A decisive hiss and a lesson learned...

There are mornings in this business when a home's square footage and school district ratings feel beside the point, and what matters most is something harder to put in a listing. This Friday gave me one of those mornings.

I was halfway through my usual loop around Commonwealth Lake, having the trail mostly to myself, when I spotted her: a Canada Goose, settled quietly into the vegetation just a few feet from the path, methodically working the grass into what was unmistakably a nest.

Spring had arrived, and she was getting ready for her goslings to come.

I have walked this trail dozens of times through every season and in every kind of Oregon weather, and this park still finds ways to surprise me. The male was nearby too, watchful, though significantly less interested in being photographed.

After a few minutes of patiently maneuvering to get him in the shot, he made it very clear he had seen enough of me hovering too close to his lady, and let me know with a decisive hiss.
Message received.

But the delight of the moment quickly gave way to concern. That nest was mere feet from the main walking path, one of the busiest stretches in the park, especially on sunny spring mornings when so many Cedar Hills neighbors turn out with their dogs and strollers.

I flagged down one of the park's caretakers and described what I had seen. They listened carefully, took note of the location, and assured me they would look into it.

This morning I walked the same path. The geese were gone. In their place, someone had thoughtfully covered the nesting area with branches, a small and deliberate gesture that told the whole story without a single word.

With all the difficulties we see in the world today, it is genuinely refreshing to know that most people, given the chance, will do the right thing.

I hope you are enjoying this beautiful weather and that you get to celebrate Easter with the people you love.

What’s next: This month I'll be diving into Oregon City. If you have questions about the area — or anywhere else in the Portland region — reach out anytime.

As always, thanks for being in my corner. I don't take it lightly that you let me show up in your inbox.

And if someone in your world is thinking about buying or selling, I’d love to help them out. Feel free to connect me with them.

See you out there,