Real Estate Information

Is it Spring?? All week it has been sunny and in the 50's, it could be a trick and a good old March storm could happen, but who knows. The down side is the snow pack is VERY low. Let's hope the forest fires do not come back this year. A lot of rain could offset the whole issue and is needed for the crops, including our hay crop.

Hoopers Nursery was packed out this afternoon for their free seminar, everyone is getting ready to think of starting those seeds and getting ready for summer. I want to get my seeds started this week in the greenhouse.

Horses are frolicking and shedding big time. I am attending 2 horse clinics this spring so need to get riding. Still snow in my outdoor arena so wait until the footing is a little safer. Plan to do more horse camping this year so need to get working on those horses of mine.

     SNOW: It is sometimes entertaining to talk to clients around the country. The prevailing thought seems to be that we live in Siberia. While the east and midwest of our country regularly get more severe winter weather, the thinking is always that we have it worse. This winter has been so mild. I do not remember in my 15 winters here, having so much melt and warmth as we have had. At my house, we have maybe seen a total snowfall of 12" or so. The mountain has had more but even on the drive up to ski on Sunday, there was much bare ground on the side of the road. It is a credit to Whitefish Mountain Resort groomers that the slopes have stayed in such good shape. At last, there is some new snow the end of this week.  I have surpassed 60k vertical feet - which pales in comparison to some fellow skiers - but I am impressed since I have to fit in sking around working. These vertical feet are logged in 2-3 hour stints of skiing. I have skiied more down the front side than usual so that adds up quickly. On Super Bowl Sunday, there was a party atmosphere with music playing loudly at the lifts. Lifties are from all over the world: Brazil, England, and many states.   

    We watched the Whitefish Carnival Parade last weekend. What a crowded event! Very popular with locals and tourists alike. Lots of Canadians in town for winter fun.

One of the fun activities in winter, when it isn't a good skiing day, is to go through ski catalogs and order seeds. I have ordered some newvarieties to try. Plan on starting some seeds next month in my greenhouse.

There are some great horse clinics on offer this coming Spring and Summer. I will be attending one in April with my 5 year old gelding. Mark Rashid is teaching and I am a fan of his methods.

Whitefish Winter Carnival continues this weekend with a ball, penguin plunge, artwalk. The North Valley School of Music is having a concert tonight that we have tickets for. The instructors will be the performers, should be fun.

There are 4 new listings on my web site this week. I will be driving around taking new photos as the mountains appear out of the clouds today. Showed homes in Bigfork this week and the mountain view was incredible from Swan Hill Drive.

Temperatures have been so mild it feels strange. Taking care of goats, horses, chickens is my way of getting outside after a day at the desk and in the car. Days are getting longer so it is nice after a workday to get outside and be with the critters. Yesterday the horses were quite playful, they feel spring coming as well.

Big weekend in the Flathead Valley coming up:

Whitefish Carnival: Skijoring takes place all weekend. Horses and riders towing skiers/snowboarders through a course for prizes.

Alpine Theater Project and Glacier Symphony collaboration on South Pacific, performances in Whitefish and Kalispell.

Thursday night concert in Whitefish by the International Guitarists, brought into town by the Whitefish Theater Co.

Why I live here: Thursday morning skiing hard for 2 hours in the sun on Big Mountain, then heading to work meeting with some great clients. Outstanding view of all the mountain peaks into Canada from the summit yesterday, wish I had brought my camera so I could share! It is fun in the parking lot with everyone greeting each other while getting geared up to ski. Lots of us head up the hill for a few runs then head off to work.

City of Kalispell debate continues about what to do with the City airport. Choices are to expand it or close it. It has slowly become surrounded by development and may have lived out it's useful life. If it is closed, traffic would come and go from Glacier International Airport exclusively. The city council had a work session on Monday night with 45 members of the public speaking out with their opinions.

 Sitting at my table eating breakfast with the sun starting to rise over the Rockies, all the mountain peaks out including those in Glacier National Park. Does it get better than this?

  Skiing whenever my work allows and it has been great! Conditions were wonderful last Saturday but not the visibility. Made up for that Monday morning. Spring like conditions but the mornings are fine. Looking for some fresh snow to fall starting today.

  Whitefish ArtWalk is next Friday, January 29th. Also that night is one of 4 performances of South Pacific, a collaboration with Alpine Theater Project and the Glacier Symphony.  Whitefish Winter Carnival starting to pick up steam, lots of fun events on the schedule.

  Work continues to pickup with buyers making offers. Got one deal together this week and working on a second. A serious buyer considering one of my listings - feels busy, especially compared to last year.

  Might try to fit in a snowshoe trek in Glacier National Park tomorrow. It is free with a ranger along to educate the snowshoers.

I LOVE where I live! Last Thursday, the sun was out, skis were in the car, so after working all morning, ran up to ski a few runs. Rode up on the chair with a guy who had done the very same thing. Not many places where a person can be so close to the ski hill that they can do this.

