Come Home to the Hill Country!

Speechless Sunday...in tune...

Photography by:  Jeani Thomas Richie, copyright 2008

Visit my photography website.

My friend Steve warming up for a set at Art on the Loop in New Braunfels, Texas.  This was also my first photography exhibit which was held about a year ago.  Steve is amazingly talented and is working on his degree in the ministry, his wife Renee was my son's fifth grade teacher at NB Christian Academy and they are also clients of mine...today we start their dream home search!

and the winner is...US!!!

This past weekend marked the 116th annual Comal County Fair and as long time residents of Comal County, attending the fair is always part of our end of summer plan.  A few years back my son and I, who are both into photography began entering the Comal County Fair photography contest and this year was no different.

and the winner is...US!!!

This year my son Jordan entered a photo of the sun rise over Mexico from Big Bend on his Spring Break backpacking trip with the Boy Scouts titled "Border Sunrise" and he took 3rd place in his age division (12-18).  Below is his entry. 

This year I entered a photo of a seagull that I took on our annual pilgrimage to the Texas Riviera (Mustang Island) titled "Reflection" and took 1st place in the adult division.  Below is my entry.

If you are in Central Texas the last weekend of September, make it a point to come to New Braunfels and check out the Comal County Fair...the largest County Fair in Texas!

2009 Comal County Fair in New Braunfels Texas

Today we are headed out to the Comal County Fair Parade in New Braunfels Texas.  We attend this event every year, but this year is particularly special because my son who plays trombone in the Mountain Valley Middle School Mighty Hawk Band and this is his first parade to march in.  Jordan made Honors Band this year which is the highest level band one can make in middle school.  So we will gather along San Antonio Street in New Braunfels this morning for the annual Comal County Fair Parade.

The Comal County Fair is held every September and is usually a hot experience in terms of weather, but this year our community was blessed with cooler temperatures for fair week.  After a long scorching summer of drought, we enter fair time with milder temps and a week of rain.  Today's parade promises to be a pleasant experience.  We also work the drink ticket booth on Saturday night, which is always a lot of fun, because we sit in one place and everyone comes to us!  What a wonderful opportunity to network and see everyone...while sitting!!!  A great chance to plug our real estate business as well!

There is livestock, arts and crafts exhibits, food, beverage, rodeo, carnival, displays, contests, friends and fun for everyone.  The Comal County Fair in New Braunfels Texas is a great time to meet up with others and experience a little slice of Comal County life.  My son and I enter the photography contest every year and this year is no different...so we will be checking out the arts and crafts exhibit hall to see how our photos faired this year in the judging.  If you are in the area, come on out to the Comal County Fair in New Braunfels and if you are not, come on over for the fun!

Vacant Land For Sale - 189 River Chase Way in River Chase, New Braunfels Texas

Texas Hill Country Home Site in the River Chase Development

Come home to the Texas Hill Country!  This 1.322 acre lot is located in the beautiful River Chase development between New Braunfels and Canyon Lake offering an easy commute to San Antonio or Austin and is close to area recreations facilities.

189 River Chase Way in Unit 4 of River Chase

Enjoy the multitude of property owner amenities including:  pools, basketball, volleyball, hiking trails, 58 acre gated Guadalupe River front park, picnic area, fishing, clubhouse and more.  This master planned neighborhood has restrictions, custom homes, mandatory property owner's association with dues of $150.00 per year and Comal ISD schools.

The pleasures of country living with the conveniences of town!

This home site has plenty of space for you to build your dream home, the building site is nearly level and there are many wonderful native oak trees.  There are already homes on either side of this lot and there are no city taxes.  MLS# 164671 Priced to sell at $43,937.  Listed by:  Jeani Thomas Richie, Broker of EXIT Hill Country Realty and EXIT Realty Canyon Lake.

Wordless Wednesday...Panther Canyon Trail in New Braunfels, Texas.

In the middle of New Braunfels, Texas is a park...Landa Park.  In the middle of Landa Park, is a nature trail...Panther Canyon.  This is one of the bridges in New Braunfels, Texas...in Landa Park...that leads to Panther Canyon.

