It's Larry....not Lavender. Who knew?

My colleague, Sandy, recently took her father to visit our (Prudential Georgia Realty) garden plot at Harvest Farm. When she proudly showed him the hens, he quickly pointed out that Lavender was no hen. Lavender turned out to be a rooster!! Sandy's father knew!!!

Here's an email from Chantez Daya, Chair of Harvest Farm Community Garden about what happened to Lavender (Larry):

Hello Harvest Farm Gardeners,

You all may know by now that our beautiful Lavender Oprington hen, initially named Lavender, turned out to be "Larry" when it was discovered he was actually a rooster. Larry was a beautiful rooster and some of us actually heard him crowing! Since Larry is a rooster and our agreement with the City was that we would raise hens only, we had to find another home for Larry. We are glad to inform you that Larry has been relocated to a wonderful petting farm in Grayson, GA.  Larry grew into a beautiful robust rooster in such a short time, which shows how well he and the other hens have been cared for by all the volunteer families - So a big thanks to all involved! We've even gotten our first set of eggs! 

2010 Year in Review

Highlights:

 

• Prudential Georgia Realty leads the way in listings and closed sales
• Buyers had incredible Buying Power, interest rates at all time historical lows can you believe as low as 4%?
• $8000 Buyer tax credit created a hearty Spring sales market
• My Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource (SFR) Certification came in handy…successfully completed short sale transactions for a Win/Win situation for all
• Many banks are starting to streamline their short sale acceptance process, speeding up the process
• Mellow Mushroom and Brown Bag Deli moved to Suwanee Town Center, creating a lot of new activity
• Prudential Georgia Realty gets involved in the Suwanee Community Garden and the Suwanee Day Parade
• Suwanabee™ makes appearances all around Suwanee
• My Army son and his family moved to Dahlonega and he didn’t deploy overseas this year
• My teenage son was accepted for Governor’s Honor Program at Valdosta State University and had a wonderful experience
• He’ll be graduating Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology in 2011 (see lowlights too)
•  Great college shopping trip to Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York in Spring
• Sugar and Spice (my puppies) are more lovable than ever and even “tolerate” my two grand-sons at our Sunday dinners
• Our Norcross High School reunion was in July (do I have to say which year?)
• Much less new construction inventory on the market...good for sellers
• Snow on Christmas in Suwanee!!! First time in my life!

 

Lowlights:

   

• Short sales are the most dreaded transaction, for agents, buyers and sellers
• Average sales price and number of sales both decrease from same time period last year (both Suwanee and Gwinnett County stats, Single Family).
• It’s a beauty contest and a price war – and you have to win BOTH when your home is on the market, making the competition brutal for Sellers
• My teenage son started his last year of High School…will be off to college in 2011
• My favorite WWII Veteran, Mr. Harold Humphries, passed away this year. I was honored to know him. He'll be missed.
• Bank owned properties are often good deals for buyers, but must navigate thru the "our way or no way bank mentality"
• My neighborhood lake still does not have the drain cap repaired, nearly 1.5 years after the great flood of 2009
• Appraisal values continue to be nail biters (many appraisers not familiar with area due to new government rules)
• Lots of shadow foreclosure inventory poised to come on the market this year

  Words to live by in 2011:

 

  Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

 

Don't take yourself so seriously, no one else does.

 

Frame every so called "disaster" with these words: In five years, will this matter?

 

Good News About Beauty!

Beauty has been found, safe and sound! See email from Beauty's owner below:

Dear Wonderful Friends and Neighbors: About 7:15 p.m. this evening, I retrieved Beauty from some wonderful members of Evergreen Presbyterian Church (beside the Suwanee Library) who had rescued her. Below is Beauty's tale (no pun intended):


At 1:00 a.m. Saturday morning, after the close of Evergreen Church's New Year's Eve Services, four observant and concerned children noticed a shivering dog beside the railroad tracks. The children took Beauty to another member, a college freshman whom I shall call "Guardian Angel". This woman took Beauty to her home, and showered her with warmth, food, and her Pomeranian's friendship. However, this Guardian Angel would have to wait until Monday to make telephone contact. Beauty was only wearing her Rabies/Veterinary tags, due to my oversight. (*See note below.)

In the meantime, my wonderful neighbors, the Bawejas, created and printed many "Lost Beauty" photo posters. We spread them throughout Suwanee. This evening, members of Evergreen Presbyterian Church who had seen the posters shared my contact information with Beauty's Guardian Angel. I, then, received the long-awaited, miraculous phone call! At 7: 15 p.m., with proof of ownership in hand, I hugged Beauty's Guardian Angel, her parents, her brother, and my sweet Beauty.

Thank you everyone for your look-outs, reported Beauty- Sightings, thoughts, phone calls, emails, and prayers. You are a blessing and Beauty's safe return is a miracle.

Please feel free to share this email with others who were part of the Beauty-Come-Home Prayer Circle and Look-Out Squad.

Sincerely,

Penny Cruise and family

*(Note: I just dug Beauty's Address/Home Phone Tag out of the junk draw, and she is now wearing it. Note to Myself: Don't be stupid again.)

Woke up with Beauty on my mind

I woke up this AM, thinking out my neighbor's beloved pet, Beauty.

Here's the message they sent out to Ruby Forest:

Please help us find Beauty who went missing yesterday afternoon! Beauty is a small mixed breed dog who lives at 4045 Magnolia Leaf Lane. She is very shy so please call us if you see her (678-482-7133). We miss her very much! Thank you! - - Penny and Mina Cruise

One neighbor thinks she may have this dog crossing over Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road into Suwanee Town Center.

Please keep a look out for this beloved pet, Beauty, and help her find her way home.