I've certainly talked about the Freedom Festival a lot lately and our event on Monday was certainly a success.  I would even go so far as to say that God really loved us and our event because it rained on Monday... it rained across the street, it rained two coves to our right and two coves to our left, but we just got a little cloud cover and a sprinkle and we just kept going. Our first year road race had nearly 300 participants. It was a very long week and at the end of the week I was given one final task for this year.  Some of the sponsors didn't come to the event and pick up their sponsor packets.  So tomorrow I will be spending my day driving from place to place making delieveries.  Of course I will be thanking them and gearing up for next year's event too. I have a lot to do, but ... 07/10/2011

Banks & Shane’s Georgia Stage will take to the stage at The Plaza Arts Center in downtown Eatonton for the inaugural performance of what they hope will be many more variety entertainment shows. Banks & Shane is a high-energy band that has had adults and youth alike all over the world dancing in the aisles for over 35 years! For Friday, July 22nd’s show they’ll share the stage with Grammy nominated artists The Claire Lynch Band and Nashville’s 2009 Chris Austin Songwriting Award Winner Wendy Newcomer. The evening will be a throwback to variety show classics like “The Glen Campbell Good Time Hour” and “The Smothers Brother Comedy Hour.” We’re super lucky to have tons of musical acts come to us here at Lake Oconee but Banks & Shane hope to add a new element to entertainment by blending mu... 07/08/2011

Yesterday ended in the wee hours of this morning for me.  My head hit the pillow somewhere between midnight and 1 a.m. (I think)  My eyes were blurry since I'd gotten up around 6 a.m. to begin my day (and I am not a morning person) I had sliced fruit, carried tables and chic-fil-a biscuits (Thank you Milledgeville Chic-fil-a) and many cases of water all before 8 a.m.  And I also want to mention I have some super great folks that work at Lane Realty.  Craig Rodgers serves on the Board of Directors and put in a full day and Tee Shaw and Wanda Shaw (Tee is one of my agents and Wanda owns an insurance company in Griffin GA) came and volunteered their time during the road race and were a lot of help for our cause too.  I love that I have great people working at Lane Realty. I spent around 4 ... 07/05/2011

Where? Crooked Creek Marina When? Monday July 4, 2011 Why? Where do I begin? The Freedom Festival is multi-ourpose. It's theme is to honor those that have fought for and serve to protect our freedoms. As an American I couldn't be prouder of the men and women who serve our nation in uniform who protect this right. The Freedom Festival is a fun filled day that honors these great men and women who have served. If you are a veteran who lives or will be visiting the Lake Sinclair area on the 4th of July please contact us to be included in this honor. And with this event also comes the opportunity to help others. It is also a wonderful fund raising event. The contributions made and the sponsorships paid all contribute to helping Camp Kudzu and sending children with Type I diabetes to to camp ... 07/01/2011

Can you even believe that nearly half of 2011 has slipped by us.  I can't next thing you know my mom will be calling me and we'll be planning our annual Christmas shopping trip.  If you have never been to the Lake Country Freedom Festival, you'll want to attend.  You'll want to bring your kids and grand kids to play in the kids zone.  You'll want to eat, you love the entertainment.  Oh and if you volunteer for just 2 hours at the festival you'll get the bonus of a t-shirt, free parking and free meal.  The Bone Island Grill will have the bar open, but you'll have to get a fabulous dinner there on another night. The day is fantastic and you'll find lots for the entire familiy to do and enjoy.  The crafts fair has some really great art and amazing exhibits.  I promise you won't be disappoi... 06/22/2011

"Social Security income is exempt in Georgia, and so is up to $35,000 of most types of retirement income if you're at least 62, Kiplinger's said in its report." Georgia Ranked No 6 among tax-friendlly states for retirees. <--- read entire article here I have always known that Georgia Ranked very well for property tax rates having one of the lowest rates, but previously we didn't do so well on income tax.  In fact I lost a really great agent a few years back when she relocated to Florida.  Of course with higher property taxes and home owners insurance my friend confides she's "not really saving any money".  Further when you are considering a retirement location Putnam County is always ranked in the top ten for the lowest property taxes in the state of Georgia.  The 2011 rankings are not ... 06/21/2011

