Being so involved in real estate, we look at sales numbers and home values every month, quarter and year. Sometimes the numbers go up and sometimes the numbers go down, but if you look at the numbers over a longer period of time, they tell a clear story. In […]
At the beginning of the year, I wrote this would be a year for transformation and change. Like it or not, things are changing all around us. It’s becoming harder and harder to ignore what is not working in our lives and in our world. This continues to be a year […]
Marble collecting can be fun, interesting and exciting. Generally, you wouldn’t think too much about a bag of random marbles found at a thrift shop or garage sale until you look more closely beyond the common cat’s eyes, the clearies, the swirls, and the shooters, and see […]
“Water is the vehicle of Nature.” ~Leonardo da Vinci, “Codex Atlanticus” c.a. 1600
The great “Renaissance Man,” Leonardo da Vinci, was obsessed with water. Over and over again he drew water—flowing, falling, whirling, raging, destroying. Da Vinci’s series of black and white sketches, called “The Deluge,” depicts a torrential apocalypse, perhaps […]
Buying a home is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. A home inspection is an inexpensive way to find out about the overall condition of the home. It is important to conduct a home inspection to avoid a costly mistake by purchasing a property […]
Here comes September. “Where did the summer go?” is a common question dating back long before our time. The yearly cycle repeats itself: children go back to school… vacations end… commerce picks up… and soon squirrels will begin to hoard fall nuts for the long winter. Speaking […]
With the move of Jacksonville’s City offices into Jackson County’s historic courthouse building on North 5th Street, it seems appropriate to focus this month’s Pioneer Profile on Silas J. Day, the County Judge who initiated the historic courthouse’s construction.
Day was described in the 1904 publication, Portrait and Biographical Record of Western […]
Are you looking for a fun excuse to get outside with the family this summer? How about a beautiful location that explores the rich history of the Rogue Valley and provides green, shade-covered lawn areas for picnicking? If this sounds appealing, the Southern Oregon Historical Society invites you to visit Hanley Farm every Thursday from […]
Brace yourself. The cultural phenomenon known as Star Trek is about to turn 50. In the coming weeks, you’ll likely hear a lot about the celebratory gatherings taking place. But we like to think this monumental anniversary calls for a look back to the beginning.
On September 8, 1966, Star Trek […]
As most of you know, on July 29 & 30, Britt celebrated the Centennial of the National Parks Service, with the world premiere performance of “Natural History,” a composition written by Michael Gordon, and inspired by the beauty and splendor of Crater Lake. Members of the Britt Orchestra, along with members […]
Inflammation is your body’s way of protecting your well-being. Your body is designed to be well and wants to restore balance more than it wants to be sick. The word inflammation comes from the Latin “inflammo,” meaning “I set alight, I ignite.” We “in-flame” and then progress to chronic inflammation when […]
Wedgwood is more than the collector’s passion it has been for over 250 years, and its creator is more than a mere potter. It is part of history.
Josiah Wedgwood was born into a pottery-production family, and was apprenticed in his youth, and […]
Here’s flowers for you;
Hot lavender, mints, savoury, marjoram;
The marigold, that goes to bed wi’ the sun
And with him rises weeping: these are flowers
Of middle summer, and I think they are given
To men of middle age.
~ William Shakespeare, The Winter’s Tale, 1609
Every summer, my husband, Jerry, and I attend a […]
One of the things I love most about the Rogue Valley is the abundance of fresh, local produce and other goods grown on our surrounding rural lands. However, with projected population growth and the legalization of marijuana, comes increased pressure on farmland and the ability of farmers to afford farmland.
There are a number of organizations […]
Rental Market—The rental market has gone crazy in the past few years with three inter-related trends that have impacted the rental market and caused rents to skyrocket in Southern Oregon and throughout the United States.
The first is the rapidly-growing population. There has been very little building during the recession […]
I lost my patience the other evening. Patience and controlling the tongue are active, not passive. Patience is graduate level virtue not without personal cost and tamed tongues are essential to relationship, respect, and reconciliation.
