Great day to hike 4.8 mi at Reedy Creek, a little muddy in spots, but all in all not bad considering the torrential rain we had. Above are a couple of picture captured on the hike.

When I drove up I realized the area I was crossing on I-485 was were the tornado had hit Friday/Saturday night.

Recently I have discovered the love of hiking, although I am not very good at it,

it is something I wish I would have started years ago. I always thought there was not enough time, but I have discovered the short hikes around the area are just as much fun and interesting. Discovering wildlife, plants and trees, taking pictures of oddities. I also look forward to the hikes that take me a little further away, sometimes the landscape in itself is interesting, different terrain, the geology or plants.

One of the most memorable vacations was spent this past summer in Austria. I was invited to visit the company I work for part-time. During that visit I was also priviledged to attend an outdoor opera at Lake Constance (or Bodensee as it's known in German). This year the opera was TOSCA. Every two years they change the opera and they had some great ones in the past that I was sorry to have missed. Anyhow, this was terrific I did not mind that I was pretty much in the dark about this opera and even if I would have known a little bit about it, it would not have been what I would have expected. The outdoor drama was totally modern with a technical light show, the stage is built over Lake Constance and the props were spartan and gostly looking and all part of the mystique, absolutely fantastic. The second thrill was that the Vienna Symphony was there, a double hitter. I recommend for anyone that ends up in this region on vacation during the summer month to plan around this outdoors event. One can purchase tickets on-line, but plan ahead they sell out fast, it's a popular vacation spot.

Real Estate is local and the Real Estate Market nationally has been somewhat flat in 2007, fortunately for us in Charlotte, North Carolina selling and buying is forging ahead. Sales may not have been at it's usual height of the past four years, but homes did move.

So if you are ready to sell your home, here are some tips maybe worth taking on.

Don't try to sell your "as is", unless you like bargain price offers. Spruce it up - set it apart from other homes being offered in your area.

Try using a Realtor one preferably that's been in business for several years and contrary to all believes he does not have to be from a national or the biggest company, but one that has the expertise and your best interest.

Get your house into the listing system and on-line as quick as possible. Getting a head start on your competionby not waiting until the last minute to spruce up your home, work on that to do list, be ready when the housing market revs up in March.

If you really need to sell quickly then it's time to throw in some incentives, buyers can be choosy for now.

For buyers my advise is not to wait too long, at the moment with plunging house values you can get a lot of extra's if you like a new home. Even with inventory low, builders want your business. Find yourself a seasoned agent that knows the builders in the Charlotte area. http://www.barbarakeefauver.com/

Real Estate Investors, with so many REO's out there (REO's are homes that failed to be auctioned off), if you always wanted to begin investing in homes, now is the time. Regardless if you are seasoned investor or a beginner there are many homes available with built in equity. http://www.barbarakeefauver.com/

Happy 2008, New Beginnings, New Resolution, Best Wishes to All!

Long time ago a decade and a half after the turn of the 1900's century a young man named Hermann Freyberg hitched a ride on a steamer and began an adventure of a lifetime. An adventurer by heart, for surely as a young boy of 17 to leave the comfort and security of a home he must have been that. He traveled to the Canary Islands and from there to West Africa the Ivory coast in later years he would venture even further into Africa up to the Sahara where the Tuareg's reside and deep into the Congo. He found his way to Lamberene, Dr. Schweitzer's Mission station, exited to meet the great Medicine man, but as luck played out the great man was at this time in Europe looking for patron and sponsors for his mission.

Nevertheless he was overjoyed for just having made it so far and to get a first hand look at the operations. Dr. Schweitzer's manager from the Netherlands greeted him warmly and invited him to a German breakfast.. After wards he came away very humbled for what the station has brought to this region, in an area where there still many unknown customs, tribes of people and unexplored regions existed.

He was at times a photographer, guide for hunters & explorers of natural resources of western companies and author of children's books and his very own autobiography. Why is this important to me?....he is a distant relative of mine on my fathers side, which brings to us great pride for having dared his dream.

If you are interested in reading this book there is an English translation around Called "Out of Afrika" (no not that one) but Hermann's book was translated to English in 1935. The German version published in 1933 is called "Afrika Ruft". The photographs alone are amazing. Later in my blog I will publish some of them.

North Carolina in recent years has discovered that growing grapes can be a major source of fun and satisfaction, for the region along the Piedmont Yadkin River is well suited to grow the little fruit. They are not for grape juice, but for that wonderful sipping experience of mellowed out vintage wines. I enjoyed my first trip to Shelton Vineyards and then those followed by my second trip, third and so on....you get the picture. It's not far from Charlotte and they host beautiful Summer Events. You can stay close-by if you need to make a special celebration of it.
check them out at www.sheltonvineyards.com and sign up for their new letter so you can join them in their celebrations.

A little bit further nestled in the Blue Ridge sits Chateau Morrisette another great place to stop while touring the Blue Ridge. Prepare to stay at least over night, with so many samples it's hard to choose and you just might have to re-sample. The setting is gorgeous and they too have great events during the Summer. You can sign up for their new letter too at www.chateaumorrisette.com

I remember a few years back we went to visit my aunt in Germany and I originally hail from a region in Germany where vineyards are planted on steep hill sides and occasional lush valleys. My mother-in-law Bee was with us, sweet lady in her young eighties. Her quiet family life in WV, being and living the life of a good baptist daughter not ever having tasted wine, thought that Germans sure liked eating grapes. Her son did not keep her too long in suspense and explained to her why Germans grow so many grapes. On the steep cliff along the Mosel one needs to show great respect for the little fruit, for hanging on to dear life until ripe and finally industrious hands come along and pick them. No modern machinery here.

Thank you Dionysus.