In order to make this year's Freedom Festival at Crooked Creek Marina a even bigger success we need volunteers.  For just a two hour shift you can get free parking, a free meal and a free t-shirt... Two hours and then enjoy the rest of your day.  We need lots of volunteers in the kids zone.  Won't you help?  Two hours? Come on?  What if I say pretty please with a cherry on top? If you click on the graphic above or on LakeCountryFreedomFestival.com do you see the area where I highlighted in yellow that says click here to sign up on VolunteerSpot.  Just go and click that link and sign up to help for two hours.  Then come on out and enjoy the day with free parking, a free t-shirt and free meal and for only two hours of volunteer time you can have a GREAT day.  You don't want to miss the b... 06/16/2011

It's that time of year again. It's always the 1st Saturday in June in downtown Eatonton on the court house square. The Pilot Club currently hosts the Dairy Festival and this is the 52nd annual Dairy Festival. The Pilot Club of Eatonton has this as their annual fund raiser. They host most of the events with the exception of the road races which the Farmers and Merchants Bank hosts. There's s the 1 mile fun run and the 10K Torture Trail starting at 8:00 a.m. The other events/entertainment/booths/parade all are sponsored by the Eatonton Pilot Club. The annual festival honors the dairy industry, vital to our county. Putnam County proudly has the designation of being the "Dairy Capital of Georgia". The Pilot's focus is brain related disorder's and they have a list of very worthy local commun... 06/03/2011

Once a year I purchase flowers to go in the santuary of my church.  I do it in honor of my parents wedding anniversary which is tomorrow, May 25th.  I won't tell you the year, but I am one of those lucky folks to have my mom and dad still married to one another.  Today I called to order the flowers for this Sunday.  Not only did she promise me spectacular (and I will follow up witha  photo), but instread of insisting on a credit card over the phone the is going to mail me a bill to pay.  She was very helpful in helping me make a decision as to what flowers to choose and even some not to choose (because she suggested something that would hold up better, longer) I will follow up tomorrow with a photo of "THE" flowers from church so you can see them.  But for your viewing pleasure for this... 05/28/2011

Where?  Crooked Creek Marina When? Monday July 4, 2011 Why? Where do I begin?  The Freedom Festival is multi-ourpose.  It's theme is to honor those that have fought for and serve to protect our freedoms.  As an American I couldn't be prouder of the men and women who serve our nation in uniform who protect this right. The Freedom Festival is a fun filled day that honors these great men and women who have served.  If you are a veteran who lives or will be visiting the Lake Sinclair area on the 4th of July please contact us to be included in this honor. And with this event also comes the opportunity to help others.  It is also a wonderful fund raising event.  The contributions made and the sponsorships paid all contribute to helping Camp Kudzu and sending children with Type I diabetes to  ... 05/24/2011

This week I had two calls about previous posts One person wanted to talk to me about flood insurance on Lake Sinclair and the other was wanting to know what rates should be before she called about renting a boat.  Recently my Donald and I spent a quiet evening out in our peddle boat on the lake.  I was tired at the end of the night, but it was so peaceful and quiet out on the lake.  This is the perfect time of year before the summer crowds hit to enjoy a quiet day on the lake.  And you don't have to own a boat to do it either. There really is nothing like a quiet pontoon ride around the lake and going to dinner on the lake.  Several places offer boat parking for dinner. If you would like to rent a boat  you can call Sinclair Marina 478-453-8920 Twin Bridges Marina 478-968-0713 Jeri Shai... 05/20/2011

The names were fascinating to me.  And while there are several woodies housed locally on Sinclair some traveled from far away places for the 2nd Annual Woodies boat show on Lake Sinclair. And you have got to read the story about Miss America IX that was at the show.  It was the first boat to break 100 mph on water.  The captain yesterday took her out on the lake and gave a few people rides.  He said he reached speeds of 75 mph on Lake Sinclair.  Enjoy the photos. Most of the day was overcast and it was cool.  All the boat captains were on hand to tell you how they came to own their boats and most like Miss America IX have stories.  The weaterman called for rain all day, but as luck would have it with the event scheduled to end at 4 p.m. the rain held off until until about 3:55.  It was ... 05/15/2011