Photo by:  Jeani Thomas Richie, Copyright 2008.

REMEMBERING MIKE CARL...REALTOR AND FRIEND.

Recently our REALTOR community was rocked by the unexpected passing of our good friend and fellow agent, Mike Carl.  Mike and his wife Kathy were such a big part of real estate in Comal County.  They both served the real estate industry selflessly and were always putting others first.  No matter how busy they were, they always had time to share and give.  There is much to be learned from both of them.  Mike left us quickly and unexpectedly this month and one of the hardest things we have had to face was him not being at the golf course for our TREPAC golf tournament this year.  We always looked forward to pulling up to the hole that he and Kathy always sponsored.  This year we knew we would face that hole without Mike's presence and for me personally, that was a tough thought to have.

BUT IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN WE PULLED UP TO THE GIANT SHADE TREE OF THE "TEAM NO LIMITS" TEE BOX AND SAW KATHY SITTING THERE WITH THE SIGNS PICTURED ABOVE...

You could feel his spirit there.  I know that Mike was watching over us from Heaven that day and enjoyed every minute of the very successful fundraising event that Kathy worked so hard to coordinate.  In the weeks that follow the loss of a loved one, some might choose to retreat within the confines of their home and hide out, but not Kathy.  Even though many of us stepped up to the plate and offered to take over whatever needed to be handled for her, she walked out her front door and pulled together a well organized and successful TREPAC auction event and continued to run her real estate business. 

  THIS IS WHAT WE ALL ADMIRE ABOUT THE CARL'S...no matter the challenges, they show up and give 110%!  They truly embody their team name "Team No Limits."  I believe Mike is proud of Kathy and of all of us for stepping up to the plate and making a difference.  I ask you to keep Kathy, her children, grandchildren, friends and family in your prayers as they face the days ahead and adjust to life without Mike.  We miss him terribly and would love to have him here where we can hear his jokes and see his smile, but we also know that God has one more special angel to help him take care of things in Heaven.

Rest in peace Mike...you are missed!

  NBCLAR SUPPORTS TREPAC WITH ANNUAL "FUN"DRAISER!!!

Every August in the extreme Texas heat the real estate professionals, affiliates and friends gather in New Braunfels, Texas for an all day, fun-filled series of events all for one purpose...to raise much needed funds for TREPAC (Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee).  As a former TREPAC chairman and retired PAC Trustee, this cause is very near and dear to my heart.  You see, I am not just a Texas REALTOR, but I have a passion for protecting the private property rights of my fellow Texans and because of TREPAC I have already been a part of several REALTOR victories in my community.

  USUALLY I GOLF EVERY YEAR...but this year to 101 degree high that has been promised us and my common sense is keeping me from participating in that manner.  So I will be seen playing Papparazzi in the field zooming about the course with my camera representing the PR committee taking photos of my friends roasting in the Texas sun!  I will also be covering the BUNCO tournament later today and snapping photos of the agressive dice rolling people who will be raising money for TREPAC in air conditioned comfort!  Later in the day I will be setting up our silent auction and preparing for the BBQ dinner, live and silent auction events of the evening.

IT IS GOING TO BE A FUN DAY and I will post photos and results from the efforts of the day!  Our board is number one in the state in our size category for fundraising for TREPAC and we intend to keep that title!  GO REALTORS!!!

  Gone but not forgotten...Saturday I lost a good friend...

our community lost a leader, a wife lost a husband and business partner, three children lost their Dad, three grandchildren lost their Grandpa, our industry lost a fine REALTOR, a church lost a faithful servant and many hearts are aching tonight.  Mine is among them...my friend and fellow agent Mike Carl passed away unexpectedely Satuday evening at the age of 58 and the words I keep uttering and hearing repeated over and over again are "stunned, shocked and unbelievable." 

