Some weeks I inwardly groan when I realize that it's time to write another blog post. What am I going to write about this week? Sometimes I get lucky and someone will ask me a question and that will spur an article. Sometimes there's an event that is happening or has happened. This week is another where I wasn't sure what to write about as I sat here thinking about it. So I went back and read some of my first posts and that in itself was inspiring. My first posts have had over 800 views! That's encouraging, for certain.
The strange weather this year is going to have an effect on us as the year continues. When I first started this blog it was harvest time. Now I'm concerned that the grow season will be too short to get my grapes ripe enough to harvest. The grass keeps growing and I think we'll be mowing into July this year! When we put in our garden this year we planted a few winter veggies for fun - thank goodness we did; we've been able to eat kale, chard and lettuce already, and the broccoli is just coming on. I'm not sure if any of the 18 tomato plants we put in will ever bear fruit - although they have had some flowers on them. The basil has grown, about a half an inch; the same with the eggplants. A sorry sight indeed. On the other hand, I haven't had to water much!
It's that time of year again - weddings. I went to one in April and now I'm attending another this weekend, down in Santa Rosa. Thank goodness the weather is supposed to be beautiful so we have that to be thankful for. This wedding is a bit of a turning point for me - I'm sure many of you have been here before as well. Usually I have attended weddings of friends, sometimes I've been in weddings of friends. Sometimes the people getting married were my friends, sometimes the friends of a beau. This time I'm attending as a friend of one of the parents of the bride, a role new to me; one of life's stages happening where I can actually see it as it unfolds.
This past week at our regular staff meeting, everyone in the room, about 20 Realtors(R), were asked their opinion about the housing market for the next six months. Most everyone is optimistic that sales will continue to grow. The reasons behind that optimism are a little dark, however. Lower prices have and continue to drive the market. We've seen a lot of foreclosures and that's brought prices down - buyer's now know they are in charge. We will likely continue to see some foreclosures this year and that will keep prices low. Most people felt that Fort Bragg has seen the bottom - sales prices have risen 6% this year according to one Realtor(R); everyone foresees Mendocino continuing to fall and the same can probably be said for the surrounding areas. Most of us think we'll continue to see people looking for the best prices for value and that sales will continue in the lower end. The economy has a ways to go before things will pick up in a big way.
I hope you are able to get out and enjoy the sunshine this weekend!