What beer do you drink with pecan pie?   It is the season to enjoy pecan pie and if you are wondering about what beer to have with that pie, the experts at Cooking Light Magazine have some advice to share. They recommend a dark and creamy beer. Roasted malts provide a toasty, coffee-like flavor that will offset the sweet caramel taste of pecan pie. Cooking Light warns readers to avoid dark beers with bitter hops which would sour the pairing. Instead, try a milk stout with a creamy, smooth finish. The nuttiness and warm vanilla flavor will compliment the sweetness of the pecan pie. They suggested a specific beer, Milk Stout Nitro by Left Hand Brewing Company in Colorado. Total Wine & More in Virginia is currently advertising this beer at $10.99 for a six pack. Pairings suggested by Left ... 12/01/2014

Rebellious Daylily   Clarksville blogger and ActiveRain Ambassador Debbie Reynolds recently blogged about the rebellious roses that were blooming in her community during the chilly weather of November. Our home garden in the Kentlands community in Gaithersburg, Maryland had a rebellious daylily that was a November late bloomer. This was the last daylily of the season for us. I am glad that I got the photograph.   Kentlands Daylily Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 11/30/2014

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Chrysanthemum with 1,000+ blooms, Longwood Gardens   One of the features at the annual Chrysanthemum Festival at Longwood Gardens was a single chrysanthemum with over 1,000 blooms. Longwood Gardens is located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania on Route 1 in the western suburbs of Wilmington, Delaware.   Chrysanthemum Festival, Longwood Gardens Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 11/29/2014

Kentlands Holiday Party   This is the notice that is being circulated by the Kentlands Citizens Assembly for the annual Holiday Party that is scheduled for Saturday, December 6, 2014. This is a family event that Kentlands residents will not want to miss.  Please be sure to register and be prepared for a good time with friends and neighbors. For out of the area readers, Kentlands is a neo-traditional community located within the City of Gaithersburg in the heart of Montgomery County, Maryland. The location is in the north western suburbs of Washington, DC. Kentlands is a favorite community for families being relocated to the DC Metro Area.   HOLIDAY PARTY When Saturday, December 6th  6:00pm - 9:00pm   Where Kentlands Clubhouse 485 Tschiffely Square Road Gaithersburg, MD 20878 Greetings! ... 11/29/2014

New GIS Mapping Application for Gaithersburg, Maryland   The City of Gaithersburg is launching its first public GIS mapping application for address and parcel information. Users can click a property in the map or search by a City address to see information like tax account IDs, zoning, recycling day, City election polling place, and public school district information. The detailed map shows buildings and parcel boundaries, with an aerial view that uses imagery from March of 2014. Users can zoom to a 1:300 scale.   The application can be accessed from desktop PCs as well as tablets and smart phones, working best in hard-wired or WiFi environments. Click here to access the application. For out of the area readers, the City of Gaithersburg is located in the heart of Montgomery County, Mary... 11/28/2014

An Evening with David Baldacci in Gaithersburg     Author David Baldacci will discuss his new book, The Escape, with Bethane Patrick of The Washingtonian at the Gaithersburg Library on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 from 7 to 9 p.m. Doors open at 6:15, with first come, first served seating. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. Baldacci has published 28 novels for adults and four for children; all have been national and international best-sellers.      In support of his philanthropic efforts to promote literacy, Baldacci invites attendees to bring books to be donated to the Feeding Body & MindSM initiative, which collects and distributes donated books to local food banks. Learn more here. This event is presented by the Gaithersburg Book Festival, taking place on Saturday, May 16... 11/28/2014

Kentlands Winter Main Street Farmers Market   Hothouse produce and seasonal offerings from local farmers are now available year round (weather permitting) at the Main Street Farmers Market in Kentlands. Open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the market also features prepared foods, baked goods and hot beverages.     This market is an Eat Fresh Maryland partner, fully committed to increasing access to fresh, local food for people of all backgrounds and incomes through federal nutrition benefits. WIC, FVC and FMNP checks are accepted, and select farmers also accept SNAP.   For out of the area readers, Kentlands is a planned neo-traditional community within the City of Gaithersburg in the heart of Montgomery County, Maryland. Kentlands is a favorite area for families being relocated to the... 11/27/2014

