Ann Hayden's Real Estate Blog

Be sure to make the trip to Catawissa, Missouri for the St. James Fall Festival 2008.  Enjoy a wonderful drive in the country to a tasty ALL YOU CAN EAT home cooked meal of fried chicken with slaw, mashed potatoes, beans, biscuits and homemade desserts.  Note:  The variety of sweets changes through out the day. 

Meals served from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.

You can purchase cute and useful crafts at the Country Store, make a bid on some silent auction items, enter the raffle for a gorgeous quilt made and quilted by the ladies of the church, enter the main raffle for fabulous prizes: 
1ST PRIZE - $500 GAS CARD
2ND PRIZE - GARMIN GPS
3RD PRIZE - $300 LOWES CARD
4TH PRIZE - 22" HDTV
5TH PRIZE - PATIO FIRE PIT

Play some bingo, let the little one enjoy the children's game, try your hand at the meat shoot, walk to win a cake at "the cake walk" and so much more. 

Plan to attend this worth while event on Sunday October 12, 2008 at St. James in Catawissa, Missouri.

A good time will be enjoyed by all!

For additional info:  http://www.stjames-church.com/events.html

or email:  Ahayden@psphomes.com

Have you ever had one of those days where it seemed like you spent most of the day chasing your tail?  I spent the bulk of my day trying to find a gift certificate from a fund raiser I attended last year. 

It is one of those certificates I knew was going to expire soon, so I continued to search and search.  And of course, the last place I looked for it...there it was.  ;-)

I have to say, I found many interesting items during this quest for a small piece of paper in a plain white envelope.  I found a couple of cards I meant to mail, a report I needed to read, a couple of twenties and a few other items. 

Was this a blatant waste of time?  Or the "age issues" catching up with me?  Or do I need a little more balance in my life and not so much PAPER?!?

Have you ever spent the day searching for something you knew you just had but it mysteriously relocated itself? 

Life is short...so take the time to SMILE!  Smile at everyone you meet.  You never know what weight your smile carries. 

Your smile is like a ripple in the water.  You never know where it is going to end.  Your smile can make another person's day. 

So I challenge you to help make the world a better place to live.  Life is too short to not:   SMILE!

Pay it forward and make life better for us all!

Wines of Widwood is hosting another great class. 

Thursday, October 9th, 7-8:30 p.m. Wine 101 class 

This is a casual and fun evening where you have the opportunity to learn the basics of the wonderful world of wines.  The best part?  You get to snack on tasty gourmet cheeses, sample creamy chocolates and enjoy eight delicious examples of fine wines from around the world.  Try before you buy.

Halloween is not the only scary thing this October.  Since all of us are feeling the pinch of economic uncertainty, the cost of the class has been reduced from $15 to $10, a 33 1/3% savings for you.

What other class have you taken that has:  

• No textbook
• No studying
• Drinking, eating and talking during class is encouraged
• Homework is fun but optional 
• Spitting is acceptable (come to learn about this!)

 For reservations call 636-405-0800 and tell Karl, Ann Hayden sent you his way.

Wine is fun!

"Victory Through Valor" is a thought provoking collection of WW II Memoirs.  I had the pleasure of attending a book signing today for this publication.  I have to say, it was awesome and inspiring.  There were many veterans in attendance.  I was happily surprised by the number of people, like me, who attended the event. 

All I can say is THANK YOU!  Thank you to the three men who compiled the stories of these courageous men and women's lives during this horrible war.  And thank you to all who had the courage to tell the stories of what happened.  It was a difficult time for them. 

I had the pleasure to meet about thirty of the brave souls who were in this war and even a couple of their wives.   It was an enlightening couple of hours.  Unfortunately, several of the men featured in the book have passed away.  Unfortunate for those of us who did not get to meet them in person and say,"  Thank you for your sacrifice.  Thank you for my freedom." 

I am looking forward to reading the book.  It is a piece of history unlike the books they require you to read at school. 

Come to the WW II veterans' historic book signing Saturday October 4th, 2008. Get your copy of the now available book from the WWII Veteran Interviews Despotis Book Project:  "Victory Through Valor: A Collection of World War II Memoirs" fresh off the presses. 