Mary was out of town so I was dining alone. The restaurant was busy and […]
East Side, West Side, all around the town…
Boys and girls together, me and Mamie O’Rourke
Tripped the light fantastic on the sidewalks of New York
Things have changed since those times, some are up in “G”
Others they are wand’rers but they all feel just like me
They’d part with all […]
When John McCully took the stage out of Jacksonville in the winter of 1861, he closed the door on the town, his home, his marriage, and his family. He left his wife, Jane, with his debt and three children. Over $7,500 was owed on his 2-story brick commercial building and his […]
It was lunchtime. The café was jumping. We stood near the entrance, enjoying the air-conditioning while quietly awaiting an available table. Across the room, a gentleman stood to leave. As he approached the door, he glanced at our faces and smiled in apparent recognition. “Mr. Robot is coming back,” he […]
We are very excited about our entire 2016 Britt Orchestra season. On Opening night, Friday, August 5, Music Director Teddy Abrams opens the 2016 Britt Orchestra season with a new commission by celebrated Russian-American composer Lev Zhurbin, whom The New York Times has called, “strikingly original and soulful.” The Russian program continues with Shostakovich’s complex […]
Learn to Grow Food in Your Own Yard!—The Rogue Valley community is invited to visit Hanley Farm every Thursday from 4:00-7:00pm to learn how to grow food in a way that is affordable, labor-saving, and requires no irrigation. The Agricultural Manager is excited to lead tours of the demonstration […]
We recently had an unexpected opportunity to visit Panama, a country we only knew for the canal, Panama hats, the Van Halen song and recent tax invaders. What we found were ships of all types lining up to sail through the canal, a rain forest, and the perfect place […]
If you were to travel in the 18th century, you would most likely go by sea, for months at a time. You would pack your belongings in a very large trunk. Trunks were very heavy, made of wood, metal and leather, with a domed or flat top. The wood inside […]
“Heat, ma’am! It was so dreadful here that I found there was nothing left for it but to take off my flesh and sit in my bones.”
~ Wit and Wisdom of the Rev. Sydney Smith, 1856
Reverend Sydney Smith (1771-1845) was an English humorist and writer who became a clergyman because […]
A question that comes up continuously in real estate transactions is—“What is title insurance for and why do I need it?”
Title insurance is important because it protects buyers of real estate and lenders against any property loss or damage they might experience because of liens, encumbrances or defects in the title […]
A couple thousand years ago, a contributing writer to the world’s best-selling book penned, “If any man thinks he knows anything, he knows not yet what he ought to know.” ¹ I think we’re learning that unfettered access to information is inversely proportional to knowing the truth about anything. […]
The story of Jane and John McCully appears to have been one of opposites attracting. Jane has been described as “courageous, valiant, dauntless, adventuresome, and plucky”—worthy virtues for a pioneer lady and perhaps a partial reflection of her Scottish heritage. She was born in 1824 in Alloway, Scotland, home to the […]
Under the hot mid-day sun at Hanley Farm, I find myself challenged to stay cool during the first 100 plus degree heatwave of the summer. As I walk through the garden, I am taken aback as I observe that the plants surrounding me appear to be unfazed by the […]
It’s official: Teddy Abrams loves a challenge. Now entering his third season as the Britt Orchestra’s music director, Abrams is challenging himself, the musicians from whom he will coax each precious note, and the audience that we’re sure will fall under his spell. If you anticipate a snoozy little symphony […]
Today, nonprofit performing arts organizations across the country find that to meet the challenges of the 21st century, we must innovate. Some of the most promising solutions are generated by those of us who are willing to work differently by working together. Partnerships enable performing arts organizations to make the most of each other’s strengths […]
In addition to the concerts that Britt presents all summer, did you know that Britt Music and Arts Festival also offers education programs twelve months out of the year? Starting in January, we bring in our first cadre of interns. Internships at Britt provide in-depth, hands-on experience in Marketing, […]
“Gardening in a small space shouldn’t restrict your ideas…Accept the challenge and discover new possibilities!”
