Life...Fun and Kentucky Real Estate

Applebees Park - Home of the Lexington Legends

One thing I know for sure is that I'm not a sports nut.

Even with that said, I didn't turn down an invitation by Richmond Mayor Connie Lawson to join her for a visit to Applebees Park to see the Lexington Legends play the other night. The park built in 2001 has the distinction of being the first totally privately funded Minor League Baseball park in the United States. It can hold up to 6,994 screaming fans!

Sounds like fun...count me IN!!

 The first warning as we arrived and were directed to park was that we needed to be aware of the foul balls that popped out of the park to the right.

Parking further away seemed like an excellent idea suddenly!

Since this was my first time at Applebees Park, I was impressed with how helpful and kind the attendants were, the nicely painted building, clean manicured landscape, great food, and wonderful area for kids to play with their families. Everywhere I looked it gave me a welcoming feel.

  To watch the Lexington Legends play under the lights at night was magical.  I learned that the park is used 365 days a year for concerts and special events also.

The next one coming up will be on:

 Sept.2 and is Fan Appreciation held at 7:05PM. There will be a silent auction, fireworks and free giveaways.

Well ...I can't say that I learned much about baseball that night(I was busy taking pictures, socializing and walking around) but it goes to show you that you don't have to be a baseball fan to enjoy Applebees Park. There's something for everyone here!

P.S. I did worry all night that there was going to be a meteor size dent in my car, even though I had parked further away...

Don't get me wrong...I love my hometown. I was born in Madison County and I have lived half a century to see some major changes here.

I am in the business of selling real estate. It would be rare to see a client buy farms just to see them stay as they are. Most always they are bought to subdivide for homes or build commercial buildings.

I admit to the love of shopping and have been excited to see some better stores and restaurants move into Richmond Centre. I am sad to see the changes to our unique historic landscape that is green-space.

My Dad had a vision back in the late 60's and bought some land (33 acres)with a few other businessmen on the White Hall exit. They wanted to build a hotel.

Back then, that exit off I-75 was just a few houses with farmland, White Hall School, Horseshoe Motel and a Texaco station. The old motel caught fire one night and was never rebuilt. The Texaco station moved down the street to be reborn in front of the school.

Dad managed the Texaco along with his Greyhound Bus Station downtown and was night auditor the Holiday Inn on exit 87. He did believe that White Hall exit might be developed, but sold his share in the corporation before it did. Now, if you look at that land it is completely covered with commercial buildings, motels, houses, gas stations and restaurants. It's amazing for me to see because all of those old farms were where I rode my horses everyday. They were beautiful green-space. I'm glad I can think back to a simpler time where I enjoyed our little creek, old barns and horses. I spent many quiet and peaceful moments there. 

A few days a go, I was driving out Barnes Mill Road and stopped to take this picture. I felt concern because the old barn was valiantly standing in the middle of progress.Tender fields of bluegrass were being gouged into, limestone rock underneath was being blasted and all the ancient trees had been removed. Now the heavy equipment moves mountains of rich soil here and there to create a concete landscape. The old barn seemed sad and was patiently awaiting it's fate.

Across the street the same scraping away of beautiful land has happened. It made me sad to see how change does not include the history and loveliness of what is old. Soon the old barn will be demolished and never to return. I love Kentucky and want us to be modern but the other part of me wishes to keep what makes us unique. The rolling hills of lush bluegrass, horses, barns and plank fence. I'm all for progress but we give up so much to enjoy the convenience of it.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by The Activerain Network and it's members and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of Lizette Fitzpatrick and Prudential Don Foster Realtors. Lizette Fitzpatrick and Prudential Don Foster Realtors are not responsible for the accuracy or content provided by The Community.

Last Thursday I got to re-visit Midway. It hadn't been in the plan earlier in the week but I received a voicemail from someone that was researching to do a real estate article on Midway. I think they had read what I wrote earlier posted on Localism. Midway, Kentucky is a Tourist's Secret! Shhhhhhhh! Anyway, I was asked to contribute some quotes and a few pictures. I sure didn't need much of a reason to want to go back. That place is magical!

So...I asked one of my best friends to accompany me for the day and we loaded up the camera and notepad and we were off. We laughingly called ourselves, "Blonde Roving Reporters"!!

