Colleen's (and occasionally, Joe's) Blog

I enjoy contests. When Carolyn Tann-Starr announced the Club Chaos Fall 2008 Eye Candy Contest I knew I had to enter! The contest rules require originals. Well, these pics are not only my own, but we own the view as well! These photos are the back yard of our Columbia River home, a home we have listed to sell.

I've enjoyed photography from a novice's perspective, and I've enjoyed capturing the varying looks of the Columbia River from a our back yard. I probably have a few hundred of these, however, the following images were taken within the past couple of weeks. As I write this post all the leaves are gone, but I managed to capture the essence of fall color before the last leaves fell.

Here is my offering of 2008 fall images from different days, varying times, and various weather conditions. My favorite is the last one! Enjoy.

And My Favorite:

•:*¨¨*:• Colleen Lane •:*¨¨*:•
My ActiveRain Blog / My Localism Blog | ColleenLane.com


I am the Realtor® that makes things move in The Lane Real Estate Team, while my husband Joe is the dude that provides the marketing that gives me the great clients I have. My sole purpose in life is to serve God, family, and clients. Joe's sole purpose in life is to serve God, me, and family (and ski). We have five children, all at home, all ours. We've been happily married for 23 years, and Joe has forgotten the anniversary almost all of those years! We service the Tri Cities Washington real estate market to include Kennewick, Richland, and Pasco, Washington. Oh, our Pasco Wa Columbia River Home is for sale!

Benton County PUD will hold its annual Senior Day on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the Kennewick Benton PUD Auditorium and Thursday, Nov. 20 at the Prosser Benton PUD Auditorium. Events are from 8 a.m. to noon at both locations. Informational tables will be set up to provide one-on-one information on Benton PUD's updated Senior Low Income discount. Customers can receive help on enrollment and income verification from the Benton Franklin Community Action Committee. Other informational tables include Energy tips and rebates, Benton PUD's new online billing service, e-Bill, renewable power and more. Senior customers will receive a packet with information on electrical safety, energy saving tips and a free compact fluorescent light bulb.

•:*¨¨*:• Colleen Lane •:*¨¨*:•
My ActiveRain Blog / My Localism Blog | ColleenLane.com


I am the Realtor® that makes things move in The Lane Real Estate Team, while my husband Joe is the dude that provides the marketing that gives me the great clients I have. My sole purpose in life is to serve God, family, and clients. Joe's sole purpose in life is to serve God, me, and family (and ski). We have five children, all at home, all ours. We've been happily married for 23 years, and Joe has forgotten the anniversary almost all of those years! We service the Tri Cities Washington real estate market to include Kennewick, Richland, and Pasco, Washington. Oh, our Tri Cities Wa Luxury Home is for sale!

Two Colorado bothers discovered raw World War II movie footage shot by their late grandfather and former combat photographer, Albert Fagler. The footage is of the Allied advance in Europe just after D-Day. The footage is raw and was uncut for 60 years! I thought this video an excellent choice for today being Veterans day.

I'll dedicate this blog entry to my husband, Joe. A former United States Marine. Happy Veterans Day!

•:*¨¨*:• Colleen Lane •:*¨¨*:•
My ActiveRain Blog / My Localism Blog | ColleenLane.com


I am the Realtor® that makes things move in The Lane Real Estate Team, while my husband Joe is the dude that provides the marketing that gives me the great clients I have. My sole purpose in life is to serve God, family, and clients. Joe's sole purpose in life is to serve God, me, and family (and ski). We have five children, all at home, all ours. We've been happily married for 23 years, and Joe has forgotten the anniversary almost all of those years! We service the Tri Cities Washington real estate market to include Kennewick, Richland, and Pasco, Washington. Oh, our Tri Cities Washington Luxury Home is for sale!

To receive business from our outside blogs, some authority is required. One way to garner authority is through inbound links and visitor traffic. On these ends, we've (my husband and I) been busy promoting my new ActiveRain outside blog and thought I would share some of the things we are doing to promote our outside blog, www.ColleenLane.com Things you can do too...[read on for more]

•:*¨¨*:• Colleen Lane •:*¨¨*:•
My ActiveRain Blog / My Localism Blog | ColleenLane.com


I am the Realtor® that makes things move in The Lane Real Estate Team, while my husband Joe is the dude that provides the marketing that gives me the great clients I have. My sole purpose in life is to serve God, family, and clients. Joe's sole purpose in life is to serve God, me, and family (and ski). We have five children, all at home, all ours. We've been happily married for 23 years, and Joe has forgotten the anniversary almost all of those years! We service the Tri Cities Washington real estate market to include Kennewick, Richland, and Pasco, Washington. Oh, our Tri Cities Wa Luxury Home is for sale!

