The SU vs. Duke Game

A little background here....We have always (always!) been SU basketball and football fans.  I grew up in the University area, spent fall Saturdays up on Thornden Park hill cheering when we heard a roar from Archbold Stadium which meant a score.  My father took me to games early on, convinced he could turn me into a sports fan.  He was absolutely right!  My mother and I listened to SU basketball games at the kitchen table for years and years... a great memory.  When I got older I went with friends to the games, walking to Manley Fieldhouse from Berkeley Drive and my dear friend Dodie's house.  I got Boeheim's autograph - not Dave Bing's - when the Nottingham basketball team had a sports banquet.  I liked that nerdie guy - and I always pulled for the less popular player.

Even when I was away for so many years - college, grad school, Seattle and Saratoga - Syracuse sports remained a constant in my life.

I brought up Alex (born in Seattle, raised until 11 in Saratoga) with the same fervor for the team, any SU team.  He is bringing up Liam (now 5 years old) in the same way.

(An old photo - but you get the idea!)

When the Duke game was scheduled during their school break, we should have bought the tickets.  We gave up our season tickets this year - too much going on, and we gave them away a lot last year.  Friends had taken a break or moved away, so we didn't have them.  We also never knew if Alex would have to work. Administrators in schools can opt for vacation, but....

A couple weeks before the break Alex knew he would be clear to drive up from Manhattan.  The weather even cooperated - it would be balmy even!  He had drilled Liam on the players and they had watched the games together...Liam knew them all, and having participated in a local league in January even had an appreciation for the game as a player.

Now to get those tickets...  Alex found two in the front row of the upper section for a goodly amount, and we found some even higher for a less-goodly amount.  We left before 5:00 for the 7:00 game.  They got to go down to courtside and see the players warm up.  Cousin Mike with the towel behind the opponents (second half) basket was in his usual form.  Niece Kelly turned up behind us with kids from her school - National Grid had given them 250 tickets!  It was wild and wonderful.

We said no matter what happened in the game, it was worth the $$$.  There's something very special about seeing one's son and grandson continuing a family tradition.  Liam had a sign he and Papa Bob had made; I was so pleased that Alex could come and would come.

And then the game....and the fantastic finish....the screaming and the yelling, the eruption from the stands as Gillon scored.  My phone blew up with texts from friends all around the country who had been watching.  It was incredible.  We met up with Alex and Liam by the Ernie Davis' sculpture and walked out to the car parked in Thornden Park listening to everyone around us still talking about the game.  I got a text from my Louisville Realtor friend with whom I've talked for years now congratulating us.

At home Liam and Alex headed to bed while Bob and I replayed the second half of the game....we've never done that before but it was so good!

Sport has always been such a great surprise - like a David Blaine street magic trick, you never know what will happen and can hardly believe your eyes.  I am so happy that I can pass that on, and that Syracuse produces such phenomenal moments.

Let's go, Orange!

The Lots at Parcell Woods on Calemad Drive

Not exactly sure which one this is - it's been a few years - but it captures
trees and pathways leading to building lots.

Calemad.  The name comes from three children whose father developed the area.  I think it takes me back to Camelot, too.  Where Merlin could have lived.  If he wanted to live in the Town of Sennett and in the Skaneateles School District!

I first came upon them when I was working with WelchAllyn for relocation.  They seemed ideal for the families moving into the area: large lots of 2-4 acres, one huge mile-long circle for walking dogs or kids, a community that prided itself on independence but were also interdependent.  Houses that weren't in any way ticky-tacky.  It was also about three miles from the State Street Road facility.

The primary builder in there early on was Kevin McCormick and his Colin Homes.  He was picky about his homes, particular in their design and construction.  I remember a workman who told me they had installed a stainless steel exhaust hood over the stove.  Kevin saw a blemish so it all had to come out again.  Old world craftsmanship... in Parcell Woods.  (www.colin-homes.com)

Then the Great Recession happened.  Homes came on the market in the district.  Numbers climbed, sellers competed to sell homes because jobs had disappeared.  People stopped building.

So the building lots are still there.  I have 11 of them listed, each different from the other.  If you like long and narrow with a home built way back in - I have a few for you!  Want a pond or two?  Sure - can do!  Only two interior lots remain, both on curves with wide frontages.  Then there are a couple cleared lots.  Your choice!  Bring a builder with you or ask to be connected with one working with Berkshire Hathaway agents.
You don't have to put up a huge house; covenants say only at least 2200sf.  You will need to drill a well, but the septic designs are done.  There are utilities - gas, electric and cable - out there already, waiting for your home to be built.

