massachusetts

Mar 20 2011

My Favorite Western MA Community Tradition: St. Patrick’s Day!

St. Patrick’s Day in Western MA is my favorite community event. I love the music, the energy, the excitement and the fun. I spent today at the St. Patrick’s Day parade with my best friends and family and wanted to share it with you in case you couldn’t attend.

Mar 02 2011

Dr. Seuss’ Birthday…Celebrate A Western Massachusetts Icon

“If we didn’t have birthdays,
you wouldn’t be you.
If you’d never been born,
well then what would you do?
If you’d never been born,
well then what would you be?
You might be a fish!
Or a toad in a tree!
You might be a doorknob!
Or three baked potatoes!
You might be a bag full of
hard green tomatoes.”

“Or worse than all that…Why,
you might be a WASN’T!
A Wasn’t has no fun at all.
No, he doesn’t.
A Wasn’t just isn’t.
He just isn’t present.
But you…You ARE YOU!
And, now isn’t that pleasant!”

“Today you are you!
That is truer than true!
There is no one alive…
Happy Birthday To You!

Happy Birthday to Dr. Seuss!

His actual name was Theodor Seuss Geisel and he was born in Springfield, MA. While I never met Dr. Seuss in person, I had the opportunity to have several connections to him. The first was geographical. In addition to being from Springfield, MA myself, my grandparents lived on Mulberry Street in Springfield. “And To Think that I Saw it on Mulberry Street” was Geisel’s first children’s book and contains not only the street name from his home city, but lots of imagery of Springfield, as well.

My college internship was done at the Springfield Library and Museums public relations department. My largest project with them was my work on the Dr. Seuss Memorial Sculpture Garden. It was my responsibility to much of the behind the scenes work for the press conferences and it was exciting to have a hand in something so important. A few years ago I visited the sculpture garden with my daughters and was moved to see the magical creations on the Quadrangle in Springfield, MA.

As a mother of two young girls, I have spent many hours reading Dr. Seuss. My daughters brought home a notice from school this week reminding that Geisel’s birthday, March 2, has been adopted as the annual date for National Read Across America Day, an initiative on reading created by the National Education Association.

I know there are many of you who, like me, have memorized Dr. Seuss’ work….in honor of his birthday and the National Read Across America Day I thought we could have a little fun with it. I will start with “Green Eggs and Ham”…pick up the next line after me and let’s see how far we can get!

Sam I am
I am Sam
Sam I am
That Sam-I-am!
That Sam-I-am!
I do not like that Sam-I-am!

Feb 27 2011

A REALTOR’s Snowy Sunday Drive in Western Massachusetts

The better part of today was real estate time spent showing houses to a buyer client of mine. We started late this morning in the Leeds section of Northampton, Massachusetts next to the Mill River. I got there early and took a quick walk up the street to see the river. It had just snowed last night a few inches of beautiful fluffy clean white snow and the river was babbling up against the white fresh white blanket of snow. It was simply lovely.

After showing houses in Northampton, we took the back roads to Chester, Massachusetts. The drive from Northampton through Westhampton and into Huntington was simply breathtaking. The fresh snow was highlighting and outlining the beautiful vistas along these country roads. At one point we turned a corner and on my left was a grove of apple trees covered in snow; their twisted old branches were made more graceful with the blanket of snow and beyond the apple orchards was the valley opening up below.

We were able to stop at one of my favorite hilltown country stores, the Huntington country store.

After brief fueling with the coffee and one of their famous wrapples (I indulged in the Apple Raspberry), we were back on our way to the center of Chester, MA. After viewing our property, we journeyed down Route 20 back through Huntington, Russell and into Westfield.

As we descended from the Hilltowns back down into the Pioneer Valley and Westfield the sun broke through the winter clouds and the snow was shimmering along the banks of the Westfield River.

Now continuing our journey from Westfield to Agawam, the skies opened all the way out the sun was shining blue sky and the temperatures started to rise and I was feeling very content after our Western Massachusetts journey.

I don’t know if my buyer will buy any of the seven homes we toured today, but our drive from Hampshire County to Hampden County was a slow, serene, snowy Sunday drive that I appreciated for the experience.

Exploring the back roads after a fresh coating of snow made me especially aware of the beauty in Western MA and I feel very lucky to live in a place of such stunning vistas. Today’s beauty made for an especially pleasant day as a REALTOR in Western MA showing houses to a buyer.

You can hear my thoughts from the drive today here:

Feb 24 2011

Park Square Realty Awards Breakfast

Today was the Park Square Realty Awards Breakfast at Tucker’s Restaurant in Southwick, MA. Agents from both the Westfield, MA and Feeding Hills, MA Park Square Realty offices were honored with awards for production, loyalty and some special awards for all kinds of amusing reasons.

One of the reasons that I like working for Park Square Realty is that in addition to being a group of high producing, hard working professionals – we know how to have fun, too!

I was proud to have met my 2010 goal and to have placed in the Platinum Circle and top 5 agents in the company. I also received a loyalty award for five years of working for Park Square Realty.

I made this video to share with you so you can glimpse the inside of Park Square Realty…there is a reason we are number one in our area!

Feb 16 2011

Westfield MA First Time Home Buyer Alert

LARGE PRICE REDUCTION!

First time homebuyers, take note of the large price reduction on this Westfield, MA home for sale. Terrific deal, call for a showing before it is too late!

FIRST TIME HOME BUYER ALERT!