On the weekend we had a family bowling competition at Pick's Bowling in Bigfork. A fairly new  bowling alley. Fun and frustration - not my favorite thing to do. Followed by dinner at Tamarack Creek Brewery in Lakeside. The most interesting menu and even though I don't drink beer, well worth the drive for an excellent buffalo burger and the best fries in the valley.

We are having a spring thaw the last 2 days, nice to be warm out but a little sloppy. I wondered why I bothered to get my car washed yesterday, hopefully it will stay clean until I show homes this afternoon.

Still sore from a killer workout during the noon hour at Flathead Fitness. The owner taught it and it was tough! Looking forward to the regularinstructor next week. There was a lot of moaning and groaning going on during class.

Foys to Blacktail trail had a meeting last night to strategize on further trail progress and land purchases to extend the system. This is a wonderful thing for the valley. Starting at Herron Park in Kalispell, you can ride horses, bikes, hike all the way to Blacktail Mountain in Lakeside. A great group of people working to increase the land available and set it aside for recreation that is easilyaccessible to all. I support this project and hope others will too.

Weather and skiing: Winter definitely arrived in the past week. Valley snow, wind, cold and awesome Rocky Mountain Views on the clear sunny days. Whitefish Mountain Resort received copious amounts of snow. Skiing was great this week with views for forever. See Video below taken from chair 2 of the Flathead Valley and Whitefish Lake - which is pretty much frozen across at this point. Free night skiing this Saturday night thanks to the Kalispell Ski Club. We are going up with the family.

Kalispell swore in the new mayor this week. She is a young attorney. I'll be watching to see how that works with the city manager and council.

Night life starting to pick up around the valley now that the new year is here. Many Canadians and other tourists in town for all the winter fun we have to enjoy. Cross country skiing at the Whitefish Golf Course is one of my favorites. Groomed runs and you can rent equipment right there.

Community Education catalog from Flathead Valley Community College arrived in the mail yesterday. An overwhelming array of choices from learning Korean to cooking to back country camping with horses!

Central School Museum in Kalispell is starting up the winter lecture series. Check out their web site for more information.

Tickets are on sale for Alpine Theater Project's collaboration with the Glacier Symphony in an abbreviated version of South Pacific the end of January. 3 performances, 2 in Whitefish and 1 in Kalispell.

   Christmas happenings: ice skating in Whitefish, Christmas Eve torch light parade on Big Mountain, nachos at Hellroaring Saloon on the mountain, my 4 horses escaping on Christmas morning and a made chase to catch them with much help from the neighbors. Christmas day movie and a big turkey dinner afterwards followed by a Rummicube tournament at our house.

   Thought about skiing this a.m. but with 14" of powder over night and still snowing heavily at Whitefish Mountain Resort, think we'll wait for it to be groomed and packed. Another big storm tonight, so maybe Saturday will be good skiing. Looks like snow for the next week in the mountains. Get kind of funny about holiday "crowds" on the mountain. So used to never standing in line that with kids out of school and holiday tourists, seems like long lines when compared to the norm at some resorts, are actually very short lines.

   A friend's goat had her kids yesterday so plan on running out to Kila to see the babies. My kids are due the beginning of May.

   Going to skip First Night Flathead this year. Maybe have a neighborhood bon fire instead. Never stay up till midnight anyway.

   Watch for a post of a video of the Christmas Eve torchlight parade. Should be on in a couple of days after my visiting son shows me how to do it. He is the family tech wiz and attorney all rolled into one.

This is starting to look like a ski report, but the conditions were awesome this morning. Sun, packed powder, a little icy at the bottom and no crowds until we left at lunch. Ah the luxury of a season's pass at Whitefish Mountain resort!

    Last night was the Gallery Opening in Whitefish for artist Sunti. Sunti is from Thailand and lives in Bigfork. He does amazing resin and bronze statues. Google him and check out his work.

    Monday night was the yearly Alpine Theater Project's Christmas show. Broadway stars fly in for a week or so and perform. Always entertaining and fun.

    The weather is turning colder which is good for the snow conditions. Sun is also in the Christmas forecast. Planning on snowshoeing in Glacier National Park tomorrow with the family. Should be beautiful. Will post a photo of our adventures next week.

    A blessed Christmas to all from Kalispell Montana and Cary Jo!

    Skiing: Went up yesterday, NO ONE else was up on the slopes. It was fun to read the lifties name tags to see where in the world they were from. Saw one from London, England all the way to Whitefish Montana! Conditions were a littlesprink like but went up and down chair 2 the most. Fog drifted in and out but had a great view of the valley and Whitefish Lake. Had our grown kids with us and had the traditional lunch at Hell Roaring - always great. Sat by the giant fire place in the day lodge on the leather sofas andvisted. A stop at Montana Coffee Traders on the way home topped off the day. Feeling the quad muscles this morning!

     Looking forward to Alpine Theater Project's annual holiday play on Monday night. It has been sold out for weeks. We go every year and it is always outstanding. Broadway actors and musicians are brought in with a huge variety of talents for our enjoyment.

     Christmas week talks of snowshoeing in Glacier National Park, ice skating and other winter fun.

     I have 2 new listings on my web site; www.kalispellcary.com - check them out!