Kickin' off summer!

The beginning of July really can be said to mark the official beginning of Laramie summertime.  Laramie Jubilee Days, Independence Day... and a birthday. 

{Laramie Jubilee Days}
Jubilee Days started up yesterday with a Kid's Horse Show in the morning and Mr. T Bull Riding Calcutta.  Check out the Laramie Jubilee Days Facebook page for pictures and information on updated events.  Below is also a link to the official Jubilee Days website: 

"Laramie Jubilee Days started in 1940 to celebrate Wyoming Statehood Day on July 10. Known as Laramie's Hometown Celebration, Laramie Jubilee Days has been a yearly event ever since. Over the years, Jubilee Days has evolved to include a number of different events, many are still in existence today.

Starting with a Kid's Horse Show and ending with PRCA Rodeo, Laramie Jubilee Days is now a week-long celebration with a different event almost daily!"

 Laramie Jubilee Days website 

{Freedom Has A Birthday}

Freedom Has A Birthday starts tomorrow at 10 in Washington Park.  The park is packed with entertainment of all sorts:

"Generous sponsors make it possible for the organizers of Freedom Has A Birthday to provide free ice cream, lemonade, water, cookies, watermelon and snow cones to the thousands of people that attend.  Don't forget all of the free entertainment including music, a gymnastics exhibition, giant slides, the children's parade and all the other activities too numerous to mention.  The support of Freedom Has A Birthday has made it the exciting event that Laramie residents look forward to every summer. Last year, 13,000 people took advantage of the beautiful weather to gather information at the various booths, load up on free goodies and meet people from all over the world.   Freedom Has A Birthday is sure to have something for every member of your family.   Come out this year to experience an old fashioned 4th of July celebration!"

Freedom Has A Birthday

{Firework Display}

The city of Laramie will be displaying fireworks this 4th of July at the Aragon softball fields off of Harney Street. Coordinating music will be on KCGY.

{Happy Birthday}

And finally, today is my wonderful husband's birthday!  Happy Birthday, Brendan!  We love you!  

What a cutie!  Hopefully, he won't mind me sharing this baby picture. :)  I thought it was in true old west fashion pertinent to the upcoming events of Laramie. :)


Hope all have a lovely and safe celebration!

We are back, with a photo contest!

So, we're back!  What better way to break the silence of this blog then with a photo contest!  Much luck to you all and stay posted for Independence Day write-ups.  I am  going to try and get back into the swing of things. :)  Our family will definitely be out and about for the holiday.  We wish you all a fun-filled summer celebration!  Great time to take some photos, too! ;)  Have a wonderful weekend!   

All rules apply as last time and are detailed below: 

{How to Enter}

Post your entry to our Raving Real Estate Facebook page!  See the right sidebar to take you directly to this page or click the link above.

{Rules} 

• Anyone can enter- open to all ages!  However, I have to regretfully keep this contest limited to Laramie residents. 
• Any subject matter will be accepted the only stipulation is that it has to be taken here in or around Laramie: people, landscape, architecture, animal, still life etc...  

{Judging}  

I have decided that Brendan and I will have the great honor and difficulty of deciding the winner.  I have found that sometimes the way of judging by "number of likes" on Facebook can be frustrating and can turn into a popularity contest more than an artistic contest.  I, however welcome comments on any and all submissions.  If there is a photo that moves you to speech- please, please voice your opinion!  Also, when you submit a photo, please feel free to tell us a little about the photo:  When you took the photo.  Where you took the photo.  Who the photo is depicting, if a human being or animal.  And, why you love it!

Since there will be multiple subject matters among the entries the photos will be judged on not only composition but overall intrigue.  One does not have to be a professional to take an exceptional photo!  I would also like to make note of the following quotes to give you a general idea of what we are looking for:

"Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." - Edward Weston

"The so-called rules of photographic composition are, in my opinion, invalid, irrelevant and immaterial."  - Ansel Adams

{Award} 

The winner of this contest will receive the following: 

• a framed drawing of your home, place of business, ranch, barn, historic building- you name it, I'll draw it! ($200 value!).  

In addition, the winner will also be recognized here, on Facebook and the winning photo will be credited and appear in our Home Guide advertisement for the month of September!


Contest closes on August 14th, 2011 at 5:00pm!  
 

Lots of catching up to do!

Please forgive my absence.  I have lots of catching up to do! :)

First things first, I would just like to take a moment and wish all those Moms out there a very happy, belated Mother's Day!  Hope your day was special and you felt loved and appreciated!  

1726 Downey Street is FOR SALE!!!   

$310,000

2,799 square feet 

"This amazing home sitting at the top of the hill on Downey Street has become available for a new owner after over 30 years! This home features an amazing sunroom, overlooking one of the largest yards in Laramie! This home has been well cared for, by the same owners for over 3 decades! Many updates, wonderful family room, and did I mention the yard-it's amazing!"

I will be writing a post to detail more about this absolutely wonderful home!  But for now go check out the website dedicated to this home!  1726 Downey

Also, stay tuned for some interesting history about this home!

And, finally this SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2011 will mark the day for the Laramie Spring Parade of Homes!  10am-1pm

Great opportunity to come out and view some Laramie homes for sale!  Oh, and to grab some homemade cookies at our stations for the day. :)  Brendan will be at 1726 Downey, see above and I will be at 4203 Grays Gable.  Look for the green and gold balloons!  

Thanks for bearing with me and hope to see you this Saturday!  
Hope all have a wonderful rest of the week!

Easter weekend

My router has been down and now finally we are back up and rolling!  Will be back this week with some more posts!

Until then, hope all had a wonderful Easter weekend!  What a nice time to spend with family and/or friends and of course the little ones. :)

Winner of photo contest!

Photo by Sean Seaton

Congratulations, Sean!  Thank you so much for submitting this beautiful and interesting photo of our city's beloved footbridge!  I love the composition and editing!  Very nice perspective!  

I think most would agree that although this was the only entry it is a most deserving photograph!

Stay tuned for future contests!  And, congratulations again!

Photo Contest Reopened!

Okay, sorry everyone!  We had bit of a miscommunication and advertised the photo contest in the paper today.  So, if you do have a photo you want to submit I am more than happy to open the contest until Wednesday of next week.  So hurry and enter a photo!


Good luck! 

Photo Contest Closed

The deadline for the photo contest has come and gone.  There were unfortunately no entries.  I suppose I will wait to do another contest until we have a larger following.  I think I jumped the gun with starting the blog at the same time as opening up a photo contest.  Stay tuned!  Perhaps I will go back to asking people to name the correct address of a house I chose to draw for the month. 


Thank you and have a great weekend!