We first drove around town to get a better idea of what kind of what was available in housing and the types of architecture. Mostly historic I found. There was plenty of restoration going on. After I took a few pictures we wondered into City Hall (A former bank built in the 1860's). to ask a few questions, I took some notes, then we decided to relax a bit across the street at the Cafe @ Le Marche. By that time we were starving and the club sandwiches the owner rustled up for us were fantastic. 

As soon as we were back on the street a train came up right on the track in front of us. How exciting to be up close and see a different kind of train on the track. I took a few quick pics of it before it scurried on down the line. As many times as I have been in Midway this was the first time I had experienced a train on the Main Street. Maybe it's just me but I thought it was way cool! You could sit outside at one of the cafes and have dinner, glass of vino and a train all at once! Wow! 

We wondered on down the street to visit a few shops, enjoy the sunshine, talk to friendly locals and get a few extra pics like these...

Well, I'm sure we will be back again soon. We had a blast!

It's a great place to unwind and kick your feet up for a spell. You need to go see this for yourself. Tell them I sent you!    

Lizette Fitzpatrick - Baby Boomer Real Estate Relocation Specialist with Prudential Don Foster in Richmond, Kentucky.

Rated number #1 featured Kentucky Realtor on Activerain.com and Localism.com. Publisher/Author for the only Central Kentucky email newsletter on local real estate listings and sold properties, Kentucky relocation, local events, homeowner information and fun! For more information on Lizette, Kentucky Horse Farms, Prudential Don Foster, Madison County, Fayette County, Richmond or Lexington, Kentucky click on Lizette.us.

See for yourself what Lizette's extraordinary clients have to say about their Kentucky real estate experience.

 Foreclosure in Kentucky inched higher in the first half of the year. Looks like we are catching up with the rest of the states. Realtytrac's midyear 2007 report revealed: 

Kentucky's foreclosure rate increased 55% from the first six months of 2006. 4,503 properties were at some stage of foreclosure in January-June 2007 (1 in 414 properties). In ranking of states, we are 31st by rate of foreclosure, By comparison, Ohio ranked 6th,Indiana was 10th, Tennessee was 12th, Missouri was 20th and Virginia was 25th.

If the previous six months are compared Kentucky had an increase of 7% in total foreclosures. When June 2007 is compared to June 2006 the rate is up 124% with  805 households currently in the stages of foreclosure. 

Yippee!!!! Today is my birthday! I'm 2!! (actually 14 in dog years)

As you can see I've come a long way baby! I've been watching Mommy type her funny stories for some time now. If you ask me she spends too much time on the computer. She says I'm too big to be laying on the desk. Now, I spend my days begging for ice cubes or hanging out at the crib.

Maybe, I'll go shopping with all my birthday cash! How do you like my purse? It's HOT! Aunt Meme is bring me a new bed that is zebra print to fit in Mommy's new car. I think that will fit quite perfectly in the back hatch area. Imagine how stylin that will be! Can you say ROAD TRIP?

I have to say that life since my last birthday has been exciting! I love all the new people I meet everyday. When Mommy works in the home office I try to time the bark alarm just right. She attempts to be professional and answer the phone like she is at work. After about a minute I start barking. That blows her cover that she is actually at home. How funny! Then she chases me around trying to shut me up while keeping the client in a terminal hold. It's hysterical! Call her sometime and see...

Well...I'm gonna lay here and see what birthday goodies I get today. Ahhhh....it's good to be ME!

THE END...(for now)

I can remember the exact thought and feeling of a time in 1994 while living in Phoenix, Arizona. I was driving down the road to work in Scottsdale and I had the window down. 

The feeling of absolute bliss in my life hit me. The sky was blue the weather warm. I stuck my head out of the window and shouted, "I wasn't born here...but I got here as soon as I could!" Life felt perfect then. I knew I was where I was supposed to be in that moment. I had arrived!

It all changed with one phone call from my Mother in Kentucky. My Dad had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and it had spread into his bones.  My fragile world all crashed around me and I cried in the floor of my apartment for days. A neighbor from across the way became concerned and knocked upon my door. He brought me flowers and food and helped me figure out what to do. I think now that he was an angel sent to watch over me.

After storing all my things I flew back home to live at the farm and care for my Dad. I was there every moment I could be till the end. I have such wonderful memories of our talks and Dad knew just how deeply I loved him. I had to let go of him right before his birthday in 1995.

