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Gaithersburg, MD Real Estate News

Home Prices, Washington, DC Metro Area, October, 2014   One of the many challenges for families being relocated to the Washington, DC Metro Area is to decide where to live and where to purchase a home. There are over a dozen separate jurisdictions to consider in Northern Virginia, the District of Columbia and the Maryland suburbs of DC.  The primary factors are usually the job location and the commuting distance. However, some families are driven by the location of schools, religious facilities or other factors. There is a great variation of home prices. The general guide is that the closer to the City, the higher the prices. Smart prospective home buyers select an exclusive buyer agent to guide them through the process. This chart provides an interesting comparison of home prices in th...
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By Roy Kelley
(Retired)
Blue Crab and Rock Shrimp Fritters   When we hear locals talking about delicious Blue Crab and Rock Shrimp Fritters, we know they have visited the new Coastal Flats restaurant in Downtown Crown in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Dolores and I were there for lunch and enjoyed the excellent food as well as a nice beer selection. In addition to the fritters, we tried and recommend the Corn and Crab Chowder. Dolores had the Pumpkin Ale and I enjoyed to Coastal Pale Ale. The address for Coastal Flats is 135 Crown Park Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD and the phone number is 301-869-8800.   Dahlia in our Kentlands home garden, Gaithersburg, Maryland Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
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Fire & Carbon Monoxide Risks During Cold Weather This information was provided by the Montgomery County, Maryland Fire and Rescue service.  Every family should have conversations about fire and carbon monoxide risks in the home. Make sure that fire and carbon monoxide alarms are located on every level of the home and sleeping areas and make sure the alarms are working. Cold temperatures may prompt families to turn to drastic measures to heat their homes. Even traditional alternative heating sources, such as a fireplace or space heaters can be dangerous if not used properly. As temperatures drop in your community, some simple tips can help keep families safer. Winter months in particular are the peak time for house fires and carbon monoxide poisonings, with most incidents due to improper...
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Refine your Pinterest business strategy   There are over 70 million registered Pinterest users and over 40 million of them are active users. You may wish to pay close attention to how some of the top brands such as Starbucks, Nordstrom and Whole Foods Markets are actively using Pinterest. The following link will take you to a blog, by Jennifer Kardell, in which she provides some advice on how to connect with a target market on Pinterest. 5 Tips For Using Pinterest For Business While you are exploring Pinterest, please follow my Roy Kelley boards. I have have 144 boards with over 5,100 followers. Kentlands Photowalk Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
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Killing germs with a Xenex robot named Margret   Asbury Methodist Village, a large retirement community in Gaithersburg, Maryland is taking advantage of the latest technology for killing germs in their facility. In fact they are using the same technology that the Pentagon is using to kill bacteria, viruses and bacterial spores, including the Ebola threat. The Asbury housekeeping staff is using a robot named Margret. This is the Xenex Pulsed Xenon Ultraviolet robot that kills germs in a matter of minutes by by producing flashes of ultraviolet-C (UVC) light. The robot runs on a five minute cycle as the robot's xenon gas lamp pulsates about 450 times during that period and reaches up to seven feet in every direction. After the cycle is over, the robot has disinfected all of the surfaces th...
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Will you be having Indian Pudding at Thanksgiving?   Bucks County and Philadelphia real estate professional Gita Bantwal blogged about National Indian Pudding Day. Several of the comments on the blog were from readers who were not familiar with Indian Pudding. So, I thought I would find a recipe to share with you. Based on the information in this recipe, Indian Pudding is a traditional New England Thanksgiving classic. Indian pudding is made primarily with milk, corn meal, molasses and spices.   Indian Pudding Recipe from A Family Feast Kentlands Photowalk Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
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Book Recommendation: A Colder War by Charles Cumming   The latest international spy novel by New York Times Bestselling Author  Charles Cumming is A Colder War (2014). It is very easy to recommend this fast reading tale featuring M16 agent Tom Kell. Use the links to read more about this author and his books. You will want to read all of them! Books by Charles Cumming One of my personal goals is to read a minimum of a novel each week, every week of the year. Make reading for pleasure a habit that you will enjoy.   MI6's Head of Station in Turkey is killed in a mysterious plane crash. Amelia Levene, chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, wants the incident investigated – quickly and quietly. The only man she can trust is Thomas Kell, a disgraced spy searching for redemption. Arriving i...
