Festool, Festools, Festoolers, Hurray!

That's "Festool", not Festus (character from that old western tv show).

The name may sound odd, but there is a veritable MANIA going on out there for this particular brand of high end powertools.

If you are remotely related to a woodworker, you probably have already heard of Festool tools. If not, let me lend you my limited knowledge...

According to the official manufacturer website, here is the story of Festool:

The company was founded in 1925 by Albert Fezer and Gottlieb Stoll in southern Germany. Ever since our goal has been to offer the expert tradesman tools to make daily work better and easier. This effort has led to numerous technological breakthroughs like the first portable chainsaw and has made Festool a leader in innovation, expertise, and quality.

During the past 76 years, techniques, technology and the work you do have all changed. We have been one of the drivers of this change, with major innovations all along the way. We’ve focused on the needs of the skilled trades, and are proud of the close relationship we enjoy with our users.

As we developed, so did our logo and name. Festo has been changed to Festool, better reflecting what we’re all about – tools. The name has changed, but our commitment has not. We will continue to give you the best in technology, quality and results, with tools that are like nothing else.

Apparently, if you are a person who like to make things out of wood - there is NO other tool to even consider. They are that good.

I'm just getting into it myself, so I'll enlighten you with more Festool info in the future. For the time being, I'll just say that my favorite online dealer for Festools is Mr. Tim Tyler - the guy reaaally knows Festool, and woodworking.

I want to buy a home Montrose Colorado

What? You've never heard of Montrose? It's only a little piece of heaven right here on earth. This lovely western town is "practically perfect in every way" (to use the words of my beloved Mary Poppins). If one did a pros/cons list for buying real estate in Montrose, Colorado - the lonely "con" side would be evidence enough that this is the ideal place to live. My only question was; should I just visit as often as possible, or should I establish some roots and buy a home in Montrose? I am choosing the latter.

Top Five reasons why Montrose Colorado is the best place to live:

1. Views. Mountains everywhere! Close enough to enjoy their majesty, distant enough that you don't spend all winter in a blizzard. The San Juans to the south are breathtaking. Grand Mesa to the north is mesmerizing. If you like mountain views, Montrose is the place for you.
2. Climate. One word for you : MILD. The relative humidity is very low year round so you don't feel muggy in the summer, nor "chilled to the bone" in winter. This is perfect 4 season territory with a mild, snowy winter (but not TOO much snow), a glorious spring, a warm (but not TOO hot) summer, and a crisp, colorful autumn.
3. People. Even though this town has grown considerably over the last 5-10 years (population around 15,000 I think), it still has that warm, friendly small town feeling. It is more culturally diverse than many comparably sized towns too. The people are just plain nice for the most part.
4. Services/Shopping. Don't let the small western town image fool you - Montrose has everything you need in terms of available shops and services. An excellent hospital and health care facilities, a new cancer center, new mini-mall shopping areas including Target, JC Penney, Home Depot, as well as many wonderful family owned small businesses and excellent restaurants to choose from.
5. Proximity. Some of the very best Hiking, Skiing, and all sorts of outdoor activities are within an hours drive from Montrose. Cultural events and offerings can be found not only in Montrose itself, but also in nearby "big town" Grand Junction, and of course the many world renowned festivals in Telluride are only 60 miles away.

So there you have it. Why would you want to live anywhere else?

The big question now is do I want a cute Victorian style house in town, or do I want to buy a cozy county farm home amongst the farms and pasture outside the city limits? I'm personally leaning toward the farm house in the countryside.... or maybe a log home up in the nearby hills... or I could go for a mini-ranch and buy a horse, or two.

Hey, I can dream can't I? Dreaming is the first step of course.