Dad had been a classic car collector and was so proud of all his "babies". When he had bought his convertible white Cadillac with the tail fins he knew it was one of his dreamcars. I got my love of cars from him. I'm not a big trader. I tend to keep one forever and baby it.  My favorites have been sportscars and I bought my first one in 1982. The last one  I had was traded in to buy my Mom a new car. She gave me her old one and I used it to become the Realtor I am today! LOL

After 4 years with Mom's car I finally started dreaming of a sportscar again. I started researching then imagining every aspect of a certain one. I knew the color, interior, specs, mileage, weight, speed, etc. I studied all the websites where it was sold used and joined a forum of car-lovers of that car. I went to a dealership to drive one...it was already sold. One spin around the lot and I knew I would have one soon. I thought about the car that it was already mine. I made room in my garage to park it. I was going to manifest this particular car in my life.

A week ago last Friday...I truly released it to the universe. I had done everything I could. All followups by me and others on available cars across the USA for 4 months had been futile. That night I saw another one on eBay and I sent the dealership an email. By 9AM I got the call from the salesman and by 11A I was on the road with one of my best friends to Chicago to buy this car. If someone had asked me on Friday what I would be doing on Saturday it wouldn't have been that I would be driving 6 hours to Chicago to buy a car.  It was destiny.

Two things confirmed I was doing the right thing. They had to do with lucky numbers. Remember my Lucky Monkey 203 story? The mileage was 17203. The salesperson said the dealership had been in business since 1956. That was the year my Dad started his Greyhound Bus Station. Suddenly, I felt comfort wash over me that Dad had something to do with this. He was was sending me a message and helping me get my dreamcar!

We pulled into the dealership  and there it was! I didn't ever have a moment of hesitation to buy it. Everything had fallen into place perfectly within hours. No snags at all. Within an hour I was driving it back to Kentucky. Dad would have been so proud. Sitting in the car I felt him hugging me.

This post is about how your thoughts become your reality. When you want something bad enough it materializes for you. Spend time to focus on exactly what it is. Live and breathe it like you have it in your life now.

When everything lines up and people(angels) are in place to help to get what you want...believe in it. Take the leap and own it. As soon as you start questioning and focus on a fear all this support and help will crumble and blow away in the wind. Take the leap and get what you want today...if you were to die tomorrow you would at least have enjoyed it for a day.

"Walk out like someone suddenly born into color. Do it now!" 

Rumi

Lizette Fitzpatrick - Broker of Lizette Realty in Richmond, Kentucky.

Rated number #1 featured Kentucky Realtor on Activerain.com and Localism.com. Publisher/Author for the only Central Kentucky email newsletter on local real estate listings and sold properties, Kentucky relocation, local events, homeowner information and fun! For more information on Lizette, Kentucky Horse Farms, Madison County, Fayette County, Richmond or Lexington, Kentucky click on Lizette.us.

See for yourself what Lizette's extraordinary clients have to say about their Kentucky real estate experience.

Madison County Kentucky Time Capsule

Where does time go?? 

This week I made a trip to the Madison County Court House to register my car and pick up tags. As I was walking on the sidewalk out front  I stepped on the Time Capsule!

I had forgotten it was buried there. I can well remember the Madison County Bicentennial Celebration downtown along with a parade, games and booths all around the Court House in the summer of 1986.

I will have to do a bit of research to find out what was put inside. Maybe it is a mystery to be discovered in 2086. I don't believe I will be around to see it opened.

 That same year my Dad had some new concrete poured at our Greyhound Station that was a few blocks away on the corner of 3rd & Water Streets. I grew up downtown and loved it. We had owned the station since 1956. I scratched my initials and the year to immortalize myself! Now I had my own time capsule.   

It doesn't seem like it was that long ago, but I guess a lot has happened since then. Hard to believe 21 years have passed.

For more on what has been happened in Madison County, Kentucky since the begining check in here...

Madison County Chronology

Lizette Fitzpatrick - Broker of Lizette Realty in Richmond, Kentucky.

Rated number #1 featured Kentucky Realtor on Activerain.com and Localism.com. Publisher/Author for the only Central Kentucky email newsletter on local real estate listings and sold properties, Kentucky relocation, local events, homeowner information and fun! For more information on Lizette, Kentucky Horse Farms, Madison County, Fayette County, Richmond or Lexington, Kentucky click on Lizette.us.

See for yourself what Lizette's extraordinary clients have to say about their Kentucky real estate experience.