Thanksgiving Blogging Beverage: Pumpkin Ale   My blogging beverage this afternoon is Pumpkin Ale brewed by AleWerks Brewing Company in Williamsburg, Virginia. This ale is brewed with roasted pumpkin and spices. This series of blogs has no commercial purpose. Discovering new favorites among craft beer selections is a lot of fun. Style: Seasonal Spiced Ale Description: This amber colored ale is loaded with Pumpkin pie aroma and flavor. It actually does taste like Pumpkin pie! At 7.3% ABV, it will keep you warm on a cool Autumn eve.  Composition: Pale, Crystal, Munich and Biscuit malts. American Fuggle hops. Pumpkin, spice, brown sugar. Pumpkin Ale Reviews   11/27/2014

 Where was the first Thanksgiving?    Take a look at this Thanksgiving Timeline from 1541 for an interesting historical perspective of Thanksgiving in America. Some of our friends in Texas remind us that the 1541 celebration was in what is now Texas and our friends in Virginia claim that that Virginians celebrated Thanksgiving long before the Pilgrims. Make today a very special Thanksgiving and enjoy the holiday weekend!     Dahlia from our Kentlands home garden, Gaithersburg, Maryland Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 11/26/2014

 Residents asked to prepare for snowy weather in Gaithersburg   Britta Monaco, the Public Information Director for the City of Gaithersburg has issued the following press release that asks area residents to be well prepared to snowy winter weather. If you have any questions about this press release, you can reach Ms. Monaco at 301-258-6310 x2111 or by email at bmonaco@gaithersburgmd.gov. The Public Works crews have been making their practice runs and are ready to maintain their outstanding record for snow removal on public streets. Those of us who live in the City also need to do part and clear snow from the sidewalks in front of our homes and businesses and in the non-public areas of our community. Make sure you know the location of the fire hydrants closest to your home and keep them ... 11/26/2014

 Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires   Help prevent a turkey fryer fire! Our fire department has shared this information for area residents. Please take great care with home cooking and share this information with family members. A cooking fire could cause the loss of your home. Below are statistics and safety tips to share with community members about using a turkey fryer and why they can be dangerous. Did you know? Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires. Frying food is the greatest risk of cooking fires. Two-thirds (67 percent) of home cooking fires start when food or cooking materials catch on fire. More than half (55 percent) of home cooking fire injuries happen when people try to fight the fire themselves. Five dangers of deep frying a turkey: 1.   Turk... 11/26/2014

 Winter Lights Festival Opens November 28 in Gaithersburg   The City of Gaithersburg Winter Lights Festival is set to welcome visitors for its 19th spectacular season. Open nightly November 28 through December 31 (closed on December 25), the 3.5 mile drive through the enchanted woodland setting of Seneca Creek State Park takes you past more than 450 illuminated displays and beautifully lit park trees that brighten the night.   Themed areas include Winter Woods, Teddy Bear Land, Victorian Village, the North Pole, and much more. A portion of the proceeds benefits local charities. Click here for hours and admission fees.   Dahlia from our Kentlands home garden, Gaithersburg, MD Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 11/26/2014

 Fireplace and Wood Burning Safety Tips   As the weather gets colder, many will be firing up the wood burning stove or fireplace in their home. The fire department has distributed some safety tips to reduce the number of fires that result from improperly discarded fireplace and wood stove ashes. Please take a moment to review the below related safety tips to help make sure you enjoy your fireplace or wood burning stove safely. Fireplace and wood-stove ashes retain enough heat to ignite other combustible materials for several days after a fire. It is important to learn the following ways to dispose of fireplace and wood-stove ashes properly: DO NOT discard your ashes into any combustible container like a paper or plastic bag, a cardboard box, or a plastic trash can. DO put ashes into a n... 11/25/2014

