Retirement

Well folks,  I have resigned from Coldwell Banker United Realtors.  I will miss seeing the friends that I made while working there.  I will always have an interest in real estate and I will continue to renew my license every year for a while.  I don’t know if I will ever go back into the business.  Things will have to pick up quite a lot. Mean while I will enjoy being home, gardening, writing blogs, quilting, watercolor painting, and trying to catch up on my to do list. Bob requires more looking after now, and maybe between Dr. ‘s appointments we can travel a little from time to time.

At present I am quilting by hand a quilt top that I pieced while staying at Mother’s house when I was her care giver.  I moved Mother to my house after Bob had the first stroke in December of ’09.  I had lots of things to keep me busy so I put the quilt on the back burner.  About 6 weeks ago I started quilting it. 

Mother passed away November 29 2010.  I guess the quilt top is a way to connect with Mother.  She truly enjoyed the top taking shape and was very proud of the log cabin design.  I feel like finishing it will be theraputic for me.  I have made only one quilt many years ago so I have had to relearn the craft.(not that I was very accomplished ) With all the information on the internet I have learned a lot more than I knew before.  If I ever get it finished I will take a photo and post it.  After that, I know I will start another project .

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Real Estate and Vegetable gardens

HI Folks!    “I am back in the  saddle again”  It’s been awhile since I have written a blog.  A lot of things have happened this summer. 

I had a successful hay bale garden for tomatoes!  They were the best tomatoes I have had in years.  Especially the  Cherokee Purple tomatoes.

I planted White Half Runner beans in bags of potting soil and put up a rack for them to climb on. They grew beautifully!  Very flavorful and very prolific.

The squash, cucumbers,zucchini,and peppers were also a success.

I planted almost everything in a container of one sort or another and was able keep them watered and fertilized,With a minimum of physical labor. I hope to do this type of gardening again next year.

The Real Estate Market has improved this summer.  Some first time buyer have taken advantage of the $8000 tax credit!   If you qualify for a first time buyer(or have not owned property for at least  3 years) You will need to get a home under contract by the middle of October in order to close before the deadline (November 30)  The mortgage companies and  banks are taking up to 45 day to close now. 

There are still many Lake Norman properties available.  The owners have reduced the listed price on many of them. If you are interest in waterfront homes now is the time to buy.  There many bargains out there.

On a sad note, My Mother-in-law passed away this summer.  The Family will be putting her home and 17 acres on the market later in the year. The property is less than 3 miles from Lake Norman State Park.  It is a great rural property with both trees and cleared land bordering a creek. It has road frontage on both sides of the road.

If I can assist you in looking for real estate please contact me at nancy.shoemaker@cbunited.com

Nancy Shoemaker  Broker/REALTOR      704 663 9085

Coldwell Banker United, NC 28117

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Home Grown Tomatoes At Lake Norman

Well folks,  I have had my mind on some good old home grown tomatoes.  Not just any home grown tomatoe, but the kind that is tart tasting and high acid  content that I remember my father growing in his vegetable garden.  Not being much of a farm girl I had no idea that tomatoes were different until I read an article in the Southern Living Magazine about  Heirloom tomatoes.  It stuck with me and later on last summer my sister-in-law from Idaho came to visit.  She brought some of her Cherokee Purple (an heirloom varity)tomatoes with her.  They were delicious!  Well, every since then I have been thinking I might  try and grow some tomatoes.  A lot of people around here grow a vegetable garden, and we have done so in the past.  I think the tomatoes we grew in the past were hybred varitys and they lacked the taste I crave.     I am doing some research and I am surprised to find there are quite a number of varitys of heirloom tomatoes.  I bought some Marglobe seeds and started them in little peat pot things.  I hope to find some other kinds too.  I think I will be able to find some plants in a month.  I don’t especially have a green thumb but maybe my hubby will guide me.  I am going to be experimenting with them and maybe try some container gardening and straw bale gardening.

If you are a gardener looking for a place to relocate the Lake Norman and Troutman areas may be a place for you to practice your gardening skills.  Although I, myself, cannot brag about my gardens, I see many of my friends and neighbor making wonderful gardens.  This area has a long growing season.  No Frost  likely from the middle of April to October.  If you would like more information about this area call me at 704 663 9085

Nancy Shoemaker    REALTOR/Broker      nshoemaker @ nancy.shoemaker@

Coldwell Banker United

467 River Highway

Mooresville NC 28117

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