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No macramé evident at new Manderfield condominium project
Darlings,
I recently read something rather frightening, and when that happens, I am compelled to share it with you. Oh, dear, I hope it doesn’t scare you, too. (Well, maybe I do.) A couple of weeks ago, I looked at the first page of the real-estate section in our newspaper… you know, the page that talks aboutwhat’s trending now. I did a double take and caught my breath. Macramé is back. Please, no. Gumdrops, the article even had photographs of plants being cradled in macramé pot hangers. I had a flashback to the late ‘60s and ‘70s when all of us (the craze had no gender preference) were tying creative knots in jute, then hanging spider plants that kept having spiderettes until they overtook our sensibilities. And what about those macramé owls? All I can say is, Shagadelic, man.
After a nightmare of spiderettes reproducing like rabbits and tumbling down from their macramé pot hangers to strangle me, I woke up in a cold sweat. I jumped out of bed, called Jane Smith (Jane Smith Interiors) and made arrangements to meet her later that day at the Manderfield Condos. No, Cupcakes, Jane is not a therapist. But I needed a fresh image to clear my brain, and Jane’s good taste in decorating was the answer, I thought. As you recall, the old Manderfield School at 1150 Canyon Road is being repurposed into elegant condos. Unit One does not disappoint. With the addition of Jane’s decorating skills, the interior is elegant, sophisticated... and free of spider plants. Kittens, I was healed.
By the way, formore info on the whole Manderfield project and all eight condos, call Craig Huitfeldt, the listing agent, at Bell Tower Keller Williams Realty. He can explain to you how careful Architectural Alliance has been to retain the classic style and feel of John Gaw Meem’s original design, and how meticulous Prull Custom Builders is being during the remodel.
Back to my healing process. (Sweethearts, it’s so easy for me to get distracted and almost forget that I was talking about myself.) Next stop was Santa Fe Spirits Distillery with Jane and friends for a private tour of the operation and a tasting at the bar. I had been to the Santa Fe Spirits Tasting Room on Read Street, but never to the actual distillery on Mallard Way (off Airport Road near N.M. 599). What fun!
Colin Keegan, an architect-turned-distiller, came up with the idea when sitting under an apple tree in his orchard in Tesuque. While contemplating what in the world to do with more apples than he could ever use for cider, boink -- an apple hit him on the head, and he cried, “Eureka!” No, Lollipops, I believe that was Sir Isaac Newton and something to do with gravity. I’m not sure howit all came about, but today the apples from Colin’s Tesuque orchard are used to make apple brandy, just one of the many spirits distilled right here at Santa Fe Spirits. Kiddos, are we lucky or what?
Enough of designers, builders, architects, and spirits. How about Realtors? I ran into DeeAnne Ottoway (formerly Sotheby’s) at a party over 4th of July weekend, and she told me she’s now with eXp Realty, “the agent-owned cloud brokerage” founded in 2009 by Glenn Sanders in Bellingham, Wash. DeeAnne loves eXp’s business model and the opportunities it represents. Having lived and worked in Sydney for four years (where she also became a practitioner of feng shui, in case your life needs a little balance), she plans on utilizing the contacts she has there to bring eXp to Australia. Spread the love is what I say, Mates.
Vee Bybee (formerly Santa Fe Properties) transitioned over to Barker Realty. Just like her friend, Ernie Zapata (Barker Realty), she had an itch for a change of scenery and new challenges. Sugar Bears, with Vee’s experience in interior design, her home tending business, and her 24 years of real estate expertise, Barker will benefit from Vee’s move.
After 34 years at Karen Walker Real Estate, Patrick Walker can now be found in the Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Santa Fe office at 433 Paseo de Peralta. Aside from David Barker, Patrick may hold the title for staying in one place the longest, which in both cases may have something to do with cutting your teeth on real estate and growing up to work in your parents’ office. Not that there’s anything wrong with it. When Patrick did decide it was time for a change, he chose BHHS for the same reasons DeeAnne chose eXp: the business model and the opportunities it represents. However, he’s not planning on exporting BHHS to Australia, or anywhere, I suppose. Once again, Puppies, not that there’s anything wrong with it.
In closing today, I want to remember two great Realtors who are no longer on our roster. Joan Daw died on May 22, age 81. Billie Sloan died on June 4, age 77. These two women were polar opposites in personality. Billie was flamboyant, spontaneous. Joan was contained, serious. But they had one thing in common: theywere both consummate professionals when it came to real estate. Ethical, thorough, and loyal to their clients, their reliability was reassuring to all who dealt with them. People of that ilk are irreplaceable. And unforgettable. Ladies, I raise my Apple Brandy to you.
So long, Sweetpeas. Until next time… Oakley