Fall Has arrived in Connecticut, which means it is time for me to begin my Progression Of Fall Colors series I started Ten years ago.  This is a series I hoped to continue for many years, and have been able to do so far. The first two years the pictures were of a farm which is only about a minute walk from my house.  Eight years ago I decided to change the location for the 2014 Progression Of Fall Color Series to a lake about 5 minutes from my house on RT17.  I tried that location for two years, but the colors were not as good as I expected them to be.  So six years ago I decided to change locations again to a site at Lyman's Orchards in Middlefield, CT.  But once again that site did not produce the colors I had hoped for, so three year ago I decided to keep it simple and do my Progress... 10/22/2022

Fall Has arrived in Connecticut, which means it is time for me to begin my Progression Of Fall Colors series I started Ten years ago.  This is a series I hoped to continue for many years, and have been able to do so far. The first two years the pictures were of a farm which is only about a minute walk from my house.  Eight years ago I decided to change the location for the 2014 Progression Of Fall Color Series to a lake about 5 minutes from my house on RT17.  I tried that location for two years, but the colors were not as good as I expected them to be.  So six years ago I decided to change locations again to a site at Lyman's Orchards in Middlefield, CT.  But once again that site did not produce the colors I had hoped for, so three year ago I decided to keep it simple and do my Progress... 10/15/2022

Fall Has arrived in Connecticut, which means it is time for me to begin my Progression Of Fall Colors series I started Ten years ago.  This is a series I hoped to continue for many years, and have been able to do so far. The first two years the pictures were of a farm which is only about a minute walk from my house.  Eight years ago I decided to change the location for the 2014 Progression Of Fall Color Series to a lake about 5 minutes from my house on RT17.  I tried that location for two years, but the colors were not as good as I expected them to be.  So six years ago I decided to change locations again to a site at Lyman's Orchards in Middlefield, CT.  But once again that site did not produce the colors I had hoped for, so three year ago I decided to keep it simple and do my Progress... 10/08/2022

Fall Has arrived in Connecticut, which means it is time for me to begin my Progression Of Fall Colors series I started Ten years ago.  This is a series I hoped to continue for many years, and have been able to do so far. The first two years the pictures were of a farm which is only about a minute walk from my house.  Eight years ago I decided to change the location for the 2014 Progression Of Fall Color Series to a lake about 5 minutes from my house on RT17.  I tried that location for two years, but the colors were not as good as I expected them to be.  So six years ago I decided to change locations again to a site at Lyman's Orchards in Middlefield, CT.  But once again that site did not produce the colors I had hoped for, so three year ago I decided to keep it simple and do my Progres... 10/01/2022

This month Eileen Burns and Kathy Streib are hosting the ActiveRain challenge for September titled Crazy Real Estate Agent Stories - September Challenge.  For this challenge we are challenged to tell a story about the craziest situation we have been a part of during our career in Real Estate. I have been a Loan Originator for 18 years, and my craziest story happened within the first year I was a Loan Originator.  It is about the craziest closing I have ever been involved in, in fact I have not had a closing since then that even comes close to this one.This crazy closing was in March of 2005, at 9:00 a.m., at the buyer’s attorney’s office.   I showed up a couple of minutes before 9:00, and the closing had already started.  As I approached the conference room the closing was being held in... 09/14/2022

September 11, 2001 is a day I will never forget!  It is a day forever imprinted on my heart and mind.   September 11, 2001 is a day each of us has a special reason why this day will forever be remembered.  September 11, 2001 is a day we will not only forever remember the vicious attack on our country, but also a day to honor those who lost there lives.  It is a day for us to reflect on the memories, and thoughts which went through our mines as the events of September 11, 2001 unfolded 20 years ago. I have shared what I remember most about 9/11 before, and have made a commitment to share this memory each and every year on September 11, so today once again I am fulfilling that commitment with this blog. Below is my special memory of that day, it is an event which hit close to home, and w... 09/10/2022

We are supposed to get rain this Labor Day afternoon, so our normal plans to sit out on the deck and grill some steaks, will have to be altered a bit.  Also this Labor Day my youngest son is in Baltimore visiting a friend, and my oldest son, daughter in-law, and gorgeous granddaughter are now living out in Bonney Lake, WA.  That leaves just my wife and I, which is OK with me because I am looking for to just vegging out, and getting some extra rest, while watching the much needed rain come down.Hopefully the weather is better where you are, and you can enjoy everything you have planned for today.  But whatever the weather and plans you have made, I hope you make sure this is a safe and happy Holiday for you and your family!!!Happy Labor Day 2022!!!  09/05/2022