Whether your goal is to explore a region’s wines, taste some new varietals or discover a new favorite, the public tasting offers a chance to sample some of the premier wines produced in the Pacific Northwest. Saturday, Nov 8 6:30p to 9:30p at Pasco Red Lion, Pasco, WA

•:*¨¨*:• Colleen Lane •:*¨¨*:•
My ActiveRain Blog / My Localism Blog


I am the Realtor® that makes things move in The Lane Real Estate Team, while my husband Joe is the dude that provides the marketing that gives me the great clients I have. My sole purpose in life is to serve God, family, and clients. Joe's sole purpose in life is to serve God, me, and family (and ski). We have five children, all at home, all ours. We've been happily married for 23 years, and Joe has forgotten the anniversary almost all of those years! We service the Tri Cities Washington real estate market to include Kennewick, Richland, and Pasco, Washington. Oh, our house is for sale!

Over 150 of the finest Artists and Crafters from across the U.S. filling the TRAC with unique hand crafted items! All artists represent their own work! Join this holiday shopping tradition! Contact: Phone Number: Website: www.custershows.com Friday, November 7th: 10:00am to 8:00pm Saturday, November 8th: 9:00am to 7:00pm Sunday, November 9th: 10:00am to 5:00pm Admission $5.00 – Good all weekend! Children 12 and Under FREE! For more detials, visit the Trac website.

•:*¨¨*:• Colleen Lane •:*¨¨*:•
My ActiveRain Blog / My Localism Blog


I am the Realtor® that makes things move in The Lane Real Estate Team, while my husband Joe is the dude that provides the marketing that gives me the great clients I have. My sole purpose in life is to serve God, family, and clients. Joe's sole purpose in life is to serve God, me, and family (and ski). We have five children, all at home, all ours. We've been happily married for 23 years, and Joe has forgotten the anniversary almost all of those years! We service the Tri Cities Washington real estate market to include Kennewick, Richland, and Pasco, Washington. Oh, our house is for sale!

Well, it's about time! We have 5 children and have spent too much time commuting to North Richland for WSU and North Richland grade schools. We've decided to put our 3500 sq ft house on the market starting at $659,000. Many, many upgrades can be read here. Pictures of our home and river views can be seen here, and when clicked, a larger image opens in a new window:

Think you’re ready to put your home on the real estate market and sell it? You may think you have completed your mental checklist of getting your house ready for the real estate market and the public, but have you considered all the things you can do—and the things you should get ride of, too—to increase the value and worth of your house beforehand? [read Real Estate Painting Benefits]

•:*¨¨*:• Colleen Lane •:*¨¨*:•
My ActiveRain Blog / My Localism Blog


I am the Realtor® that makes things move in The Lane Real Estate Team, while my husband Joe is the dude that provides the marketing that gives me the great clients I have. My sole purpose in life is to serve God, family, and clients. Joe's sole purpose in life is to serve God, me, and family (and ski). We have five children, all at home, all ours. We've been happily married for 23 years, and Joe has forgotten the anniversary almost all of those years! We service the Tri Cities Washington real estate market to include Kennewick, Richland, and Pasco, Washington. Oh, our Tri Cities Wa Luxury Home is for sale!

Then and Now – 30 years of wine and food in the Pacific Northwest. Take a walk down memory lane! Explore how the wine and food industries in the Southeast Washington area have grown and changed. The Tri-Cities Wine Festival has introduced consumers to the blossoming Pacific Northwest wine industry since 1979. Join the Tri Cities Wine Festival for a very special 30th Wine Festival. The Festival is the Tri-Cities Wine Society’s annual public event. Friday, Nov 7, 6:30p to 10:00p at Tri-City Country Club, Kennewick, WA

•:*¨¨*:• Colleen Lane •:*¨¨*:•
My ActiveRain Blog / My Localism Blog


I am the Realtor® that makes things move in The Lane Real Estate Team, while my husband Joe is the dude that provides the marketing that gives me the great clients I have. My sole purpose in life is to serve God, family, and clients. Joe's sole purpose in life is to serve God, me, and family (and ski). We have five children, all at home, all ours. We've been happily married for 23 years, and Joe has forgotten the anniversary almost all of those years! We service the Tri Cities Washington real estate market to include Kennewick, Richland, and Pasco, Washington. Oh, our Tri Cities Wa Luxury Home is for sale!

Congrats Dems! Our country has spoken and the Democrats are the caretakers of our country, at least for the next two years, and if cards are played right, the next four! Congratulation from a die-hard Republican family that has voted Republican ever since legally able to vote. Even our daughter, who just turned 18, voted the Republican ticket.

Well, here's to the Democrat party and national policy for the next few years. Let's see what can be done with it, as there will be no Republicans to put any blame on. It's all yours baby! Have at it. I can understand our country electing Democrats across the board, as things sure are screwed up now, aren't they. To be honest with ya, I liked Obama much more than McCain, but I just didn't like Barack's platform.

Anyway, it's time to put politics aside and reunite, as we are back to being one country, one people, facing challenges no other period of United States history has faced.

•:*¨¨*:•  Our hats are off to the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama.  •:*¨¨*:•

•:*¨¨*:• Colleen Lane •:*¨¨*:•
My ActiveRain Blog / My Localism Blog


I am the Realtor® that makes things move in The Lane Real Estate Team, while my husband Joe is the dude that provides the marketing that gives me the great clients I have. My sole purpose in life is to serve God, family, and clients. Joe's sole purpose in life is to serve God, me, and family (and ski). We have five children, all at home, all ours. We've been happily married for 23 years, and Joe has forgotten the anniversary almost all of those years! We service the Tri Cities Washington real estate market to include Kennewick, Richland, and Pasco, Washington. Oh, our Tri Cities Wa Luxury Home is for sale!