The book is about World War II as a critical turning point in the history of the mankind.  The freedom of the known world was at stake during this period in history and estimates state that 50-60 million people lost their lives as a direct effect of this catastrophic war.  This degree of man-made tragedy is unsurpassed in the history of the world.   The impact of the war is still being manifested today.  The U.S. military involvement was at a cost of 500,000-600,000 lives.  These brave souls prevailed in preserving freedom throughout the world.

In the United States alone, it has been estimated World War II veterans are dying at a rate of 1000 per day.  The primary goal of this project is the completion of as many interviews as soon as possible to preserve the personal accounts of these aging veterans to help future generations understand their experiences and sacrifices in the process of preserving our freedom and serving during the war.

Since October of 2004, the Despotis WWII Veterans Project (also referred to as the Despotis Book Project), with approval from the St. Louis Gateway Chapter, Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, has been conducting 60-80 minute videotaped interviews of these WW II veterans.  It is an attempt to preserve their personal accounts about their participation in World War II.  A huge majority of these oral histories involve accounts of the Battle of the Bulge.

They are attempting to increase the visibility of the project to identify other WWII veterans who would be interested in being interviewed.  One additional future goal would be to compile the first National Database of soldiers killed during the largest battle in US history, the Battle of the Bulge.  The Project has completed interviews of over 100 Gateway Chapter members and their wives in an effort to preserve their oral histories for future generations.

Join the veterans at Royale Orleans for a book signing by some of these courageous men including my Dad, Mr. James Green.  Event to be held at 2801 Telegraph Rd., St. Louis, MO 63125 from 1 until 3:30 p.m.  The program will include a presentation of the Battle of the Bulge by member of the St. Louis Gateway Chapter, a Q & A session and the book signing.

The book is available in soft cover, 320 pages, was published by Reedy Press of St. Louis and is only $24.99.  Here is the order form:  http://www.gatewayvbob.org/book_preorder.pdf

Come explore Wildwood, Missouri's wine shop.  Yes, Wines of Wildwood is a wonderful little jewel tucked away here in Wildwood.  The philosophy at this store is wine is fun.  Do not let the wine snobs fool you.  When you really consider it, wine is just grape juice or some variation thereof.  

The owners and staff are helpful, easy going and very friendly.  Browse their great collection of wines, ask questions and even find that special wine related gift.  They have the perfect gifts for your wine lover, including the finest in wine glasses, racks, wine accessories, books and décor.

Check out the awesome baskets for your special occasion.  They also carry a full line of hand crafted Bissinger's chocolates at the old fashioned candy counter.  There are gourmet food items to accompany your wines, including cheeses, spreads, sausages, nuts, etc. and a selection of premium liquors, single malt scotches and cigars.

W.O.W. has a free wine tasting every Saturday from 12-4 p.m., featuring at least four different wines of all types and price points.  A great chance to try before you buy and find out what you really enjoy.

They also have a monthly open house.  This month it is Favorite Fall Finds, 7-9 p.m. Friday, October 17th. Come taste 15 or more wines specifically chosen to match the moods and foods of fall while enjoying some delicious light snacks from Wildwood's own Simply Sue's.  Cost $10 at the door.  Come early because these events do get crowded and space is limited.

So take the time to visit Wines of Wildwood located at 2418 Taylor Road, Dierbergs Town Center Wildwood, MO 63040  They are open : Monday-Friday 10-7 Saturday 10-6    If you need to call their phone number is: 636-405-0800.

When you see Karl, the owner, let him know Ann Hayden said hello.  

 For more information visit: http://www.winesofwildwood.com/index.htm

Like the beauty of this fading rose, time is quickly running out for those of you who need to register to vote.  The deadline in the state of Missouri is October the 8th, 2008.  So if you have not completed the task, PLEASE do so!

The right to vote in this country was paid for with the blood of our ancestors...  Do not let their sacrifices be in vain.  It is our civic duty to cast our vote in this and every other election.  Your vote does matter. 

Displaced registered voters need to contact their local officials to find out the proper procedure for voting under these circumstances. 

For more information on elections:  http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Voting.shtml