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Feature Article #1

Ghosts of Christmas Past

It’s just after noon on Christmas Eve and so far I’ve sent a newsletter out, cleaned the kitchen, cleaned a bathroom, snaked the shower drain, and begun preparations for tonight’s fondue dinner with the kids. Christmas has changed so much since my children were replaced with mature teenagers. It’s easier, but lonelier. My childhood Christmases [...]

| December 24th, 2011 | Continued

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Feature Article #2

Best Apple Crisp Ever

I began making this apple crisp while living in Toronto. The basic recipe came straight out of an old Betty Crocker cookbook circa 1987, which is likely the year I began enjoying the dessert. While I was working as a counsellor at the Bob Rumball Centre for the Deaf, I would get together for dinner [...]

| October 10th, 2011 | Continued

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Feature Article #3

Traverse City – Summer Roadtrip

This entry is part 6 of 6 in the series Summer Roadtrip 2011

Traverse City is a beautiful city wrapped around the base of Grand Traverse Bay. We checked into the first hotel we saw because it had an amazing view of the bay and sunset. The hot tub in the room was a bonus. We headed out to the Apache Trout Grill for dinner. The wait was [...]

| September 22nd, 2011 | Continued

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Feature Article #4

Old Mission Peninsula – Summer Roadtrip

This entry is part 5 of 6 in the series Summer Roadtrip 2011

Old Mission Peninsula is a long jut of land that divides Grand Traverse Bay in half, giving it the shape – with creative license – of a molar and its roots. It was an easy 17 mile drive to the Old Mission Point Lighthouse, at end of the road. While there I discovered I was [...]

| September 20th, 2011 | Continued

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Feature Article #5

Let Sleeping Bears Lie – Summer Roadtrip

This entry is part 3 of 6 in the series Summer Roadtrip 2011

Legend tells of a mother bear and her two cubs taking to the water to escape a raging fire in what is now, Wisconsin. They swam for miles and after tiring the cubs lagged behind. When the mother bear reached the opposite shore, she climbed atop a hill to watch for her babies, but the [...]

| September 15th, 2011 | Continued

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About this Site

About RealHomeSense.com This is my personal blog. I am many things to many people. A mother, a Realtor, a business owner, a neighbor, an advocate for fairness and kindness.  You’ll find specific blogs about my roles elsewhere. Real Home Sense is the hub for my life activities. Everything radiates from here. This blog centers around [...]

Other Recent Articles

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One Room Church

Barracks Road, Charlottesville, Virginia

27Jan2012 | | 2 comments | Continued
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Rusted Chain

Worn wood fence and rusted chain along a Virginia back-road near Charlottesville. *Thanks for the idea JD, you were right*

20Jan2012 | | 0 comments | Continued
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Cauliflower Mountains

Traveling through the Blue Ridge Mountains I came across this beautiful scene in the early morning fog. As the fog lifted, portions of the mountain treetops were bathed in frost where clouds had left accumulated moisture. Reminiscent of Jack and the Beanstalk, the valley looked as though giant stalks of cauliflower had grown up overnight. [...]

13Jan2012 | | 0 comments | Continued
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Barracks Church Door

This picture was taken along Barracks Road near Charlottesville, Virginia. I thought it would make a beautiful Christmas card next year.

6Jan2012 | | 0 comments | Continued
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Ghosts of Christmas Past

It’s just after noon on Christmas Eve and so far I’ve sent a newsletter out, cleaned the kitchen, cleaned a bathroom, snaked the shower drain, and begun preparations for tonight’s fondue dinner with the kids. Christmas has changed so much since my children were replaced with mature teenagers. It’s easier, but lonelier. My childhood Christmases [...]

24Dec2011 | | 0 comments | Continued
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Back from Vegas

I had the pleasure of attending a conference in Vegas in October. It was wonderful to connect with other business owners, to see old friends, and develop new business relationships. I wrote an article over at CyberCletch on the 10 Lessons I learned from Cirque de Soleil. I had never seen a Cirque performance and [...]

1Nov2011 | | 0 comments | Continued
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Dog-gone Spell Reversal

During the divorce negotiations, the dog went to my ex. He’s since reconsidered and I was notified today I’ll be keeping the dog from now on. I had chosen to shut out how much I missed having Caesar in my life on a daily basis. I’m beyond excited to have him home full-time; he’s putting [...]

31Oct2011 | | 1 comment | Continued
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Happy Halloween!

I found the above picture while looking for my favorite Jack O’ Lanterns on Flickr. This is one of the most adorable pictures I’ve seen. It was taken by KoKo Crispy. While little Jocelyn is just beginning, my children are past the Trick or Treating age. Although I am somewhat happy to not have the [...]