Book Recommendation: Gray Mountain by John Grisham   John Grisham, one of my favorite authors, has written twenty-seven novels, one work of nonfiction, a collection of stories and four novels for young readers. Gray Mountain (2014) is his latest novel and is definitely a book that you will want to read.  The primary character in this book is a young lawyer, Samantha Kofer, and the story will take you from her big law position in New York to a small town in Appalachia. This is an easy reading book that is hard to put down. The following summary is from the author's website. John Grisham has a new hero . . . and she’s full of surprises The year is 2008 and Samantha Kofer’s career at a huge Wall Street law firm is on the fast track—until the recession hits and she gets downsized, furloughe... 11/25/2014

Winter Weather Advisory for Montgomery County, Maryland   The National Weather Service has issued a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY for Montgomery County, Maryland.  Area residents and visitors are advised to expect 2" - 5" of snow on Wednesday, November 26, 2014.  Caution should be used while traveling. You may wish to modify your Thanksgiving travel plans. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY is issued when frozen precipitation is expected to impact road conditions. Travel may become hazardous, use caution.  SKYWARN spotters are asked to relay all freezing rain, and snowfall reports to the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and the NWS Office in Sterling, VA. Sedum in our Kentlands home garden, Gaithersburg, Maryland Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs  11/25/2014

Comparing Baltimore and Washington, DC Housing Trends   When being relocated to Maryland, prospective home buyers sometimes wish to compare the housing market in the Baltimore area with the housing market in the Metro Area of Washington, DC. The following report was provided by RealEstate Business Intelligence for the use of real estate professionals and their clients. These charts show the October, 2014 housing statistics as well as the statistics for the previous month and the previous year. It only takes a quick glance to see that the average cost of a home in the Baltimore area less than in the DC area. Many young professionals are moving to the Baltimore area even if they have to commute to the District of Columbia. Prospective home buyers need to be very careful not to draw conclu... 11/24/2014

Leffe Ale, Original Belgian Abbey, Brown   Dolores and I were attending a party in Kentlands, our home community in Gaithersburg, Maryland. A friend suggested that I try the Leffe Brown Ale. I am always willing to try a new beer and it is easy for me to suggest the Leffe Brown as one of the beers that you will serve to your guests this fall. This beer is available at the Wegmans store in Germantown, Maryland and the following description is from their website. Savor the flavour of Leffe Brown. Award-winning Leffe Brown is a full-bodied deep beer that is smooth and refined, yet robust in taste. Belgium's classic Abbey ale is best served in its own chalice-shaped glass, which accentuates the ale's aroma and creates the perfect head. The Story of the Abbey Leffe: Leffe Brown Abbey traces i... 11/24/2014

Thanksgiving Closures & Recycling in Gaithersburg   The City of Gaithersburg offices and most facilities will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 27 and 28, 2014. Recycling scheduled for November 27 will be picked up on Saturday, November 29. November 28 is a regular recycling day. Since Thursday is the regular recycling day in Kentlands, community residents need to know about this change in recycling days.   Kentlands Photowalk Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs  11/24/2014

Book Recommendation:  Personal by Lee Child   Jim Grant, a British crime fiction thriller writer is better know by his pen name Lee Child. He lives in New York City. This New York Times Bestselling Author has written 19 novels that feature the primary character Jack Reacher. Personal (2014) is his latest novel in this series. All of his novels have been optioned for motion pictures. Dolores and I have read all of these books and recommend them for your personal reading list.  "Someone has taken a long-range shot at the French president but failed to kill him. The suspected sniper has serious skills and is a hard man to find. Reacher tracked him down once and put him in jail. Now he's asked to hunt him again, and put him away permanently.  Tracking the shooter will take Reacher from Fran... 11/23/2014