Just around the corner on Saturday May 14, 2011 WELCOME TO THE SECOND ANNUAL WOODIES BOAT SHOW 10 AM to 4 PM Limited Public Dock Space that day, please come by land.  FREE TO THE PUBLIC!!   Enjoy the "Woodies" Boat Show.  People's Choice Voting all day. Show Vendors will also be there. At 11:00 A.M. and at 2:30 P.M. there will be a "start your engines" among the woodies. Don't miss this exciting event and it's always great to have one more reason to stop in and eat at the Bone Island Grill at Crooked Creek Marina. Check out their fabulous menu.  If you haven't tried the shrimp and grits... it's a must.  And if you are at the Woodies... I'll see you there. 05/02/2011

Summer will be here before we know it.  I can't even believe it's Easter already.  There are lots of fun things to do on and around Lake Sinclair in summer, but the Lake Country Freedom Festival is one you want to get on the schedule and make sure you don't miss. The festival is a celebration of our freedom and a day of honoring our veterans that have fought to make our freedom possible.  We also make it a great day of fun and entertainment for the entire family.  The even takes place on the grounds of Crooked Creek Marinain Eatonton.  We kick off the event with a 5K fun run.  There's a kids zone.  These photos are from the kid zone last year.  And I can absolutely guarantee that you kid will would have a blast in the kid zone.  There will also be entertainment all day.  Oh and prizes..... 04/23/2011

04/17/2011

When I read my local real estate magazine I sometimes snicker because several companies in my area that are branded and have LOTS and LOTS of agents are always copying one another.  Company A writes an ad that says We're # 1 look at our numbers, Company B writes one the next month and says We're # 1 in shortest days on the market for July.  Both of these companies use similar looking graphs to point out who's # 1 for whatever they can figure out they are # 1 for the month in the MLS statistics. Well frankly, there's only one thing I give a hoot about being # 1 at and it has NOTHING to do with the most homes sold, the shortest days on the market, the most listings last month or any other data that can be found in the MLS.  So what do I strive for Lane Realty to be #1 in accomplishing.  C... 04/12/2011

Saturday May 14th, save the day.  FREE TO THE PUBLIC WOODIES BOAT SHOW 10 AM to 4 PM Limited Public Dock Space that day, please come by land. Enjoy the "Woodies" Boat Show.  People's Choice Voting all day. Show Vendors will also be there. At 11:00 A.M. and at 2:30 P.M. there will be a "start your engines" among the woodies. And the Woodies will be in their slips from 10 AM until 4 PM for viewing and the voting.  If you would like more information please contact Jon Walters at walters@plantationcable.net Don't miss this exciting event and it's always great to have one more reason to stop in and eat at the Bone Island Grill at Crooked Creek Marina. Check out their fabulous menu. And if you are at the Woodies... I'll see you there.     04/06/2011

Have you noticed I've not been posting much the past few days.  Well I can't see the keyboard so well.  I hope I'm not making typos that spell check can't spot because I sure won't see them.  I tried my old old glasses, ha, not much better than no glasses at all. My husband and I both had eye exams on Friday and for the first time ever he needed glasses and I of course needed new ones.  I used my same frames and what a bummer they kept my old glasses.  So I'm winging it for a week.  I found out about a new community event that will be happening in May this year that I'll be telling you more about tomorrow.  I just got the info via email and it even included a photo I can use.  And I'll be taking lots more this year so I can have them to promote the event next year.    "Woodie" is the on... 04/05/2011

03/06/2011

If you see an older model small red pick up truck with recent front end damage and a camper shell with the back window of camper missing please call the Putnam County Sheriff's Department at 706-485-8557 to report it. The idiot driver of said pickup lost control of his vehicle early in the afternoon of March 1, 2011 and left the road and took out a street sign, returned to the road and then left the road again and did damage to our sign, and destroyed a good bit of the lawn. Thanks! And seriously now... it really time for things to improve around here. 03/01/2011