28Oct2011 | | 2 comments | Continued
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Walled Lake Northern Marching Knights

Can’t see the video? Click here. I meant to get this online a couple of weeks ago, but life got busy. This is the WLN Marching Band’s 2011 pre-show and show. The video was taken October 6th during the visit by Clifford Smart, Sarah Banks and James Geisler Middle School Bands. The football game was [...]

22Oct2011 | | 0 comments | Continued
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Visiting in the Rain

This was today’s visitor, they often hang out at the end of my lawn where there is some flooding or fish in the shallow water beside the dock. This is the first one I’ve seen actually ON the dock. Wish I had a lens that let me get closer. This was taken through my rain [...]

20Oct2011 | | 4 comments | Continued
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Best Apple Crisp Ever

I began making this apple crisp while living in Toronto. The basic recipe came straight out of an old Betty Crocker cookbook circa 1987, which is likely the year I began enjoying the dessert. While I was working as a counsellor at the Bob Rumball Centre for the Deaf, I would get together for dinner [...]

10Oct2011 | | 1 comment | Continued
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Traverse City – Summer Roadtrip

This entry is part 6 of 6 in the series Summer Roadtrip 2011

Traverse City is a beautiful city wrapped around the base of Grand Traverse Bay. We checked into the first hotel we saw because it had an amazing view of the bay and sunset. The hot tub in the room was a bonus. We headed out to the Apache Trout Grill for dinner. The wait was [...]

22Sep2011 | | 0 comments | Continued
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Old Mission Peninsula – Summer Roadtrip

This entry is part 5 of 6 in the series Summer Roadtrip 2011

Old Mission Peninsula is a long jut of land that divides Grand Traverse Bay in half, giving it the shape – with creative license – of a molar and its roots. It was an easy 17 mile drive to the Old Mission Point Lighthouse, at end of the road. While there I discovered I was [...]

20Sep2011 | | 0 comments | Continued
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Let Sleeping Bears Lie – Summer Roadtrip

This entry is part 3 of 6 in the series Summer Roadtrip 2011

Legend tells of a mother bear and her two cubs taking to the water to escape a raging fire in what is now, Wisconsin. They swam for miles and after tiring the cubs lagged behind. When the mother bear reached the opposite shore, she climbed atop a hill to watch for her babies, but the [...]

15Sep2011 | | 2 comments | Continued
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Roadside Views – Summer Roadtrip

This entry is part 4 of 6 in the series Summer Roadtrip 2011

We headed north from Ludington after the hike, counted our blessings when we discovered The Bungalow Inn still serving dinner at 10 pm. After checking several Manistee hotels late into the night, we finally found one that was not booked full with fishermen hoping to win the local derby. I awoke to another beautiful blue [...]

14Sep2011 | | 0 comments | Continued
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Ludington, Michigan – Summer Roadtrip

This entry is part 2 of 6 in the series Summer Roadtrip 2011

Two years ago traveled to Shanty Creek and did a drive by tour through Charlevois & Petoskey on my way to Mackinac Island. I liked what I saw and wanted to tour the little finger portion of the Michigan mitten. The first Lake Michigan view was supposed to happen around Saugatuck, but a missed sign [...]

12Sep2011 | | 1 comment | Continued
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Powering Up & Skating Off

I was back on roller skates again for the first time in too many years, thanks to an invitation to P.O.W.E.R Organization’s fundraising event hosted by Latoniya Jones. Her organization helps children aged 7-16 increase their confidence, competency, and proficiency with math. In my head, I was movin’ and groovin’ to the sounds of the [...]

10Sep2011 | | 2 comments | Continued
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Visiting Chicago’s Suburbs – Summer Roadtrip

This entry is part 1 of 6 in the series Summer Roadtrip 2011

I had the good fortune of segueing a Chicago area conference into a vacation up the coast of Lake Michigan. I loved the coast from Ludington to Traverse City and hope to take my boys back next summer. The trip began at the Infusionsoft Customer Tour in Lombard, Illinois. Infusionsoft has put together a knowledgeable [...]

5Sep2011 | | 0 comments | Continued
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Chicago Skyline Sunset from Across Lake Michigan

See the rest of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore & Mount Baldy on Flickr.

2Sep2011 | | 0 comments | Continued
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The Meaning of Home

At first look, it appears obvious that we can see what is happening in our current housing market. People are losing or selling their homes and moving onto other abodes. Whether it’s by choice or necessity, homeowners are adapting because they have to. What’s not apparent is the hidden tsunami of emotion that hits us [...]

24Aug2011 | | 0 comments | Continued
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