I’ve been thinking about doing this for some time now. Starting today I’m going to put it into action. For the last two-three years I follow only a select few people here in the Rain. Starting today I’m going to expand my horizons and look for some new people to follow who I think would be a good choice for me.I know they are out there but frankly I’m getting out of my comfort zone. It’s like agents who get comfortable in what they do; they never expand their horizons to see what else is out there. Today is a new day I’m going to make the most of it and see what I’ve been missing.For those of you who I do follow hopefully I’ll be able to comment on your posts like I do almost daily however if I don’t that means I’m following so many people now I just don’t have the time to make it.Wish ... 08/11/2016

Peter Cooper was born in New York City, New York back in 1791, being the fifth child of John. John was a hat maker from Newburgh, New York. Peter worked as a coach maker’s apprentice, cabinet maker, hat maker, brewer and grocer. In his spare time, he also set about tinkering with making things, therein lies the rest of the story. in 1821 he purchased a glue factory for $2,000.00 a hefty sum in those days in Kips Bay. He ran the business successfully for many years producing a profit of $10,000.00 equivalent to roughly $200,000.00 today in just two years. He purchased 3,000 acres in Maryland which he started developing.He was the first person to successfully use anthracite coal to puddle iron. He owned a number of patents for his inventions some for the manufacture of gelatin, he also de... 08/02/2016

Louis Barnett was born in Kinver, Staffordshire by his parents Phil and Mary.  During his school years he struggled to meet his teacher’s expectations.  His biggest issues in school were math and written works.  Other students would not understand him so he got into a lot of fights and became the target of bullying.  At 11 his parents took him out of regular school and gave him a vocational homeschooling. Later in life his problems were to be diagnosed to be caused by dyslexia and developmental coordination disorder.  His parents hired a tutor who helped him with his studies however, his parents encouraged him to follow his interests.  What sparked his interest, why that is the rest of the story. Falconry became his interest at first, he spent 18 months working as a volunteer at a falco... 07/30/2016

Joseph Boivin was born in Coaticook, Quebec, Canada back in 1866 to Stanislas and Marie. As a child he contracted polis and as a result he lost on leg due to the complications of the illness. He studied at Saint Hyacinthe College before immigrating to Manchester, New Hampshire in 1883.   He worked for the law offices of Burnham, Brown, Jones and Warren while studying law. He was admitted to the New Hampshire Bar in 1899 and subsequently to the Hillsborough County Bar Association.In 1902 he represented Manchester’s Ward 9 at the constitutional convention. His law office was located at the Kennard Building in Manchester. He also served as a justice of the peace, insurance agent and real estate broker. He was a devout Catholic who sang in the choir, an avid singer and music lover. His prim... 07/24/2016

I went to a garage sale.  I usually do not go to garage sales. However, this morning when I got up my wife had left me a message on my phone. We have been looking for a new lawn mower and there were two listed so off I went. When I got there I bought a new Lawnboy mulcher complete with bag for 150.00. the mower had not had the oil put in it. The condition was new with no signs of wear or tear.Anyway one of the sellers helped me load it into our SUV. As I was getting ready to go we spoke a little while about him needing more space of course the talk was about real estate. I handed him my card and low and behold he as a residential in a nearby town he is considering to sell.My point is wear your nametag and always take your business cards. Hopefully when I get back I’ll have a new listing... 07/23/2016

 St. Valery Downs subdivision in Bentonville, AR located off HWY 112, right across from Central Park Elementary (and zoned for it) - St. Valery is a gated community with large lots (most are right around an acre) with gorgeous homes in many different styles. To see homes currently for sale in St. Valery - click here.As the top selling Realtor in Northwest Arkansas (2014, 2015 & 2016) & #2 in 2017 - I looked long and hard to find "the perfect neighborhood for our family" and I am proud to say I call St. Valery HOME! Moved in 2015 and it is such a great location and somewhat private with the larger lots/space between homes.nicky@nickydou.com | www.NickyDou.com    07/19/2016

John Agnew was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland back in 1922. His family emigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1927. He joined the military at the outbreak of WWII. He was assigned to the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. His group parachuted into France on D-Day, June 6th, 1944. That mission cost the lives of most of the men leaving John wounded. For his actions he was awarded the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star with Oak Leaf.After he recovered from his wounds he parachuted into the Netherlands and survived a devastating German counterattack during Operation Market Garden. His final combat drop was at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. After the war he attended Drexel University under the G.I. Bill. He worked at Western Electric until his reti... 07/16/2016