~Philippa Pearson, Small Space Garden Ideas, 2014
When I was a little girl, I created a sitting area inside my closet and filled it with pillows, a lamp, books and toys. I called it my “roo”—not quite […]
When good is called evil and evil is called good, moral relevancy is replaced by something else. In the 21st century, it is political correctness. Free speech in the public arena is now about silencing speech. That’s pretty warped but nothing novel. The free press has […]
I just left a private tour of the historic 1100-seat Holly Theatre in Medford and I couldn’t help to think how this area has grown and what an amazing combination of live theater, wineries and outdoor activities we offer. No wonder we were just voted one of the “10 […]
Once you make an offer on a home and your offer gets accepted, many people think there is not much more to it and that the home is virtually theirs. But hang on, there’s a lot more left before you own that home! Since we’re at the start of the home buying season, […]
My wife kept reminding me about how I talked of writing a column on aging, in other words, growing older. I kept putting it off but finally came to the conclusion that I’d better write this now before she forgets to remind me. (She’s getting older, too.)
This […]
Last month we looked at the early years of Benjamin Franklin Dowell, great, great nephew of Benjamin Franklin and a pioneer Jacksonville resident, in his role as attorney, packer, and claims collector. This month we’ll visit a more established Dowell as he becomes a Washington lobbyist and a newspaper publisher.
Dowell had […]
At Hanley Farm, we grow food in a way that requires no irrigation, no machinery, and low labor beyond planting and picking food. Our objective is to demonstrate a simple way to grow food that is approachable to the general public. Everyone has the right to grow their own […]
Our gut is our biggest immune system organ and contributes to our overall well-being. Some health professionals are now linking digestive issues like indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux, and even weight gain, to “leaky gut.” “Leaky gut syndrome” causes symptoms like bloating, gas, cramps, food sensitivities, and aches and pains. They […]
Step right up, folks, for the most captivating show of the era. It’s everything a big-budget entertainment should be: edgy, unpredictable, alternately hilarious and horrific. Yes, it’s that character-driven competition known as The 2016 Presidential Election.
We’re fascinated by this big show. But as absorbed as we are, we can’t bring […]
May greets us with many planets in retrograde (Jupiter until 5/9; Mercury until 5/22; Mars until 6/29). This continues to be a time to not be in a rush to “get things done.” Alleviate frustration by practicing mindfulness, patience and making time to breathe consciously. This can also help with the […]
The greatest challenges humans face throughout their lives are two:
1) the challenge of where to start
2) the challenge of when to stop
~Sameh Elsayed
There is something special about the number seven. I can’t explain it, but it’s true. Seven is magical. Every seven years the body completely remakes itself on a cellular level. How […]
In the early 1970’s in the Black Hills of South Dakota, with baby in our backpack, we would tramp through the woods in search of old forgotten cabins and homesteads. Sometimes we would find iron wheels and forged hinges, but the most fun finds were intact whiskey bottles. I remember […]
“If you really want to draw close to your garden, you must remember that you are dealing with a being that lives and dies, like the human body with its poor flesh, its illnesses at times repugnant. One must not always see it dressed up for a ball, manicured and […]
Buying a home is an exciting event and often one of the biggest financial decisions a person can make. Most buyers do not have the cash funds available to purchase a home outright. This is especially true for properties within and around Jacksonville as prices continue to increase, which is intensified by a limited inventory […]
There are moments in our kids’ lives, pivotal moments defining who they are and what they’re destined to be. Some twenty years ago, summer in Oregon came early. Our youngest was just a year old and headed back east with her mother. Mary was going to visit an elderly […]
Over the last 5 years, the median price of real estate in Jackson County has increased 55.6%! What makes these numbers even better is that most of the price increases have come in the last three years. Homes are selling quickly, pending sales are up and the number of […]
Most of our Jacksonville citizens have never been to one of our City Council meetings. They don’t know what they are missing. It’s true each meeting has an agenda, but that doesn’t always foretell what might happen since human behavior is quite often unpredictable. This was certainly […]
May kicks-off the event season at Hanley Farm with two annual favorites—the Heritage Plant & Garden Fair and the Children’s Heritage Fair.
Mark your calendar for Mother’s Day weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 7 & 8 from 10:00am-3:00pm, for the Hanley Heritage Plant & Garden Fair. There will be a […]
With the 1861 B.F. Dowell house being a featured home on the Jacksonville Boosters Club’s Historic Home and Garden Tour this month, it seems appropriate to focus our Pioneer Profile series on Benjamin Franklin Dowell.
Dowell, a great, great nephew of Benjamin Franklin through his paternal lineage, was named for this noted […]