, some look at the view, some look for size of the home or lot, some look at the neighborhood. And, isn’t it wonderful that we, as individuals, have our own viewpoints as to which pumpkin is the most perfect?
I’d love to guide you to that pumpkin patch and help you find that perfect treasure.
Baseball
Years ago, in Chicago, my toddler son and I would listen to the Cub’s games on WGN radio. I can’t remember who the announcer was, but he could actually make you believe that you could smell the newly mown grass and those fabulous ballpark hot dogs. I can still hear that telltale sound when the bat hit the ball at just the right moment, sending it out of the ballpark into the residential neighborhood surrounding Wrigley Field.
Fortunately, my two sons, and now my grandchildren, did not inherit my inability to be athletic. In fact, I have been a “klutz” all my life and marvel at those who can perfect their eye/hand coordination enough to actually hit that little ball. And, I marvel at the ability to judge that split second when that bat must connect to the ball in order for it to go anywhere. I have learned very quickly that, in sports as well as in life, timing is everything.
As all the newspapers and news stations have repeatedly reported, we are experiencing a buyer’s market in real estate. How wonderful for the buyer! Interest rates are still very favorable and the buyer has the floor. I can’t urge you enough, if you are an investor or simply looking for your dream home, to give me a call. Now is the time to hit that ball and send it out of the ballpark.
Cherry Blossoms
In Chicago, where I grew up, it was very easy to determine when spring was around the corner. All you had to do was watch for the red-breasted Robin to appear in your yard and you knew it was time to plan your vegetable garden and start spring house cleaning.
The spring season reminds me of my sister’s cherry tree. During its lifespan, it had produced very few blossoms and maybe ten cherries. Then one March, our little tree burst forth in magnificent display of hundreds of cherry blossoms. It was a sight to behold. A week later, we had a hard freeze and all the blossoms fell to the ground.
And, typical of Northern Nevada, we began to experience once again, these wonderfully warm spring days. Much to our surprise in April, our little tree, once again, produced hundreds of glorious cherry blossoms. And, yes, another hard freeze and the efforts of this little tree fell to the ground in defeat.
We all mourned the cherry pies that would never be made, shrugged our shoulders and looked forward to the following year. But, that little tree was determined. May arrived and so did another wonderful display of cherry blossoms. I’m not a horticulturist but, we felt that this display of dedication and determination was extremely unusual and deserving of our vow to use every one of those precious cherries.
I feel that we can fail at what we strive for, try again and again, always with pride that we are not giving up. I also feel that, with dedication and determination, we will be rewarded in the end. I would be honored to share your goals and help in your efforts to relocate to this beautiful valley where our little cherry tree still lives. Call me.
Goals and Dreams
Goals and dreams. When we are young, we feel that we will direct our lives instead of our lives directing us. But, we have families that require our time and love, jobs that fill our lives with demands, constant pressures which dictate each day. Usually, our daily routine requires very little thinking, and, we become almost robotic in response to it.
Periodically, we become aware that we are not happy, that we would like to change our lifestyle to something more satisfying to ourselves and to our families. And, that’s when we should set our goals to accomplish exactly that.
I believe, sincerely, that once we set a goal, we will, consciously and unconsciously, direct all our energies toward that goal. And, we will ultimately achieve it.
If your goal is to find your way to a beautiful community, filled with mountains and blue skies, a slower pace with
time to “smell the roses”, call me and let me help you achieve your goals and dreams. I live here.
I Love February
I truly love the month of February. I realize that many people don’t. After all, it can be nasty, weather wise; cold and rainy and gloomy. But, I still love it.
My mother was born in February and every time the month rolls around I unfailingly think of a beautiful lavender amethyst stone. Amethyst is the birthstone for February and my mother loved lavender. She was fair skinned and that color looked lovely on her.
My father was a contractor and, before I was born, he built a home for the family. He put in a lavender sink in the kitchen and lavender fixtures in the bathroom. He also built in a beautiful phone booth in the hallway. The walls were covered in a brocade material (lavender, of course) and the seat was covered in lavender velvet. And, since I was born in this house and never having lived elsewhere, I didn’t think it was unusual to have a lavender colored sink in the kitchen, or, for that matter, a lavender phone booth in the hallway.
Today, as a Realtor, I can’t imagine trying to sell that home. I imagine another February baby would have to buy it, and, that February baby would also have to love the color of lavender. And, as a Realtor, I am calculating the odds of finding the very small number of potential buyers that fit that category.
That one remote buyer did appear, however, and my parents sold that home, lavender sink and all. I guess this story confirms the fact that there is that one special buyer for every home, regardless of how different or unusual it may be.
And, since I have personally experienced the concept that we all have our own idea of the perfect home, I would be delighted to help you find yours. Call me and tell me about your dream and let’s see if we can make that dream come true.