Ray Henson and Margaret Rome are the hosts of our ActiveRain contests/challenges this month.  The first part is the Truth or Dare questions below.Questions         1.  We all go on vacation to get away from it all and have a great time, but I want to know, what vacation day was your worst? In the beginning of July of this year, my oldest son, daughter in-law and my gorgeous granddaughter came for a visit from Seattle, WA for 10 days.  On the 7th day of their visit I came down with COVID so my time with my granddaughter was cut 3 days short.     2.  What would be your bucket list vacation or, if you have already taken it, tell us about it?  Pictures encouraged.It took 58 years, but 5 years ago I got to go back were I was born, the Azores.  It was an amazing vacation, and I hope to do it ... 08/23/2022

This month Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho and Endre Barath, Jr. are hosting what is the most patriotic ActiveRain Challenge I can remember ActiveRain having.   The titled of this month's challenge is  'Ole Glory Coast to Coast' - June ActiveRain Challenge.  For this challenge Mark and Endre are asking us to post photos of different local flags and tell a little bit about them.For my first entry I choose two flags which fly at the two most prominent building in my town, Middletown, CT.  The first is at our City Hall and the second was our County Superior Court House.   My second entry into this month's challenge, was of the flag flying at the front of my my home, which I am proud to fly the American Flag at our home year round. My third bonus entry is of a farm adjacent to the subdivi... 06/29/2022

This month Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho and Endre Barath, Jr. are hosting what is the most patriotic ActiveRain Challenge I can remember ActiveRain having.   The titled of this month's challenge is  'Ole Glory Coast to Coast' - June ActiveRain Challenge.  For this challenge Mark and Endre are asking us to post photos of different local flags and tell a little bit about them.For my first entry I choose two flags which fly at the two most prominent building in my town, Middletown, CT.  The first is at our City Hall and the second was our County Superior Court House. For my second entry into this month's challenge, I am chosing my home.   The Souto household has many reasons to be proud of our flag, and we are proud to fly the American Flag at our home year round. As many of you know ... 06/14/2022

This month Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho and Endre Barath, Jr. are hosting what is the most patriotic ActiveRain Challenge I can remember ActiveRain having.   The titled of this month's challenge is  'Ole Glory Coast to Coast' - June ActiveRain Challenge.  For this challenge Mark and Endre are asking us to post photos of different local flags and tell a little bit about them.For my first blog I have chosen two flags which fly at the two most prominent building in my town, Middletown, CT.  The first is at our City Hall, and our proud American Flag is flying along with three other flags such as the POW-MIA flag, and our state flag.  Also along side it is a replica of the Liberty Bell.The second photo shows our proud American Flag flying at our Superior Court House, and it is flying al... 06/10/2022

Today is 2022 Memorial Day In Middletown, CT.  Memorial Day is a day our Country has set aside to honor the fallen men and women who have served in our Armed Forces, and put their lives on the line to ensure the freedoms we have.Memorial Day has also become a time in past years, where families get together for parades, picnics, and family fun. These gatherings were limited last couple of years, and the customary local parades were canceled because of the COVID-19 Virus.  However, this year all the customary activities will be going on again, and hopefully there will be a lot of participation.  I for one will enjoy marching in our local Memorial Day Parade, and later spend time with family.My message this year is one I request every year.  Whatever you do today I hope a part of your day ... 05/30/2022

This month Kathy Streib and Carol Williams are hosting the  "May ActiveRain Challenge; Getting to Know You." For this challenge we are asked to answer 21 questions which Kathy and Carol have put together. This challenge looked like a fun, so I have decided to participate, and provide a little more information about me. So here goes. 1. What was your first job and what did you learn from it?I worked in a factory while in High School making plastic tubing large as for a plastic hose, to as small as plastic tubes used for infusions. The equipment that extruded the plastic tubes produced a lot of heat, and there was no air-conditioning. Room I worded in got very, very hot in the Summer.2. How long have you been in the real estate or related service industry? 18 Years3. What is your biggest ... 05/30/2022

