I previously wrote about the Monarch Butterfly nursery on our back patio on April 12. At that time we were able to see 11 caterpillars of various sizes.In the last few days the caterpillars started leaving the milkweed plants and crawling onto the table, the patio window, and the edge of one of the flowerpots. Within a day or so we could only find 3 of the 11 caterpillars. Hopefully the others found safe places to hang for the next stage, the chrysalis (pupa). We have looked around but haven't been able to find them so they are either well hidden or perhaps became some bird's dinner.One caterpillar is on the edge of a flowerpot and is not looking very healthy, but there are 2 that have now formed the chrysalis - one on window frame (above) and the other on the edge of the another flower... 04/20/2024

2024 Carlsbad Village Street Faire is May 5 One of our more popular arts and craft fairs returns to Carlsbad Village on Sunday May 5, 2024. The Carlsbad Village Street Faire is reportedly the largest outdoor 1-day fair in the US, other than its counter-part, the Carlsbad Village Faire in November. This is the 50th year for this fair! The Carlsbad Village Street Faire takes place from 8 am until 5 pm, so there is ample time to enjoy over 900 vendors and shop all you want. The Carlsbad Village Faire takes place in the heart of the Village, along Grand Avenue from Carlsbad Boulevard to Jefferson. The Faire spills over onto side streets, too. (photo is from another art fair in the Village in the same area).  Given the number of vendor booths much of the public parking will not be available ... 04/15/2024

Carlsbad Flower Fields Up Close I attended a CRS Networking Event with 25 other Southern California Realtors this past Thursday for a couple of hours at the Carlsbad Flower Fields.  It was fun to see my CRS friends as well as to meet other agents I didn’t know. There was time to talk with each other before taking a tour. After the group photo we split up into small groups to leisurely walk through the gardens, and of course take lots of photos.  While I have often driven by the Flower Fields on Armada Drive on the hill above to the east which offers great panoramic views of the flowers and the ocean, I haven’t seen the flowers and the venue itself up close for years.   It was a sunny day with a cool ocean breeze, although the marine layer moved in before the event was over so it was pre... 04/13/2024

Our Monarch Caterpillar Nursery The nursery is doing well and so are the 10 Monarch Caterpillars, doing what caterpillars do. The Monarch Butterfly visited our back patio several weeks ago and spent quite a bit of time landing on the milkweed plants repeatedly. We didn't see any eggs left behind but that may simply have been our vision as Monarch eggs are supposedly quite small. A couple weeks ago my wife saw a couple of very small caterpillars on one of the milkweed plants and now there are 10 (there were a couple others but they didn't make it for long). They have grown pretty substantially which we hope will help at least some of them survive and move into the next phase (chrysalis), and not become a tasty meal for one of the many birds in our yard. I suspect the mortality rate for c... 04/12/2024

What’s the Value of My Carlsbad Home? Carlsbad Market Report for March 2024 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to evolve, with shifts from February and 1 year ago. Private sales, mobile homes and multi-family housing are not included (the numbers are taken from the MLS and believed to be accurate as reported but are not guaranteed). Media market reports speak in general terms. As a result they do not reflect local Carlsbad housing market conditions (read more - How Local IS Local?). Up-to-date information, and analysis, about local market conditions benefits you when you need to make important buying and/or selling decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale. READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBADCarlsbad Village by the Sea 96 homes sold in Carlsbad in March (92008, 92009, 92010 and 92011), 16% mo... 04/03/2024

Earth Month 2024 Events in Carlsbad Earth Month Celebration EventApril is Earth Month and Carlsbad is hosting a fun, environmentally-focused celebration on Saturday April 6. This year April 22nd is the 54th Anniversary of the first Earth Day held in 1970. The celebration is at Pine Avenue Community Park in the Village, at 3209 Harding Street, from 9 am until 1 pm. So what can you expect?  Learn about smart food storage and food extending in order to reduce food waste. You can take part in a clothing swap – bring in gently used clothing such as t-shirts, jackets and jeans. Learn about gardening in small spaces (not everyone has an expansive yard), and growing vegetables and pickling them. Join in a kids bicycle rodeo Make sustainable beeswax wraps and produce bags  There will also be a C... 03/28/2024

The Pirate Plunge in Carlsbad ~ Saturday April 27th ~ The popular Pirate Plunge, hosted by the Alga Norte Aquatic Center in the La Costa area of Carlsbad, is 1 month away. This fun and popular aquatic event will take place on Saturday April 27th from 5 – 8 pm. Kids can enjoy a range of pirate-themed activities in the pool (e.g., Ship Raiders, Message in a Bottle, Diving for Treasure) and race across floating obstacles in the pool. And there's more. Kids can walk the diving board plank!! There’s a pirate ship slide and a treasure hunt on land as well, and plenty of photo opportunities. The Splash Pad will be open for younger children. Food and drinks will be available for purchase during the event. Admission and wristbands are $10 per person. Kids 3 or under are free but must be register... 03/26/2024

