Western Mass Homes Lesley Lambert

Lesley's Life

Snow day for a REALTOR in Westfield, MA

I work hard in my real estate career. Those of you who know me well can attest to that fact. I love my work, I love being a REALTOR in Westfield, I love to be busy helping people in Western Massachusetts buy and sell homes, but sometimes a day off is called for. What better reason to slow down and enjoy some R & R with your loved ones than a snow day?

Today we got a TON of snow in Western Massachusetts. I didn’t measure the snow here in Westfield, MA, but when I went outside to play in it with my daughters it was above my knees. (granted I am a short person, but still!).

I haven’t gone out in the snow to play for years. I can’t really remember the last time I did. Stepping out into that deep, fresh, powdery snow today brought memories of being 8 years old and playing in the snow from the blizzard of ’78 with my sister, Michelle.

Michelle is younger than me and I remember that she kept getting stuck in the snow. Both my girls got stuck, today, too. It was exhausting fun to trudge paths through the think snow, but I led the way with a smile on my face. Bundled up from head to toe we sled down the petite hill in our back yard, made snow angels, climbed the plow piles and just reveled in the beauty.

Here is a short video of our snow day in Westfield. I hope you enjoy and I hope you had a good day today, too!

My Childhood Hometown: Southwick, MA

Location in Hampden County in Massachusetts
Image via Wikipedia

Growing up in a small town is a funny thing.  It isn’t until you are much older, and maybe being a parent is part of it, that you realize why your parents chose to live in “podunk” and raise you in that little bit of nowhere you couldn’t wait to get out of.

I was born in Springfield, MA, but spent my childhood in Southwick, MA.  Known to some as “the jog” or “the notch”, much of the southern part of the town dips miles into Connecticut.  I grew up right on a street that was only a mile from the CT border.

As a REALTOR at Park Square Realty in the Greater Westfield area, I get to work in Southwick quite a bit, but I don’t always slow down to really notice the town.  Entering Southwick, MA

A buyer client of mine wanted to see several properties in Southwick last week and driving around town started to bring back memories of my youth in town.  Driving the side road that was a “short cut” to my street, I felt my instincts for where to hug the curves and  slow down kick back in automatically.  I passed the homes where my high school friends lived (and some of their parents still live) and loads of developments that were never there when I was young.

I showed a home for sale across from the Sofinowski Land Preserve, which is now protected land, but when I lived just down the road was still Mr. Sofinowski’s farm.  My sister and I used to love to ride our bikes down the hill near his farm and I always liked his sheep.

On this drive I could see the time stamp for when neighborhoods moved further out in to the southern “country” of town.   Peppered about the historic homes and farms, the multitude of raised ranch homes tell of the late 70’s and early 80’s.  The mini mansions came in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, many of them on what used to be tobacco fields.

Tobacco Barn in Southwick, MAThe tobacco farm where I worked (yes I picked tobacco) is still there, although others are gone and turned into neighborhoods.  The Summer House is still there and thriving, although it is now a year round restaurant.  The Moto-Cross still causes traffic when the BMX races come to town

I should have known that I couldn’t be in town without being recognized AND that only my maiden name would be used.  As my client and I arrived at our last property for sale, I  was greeted with “hey, you are Lesley WEBER!”.

southwick ma foliage
Southwick in the Fall

I live in Westfield now, but only a half mile from the Southwick line and I spend a lot of time with friends and my daughters enjoying my childhood town.  As a parent I now see what my parents were doing by raising a family in a small town like Southwick:  it is pretty, it is safe, it is quiet and it is still a community.

If you are looking to move to Southwick, MA I not only recommend it, but it would be my special pleasure to help you with your move.

southwick barn in winter
Southwick in the Winter

tobacco barn photo courtesy of hilltowngal

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Savoring 2010

This is the time of year when everyone talks resolutions, or even better, goals and start looking ahead to the next year.  Many people are glad to let the old year go and expect great new things from the fresh start.  Me, I want to savor the blessings that 2010 gave me.

The following video was shot “after hours” in my kitchen in my PJ’s (g-rated of course).  I wasn’t going to shoot the video, but my Twitter friends including Lisa Laoden and Chris Smith thought that it would be “keeping it real” and that people would like to experience the real me.  Well, ready or not, here it is:

I wanted to add some pictures to flesh out the events and people that I discussed in my video, I hope you enjoy them even partly as much as I enjoyed being part of them.  I am one heck of a lucky girl…blessed in almost every way.

Morriss and I - celebrating 1 yr anniversary & my 40th
Some of the honored guests at my 40th Birthday Party!
One of the hundreds of gorgeous views in Utah. This was an amazing trip!
My amazing, beautiful, gifted, sweet daughters.
Friends of mine that bought their first home this year. We had our share of challenges, but they are there and they love it! I am so glad to have been able to help.
Had a lovely weekend away with my mom and sister, this is my sister, Michelle who took my 6 yr old kayaking
Morriss and I and our kids
My friend Diane Guercio and I presented alongside Real Estate Industry giant and friend, Sherry Chris in Boston this fall.
Meeting my #twitterqueens sister Debbie Kirkland for the first time!
I am blessed to have these amazing women by my side for just about my whole life.

If you made it this far, thank you for reading.  I just feel the need to focus on the gifts that I have already been given before I go marauding into the next year.  I hope that you remember to do the same.  Happy 2010, what there is left of it!