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By Roy Kelley
(Retired)
Toys for Tots Benefit in Kentlands   The historic Kentlands Mansion will be the location for a Toys for Tots benefit sponsored by Pinky & Pepe's Grape Escape and other area businesses and organizations.  Bubbles & Bites Night will take place on Sunday evening, November 23, 2104 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The tickets are $60 for this elegant event in our home community.  
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Jack Daniel's Chocolate Pecan Pie Recipes   Nashville professional home inspector Michael Thornton blogged about getting ready for Thanksgiving by having Annelle bake Jack Daniel's Chocolate Pecan Pies as gifts for his top agents. This is a great idea and I am sure that the agents will love the pies.  Annelle is not anxious to provide her secret recipe so I did a little research to provide a selection of recipes for you. These recipes are available on Pinterest. Jack Daniel's Chocolate Pecan Pie Recipes Getting Ready for Thanksgiving by Jack Thornton If you have a special family recipe for pecan pies, please share it in a blog.   Kentlands Photowalk Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
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By Roy Kelley
(Retired)
November Dahlia    The freezing weather has now ended the growing season in Kentlands. This dahlia was one of the last to be cut in our home garden. Enjoy the colors of the season with your camera in hand.   Dahlia in our Kentlands home garden, Gaithersburg, Maryland Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
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Book Recommendation: Behind the Palace Doors by Michael Farquhar Behind the Palace Doors: Five Centuries of Sex, Adventure, Vice, Treachery, and Folly from Royal Britain (2011) is a very interesting paperback by Michael Farquhar. My wife, Dolores, is an avid reader of English history and recommended this book. The long title gives you a pretty good idea of what the book is all about. This is an easy reading book and I assure you that you will learn some things you many not have know about British Royalty.Kirkus Review Spanning 500 years of British history, a revealing look at the secret lives of some great (and not-so-great) Britons, courtesy of one of the world’s most engaging royal historians Beleaguered by scandal, betrayed by faithless spouses, bedeviled by ambitious children, the k...
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By Roy Kelley
(Retired)
Photograph by Roy KelleyRoy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
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By Roy Kelley
(Retired)
Canada Geese in Lakelands   This is a scene that I captured during one my regular photowalks through Kentlands and Lakelands in Gaithersburg, Maryland. This is a wooded area close to one of the lakes in Lakelands. It is near the old National Geographic building which is now occupied by Montgomery County offices.  Be sure to have your camera in hand when you are out and about. You never know when there will be a special moment that you will want to share.   Canada Geese, Lakelands, Gaithersburg, Maryland Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
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By Roy Kelley
(Retired)
David Stone California Chardonnay   When you are shopping at Walgreens, you may wish to take a look at the wine aisle to discover some new inexpensive (cheap) wines to serve at your parties. Try the David Stone California Chardonnay which is bottled by the David Stone Vineyards in Modesto, CA.  Presents aromas of ripe apple fruit and light pear complemented by toasted vanilla. This wine is medium-bodied with flavors of pineapple and citrus fruit, finishing brilliantly with smooth, well-balanced acidity. Enjoy this wine with your favorite salads, grilled fish, poultry and lighter meats.  Flame Lily, Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Maryland USA IMG 8715 Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
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Open House, Carroll County Farmers Market, Nov. 15th   On Saturday, November 15th, the Carroll County Farmers Market is holding an Open House Celebration. There will be free refreshments and a vendor discount coupon giveaway. The seasonal Christmas Market and Hand Made Crafts Show will run on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. through December 13, 2014.  Each week, there will be 75-100 vendors selling a wide variety of handmade and home produced goods.    Chestnut Creek Farms will be taking orders for farm fresh turkeys along with selling beef, pork and lamb. There are also local fresh eggs, cheese, pickles, wine, nuts, emu meat, honey, jams and jellies. Winter produce this week is Swiss chard, cabbage, cauliflower, potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and other winter squash. ...