The American Chamber of Commerce Research Association (ACCRA, now the Council for Community and Economic Research) has released the ACCRA Cost of Living Index for the third quarter of 2008. It shows the Tri-Cities leading the way for the lowest cost of living in Washington state.

The Tri-Cities' composite index is 88.9, which is down one percent from the previous quarter and 3.7 percent lower than the same period in 2007. The index measures relative price levels for consumer goods and services in participating areas. The average for all participating places in each quarter equals 100, and each participant's index is read as a percentage of the average for all participating places.

The composite index for Spokane is 93.5; for Seattle-Bellevue-Everett it's 124.6; for the Vancouver area (including Portland, Ore.), it's 95.1; and Tacoma came in at 107.7.

Yakima did not participate in the 2008 third-quarter survey. Yakima's composite index for the second quarter was 99.0.

The ACCRA Cost of Living Index covers more than 300 cities every quarter, relying on voluntary participation for data collection in the local communities. Some areas simply choose not to participate and others participate sometimes but not always. Thus, there is some fluctuation in the communities covered by the Index. It is generally the most reliable source of city-to-city comparisons of key consumer costs and is recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the President's Council of Economic Advisors.

Source

•:*¨¨*:• Colleen Lane •:*¨¨*:•
My ActiveRain Blog / My Localism Blog


I am the Realtor® that makes things move in The Lane Real Estate Team, while my husband Joe is the dude that provides the marketing that gives me the great clients I have. My sole purpose in life is to serve God, family, and clients. Joe's sole purpose in life is to serve God, me, and family (and ski). We have five children, all at home, all ours. We've been happily married for 23 years, and Joe has forgotten the anniversary almost all of those years! We service the Tri Cities Washington real estate market to include Kennewick, Richland, and Pasco, Washington. Oh, our Tri Cities Wa Luxury Home is for sale!

Our Kennewick Seniors art at it again. Join in at the Kennewick Senior Center for scrambled eggs, breakfast meat, tea, coffee, orange juice, and a all-you-can-eat pancakes breakfast. Dance to Margie and Her Sidekicks Band from 9:00-11:00am. Today! Visit the website for more information.

•:*¨¨*:• Colleen Lane •:*¨¨*:•
My ActiveRain Blog / My Localism Blog


I am the Realtor® that makes things move in The Lane Real Estate Team, while my husband Joe is the dude that provides the marketing that gives me the great clients I have. My sole purpose in life is to serve God, family, and clients. Joe's sole purpose in life is to serve God, me, and family (and ski). We have five children, all at home, all ours. We've been happily married for 23 years, and Joe has forgotten the anniversary almost all of those years! We service the Tri Cities Washington real estate market to include Kennewick, Richland, and Pasco, Washington. Oh, our Tri Cities Wa Luxury Home is for sale!

Come and join in on a Badger Mountain hike for exercise, education, fun, and spectacular views of the Columbia Basin. Local experts can tell us the story of Badger Mountain. Come and learn about the largest fresh water floods that ever occurred. From the Friends of Badger Mountain website:

"We are a group of local residents who came together in early 2003 to see if we could preserve our local ridges for their scenic view and as open space. We believed something must be done before their beauty was permanently changed by irreversible development. When we learned that 574 acres was for sale on the crest and slopes of Badger Mountain, our goal became to acquire this land to be held as open space. We named ourselves the Friends of Badger Mountain."

•:*¨¨*:• Colleen Lane •:*¨¨*:•
My ActiveRain Blog / My Localism Blog


I am the Realtor® that makes things move in The Lane Real Estate Team, while my husband Joe is the dude that provides the marketing that gives me the great clients I have. My sole purpose in life is to serve God, family, and clients. Joe's sole purpose in life is to serve God, me, and family (and ski). We have five children, all at home, all ours. We've been happily married for 23 years, and Joe has forgotten the anniversary almost all of those years! We service the Tri Cities Washington real estate market to include Kennewick, Richland, and Pasco, Washington. Oh, our house is for sale!

Today is the last day for the Tri-Cities Ski Swap and Snowboard Sale at TRAC, Road 68, Pasco. This is a great community event to buy or sell new and used winter sports equipment, clothing and gear. Last day today: 11:00a to 3:00p ~ For more details, driving directions, visit Trac Center, Pasco

•:*¨¨*:• Colleen Lane •:*¨¨*:•
My ActiveRain Blog / My Localism Blog


I am the Realtor® that makes things move in The Lane Real Estate Team, while my husband Joe is the dude that provides the marketing that gives me the great clients I have. My sole purpose in life is to serve God, family, and clients. Joe's sole purpose in life is to serve God, me, and family (and ski). We have five children, all at home, all ours. We've been happily married for 23 years, and Joe has forgotten the anniversary almost all of those years! We service the Tri Cities Washington real estate market to include Kennewick, Richland, and Pasco, Washington. Oh, our Tri Cities Wa Luxury Home is for sale!