Today we said "goodbye" to our friend...hundreds of REALTORS, affiliates, friends, families, parishoners and more gathered to celebrate a life well lived and a race well run.  Mike was known for always having a hug, a smile, and a kind, encouraging word to share.  He always, always, always made you laugh when you were in his presence and he always put more than 100% into everything he did.  He adored his family...his adorable grandkids, his two lovely daughters, his teenaged son and his lovely wife and business partner in "Team No Limits."  Everyone knew that he adored Kathy and her already successful real estate business only got better when he joined her a couple of years ago.

  This week has been hard for me...and I am not alone...

so many people today commented on the shock of this loss, it seemed that for a time real estate came to a rest in our area.  One of our finest was gone and somehow all those "critical" things that seemed so important, just faded into the background.  Tears flowed, goodbyes were said, tributes were made and many many many embraces were exchanged.  Mike's son played football in high school and the entire football team formed a double line as a tribute to Mike and to honor his son, then they each passed by his casket and placed a blue and white flower on it (the school colors).  The Marine Corps honor guard performed a flag ceremony and taps, presenting the flag to Kathy as a token of appreciation for his service to a grateful nation.  That was so tough for me because it brought back a flood of memories from four years ago when I lost my Dad and the Air Force presented the flag to my mother and I.  I am still slipping into outbursts of crying and finding myself deeply introspective about this loss.  I believe there is a message in every event in life for those who are open to it and I am trying to sort through the pain of this loss to find the message.  I want to grow from this...and be a better person tomorrow.

I know that August 20th will be a hard day for me...for many...Kathy and I are on the committee to organize our annual fundraising event for our real estate political action committee and Mike won't be there.  When I drive my golf cart up to the ninth hole during the tournament, like I do every year, Mike won't be sitting there with Kathy at the hole they always sponsor waiting for me with a smile, a hug and a cold bottle of water.  After a friend of mine was murdered years ago at age 29, I remember the words of his wife to me..."You never get over the loss, you just wake up one day and find that you got past it."  So very true are those words and something we can all aspire to.  Rest in peace Mike...

Last night I cried myself to sleep...I learned of the passing of my friend, fellow REALTOR and awesome person, Mike Carl who along with his wonderful wife and my good friend Kathy made up Team No Limits of Keller Williams Heritage.  Many of us are mourning the unexpected passing of someone who always had a great positive attitude, always had a warm smile, always made you laugh and loved working as a REALTOR with his wife and spending time with his kids and grandkids.

I was particularly shocked...because I was just talking to Mike at the ribbon cutting ceremony for our new board of REALTORS office.  I walked in the door to a crowded room of Chamber of Commerce officials, local dignitaries and fellow REALTORS and the first person who smiled, waved and called me over for a hug, was Mike.  He was always like that.  He always had a smile, a hug and something to say that would make me laugh.  We laughed after I complimented him on the beautiful job that he and his Knights of Columbus Color Guard did at our TAR Region 7 meeting luncheon the month before.  I was teasing him about how nice he looked with his hat and big plume sticking off of it.  He said he thought he should bring out the plume more often.

Kathy and I have known each other for years...we met when we were both with Coldwell Banker years ago before Mike retired and joined her in the real estate business.  He joined her and we were all so delighted to get to spend time with him.  He was always so much fun to be around.  I got the honor of getting to know Mike better when I was REALTOR of the year and his wife won the honor the year after me.  I got to present the award to her at our annual gala and it is kept a secret until the award presentation.  I called Mike to have him help me "get the scoop" on Kathy and prepare my presentation speech.  He was so proud of her accomplishments, the business she had built and her commitment to our industry. 

I am going to miss my friend...along with many other family, friends and peers.  Mike was a friend to everyone he met and a good REALTOR.  Our community, board and industry will not be the same without him.  Prayers and sincerest condolences go out to Kathy, her children, her grandchildren and all who knew and miss Mike terribly.  It is time, once again, for our REALTOR community to rally around one of it's own and carry them through their darkest days.  Our REALTOR family is so very good at that.

Rest In Peace Mike Carl...You are already and will continue to be greatly missed...