Chinoe Lights - My Favorite of the Private Homes Decorated in Lexington I have not seen every home's holiday decorations but of those I have seen in Lexington the house that is just north of Chinoe Center is my favorite.  This large white house reminds me just a little of the White House in Washington DC. The lights are mostly white with very bright blue trees.  The American Theme goes well since the blue of the  Kentucky Wildcats. If you have other favorite lights in Lexington please share them with me.  pcampbell@rhr.com 12/14/2011

Public Library System in Lexington - My Evaluation My wife, Kathy and are very thankful for the Public Library system here and around our nation.  We believe a healthy library system is essential in a democratic country. I haved now lived in Lexington for three years.  We raised our children in arguably the nations best library system King County Public Libraries. View Public Libraries in Lexington in a larger map We have been impressed with the selection of books and other media available for circulation in the Lexington Public Library system.  The biggest difference between King County and Lexington is the disparity between the number of volumes purchased of the more popular books. The wait for a best seller in King County was quite short compared to here in Lexington.   Another diffe... 12/12/2011

Habitat Home Dedication for the Family of Blandi Perez Diaz First Alliance Church had the pleasure of seeing the Habitat Home they began in September of being dedicated December 11th, 2011.  For me this is a special date.  I had the opportunity of being one of hundreds of volunteers who worked to finish this lovely home.  Today was also my mother's birthday.  She went to eternal home just before her birthday a year ago.  My mother and father were two of the most giving people I have ever know.  They would have both relished an opportunity to help a family have their own home. First Alliance is especially thankful to the lead sponsors Brett Construction and Hilliard Lyons.  They also want to thank the additional Sponsors Bank of the Bluegrass, Commonwealth Family Physicians, Ecogro, Firs... 12/12/2011

A Jewell of a Sunset in Lexington Kentucky "Softly the evening came. The sun from the western horizon Like a magician extended his golden wand o'er the landscape; Twinkling vapors arose; and sky and water and forest Seemed all on fire at the touch, and melted and mingled together." -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow While Driving to Wilmore Saturday evening my wife was able to take these photos of natures gift. I went on line and found a Longfellow poem that captures the essence of nature's wonder. We all need a good laugh.  I couldn't pass up this quote from Woody Allen. "Today I saw a red and yellow sunset and thought, how insignificant I am! Of course, I thought that yesterday too, and it rained." -Woody Allen 12/05/2011

Another Favorite Seed Catolgue - Johnny's Johnny's does not have the best prices, however it has an excellent selection of seeds and some of the best tools for gardeners. Johnny's has the best varieties of many different seeds.  It's big strength is how it provides comparison charts throughout the magazine which does help the novice understand the important differences. The photo on this page is taken from page 173.  The large selection of sunflowers on this page is  listed in a comparison chart.  I like this chart especially because it makes it very easy to buy sunflowers that will bloom at different times.  If you buy the right varieties you will have sunflowers blooming for two months. Here in Kentucky if you plant an early crop in late April they will start blooming in mid June and ... 12/01/2011

How's the Market in Lexington's Most Desired  Zip Code 40502 40502 includes Chevy Chase, The University of Kentucky and the Lakes areas.  These generally are homes that are in established neighborhoods.  They are all close to downtown, the University of Kentucky and the major hospitals.  Many of them also are waterfront properties and historic properties. There are two facts that become pronounced when looking at the market in 40502.   Homes in the desired nieghborhood are selling.  People want to live here and they will pay the premium prices to live here provided they are priced well. Priced to sell means they will sell very quickly in 40502. Look at these numbers when breaking down the prices and days on the market for sale in this desired Lexington neighborhood.  $100,000 to $200,00... 11/30/2011

Why are Grandchildren so Much Funnier than their parents? "Tell Grammie to turn on the water and give it a try Granpa."  I am working at my computer in my office when the confident order from my 4 year old grandson is pronounced.  I start to rise from my chair when it dawns on me that Sam may not have the authority to blurt out such a bold command.   The plumber is working to unplug a clogged drain from a clean out in the basement.  I look at Sam seriously and ask, "Did the Plumber man say to turn on the water?  "No Granpa" but I know how to help."   Now, where in heaven's great creation Sam got this confidence in his plumbing skills  is baffling.  There are only generations of farmers, carpenters, teachers and general laborers in Sam's lineage.  Sam was convinced last week when the si... 11/28/2011