Calemad is special to me, because that's where we came across Louie, our cat.  He had been a resident there until his family left for a less hospitable-to-cats community.  So Louie traded in his two acres for our dozen when I sold the Calemad house and has been seen walking over our berm to the woods here ever since.

So yes, the lots are calling....go see them, please!  Simply go out Old Seneca Turnpike west towards Auburn.  It becomes Franklin Street Road in Cayuga County.  Turn right after a couple miles onto Parcell, then you'll see the long drive in to the houses on Calemad.  Go!  Explore!  It's a magical place!

Boss

Boss has come into our lives.  Not "The Boss," just Boss.  Or Boss Man.

"Big boss man, can't you hear me when I call
Big boss man, can't you hear me when I call
Well, you ain't so big, you're just tall, that's all
Got me working, boss man, working 'round the clock..."

by Jimmy Reed (also covered by Elvis and The Dead)

Boss is the Heinz 57 varieties, as Doc Schnabel at Weedsport Animal Hospital called him.  On the form where we adopted him he was listed alternately as a border collie (in his dreams!) and as a terrier.  He is a tri-color, he did weigh 15 lbs at Doc's, and he (supposedly) was born August 13th of last year.

Whatever he is and isn't, he's adorable!

He came to us from Helping Hounds in Dewitt.  You may have read Marnie Eisenstadt's wonderful articles recently about the Soda Pop dogs either in the Post-Standard or online. (http://syracuse.com/marnieeisenstadt/sodapop)

He is not a soda pop dog.  Those puppies weighed in around 21 pounds at 12 weeks.  We enjoyed our Boo, Sheba and Sebastian in the past, but we wanted a smaller dog who could go more places and be more of a playmate for the boys.  We also wanted to not have to say good-by so soon as we did with the others. So we got Boss (formerly known as Dakota.)

He came from Texas on January 21st with 60 other dogs and puppies.  He was fostered for a few weeks by a woman who had fostered 70 other dogs before him.  Other than the little she wrote about him, we know only that he had been one of a litter surrendered to a shelter which doesn't keep dogs forever.  We watched the video of the dogs going on the truck, and saw him come off on Helping Hounds Facebook page.  We reserved him just from his looks, liking his alertness, size and color (like Boo.)  What a leap of faith!

He is a puppy, but a very, very good one.  He loves his walks and loves his cats, especially Louie.  We've been on walks - Bob in the lead, then Boss and me, and Louie following.  Boss is still unsure about men, but oh how he loves the women!  He loves the snow, too, although he hadn't seen it in his short life in Texas.  He bounds through it, seldom seems to get cold, and sticks his head down in to smell whatever dogs can smell that we can't.

He also loves to ride in the car, so much so that I invent places to go so I can take him along.  He's sitting at my feet now, having moved out of his bed by the computer when Bob returned from skiing.

He's in our hearts, no matter what he is!

A shout-out to http://cnypettraining.com for helping us through the puppy stuff!

Skaneateles Real Estate - The Chilly Update

It's chilly sitting here at my desk.  I'll keep it all brief and to the point!

There are currently only 47 - that's all, folks! - active single family listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service.  Of these, 11 are in the Village and 9 are considered waterfront.  The range in price begins with $44,000 (yes, you can buy a home within a couple miles of the Village but be prepared to do a "bit" of work), to 4 million dollars.  Even 10 years ago the higher end would have been unreal.  Now there are only 3 waterfront homes listed under a million dollars.

Seventeen properties are under contract.  Nine are in the Village and 2 are waterfront - places sell, even in the winter!  This range is a similar $80,000 to 3 million.

So far this year - 40 days into the year - there are already 7 closed properties.  Interestingly their listing prices ranged from $130,000 to $570,000.  They all sold within 10% of their list price, with the majority coming in around 5%.  It's an active market out there!  Do not delay your listing or selling!

 I added the logo here because, in part, I had such a wonderful time meeting people at Winterfest a couple weeks back.  I want you all to know that our office is open at 32 East Genesee Street (lakeside) in Skaneateles.  Please stop in - or check out our window with listings from all over the area!  Warren Buffett knows what he's doing - and he's investing in Skaneateles by locating his 11th CNY office there!  Http://bhhscnyrealty.com or call the office at (315) 685-7000.  Of course you can always reach me at (315) 447-0441 or MBrooks@bhhscnyrealty.com.