Speechless Sunday (Almost)--Mold-A-Rama Flashback at Como Zoo

 
Flashback to elementary school field trips in the 1970's when a visit to Como Park Zoo just wasn't complete as a kid without stopping for a hot wax molded animal from a Mold-A-Rama machine. These machines were a favorite stop for kids with extra change for a inexpensive souvenir back during a grade school field trip in the 1960's and 1970's. (I can still smell acrid scent of that weird hot wax.) The price was only a couple of quarters back then...way less than anything in the gift shop as I remember.  

A decade or so later, in the mid-80's, I remember taking my nieces to the zoo. They too were intrigued by the squished hot wax mold of a Como Park lion or gorilla to take home.  Though we also took our boys to Como on countless occasions in the 1990's, I don't remember every buying them a molded animal to take home. I thought the machines were just a memory.  On a recent visit, I was surprised that the machines in operation again today...but less surprised by the price increase. But at $2, it is still a bargain just to watch the machine in motion creating your hot wax trinket.

Como Park is still one of my favorite places to visit year round. Whether you want to have a family picnic, play a round of mini golf, ride the carousel, walk around the lake, see the animals or the flowers, there is literally something for everyone in the family to enjoy.

Looking for a home with something for everyone in your family near Como Park? Let me be your professional guide. If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me, Teri Eckholm of Boardman Realty, a call or visit my website for a FREE Home Buyer Success Guide or FREE Home Value Report. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District. Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2015 www.terieckholm.com 

Speechless Sunday (Almost)--It's Hard to Hide an Elephant

You know the old saying about ignoring the elephant in the room, right? It goes to say, that an elephant can be hard to hide too.

This translates to real estate when selling your home. If you need to make a repair, don't just gloss over it. A buyer (or buyer's inspector) will find it. I have shown homes where substandard repairs were made by unskilled homeowners. It doesn't help. You have to make the repair correctly or "the elephant" will be easy to spot!

Copyright 2013 www.terieckholm.com

Speechless Sunday (Almost)--It's ALL about BALANCE!

As we embark on a brand new year, I wanted to share a photo I took on a recent family vacation to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. We had to see what was drawing such a huge crowd at the France Pavilion and were treated to a show where this man stacked chair after chair into a tower on which he balanced on top. To do this with a crowd of several hundred onlookers must be a difficult task...more likely impossible for most of us. But this performer did it with ease (and lots of concentration).

Hopefully the real estate market will become more balanced in 2012 but since we cannot control the market, try to incorporate balance into your life.

Wishing Everyone a Very Happy and Blessed 2012!

  

Remember by concentrating on balance, amazing things can be achieved!

Copyright 2012 www.terieckholm.com

Speechless Sunday (Almost)--Jack Skelllington Reminder to Follow Directions!

In October 2009 on a family vacation to DisneyWorld, I had the opportunity to take a quick drawing class at the Animation exhibit in Disney's Hollywood Studios. My son and I were surprised and delighted to be given step-by-step instructions on how to draw the main character in the Tim Burton classic, The Nightmare Before Christmas. It was a unique opportunity because while the 30 minute drawing classes go on year round, they only give instructions on Jack Skellington a few times a year, just before Halloween.

The fun part about taking this class which is designed for all ages, is that everyone that follows the very simple directions, will leave with a drawing that resembles the instructors.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Copyright 2011www.terieckholm.com

Speechless Sunday(Almost)--Even Walt Would Have to DECLUTTER to Sell

Staging is essential when staging a home and as any good REALTOR would have to suggest decluttering and packing a collection is essential before putting a house up for sale.

For the record, this isn't a potential client's home...it is just a quick photo we took on vacation of a display in One Man's Dream in Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando, FL...Yes, even Walt would have to declutter this room!

Copyright 2011 www.terieckholm.com

Almost Speechless Sunday--Waves of a Minnesota Winter Snow!

Being a REALTOR® who specializes in Minnesota Lakeshore and acreage, you may have been expecting a frozen lake shot or field sculpted into drifts from the record-breaking, "snow-mageddon" Minnesota blizzard of last weekend. We clocked in with 16-20 inches across the Minneapolis/St Paul metro; in fifth place for the most snow in one storm. To be honest with you, those winter lake and open field shots can be boring as they are often nothing but white.

However the wind did sculpt the first snowfall of the season into perfectly formed snow waves across our newly installed backyard landscaping. This was such a unique sight, I just had to capture it for posterity! Only Mother Nature could provide such a backyard treat!

Copyright 2010 Teri Eckholm

Almost Speechless Sunday--Going Above the Crowd at the Minnesota State Fair!

RE/MAX real estate professionals are known to go above the crowd...usually in the famous red and white balloon. (Okay, if you want to see the balloon pictures I took in White Bear Lake last year, click here.) But I took the opportunity to take a quick trip above the crowd on the Skyride, one of the permanent fixtures at the Minnesota State Fair, last summer. Quite a view that shouldn't be missed if you are going to the fair this summer!

If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2011 www.terieckholm.com

Speechless Sunday (Almost)--Serious Icicles!

I took this photo this week of a home in North St. Paul, Minnesota. Sadly, it wasn't the only home in the area with serious ice dams and scary icicles. It seemed every other home was decorated with these seasonal visitors. While pretty in some respects, they are dangerous....and not just to someone walking underneath either.
As a REALTOR® in the Twin Cities north metro, I have often see the damage that ice dams and icicles cause to homes. Icicles are often indicators of a serious threat to the roof and interior of your home. They are often the byproduct of ice dams that weaken your roof and can cause water damage inside your home. So if you have icicles decorating the eaves of your home, don't ignore them. Call a roofer and have them evaluated and removed as soon as possible.

Copyright 2010 Teri Eckholm