Ojai's Pink Moment from Shelf Rd.

Sunny day walking Main St. Ventura

 

Evening walk Ojai Arcade by Perla

New Prospect Friend

I like when my new buyer prospects feel a friend connection.

 Hi Barry & Cathy - Thanks so much for showing me around, for giving me the benefit of
your extensive knowledge of Ojai properties and for showing me an interesting
selection of homes in a variety of areas. I now have a much better idea of what
to expect. Nothing like having my feet on the ground to make sense of it all.
Theresa and I will have much to discuss when I get back!

I went for another walk today, which ended up to be a long one! I started at the
Riverside trail head and decided to take the Will's Creek trail. Well, that
turned into a two and a half hour hike. But it was fantastic. The variety of
hiking opportunities here is unbelievable. The photo's attached is coming down the
west end of the trail.

Talk to you later!

- Steve

 

Boccali Ranch Pumpkin Patch

Come spend a day in the fresh Ojai country air! 

 

Whatever we write on the hearts of our               children is not erased by time.

Faria Beach Party

Faria Beach Party

Can't believe it was October and 80+ degrees out.

Just love living in the Ojai foothills yet only 20 minutes to the beach.

 

Halloween Party at 7 GABLES

Knead Baking Company

 

                                     http://kneadbakingcompany.com/KNEAD/about_us.html 

 

A house united will never fall...we will never forget.

 

 

Scenes Around OUSD...

The mission of the Ojai Unified School District is to develop in all students the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to think critically, to make informed decisions, to live a healthy lifestyle, and to successfully pursue further study and employment in order to become responsible citizens.

To accomplish this mission, the district will provide a comprehensive, innovative, and stimulating educational program delivered in an equitable learning environment by highly qualified staff working in partnership with parents and the community.

http://www.ojai.k12.ca.us/Home.aspx

 

Rainbow's and the Ojai Band ~ Libby Park ~

Rainbow's and the Ojai Band
~ Libby Park ~ 

Ojai Traffic Jam

I just got back from buying stamps at the Ojai post office.
This is what traffic looked like at 11:30 am on
N. Signal and Ojai Ave.

Ojai Ranger District

What is Wilderness?

According to the Wilderness Act of 1964, wilderness areas are "where earth and its community of life remain untrammeled, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain."

The Ojai area includes the Matilija Wilderness and part of the Sespe Wilderness. The Sespe Creek Wild and Scenic River crosses this area.

Special Places:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/lpnf/specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5097577&width=full

SUNDAY. We're in the office today!

Barry and Cathy Snyder

Coldwell Banker Property Shoppe

805-794-0579

Ojai July 4th 2012

How excited are you for the Ojai Fourth of July??

Check out all the details — parade lineup, event schedule, photos, stories and MORE here:   http://ojaivalleynews.com/TABS/2012July4/J4T12.pdf

 

 

SOLD - Represented Buyer

Barry and Cathy Snyder - RE
Coldwell Banker Property Shoppe
SOLD - 709 Mercer Ave, Ojai $540,000
Represented Buyer

Ojai Valley Land Conservancy

Did you all get your new newsletters? If not you can let Darcy know at (darcy@ovlc.org) or go to www.ovlc.org/Current_Month.pdf. Look up at the mountains today even if you are in a hurry.

Dishing Ojai

It was an idyllic afternoon of food and wine with the Ojai Music Festival at Earthtrine Farm. BD Dautch gave an insightful behind-the-scenes tour of his certified organic farm. Adam Tolmach of The Ojai Vineyard liberally poured his best wines. The strawberries, whipped cream and shortbread did not last long on the plate! Rumor has it there will be another farm dinner in the fall.

Ojai Music Festival June 7 – 10, 2012

Libby Bowl is a perfect setting and, thankfully, the weather was also perfect. The people are friendly and the ambiance is casual elegance.

 “ The whole world is music and all we have to do is tune in.” Nice. 