The 2024 Carlsbad 5000~ April 7 in Carlsbad CA ~ Carlsbad hosts several premier running events during the year. The Carlsbad 5000, on April 7th, is reported to be the world’s fastest 5K race. Several world and US records have been set, and broken, since the race was established in 1986. No doubt runners will attempt to set new records in 2024! The Carlsbad 5000 is presented by National University. There’s still time to register online, but don’t delay as this event usually sells out. There are multiple races on Sunday April 7th. Of course there is the big race, the Carlsbad 5000 (5K), as well as the All Day 20K (four 5K races) with 4 categories of runners. (Photo is not of the Carlsbad 5000 and is courtesy of Pixabay).  The Junior Carlsbad race on the same day is for kids ages 4 to 12. ... 03/19/2024

It was a Flowerful Day in Carlsbad Sunday was a very flowerful day for us in Carlsbad. We wanted to stop in at our favorite local nursery, Armstrong Garden Center, to check out the flowers and buy a few things for the patio. But first we stopped off on Armada Drive to check out the Carlsbad Flower Fields below...a favorite of mine! The Flower Fields opened to the public on March 1 and while not yet in peak bloom they were beautiful to see. It wasn’t the prettiest day but with our SoCal weather even the not-so-pretty days are still kinda nice overall. We can’t complain!  The fields were pretty crowded and we enjoyed a few minutes taking in all the brilliant colors and the ocean in the distance. It’s a great vantage point because of the panoramic view you get. And it’s FREE! Such a deligh... 03/12/2024

I suppose that's not always true, but in this case it was! My wife and I usually work together in the kitchen for dinner. More often than not she is the chef and I play sous chef, but sometimes we both take on the role of chef depending on the menu. That was the case recently for dinner - and the result was a delicious collaboration. The main part of the meal was an lemon-infused risotto from an Italian cookbook we really enjoy. For those of you who have made risotto you know it's a little labor and time intensive, but oh so good especially when done properly. Of course freshly squeezed lemon juice was essential. The recipe called for freshly grated parmesan or pecorino cheese in the risotto with some  to toss on top when served. We were fortunate to have some in the fridge - it makes s... 03/06/2024

What’s the Value of My Carlsbad Home? Carlsbad Market Report for February 2024 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to change, with shifts from January and 1 year ago. Private sales, mobile homes and multi-family housing are not included (the numbers are taken from the MLS and believed to be accurate when reported but are not guaranteed). Media reports speak in generalities. As a result they do not reflect local Carlsbad housing market conditions (read more - How Local IS Local?). Current information, and analysis, about local market conditions benefits you when you have to make important buying and/or selling decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale. READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBADCarlsbad Village by the Sea 83 homes sold in Carlsbad in February (92008, 92009, 92010 and 92011), 46% more s... 03/03/2024

We've been hearing an occasional frog off and on in the last few weeks around our home, and recently have been hearing a chorus of them in the canyon behind our house. There are reportedly several different species of frogs common to Southern California but I'm not sure which ones these are...I'm going with Pacific Tree Frog. Last night we had the frog chorus again in the canyon, but also had one lone frog right outside the house serenading us. It was pretty loud even in the house with the widows and doors closed. And our cat, Fiona, was pretty interested when we opened the side door to the yard to listen. I'm not up on frog lore but I'm guessing the frog was looking for a mate. Or just liked to sing! Thankfully, the frog clammed up when it was time for bed a few hours later. It reminde... 03/03/2024

The 2024 EGGStravaganza Spring Festival in Carlsbad IMPORTANT UPDATE 3/29/2024DUE TO THE FORECASTED RAIN FOR SATURDAY THE 30TH THE EGGSTRAVAGANZA SPRING FESTIVAL WILL NOW BE A DRIVE-THROUGH EVENT - A HOP'N GO. YOU CAN STAY IN YOUR CAR AND THE EASTER BUNNY WILL PASS EGGS AND TREATS THROUGH THE CAR WINDOWS SO YOU STAY DRY.IN THE EVENT OF EXTREME WEATHER THE EVENT MAY BE CANCELED. CONFIRMATION OF THE EVENT, OR CANCELATION, WILL BE ANNOUNCED BY 8 AM SATURDAY ON THE EVENT PAGE. March is a busy month, with Daylight Saving Time beginning on the 10th, the 1st day of spring on the 19th, and Easter on the 31st! The popular Carlsbad EGGStravaganza Spring Festival 2024 will take place the day before Easter, Saturday March 30th. The festival will be held, as is the tradition, in Carlsbad’s beautiful... 02/29/2024

