Peggy's Ponderings from the lake

For some people luxury means LUXURY! They may have a big beautiful home, with top of the line appliances, designer interiors, and manicured landscaping. Their home was built, designed and created by high-end designers, engineers, and architects. On the lake, luxury might mean a massive covered dock with a beautiful boat (probably a yacht) and several pwc’s all new and shiny. This place of luxury is probably on Duck Creek, just because that’s where homes like this are supposed to be. My friend's infinity pool looking over Duck Creek. This luxury is for sale. Or it could be a huge home in Governor's Retreat where you live and all of your friends and family come to stay. You like to DIY so this house has your thumbprints on it everywhere. Nothing designer, just comfortable. It’s clean when the grandkids aren’t there (except my office, of course, oh wait it’s my dream, not my house…yet). Refrigerators are full of beer, soda, and water. And yes refrigerators plural bec...

My age is starting to hit me and not necessarily in a bad way. I’m 56. It sent shivers up my spine when I wrote that just now. Not in an “oh God I’m old” way, but in a “wow, I can’t believe it” way. My future hair In the last 6 months, I started having panic attacks, bought a pair of bifocal glasses, and started planning my retirement. I also decided to give up the bi-weekly hair appointments to cover the gray and just embrace it. We’ll see how long that lasts, but for now, white, platinum hair is in! I’m not talking about retirement savings. I’m talking about mental retirement. Relaxing. Actually relaxing and being happy. I recently read an article in AARP, yes that over 50 magazine, that showed me that Roman and I are going to be ok in retirement. I’m ready for the next chapter. Here’s my plan. I can work until I die as a Realtor and I probably will. I get so much pleasure from helping clients buy a dream home. That can be selling a home that’s too big and never used an...

ADIOS BUGS, HELLO FALL! I believe I can see the colors changing on the redbud tree as I stare out the front window in my office/dining room/ library/study & multipurpose room. The place where I do most of my work. I know in the Spring you can look out the window here and watch the grass get greener and greener as it rains. Today, the day before Autumn I can see the leaves on the tree turning yellow. Many days this summer when I was hot and bug-eaten from showing houses or working in the yard, I would decide I was done with this place! Done! I thought it was time to pack up and move back to the coast where the weather is always perfect and bugs hardly exist. Even getting off the boat I was slapping mosquitos off! Seriously, why does a seed tick even exist? Or any tick for that matter? And mosquitos? How do they contribute to the world? Well adios, bugs and hello Fall!  As far as real estate goes, this was a busy year for me, though quite different from last year (my best ye...

Look what happened! It's par for my life this summer. I just finished writing my Blog for Fall and guess what? This summertime blog never got posted! Well, even though it's late, it still rings true, especially since my next blog is called Adios Bugs, Hello Fall. Lions, and tigers, oh my!!! Except here at the lake it's more like, bugs and more bugs, oh my!!! Although we live in town, this town is in the middle of nowhere. This lake is in the middle of nowhere. We are surrounded by woods and trust me, these woods have eyes! Lots of ugly bug eyes! I spent a couple hundred dollars this summer on bug retardant plants and still, we can't sit on my back porch day or night without getting bit by something. And most of the time we don't know what that something was. These ferocious man-eating bugs are quick and agile.  My daughter and I were watching HGTV the other day, discussing our dream place to live.  We moved to Oklahoma eight years ago together and ...

As Arbor Day approaches this Friday I am reminded of one of my favorite gifts from my Dad.  One Christmas several years ago he gave each of us a gift card to Lowes. Even the grandkids were given a gift card even though some of them were still in high school. Dad told us to use the card to buy and plant a tree. I know, the Okies that read this are saying “see I told you all those people from California are tree huggers!” Maybe we are because unlike those of you that grew up here in Grove, America, surrounded by trees and woods, nature, wildlife, etc., most of us that grew up in California watched trees chopped down and cities grow. We watched hills with giant oaks bull-dozed and graded and new homes put in their place. Although I didn’t experience the Redwoods disappearing I’ve heard the stories and read the history of how giant Redwood Trees grew from Los Angeles to Northern California. Fortunately, many state and national parks have saved the Redwoods and other trees al...

I recently read on one of the Real Estate blogs that homes near a coffee shop will increase the value of those homes. Our homes in downtown Grove are surrounded by good coffee shops. And they are all in walking distance. If only more people would get out and walk. And if only Oklahoma roads had wider shoulders to encourage more walking.   And since we drive more than walk, I think all of these downtown cafe's add another value. They give Grand Lakers a place to stop for something to eat and drink on their way to go fishing or boating. And they offer a place to grab a bite to eat before heading home after a long day on the boat. Coffee bar and help yourself drinks at Jiffy. Anyway, we have Jiffy & 6 th Street Diner, Drakes, Checkered Past and recently lost Café Yumm to a fire (I heard the most recent managers of Café Yumm plan to open a new café’ not far from it’s previous location. More to come on that later). And if you go just a little further to Thir...

A Couple Hours without a Cell Phone I was abandoned at Chickenellas. The dispatcher said there was a possible structure fire near Grove Middle School. Roman (my husband and Captain at Grove Fire Department) said he thought dispatch said a barn, and I am sure I heard visible flames and smoke showing. Either way, off he goes. So here I sit with no phone. I left it at home (which I never do) and  I realized I don’t know phone numbers by heart anymore. I am in this adorable restaurant with some sweet tea. I ate my breakfast (banana pancakes – the best north of Mexico in my opinion) and packed Roman’s in a to-go box.  I sip more tea and realize I am a little nervous about not having my phone so I think back on times when cell phones were something futuristic. Peeking out the window and I can see visible smoke coming from the direction of the school, so I settle in and talk to Debbie (the owner of Chickenellas) and the girls. They tell me it’s fine to hang out and...