Tomorrow is Mother's Day, and l would like to wish all mothers a very Happy 2022 Mother's Day.  On Mother's Day we always try to do something special for the Mother's at our Church.  So several years ago we started what has become a tradition of serving breakfast to our mother's and expecting mother's to be on Mother's Day.My youngest youngest son Brandon and his wife have coordinated the breakfast, and done most of the cooking the last few years.  Brandon loves to cook, and he and his wife Leah do an excellent job hosting this event, and will probably be in charge of the Mother's Day Breakfast for several more years to come. After breakfast all the men pitch in cleaning up, and preparing for our Sunday morning Worship Service.  After service my wife and I, and my son and his wife head ... 05/07/2022

Happy Easter Sunday 2022.  Today is a special day my family and I look forward to each year.  The day started out with all of us going to Church.  Once Church Services, and Bible Class was over we all headed to my house for a special lunch/dinner.However, the last few years our family time has been a little bit different since my oldest son Matthew, his wife Ashley, and my gorgeous granddaughter Elizabeth moved to WA.  So after lunch/dinner we FaceTimed with them, and watched my granddaughter Elizabeth open up the gifts and candy we sent her.I always enjoy the special meal my wife so lovingly puts together, but it is the time we spend together as a family that truly makes this day an extra special day for me.  Even though the family together time the few years has been via FaceTime, it ... 04/17/2022

This month Debe Maxwell and Margaret Rome are hosting the ActiveRain April Challenge "What Does ActiveRain Mean to You?  April 2022 Challenge".  For this challenge we are to create a collage telling what ActiveRain means to us.  After reading some of the blogs already posted for this challenge, I decided I would focus on an part of ActiveRain different than what had already been addressed by others.  However, my friend Grant Schneider must of had similar thoughts to mine and beat me to it.I have been a Member of ActiveRain from almost the very beginning of this site,  and the one thing I have appreciated most about ActiveRain is not only the friendships I have made on this site, but the opportunity to make in person connections I would have never have made if it were not for ActiveRain.... 04/14/2022

Yesterday I posted a blog on updating my blog signature, titled "It Is Time To Update My Blog Signature!!!"  In the blog I mentioned I was open to suggestion on how to make my new blog signature even better.  Well Craig Daniels really took that request to heart, and went over and above anything I had expected.  Craig took what I had, and made it a hundred times better.Below are what my original blog signature looked like, what the new blog signature I did looked like, and the amazing blog signature Craig created for me. This is a great example of how members on this platform give of themself unselfishly.  I am very grateful to Craig for taking it upon himself to do for me, and will be proudly using this blog signature going forward.   However, I hope this blog does not create a bunch of... 03/25/2022

Craig Daniels and Eileen Burns are challenging us to refresh/update our blog signatures in this months ActiveRain Challenge.  I did not think I was going to have time to participate in this challenge, BUT as you will see below, my blog signature was in SERIOUS need of being redone.In Craig's blog announcing this challenge, Craig provides both written instructions, and video instructions.  I choose the video instructions, because I could see what he was doing as I followed along.  Craig's instructions are so easy that even I was able create a new blog signature without much effort.  In other words, it was very easy.  What took me the longest was playing around with my new blog signature to get it to look the way I wanted.  I have not completely accomplished that yet, and will continue to... 03/24/2022

Happy St Patrick's Day 2022.  I hope all of you had a very special and enjoyable day today, and had an opportunity to celebrate with family and friends.  St. Patrick's Day is one of the more festive days of the year, and we all can use a little more fun in our lives.Hope everyone keeps safe and do not partake of TO MUCH GREEN of anything!!!AndMay your pot always be filled with GOLD!!!  03/17/2022

This month Carol Williams and Anna Banana Kruchten are co-hosting the February 2022 ActiveRain Contest titled "What's Your Story".  It has been a while since I blogged anything about my past, so this seemed like a good time to share some of my personal and professional life story.My first entry was about my personal life titled "Our Life Experiences Shape Who We Are".  This second blog is about how my life experiences have shaped my professional life.I have been in sales for 46 years, and during that time I have had three different careers in sales.  The shortest was my first sales experience working for John Hancock Life Insurance, selling life insurance, casualty insurance (home & auto), and mutual funds.  I did this for about 3 years, and I was what was referred to as a Debit Salesma... 02/25/2022