Eleanor Coade was born in Exeter, England back in 1733 to George and Eleanor. Both of her parents were merchants and textile manufactures. In 1760 the family moved to London where by the mid-1760 she was running her own business as a linen draper. Her father died in 1769 after having gone bankrupt for the second time. Eleanor bought an artificial stone factory the same year living on the factory premises. By 1771 she was directly managing the factory.Her Uncle Samuel Coade gave her Belmont House in London, it is a simple two-story Georgian seaside villa. The place is now owned by the Landmark Trust.   She never married and died in 1821. She left her fortune to charity schools and clergyman, plus her family. She is commemorated by the Coade Stone placed under Westminster Bridge on the fo... 07/06/2016

Thanks for stopping by and taking time out of your day to read my post. My intent is to put a smile on your face. Hopefully you’ll go away with some information you may have forgotten about or did not know. Now sit back and enjoy the post for the day.Samuel Tompkins was born in Owensboro, Kentucky back in 1909. Most of his family were involved in whiskey or tobacco dealers or as attorneys. They expected him to follow the footsteps of the family. His career path was interrupted during WWII when he served in the United States Navy.After the war he went back to his first love of acting. He had roles in Adam’s Rib, Kin Hubbard and John Love Mary. Arguably is most successful role came in 1952. He joined the Broadway production of The Seven Year Itch where he played Richard Sherman. He was al... 06/27/2016

Thanks for stopping by and taking time out of your day to read my post. My intent is to put a smile on your face. Hopefully you’ll go away with some information you may have forgotten about or did not know. Now sit back and enjoy the post for the day.Mary Katherine was born in Connecticut back in 1738 to Giles and Sarah. Her father was the postmaster of New London. I have no record of where or even if she attended school, however when you read the rest of the story she had to be well educated.Due to a better quarrel between here and her brother William she was forced to quit the one thing that meant so much to her (we’ll get back to that a little later). In1775 she became postmaster of Baltimore and ran a bookstore. She remained as postmaster for 14 years when she was replaced by friend... 06/24/2016

Thanks for stopping by and taking time out of your day to read my post. My intent is to put a smile on your face. Hopefully you’ll go away with some information you may have forgotten about or did not know. Now sit back and enjoy the post for the day.Kyu Sakamoto was born in Kwaski, Danagawa Prefecture back in 1941 to Hiroshi and Oshima. During the air raids over Tokyo his mother took him and the rest of their children to Kasama to get away from the bombing. During the American occupation they moved back to Kasama and opened up a restaurant.  He joined a Japanese pop band The Drifters in 1958. He was a backup singer and as such it often led to fights with the other members. He left the band in 1958.In the same year he joined another band, Danny Iida and Paradise King, some of their song... 06/20/2016

Thanks for stopping by and taking time out of your day to read my post. My intent is to put a smile on your face. Hopefully you’ll go away with some information you may have forgotten about or did not know. Now sit back and enjoy the post for the day.Eldred was born in San Diego, California back in 1916. His parents divorced when he was 6 and for a time was raised by his grandmother. He attended St. John’s Military Academy, while he was there his grandmother died and his father took over his upbringing. He attended San Diego High School and after graduation went on to the University of California, Berkeley. While at college he took odd jobs driving trucks for an oil company. He declared himself a pre-medical student and majored in English. He also was involved in on stage plays. Althoug... 06/16/2016

Thanks for stopping by and taking time out of your day to read my post. My intent is to put a smile on your face. Hopefully you’ll go away with some information you may have forgotten about or did not know. Now sit back and enjoy the post for the day.Robert William was born in Gary, Indiana back in 1927. He was a member of the Office of Strategic Services during WWII. He earned an engineering degree from the University of Detroit Mercy and Wayne State University and went on to earn his doctorate from Case Western Reserve University.During a party in 1953 he was trying to open some champagne when the cork shot into his left eye leaving him legally blind in that eye. About a decade later while driving through a light rain he had an epiphany, and as they say the rest is history.I’m almost ... 06/15/2016

Thanks for stopping by and taking time out of your day to read my post.  My intent is to put a smile on your face.  Hopefully you’ll go away with some information you may have forgotten about or did not know.  Now sit back and enjoy the post for the day.Meyrick Edward was born in Perth, Western Australia back in 1898 to John and Rebecca.  He served in the Royal Fusiliers during WWI.  After the war he took up acting for 15 shillings per week.  When WWII started he volunteered his services to the British Army as an entertainer.  He was however, commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Army Pay Corps, with a posting in Leicester.  About 7 weeks prior to D-Day Lieutenant-Colonel J.V. Jervis-Reid noticed Meyrick’s resemblance to someone also in the British Army.  So he did get to act... 06/12/2016