Once a DAWG always a DAWG but Learning to Appreciate the Cats I grew up watching and rooting for the University of Washington football.  I got hooked on the Huskies when I was ten years old and the mauled the Wisconsin badgers in the Rose Bowl.  Wisconsin was rated number won and we beat them 44-8.  I later attended the University of Washington and received my Bachelors and Master degrees from there.  Living in Lexington has given me the opportunity to follow excellent basketball.  I will always be a husky first but will root for the CATS when my DAWGS are not playing them.   Here are a few pictures of the DAWGS winning the Apple Cup yesterday.  We will next be playing in either the Alamo Bowl or the Holiday Bowl it sounds like.  We should find out next week. 11/27/2011

Negotiating 101, No Beard, No Flannel Nightgowns - And 40 Years of Snuggling Sometimes negotiating gets a little rough and even nasty.  I have had the good fortune this year of having mostly very easy transactions to negotiate.  In most cases even if there were some serious disagreements we have had a kind spirit present as we worked together to see that both the buyer and the seller won. My precious wife Kathy is playing her baby grand upstairs and I am working in my office downstairs.  It is such a delight to listen as she plays "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" from "The Nutcracker."  When she plays it brings me such joy that often memories from the past forty years are culled from the gray matter.  I  am thankful for these regular flashbacks. So as Kathy is playing her piano I just ha... 11/25/2011

A Good Time, A Great Meal and A Grand Dessert We just returned from my son's house where we were gathered with family and friends for a wonderful meal.   The cranberries and green beans are always my favorite but that sweet potato casserole that my daughter in law Hannah makes is so good. I grew up despising sweet potatoes.  I only remember them ever being candied.  Candied sweet potatoes to me are just disgustingly sweet. Hannah's baked sweet potatoes with bacon and spicey seasoning is fits the pallette perfectly. The weather here in Lexington was so warm today we could have eaten on the deck.  The visiting dog would have enjoyed that but with two little ones it would have been too easy for canine thievery. I love my family and I always am impressed with how Hannah has taken their hom... 11/24/2011

Murphy's Law Strikes Again! Drains in your home will clog just before a major holiday or other celebration.  If it is  a holiday in which you do lots of cooking then the kitchen drain is sure to clog.  If it is a celebration for a child's birthday when you have 20 toddlers that need to use the potty then it will one or all of the bathrooms. We can testify to this truth.  We were completing our babysitting assignment for the evening -- four year old Sam was downstairs passing the Nerf football to me as I was watching the Cats maul their opponent.  Kathy had bathed baby Harper who was toddling around in her pajamas.  "Um, Paul -- do we have any Drano?"  (Not the words I wanted to hear).   Both sides of the kitchen sink were full of murky water.  I thought that the problem was in the trap,... 11/23/2011

Rector Hayden's December report shows that we are continuing to have an abundant market of homes for sale in Central Kentucky.   The blue line neat the top is the number of homes on the market.  The green line are the pending sales.  The red bars are the homes that have sold. With interest rates hovering around four percent, prices in many communities as low as they have been since 2003 this is THE TIME TO BUY!  Buying  home in Central Kentucky right now is a great option.  I helped a buyer get agreement today on a home that is only 7 years old, is 20 minutes from Lexington, has a level lot, a two car attached garage and a sun room.  The price my buyer paid is less than when the home was purchased new in 2004.  The buyers of this Central Kentucky home in Georgetown will make a total pay... 11/23/2011

Four Reasons Not to Buy a Home Even if You do Qualify for a Loan. As a realtor I am constantly helping people make decisions about how to use their money.  I personally believe it is my utmost duty to help my clients make responsible decisions.   So Here Are Some Ways that I Work as your realtor to make sure you make a wise decision when buying a home. 1) Don't buy to flip and make a quick buck.   If you are trying to buy a home and flip it I will do everything possible to discourage you unless you have proven over time that you are quite capable of doing this and making money or at the least not losing money.  Experience has taught me that the overwhelming number of people who decide to make money by "flipping" homes end up trying to sell something that is difficult to market.  In this... 11/21/2011

  Cell Phone Civility -  My Promise to Clients, Family and the Lexington Community This past week I think I saw no fewer than four rear end accidents.  Two of them had injuries with  major damage to the autos.  I also read about some terrible rear end accidents around  the nation.  I know there are times when I have been on the phone while driving in which I was fortunate to avoid an accident.  Therefore I am making a pledge to my clients, family and the Lexington community as a whole to not answer my phone or make calls while driving. I am also making another promise.  I will be intentional about not letting the phone dictate my business or personal life.     I will not answer my phone while eating with clients, friends or family.     I will not check my phone for emails, voice mails ... 11/21/2011