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By Roy Kelley
(Retired)
Around the Tree, a Facebook group   There are many Facebook groups and you will probably find a number of groups that share your personal interests. I enjoy photography and am a member of many Facebook groups that share photographs. Someone added me to a group called Around the Tree. This is a public group with over 1,600 members and members can add Facebook friends to the group. When you are added to a group, you always have the option of leaving the group if it does not satisfy your interests.  Most of the time, I photograph flowers. Now and then, I will have photographs of trees that may be appropriate to post in this group. You may wish to explore the groups on Facebook. These are good opportunities to share interests.    Lakelands, Gaithersburg, Maryland Photograph by Roy Kelley Ro...
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By Roy Kelley
(Retired)
Lend a Helping Hand in Kentlands   The following notice is being distributed by the Kentlands Citizens Assembly as an effort to identify volunteers willing to assist with wintertime snow removal in the community.  This is an excellent opportunity to pay it forward by helping seniors and neighbors who are unable to shovel snow. Take some extra time to clear sidewalks and steps for your neighbors and your actions will be very much appreciated. You efforts may very well help a neighbor avoid a heart attack or a fall on the ice that could cause serious injuries. The thought of another cold winter and mounds of snow are dreary, but winter is fast approaching. There will be some residents that will need help shoveling their sidewalks and driveways. If you would be willing to lend a helping ha...
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Blogging Beverage: Philadelphia Pale Ale   Dolores and I were having lunch at Longwood Gardens and she suggested trying a local beer. She selected Philadelphia Pale Ale from Yards Brewing Company in Philadelphia. This was an excellent choice and I recommend that you give it a try. This series of blogs on favorite blogging beverages has no commercial purpose. These blogs provide a good excuse for me to sample a broad range of beers.  STYLE Pale AleABV 4.6% / IBU 37 / PLATO 11FORMATS 12oz bottles, draftAVAILABILITY Year-roundSIGNIFICANT INGREDIENTS Simcoe hopsAWARDS Philadelphia Magazine’s Best of Philly 2012 Best Local Beer; named “One of the best pale ales in the country” by the New York Times; Winner for Best Light Bodied Beer and Listener’s Choice at WIP’s 2011 Beer Brawl.PAIRINGS Phi...
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Pumpkin Spice Scones Mix from Sticky Fingers Bakeries   During a recent visit to Longwood Gardens, Dolores did a little shopping in the gift shop before we headed home. One of her selections was Pumpkin Spice Scones Mix from Sticky Fingers Bakery. This is a pretty easy mix to use since you just add water, mix and bake. The Pumpkin Spice Scones were a special breakfast treat and I thought you might wish to try some of the mixes from Sticky Fingers Bakeries. We used some Pumpkin Butter from Trader Joe's for our scone spread.  Please note that the products from Sticky Fingers Bakeries are sold on a number of websites. Have fun with your fall shopping for seasonal treats.  
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Street Smarts for Real Estate Agents Safety Seminar   Village Settlements, Inc. is sponsoring another free safety seminar for real estate professionals who face unique dangers on a daily basis The seminar will be presented by Tom Norris of Guaranteed Rate (and a former full contact martial artist). -Learn the dangers of an open house -How to protect yourself when meeting prospects -Your car—your most important safety tool….or is it? Date:  Thursday, November 13, 2014 Location: Village Settlements, Inc. 177 Kentlands Blvd. Gaithersburg, MD  20872 Time:  10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Seating limited to the first 35 people to sign up. Please RSVP to Leslie at lchilds@villagesettlements.com or 301-590-9300  
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