2024 San Diego Restaurant Week ~ March 3rd - 10th ~ Food lovers will be thrilled that San Diego Restaurant Week just around the corner, March 3rd through the 10th. This is the 1st of 2 events for 2024 with 8 days of dining opportunities. San Diegans can enjoy a wide range of food offerings at great prices at 100+ restaurants all around San Diego! How can a dedicated food lover go wrong with so many options? The challenge will be deciding where to dine, and at how many different places. San Diego Restaurant Week offers reduced prices on fixed price multi-course menus for lunch, brunch and/or dinner. At some places you’ll even find a drink included as a course. Keep in mind that not all restaurants offer 3 meals – some may just offer dinner. Restaurants are located across a wide geographi... 02/23/2024

Carlsbad Art Wall for February 2024 The 2nd Carlsbad Art Wall mural for 2024 was completed this past weekend. North County artist Steve Burrows transformed the wall beautifully in his whimsical style that reflects his life and business, Burrito Art, at the beach. It’s the perfect wall art for Carlsbad’s laid-back lifestyle by the beach! This is the 40th mural since the founding of the Carlsbad Art Wall in 2015.  The Carlsbad Art Wall was created, and is curated, by Carlsbad artist, Bryan Snyder, in cooperation with the owner of Senor Grubby’s Mexican Restaurant in Carlsbad Village The Carlsbad Art Wall offers residents and visitors the opportunity to enjoy temporary public art by local, regional, and sometimes international artists.  Bryan Snyder also founded the Carlsbad Alley Art Wall... 02/22/2024

The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch Open March 1, 2024 The beautiful Flower Fields in Carlsbad CA will open soon. The big day is Friday March 1st. Visitors must book their tickets online for a specific date and arrival time. Tickets are not available at the entrance. Once you are in the facility you can stay as long as you wish (the Flower Fields close at 6 pm). Don’t expect things to look like the top photo on Opening Day 2024 or the photo below since the Flower Fields take a while to reach their peak. That often happens in late March depending on the weather. However, they are  beautiful even when not at peak bloom, and a wonderful sign of spring! Here’s a video from March 2022: The Carlsbad Flower Fields have been a popular tourist attraction for over 60 years. There are approximatel... 02/14/2024

What’s the Value of My Carlsbad Home? Carlsbad Market Report for January 2024 The Carlsbad real estate market continues to change, with shifts from December and 1 year ago. Private sales, mobile homes and multi-family housing are not included (the numbers are taken from the MLS and believed to be accurate when reported but are not guaranteed). Media reports speak in general terms. As a result they do not reflect local Carlsbad housing market conditions (read more - How Local IS Local?). Current information, and analysis, about local market conditions benefits you when you want to make important buying and/or selling decisions about Carlsbad homes for sale. READ MORE ABOUT CARLSBADCarlsbad Village by the Sea 57 homes sold in Carlsbad in January (92008, 92009, 92010 and 92011), 24% more s... 02/04/2024

Reasons to Love Living in Carlsbad - The Lagoons There are multiple reasons to love living in Carlsbad CA. That includes our beautiful beaches, the arts, dining, shopping, recreational opportunities, tourist stuff, housing, sports, parks and hiking trails, and our weather. This post is about the 3 Carlsbad lagoons, from North to South. BUENA VISTAThe Buena Vista lagoon is on the border between Carlsbad and Oceanside to the north. This is the only freshwater lagoon in Southern California. No water sports are permitted and there is limited access. Homes around the lagoon have great views which include the ocean.  The mouth of the lagoon at the west end has a weir (a low dam) that allows water to flow from the lagoon into the ocean but not the other direction, keeping the lagoon freshwater... 02/01/2024

Carlsbad Art Wall for January 2024 The 1st Carlsbad Art Wall mural for 2024 was just completed. And it’s pretty different from others we've seen. Unfortunately the sun was shining directly into the camera so I could not grab a good view other than to get close and angle the shot. This latest wall art is a dedication to, and celebration of, the Valley Middle School Visual and Performing Arts Program (VAPA), and the teachers and students who make it so special. The mural was created during the Meet and Greet event held on Saturday January 27th. This is the 39th mural since the founding of the Carlsbad Art Wall. The Carlsbad Art Wall was founded in 2015 by Carlsbad artist, Bryan Snyder in cooperation with the owner of Senor Grubby’s Mexican Restaurant in Carlsbad Village The Carlsbad Art W... 02/01/2024

Carlsbad Housing Market Summary for 2023~ Highs and Lows ~ There were a number of shifts in the Carlsbad real estate market in 2023 as compared to the prior year. Here are some highs and lows of the Carlsbad housing market for detached single family homes. You can learn more about the Reasons to Love Living in Carlsbad here. 608 homes sold 2023 as compared to 702 in 2022, a decline of 13%, which was down a significant 47% from sales in 2021. The Average Sales Price in 2023 was $1,808,118, just slightly less than in 2022 ($1,813,609), but an increase of 17% from 2021’s average sales price.  The Median Sales Price was $1,625,000, down 4% from the median of $1,700,000 in 2022 but 15% higher than the 2021 median sale price. Home sale prices ranged from $650,000 to $11,475,000. The smallest ... 01/26/2024