Previously I have written about the benefits of living in Lexington.  Here my top ten reasons to live in Lexington Kentucky. 10.  My grandchildren live here in Lexington.  I know, I know but they really are the cutest children on God's green earth. 9.  Lexington is the best place in the nation to live if you hate  Duke Blue Devils basketball.  Yes, if you really hate Duke BBall this is the place to live.  According to this "Bleacher Report" Duke basketball is by far the team people most like to hate in the basketball world.   8.  Lexington does not have a traffic problem.  The residents of Lexington that have never lived in a major metroplitan area complain about the traffic but compared to Seattle believe me there really are only minimal traffic problems in Lexington.  I can travel fr... 11/19/2011

Continued Review of Seed Catalogs A few weeks ago I reviewed Thompson Morgan's Seed Catalog.   Today I want to compare and contrast two seed catalogs,  R-H Shumway's HPS and FEDCO. HPS is geared toward professional growers so to get the really good prices you need to buy large quantities.  If you have ever had a hard time handling very small seeds then you may really like HPS.  They carry a large selection of seeds that have been pelletted.  That is,  the seeds have been covered in organic material that makes them much larger and therefore much easier to handle.  This can make it possible to handle seeds such as lisianthus (Texas Blue Bells).  These are some of the smallest seeds I have ever experienced.  Lisianthus have very long straight stems and the bloom is shaped like a double ros... 11/19/2011

Don't Miss Lex Arts' Hop - Last chance this Friday, November 18th in downtown Lexington,  Ky LexArts’ Hop is a self-guided tour of the visual arts in downtown Lexington, KY. Participants begin their visits at  any of the participating sites.  The event  occurs 5-8pm onthe third Friday of February, April, June, September and November. Hop began 25 years ago and continues tobe the premier event for the visual arts in Lexington. Admission is always free and sites present a new exhibit for each hop. Many sites provide  refreshments for guests. LexTran provides Colt Trolley service free to hop ,  participants will stop at any bus stop along the routes.   This is a great opportunity to experience the best of Lexington Art, see some of the wonderful city and meet a lot of great people. 11/15/2011

Service Exceptional at Shannon's Shade Service  in Lexington A few months ago I needed a glass shade for a bulb.  I searched on line and could not find what I needed, stopped by Lowes, and tried the largest  electrical supplier in Lexington.  I finally was directed to Shannon's Shade Service at 1210 North Limestone.  I walked into the store and was greeted by a very nice woman who looked up the shade in a very old book and said she would order it for me but it may take a while.  A couple of weeks later she called and said she had found the shade while in an antique store.  I was ecstatic and very thankful.  So I visited the store this week to thank them and learn what I could learn about this family business.  Mr. Shannon discovered that in order to get a lamp shade it had to be orderer... 11/12/2011

Horse Sales at Keeneland in Lexington are Worth Millions The November horse sales at Keeneland are something everyone should experience.  Knowing that most of you cannot attend I have included some links to help you get a virtual taste of this world class event.  It is no exaggeration to call it "world class."  There is probably not another place in the world, outside of Wall Street, to see so much money change hands so quickly with people from all around the world. This first link is to a live auction.  I am not sure if they repeat these during the hours the auction is closed.  Warning, if you are a horse lover you will be more than tempted to take a trip to Lexington and observe these auctions.   Royal Delta, the winner of the Breeder's Cup Ladies' Classic last Saturday has been the h... 11/12/2011

chevy chase hardware A Hardware Store Worth the Drive to Lexington About a year ago I discovered Chevy Chase Hardware in Lexington.  I had driven by it numerous times and assumed it was like an Ace, a friendly place but not really stocked in such a way it would be worthwhile to stop.  I   WAS WRONG!!! Chevy Chase Hardware, owned by Bill Edwards for 36 years and at this location for the past 12 is unique because it stocks almost everything you could ever need or want in the way of hardware.   I can usually find what I need at Lowes but it is not practical to buy what they have packaged.  Lowes is all about marketing in a way to "make the most money."  So Lowes now sells nails, bolts, and other small items in groups.  That means when you go to buy two of something seldom can you buy only ... 11/09/2011