Art in the Park 2012 ~ Memorial Day Weekend

Art in the Park 2012

 

Photos courtesy of Jodi Womack and Blue Iguana & Emerald Iguana Inn

 

edible Ojai

Who We Are 
Edible Ojai is a local foods newsletter that is published four times a year, with the change of seasons. As we begin our fifth year, we are thrilled at the level to which the Ojai Valley has emerged as a viable local food community. It is through the ongoing, collective efforts of many people that we have achieved such success so soon, and for that, we are grateful to each of them. A special note of thanks goes to: our local family farmers, artisan food producers, chefs, market owners, restaurateurs, contributors, subscribers, readers and advertisers. You're the greatest!
The goal of this newsletter and web site is to be a resource that makes eating, growing and enjoying our local abundance an everyday pleasure.
Edible Ojai serves Ventura County, an agriculturally rich area within California’s Central Coast region. Both newsletter and website act as our contribution to the growing movement throughout this country that is encouraging people to eat more locally grown and locally produced foods. By eating locally, we help sustain the small family farms that grow these foods, we enjoy food that is fresher and healthier for us, and we help reduce the cost on the environment (and in dollars) of transporting foods over long distances.
Edible Ojai is a member of Edible Communities, Inc. a network of award-winning local foods magazines in distinct culinary regions across the US and Canada. For more information, visit http://www.ediblecommunities.com/ojai/online-magazine/ 

Dinner on the beach.

Now that the day's are warmer and longer

Barry and I have been enjoying dinner on the beach.

Yesterday I went swimming.

                                         Ojai Weather Forecast 

                                         Mostly Sunny High: 81*

“The good life”

For the vast majority of American’s, owning a home is part of the American Dream and is the number one criterion for defining “the good life”
According to a study conducted by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, 87 percent of those polled cited owning a home as the number one criterion for defining "the good life." Owners and renters alike considered homeownership desirable for the following reasons: the pride of ownership, their dislike of paying rent, and the ability to change features of their homes to match their individual tastes and needs.
In addition, owning your own home provides a sense of security and well-being that's hard to beat. Home is where we raise our families, have friends over for summer barbecues, paint the baby's room pink or blue, and find refuge from the outside world.
Owning a home offers other advantages as well. For instance, as a homeowner, you have control over your environment. Not only can you change your home to meet your needs, but you also aren't subject to the terms of a lease or a landlord. As a homeowner, you can experience the emotional and financial security that comes from knowing what your housing expenses will be from year to year. Unlike rents, which can increase annually, most mortgages have fixed or capped monthly payments. So, as a homeowner, you can have a much better idea of what proportion of your paycheck goes toward your home. Think of it as the ultimate savings plan.
Bottom-Line Benefits
And it only gets better. Homeownership is the primary component in the creation of wealth for many Americans. Data from Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies illustrate not only that the median net wealth of homeowners is 34 times greater than that of renters, but also that over half of that wealth is generated from home equity. As you pay down your loan amount each month, you accumulate equity, a growing ownership interest in your property. If you need funds, you can borrow against this equity in the form of a home equity loan. Further, interest on a portion of home equity is tax-deductible.
Most homes appreciate in value over time and can be a source of income for you, especially if you've lived in your house for many years. When you retire, you can sell your home if you need the funds or make use of a home equity conversion mortgage.
Finally, don't forget about the significant tax advantages of owning your home. Interest on a home mortgage and property taxes are deductible. For most of us, mortgage interest provides the largest tax deduction. Also, a home is the single most important factor that determines whether you will be able to file a return that takes advantage of the wide range of allowable itemized deductions.
Homebuying Means Getting Back to the Basics
Recently, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® surveyed homebuyers to find out what they considered to be important in the purchase of their homes. The largest percentage, 27 percent, considered the mere ownership of a home as the most important reason to buy. Moving to a better neighborhood (17 percent), wanting a larger home (10 percent), and realizing the tax advantages of homeownership (8 percent) were other reasons cited for buying homes. Seven percent focused on investment value as their primary motivation for homeownership.
Over the years, your home likely will be the best investment you'll ever make. But more importantly, it will be the place that offers you and your family shelter, security and stability. That's some return on investment.

Franglais Designs from An English Country Garden

Hope your day is a good one and not too tiring after the Easter celebrations.

A truly inspirational home improvement.