I am staying here in the Valley and pursuing other interests. (More to come on Jewelry and Photography soon.)

For now welcome a new addition to my farm family -
Felix aka Patrick aka Guinness (a bit of a name question at this point).

Felix meets Willy

Felix, a SPCA Rescue from Augusta County is a TB/Clydesdale cross that is between 4 & 8 years old.

Also welcome Sully

Sully

Sully, Rockbridge SPCA rescue is about 8 months old and is a handsome blue eyed white Husky…

Life on the farm is never dull…

PS you may also find me in Staunton at Verizon Wireless in Statler Sq Shopping Center…

What a great way to start off  Saturday-  a beautiful country drive to the Farmers Market at Orchardside Yarns in Raphine.

This is a small friendly LOCAL group of folks that enjoy sharing their harvest & smiles. Full range of goodies include fresh baked breads & sweets, garden fresh vegies, local cheese & beef from Mountain View Farm Products in Fairfield VA, fresh pick your own (or buy fresh picked Blackberries from “up on the hill”, antiques & of course YARNS from the yarn shop.

With my garden in full production I was on a mission for fresh free range chicken eggs & local cheeses to complement my harvest.  Mission accomplished: I can almost the omelet with my heirloom tomatoes & my favorite McClure cheese from farm that is just over the hill from my home. I also was able to be there in time this morning for the delightful Mountain Mist – farm style cows milk feta.

After a walk by the stream & a visit with the DUCKS at Orchardside I stopped in to visit the great folks at Wades Mill for Buckwheat Pancake Mix to go with the fresh raspberries from my “raspberry patch”.

If it had not been early in the day I would have loved to have also stopped in to sample the great wine at Rockbridge Vineyard.

Yes – Raphine VA is a great place to visit & to live!

A few highlights & low lights of the chart below.

• Worst month: March 2009 there were 63.75 months of Inventory
  • compare to 15.29 months March 2008
• Best month YTD: April 2009 there were 19.62 months of Inventory
  • compare to 24.27 in April 2008
• Not so good news:  June 2009 there were 33.75 months of Inventory
  • compare to 31.89  June 2008Click on images for full size charts

MidYear Residential Inventory Rockbridge Co.

MidYear Residential Inventory Rockbridge Co.

Unfortunately from the amount of RED INK you’ll see when you click on the images below you’ll see our market continues to fall behind last year.

• YTD Sales are down by 32.5% with 52 sales YTD vs 77 sales YTD 2008.

• The Dollar volume amount is down by 49.2% YTD 2008 was $19,556,420 YTD 2009 is $ 9,947,328

The only really good RED INK is the news there are less residential listings coming on the market and those that are starting to reduce the median price. Hopefully this will translate into some of the excess inventory will beginning  to sale.

• YTD  New Listings down by 13.6% from 228 to 197.  There is still a large difference between the number of listings & the number of  SOLDS.
• YTD Dollar Volume of New Listings is down by 20.3% from $850,013,615 to $67,827, 249.

For specific information about your property please contact Candy Lynn candy at candylynn dot com.
Click on the charts below for full size images.

Yearly Market Comparison
Lexington Buena Vista Rockbridge MLS As of Tuesday, July 21, 2009 2:59:23 PM
Search Parameters: Property type Residential/Farm Area of ‘ Rockbridge’
(note: This report only covers ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY & THE TOWNS & VILLAGES IN THE COUNTY.)

Mid Year SOLD Stats Residential Rockbridge County

click images for full size

Mid Year ACTIVE Stats Residential Rockbridge County

I really love this one!   Thank you! @chumley21

from @acummings

from @acummings

WELL, that was then & this is now.  After reading about software updates, BB APP World & improved features; I decided to give the Storm another whirl. This is where the eating my words comes in – I LOVE THE STORM!

Love was not instant – it was certainly not love straight out of the box.

My list of Storm MUSTS:

• Update the software!! I can’t say this loud enough! The new software makes this phone fun!

The camera is fast & takes great photos, the touch screen is much more sensitive, scrolling is smooth, accurate & uses a soft touch… (BlackBerry Device Software v4.7 (updated 6/1/2009))Also check BlackBerry Device Update page

• Application Center – Preloaded BB Apps for you to Install.

My favs include:

• Blackberry App World
• Facebook
• Flickr

• BlackBerry AppWorld – Once this is installed the real fun begins. Caution you could spend days here..

A couple of my favorites are:

• Pandora Radio – Internet Radio – “It’s radio that is personalized just for you, playing only the music that you love” FREE

• Viigo – one click access to News, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Markets, Movies FREE

• Crackberry.com everything Blackberry – forums, blogs, user help, downloads, tips…
• Blackberry Storm Videos Tips and Tricks video library! Learn how to use your GPS to map locations, experiment with music and video players, along with quick tips on using the SurePress™ touch screen. And to do even more with your BlackBerry Storm smartphone, visit the BlackBerry 101 section below and learn about setting up email accounts, composing text messages and more!

These are just a few tips – please comment & add your favorites.
Most of all ENJOY!

Just one example of a REAL  review:

Verizon Business Cell Phone Plan Review

Plan Recommendations:

• Change to the new Small Business SharePlan 2100 Minutes for
  plan savings of  $414.76 per year
• Eligible for 10 shared Friends & Family
  • Monitor minutes after Family & Friends – may be able to reduce plan to 1400 shared minutes for an additional savings of $18.40 per month or $220.80 additional savings/year
• Add $5  – 250 Text  Message Plan to Share #4
• Insurance personal choice
• PLUS added Benefit available to Employee Liable Verizon Cell Phones – 8% discount on Primary line.

By changing this 5 line small business to one of the NEW Small Business Share Plans with Friends & Family for Business,  reviewing their actually needs & usage;  this local small Business may be able to save up to $635 per year.

Now are you ready to have your own personal Wireless consultant review your wireless plan?

Contact Candy Lynn
540-460-0058 voice & text
candy at candy lynn dot com
@candylynn on twitter

Quality Professional Service for Individuals & Businesses

Great site to plan color themes.
Perfect for seeing the relationship between colors.
Use it for planing your room colors, landscaping plan…
any project that involves color.

Visit & Shop: DesignsbyC.etsy.com

Each morning I am awaken by dazzling sunrises over the Blue Ridge Mountains here in the Valley of Virginia and am inspired. Color is my passion, jewelry, quilts, knitting anything that uses color gets my creative juices going; including Web Design & Photography.

I hold a BFA from East Carolina University School of Art. For many years I have lived the life of an entrepreneur with several businesses that have used my creative talents but not allowed me to fully explore the art within. Now is my time to fulfill life long dreams. Please share the adventure & the results.