: November 2008

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice." - Meister Eckhart

Thanksgiving is my favorite day of the year. I love practicing gratitude and sharing the day with friends and family. This has been a challenging year to say the least, but I have so much to be grateful for it's heard to know where to start.

I am grateful I have found my soulmate in Laura. I am grateful for my good health. I am grateful I have so many wonderful friends, including so many I have met here on Active Rain. I am grateful for my positive outlook on life and my ability to laugh. I'm grateful for my love of music and the joy it brings me. I am grateful for the roof over my head and the comfortable home I live in.

Over the next year, I want to focus much more of my time and energy on practicing gratitude on a daily basis. I am blessed, indeed.

Murrieta Real Estate Expert – Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage – Active Rain Ambassador  (951) 907-9701

It would be my honor to show you the incredible Temecula Valley, a place I’m very proud to call home.

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The seasons are changing and it's finally beginning to feel like autumn in the Temecula Valley. Every year at this time the Temecula Valley Woman's Club hosts its annual Holiday Home Tour. This year the homes selected were in the wine country . Laura and I decided to tour the three homes chosen for this year's tour this morning. We started at Keyways Winery where owner Terri Pebley's home is located.

Cameras weren't permitted inside any of the homes, but I'm happy to show you the exteriors. The Pebley home is 4,300 square feet, and you get the feeling you're entering a wine cellar when you walk in. There are carved solid oak arched doors, a carved wood bar, natural stone walls and a slate floor. It's truly magnificient.

Next up was the incredible Hassler home.

You arrive via a circular drive to a stunning Mediterranean style home. Out the back is a view of the infinity edge pool overlooking the valley and mountains. The patio features the pool with two rock waterfalls and a fully equipped outdoor kitchen. Talk about the ideal home for entertaining!

The last home on the tour was far and away the most grandiose. The Knight home is 22,000 square feet with seven bedrooms and two kitchens.

I don't know where to start. Think Donald Trump. Statues everywhere. Five hand-carved marble fireplaces. Mosaic tile baths. Two separate wings connected by a long art gallery. Fresh and salt water aquariums. Home theater. Oh my.

I salute the TVWC for the fine work they do. They have raised $1.3 million to date for various local charities. This year's recipient was the Warrior Foundation, providing support for young veterans and their families, especially those who have been injured.

Murrieta Real Estate Expert – Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage    

Active Rain Ambassador   (951) 907-9701

It would be my honor to show you the incredible Temecula Valley, a place I’m very proud to call home.

Southwest Riverside Country is so full of hidden treasures. Take a stroll down Main Street and you'll discover some of the best restaurants and shops in the county. Rusticana, Raviolis!, Flour Fusion, and Guadalajara can all be found on the same side of the street in the same block.

Laura and I stopped in at Flour Fusion for lunch and it was exceptional. We both had half a sandwich and a cup of soup. I had the egg salad and she had the veggie sandwich. Everything was fresh and delicious. We topped it off with an oatmeal raisin cookie. Yummmm!

There's a feel good story here, too. The Press Enterprise recently ran an article about how the owners had to choose between keeping their home or their business. They decided to put their faith in the business and have now landed a contract to make 260,000 muffins a month for a major supermarket chain. Sometimes the good guys do win!

Murrieta Real Estate Expert – Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage    

Active Rain Ambassador   (951) 907-9701

It would be my honor to show you the incredible Temecula Valley, a place I’m very proud to call home.

I'm proud to call Laura Vecchione my friend. We met last week when she was in Murrieta to mix her new song, Tell Em About The Dream. I heard a rough mix Wednesday, received the final mix Friday and this morning she sent me the video.

"This is a song and video that came together in a week, in three different cities, because of people's belief in Sen. Obama and his message of renewal and the historic nature of this election.  We got it done just in the nick of time!!!

The song was inspired by Gospel singer, Mahalia Jackson reminding Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to "Tell Them About the Dream."  The musicians you see are piano virtuoso,  Jonathan Batiste and his amazing Quartet in NYC.

It was made miraculously fast by Ralph Modica of Phase1Digital in NYC and mixed in LA by Jim Scott.

Please help us spread it to as many people as possible before Nov.4th as inspiration for Election Day!!  If it inspires you, please post it on your Facebook and Myspace pages and share with friends!!

Thanks for caring, and don't forget to vote!!!!
Love,
Laura (and my  amazing videographer, Ralph!)

PS To read more about details behind making this visit my Myspace blog"

Whoever you are pulling for, don't forget to vote!

Murrieta Real Estate Expert – Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage – Active Rain Ambassador  (951) 907-9701

It would be my honor to show you the incredible Temecula Valley, a place I’m very proud to call home.

 Subscribe in a reader

Laura and I headed for San Francisco yesterday to celebrate her granddaughter Mather's 2nd birthday, which is today. Yesterday was Halloween. If you've never been to San Francisco on Halloween, you don't know what you're missing. Before heading out to Belvedere Street, mom Emily and dad Dan dressed Mather as Raggedy Ann.

We'd been told Belvedere Street is the place to go on Halloween, but there was no way to prepare us for what we saw. Thousands of celebrants lined both sides of the street, which had been closed to vehicular traffic. Therewere witches and goblins and superheroes of all shapes and sizes. Homeowners sat on their stoops handing out candy to delighted trick or treaters. There were dancing pandas in windows. Well...

Happy birthday, Mather.

And for those of you wondering how yours truly dressed for Halloween, here's your answer.

Murrieta Real Estate Expert – Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage    

Active Rain Ambassador   (951) 907-9701

It would be my honor to show you the incredible Temecula Valley, a place I’m very proud to call home.