Thanks for stopping by and taking time out of your day to read my post. My intent is to put a smile on your face. Hopefully you’ll go away with some information you may have forgotten about or did not know. Now sit back and enjoy the post for the day.Waterman was born in Hampton, Connecticut back in 1809. In 1829 he attended the National Academy of Design. He moved to Albany, New York after graduation and then to Lancaster, Massachusetts where he worked for Carter Andrews & Company. By all accounts he was a master engraver. He married Julia Brainard in 1830, by 1846 they divorced. From my research he never remarried. He died in 1883 in Brooklyn, New York.So nothing impressive so far right? Well let me tell you the rest of the story, you may know him better as Waterman Ormsby, still does... 06/11/2016

Thanks for stopping by and taking time out of your day to read my post. My intent is to put a smile on your face. Hopefully you’ll go away with some information you may have forgotten about or did not know. Now sit back and enjoy the post for the day.Roy Milton was born in Kansas City, Kansas back in 1909. In 1933 he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy. He was assigned to submarine school and sent to Pearl Harbor in 1939. After just four patrols he was given his own command aboard the USS Haddock. During WWII he was sent to the Palau Islands and to Truk. During his wartime adventures and patrols he sunk a total of 17 Japanese ships and damaging 10, this was later reduced to 8 (post war). Regardless he was involved in 10 submarine war patrols. None of his crews experienced were lost du... 06/06/2016

Thanks for stopping by and taking time out of your day to read my post. My intent is to put a smile on your face. Hopefully you’ll go away with some information you may have forgotten about or did not know. Now sit back and enjoy the post for the day.Presley O’Bannon was born in Fauquier County, Virginia back in 1776 to William and Anne. His father was a captain of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. He entered the United States Marine Corps in 1801 s a first lieutenant assigned to the USS Argus. He commanded a detachment of seven Marines and two Navy midshipmen during the Tripoli campaign of the First Barbary War.He led the successful attack in the Battle of Derna in 1805 giving the Marines’ Hymn its line “to the shores of Tripoli”. He was the first man to raise an ... 06/03/2016

Thanks for stopping by and taking time out of your day to read my post. My intent is to put a smile on your face. Hopefully you’ll go away with some information you may have forgotten about or did not know. Now sit back and enjoy the post for the day.Eva Beatrice Dykes was born in Washington D.C. back in 1893 to James and Martha. She attended M. Street High School where she graduated summa cum laude from Howard University with a B.A. in 1914. She went on and attended Radcliffe College graduating magna cum laude with a second B.A. in 1917 and a MA. In 1918. In 1921 she received a PhD from Radcliffe. She taught English for 15 years at Howard University. She wrote several publications in which I’ll get to in a minute. In 1920 she also joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church and in 1944 she... 05/31/2016

Thanks for stopping by and taking time out of your day to read my post. My intent is to put a smile on your face. Hopefully you’ll go away with some information you may have forgotten about or did not know. Now sit back and enjoy the post for the day.Louis Zamperini was born in Olean, New York back in 1917 to Anthony and Louise. The family moved to Torrance, California in 1919 where he attended Torrance High School. He joined the track team and won the CIF California State Meet which helped him win a scholarship to the University of Southern California. This led him to the Olympic games and he ran the 5,000-meter race. At 19 he was and still is the youngest American qualifier ever in the 5,000-meter run.He enlisted in the United States Army Air Corp in 1941, earning him a commission as ... 05/30/2016

Margaret AdamsThanks for stopping by and taking time out of your day to read my post.  My intent is to put a smile on your face.  Hopefully you’ll go away with some information you may have forgotten about or did not know.  Now sit back and enjoy.Margaret was born in Dover, Kentucky back in 1874. When she was 9 the family moved to California and settled in downtown Los Angeles. She married Elmer in 1899 and they had two children Wilber and Anna. In 1912 they separated and that is when she started her new job on February 16th, 1912. Her career lasted for 35 years. She was just short by 6 months of reaching that coveted 100 years old when she died on January 7th, 1974. Now to that all important question which she will forever be noted in the history books for, can you tell me what that is... 05/23/2016