Exciting News!

Wow - I have two announcements today!
1. The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust has received a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation for $91,500 over 3 years to hire staff who will increase the organization's capacity to carry out its mission to protect the natural heritage of Haliburton County. That is incredible news and well deserved of a very hard working and committed group of volunteers. Congratulations everyone!
2. HCDC (Haliburton County Development Corporation) announced yesterday that they are providing a grant of $1,700 to FoRT (Friends of the Rail Trail) to assist the group in costs associated with promoting their Rambles programs and developing a website. This is a huge boost to a very small group and on behalf of the Executive - thank you so much HCDC!!

For those wondering how Haliburton County is coming with Spring - it has been rolling along at breakneck speed! Buds are just starting to appear but once they start, it doesn't take long for trees to take on that beautiful lime fresh green they have in Spring time. It is so exciting to watch everything come to life again - I never want to go inside! I cannot believe how early boats have been going into the lakes this year! I was out at Boshkung Lake the other day and there was a line up at the boat launch - unheard of in April. If predictions come true, there will be a lot of beach and boat time this summer. We sure deserve it after the cool, wet summer last year! 600 lakes and counting.....no better place to be!

What a fabulous day yesterday for our first Rambles of the season! The weather was perfect. We headed out at 11:30 from Rails' End Gallery and followed the rail trail to Barnum Lake and back. 27 people came out - from children to seniors. The dogs had a great time too! Some people had cameras and although there was no greenery yet or many birds to spot, the walk was simply refreshing after a long winter! Next Sunday (April 11) we head out from Sedgwick Farm in Gelert at 11:00 am. To get there take County Rd. 1 (Gelert Rd.) to the hamlet of Gelert. On the left is Sedgwick Road - follow until you cross the bridge - immediately across the bridge there is a sharp fork to the right and the farm is right at the Y in the road. After, for those who wish, we shall meet at the Wintergreen Pancake Barn in Gelert to enjoy some fabulous food! See you there!

Busy Spring!

Happy Easter! What a busy Spring it has been....the real estate season definitely started early this year and we are getting into seasonal properties earlier than ever. Marilyn (my colleague) and I were at the Toronto Cottage Life Show on the weekend. We had the Friday evening shift which was quiet but agents that attended on Saturday said it was great! We had collages of all our listings displayed and know that several of our past clients attended the show and enjoyed it.

This Sunday is the first "Ramble" of the season. Everyone meets at 11:30 at the Rails End Gallery in Haliburton. Departure for this week only will be at Noon. So take a look at the exhibits and say hello to everyone! For those who wish a chance to socialize and unwind afterward, we will convene at McKecks - The Blue Line for lunch. If you haven't been since the big renovations, come check it out (even if you miss the walk) - the more the merrier!

For those who know my family (don't wish to bore anyone!).....our daughter Shannon is doing fabulous in Australia. School is going well - she is finding the Masters' programme there easier than the Honours programme here (weird eh?) and she is working hard at a Cafe, plus has a casual position at a Thai Restaurant (they needed someone who could speak Thai and English). Our other daughter, Christine, was invited to speak at a conference at Nipissing last weekend to present her research. She received an award for Excellence in Research and we are incredibly proud of her! She is about to move out of residence and into her first apartment next week and just got her official acceptance at Teacher's College, so things are rolling along!

All for now everyone - I need to go sell some real estate! Happy, Happy Easter!