News Corp to Buy Move Inc.   News Corp, which owns The Wall Street Journal, announced that it plans to acquire Move Inc. in an all cash deal that totals about $950 million. Move runs Realtor.com and Move.com. Move has claimed that its listings are more up to date and accurate than those of Trulia and Zillow because of its partnership with the National Association of Realtors. This transaction will greatly expand New Corp’s presence in real estate. The acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Visit this link for much more information: News Corp to Buy Online Real-Estate Business Move Inc. for $950 Million   What impact you think this transaction will have on the residential real estate industry?     Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 09/30/2014

Blogging Beverage: Brawler by Yards Brewing Company   If you have followed my blogs on blogging beverages, you already know that Dolores and I like to sample beer and wine as we search for new favorites. This series, by the way, has no commercial purpose. This is just an excuse to have a good time when we are out and about. We were having lunch at Longwood Gardens which happens to be near Philadelphia and Dolores selected the beer to go with our mushroom soup. Brawler, by Yards Brewing Company in Philadelphia is a Pugilist Style Ale and it is easy to recommend. This is the description from the website: The most approachable of our ales, Brawler is malt forward and delicately hopped for a knockout flavor. Its smooth character, hints of caramel and toast, and remarkable drinkability defin... 09/30/2014

Book Recommendation: Sentinels of Fire by P.T. Deutermann   I just finished reading the most recent of the 17 excellent novels by author P.T. Deutermann. Sentinels of Fire (2014) is a navy World War II thriller that tells the story of a lone destroyer, the USS Malloy, defending itself against constant kamikaze attacks during the battle for Okinawa. You will enjoy this military adventure as well as the other books by this retired navy captain. Use the above links to learn more. Books by P.T. Deutermann     Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 09/29/2014

Boo at the Zoo, October 24, 25 and 26th   Boo at the Zoo is the special Halloween event sponsored by the Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ). This, year, the event will take place on October 24, 25 and 26, 2014 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. There will be over 40 treat stations, animal demonstrations, keeper chats and decorated trails. You will want to take the whole family. Get your tickets at fonz.org/boo. The cost for FONZ members is $20 and $30 for non-members. By the way, one of the benefits of FONZ membership is free parking.      Orangutan, National Zoo, Washington, DC Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 09/29/2014

Pumpkin Patch Board on Pinterest   ActiveRain blogger and Florida real estate professional Toni Weidman created a Pumpkin Patch board on Pinterest and then invited me to join this group board. This is an excellent example of how members of ActiveRain and others are able to share Pinterest boards. Pinterest boards can be shared with fellow pinners. Follow a friend on Pinterest and just ask if you could be added to group boards that interest you. Go to this link to see Toni's Pumpkin Patch board.     Brookside Gardens, Montgomery County, Maryland Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 09/29/2014

Kentlands Board of Trustees Meeting, September 30th   The Kentlands Board of Trustees Meeting was rescheduled to Tuesday, September 30, 2014 from 7 p.m to 9 p.m. at the Kentlands Clubhouse. Kentlands residents are invited to attend this meeting to learn about the important topics relating to our community. For out of the area readers, Kentlands is located within the City of Gaithersburg in the heart of Montgomery County, Maryland in the north western suburbs of Washington, DC. Kentlands is one of the communities preferred by families moving to the Metro Area of the District of Columbia.   Rose, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond, VA Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 09/29/2014

Gaithersburg Snow Road-eo, October 1st   To help Public Works road crews prepare for the upcoming winter season, a friendly, team-building Snow Road-eo will take place at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park on Wednesday, October 1 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Two-man teams made up of a snow plow driver and navigator will participate in timed events that include pre-trip truck inspections and an obstacle course. Teams must negotiate their way through nine stations along a plotted route, competing for prizes and bragging rights.   During a weather event, 65 people and 40 pieces of equipment descend upon more than 85 miles of City streets to ensure that roadways are made passable as quickly as possible. Click here to learn more about snow removal operations and how you can help. For out of the are... 09/29/2014

Coffee with a Cop at Starbucks in Kentlands   Join members of the Gaithersburg Police Department for Coffee with a Cop on Tuesday, September 30, from 7 to 9 a.m. at the Starbucks in Kentlands. Most contact that law enforcement officers have with the public tends to occur during emergencies or emotional situations, which are not the most conducive for relationship building with the community. Coffee with a Cop breaks down barriers and allows for relaxed, one-on-one interaction, improving relationships between police officers and community members one cup of coffee at a time.   Feel free to ask any law enforcement related questions and learn about the department's work in Gaithersburg neighborhoods. For out of the area readers, Kentlands is located within the City of Gaithersburg in the h... 09/29/2014

West Virginia Fruit and Berry Preserves & Fruit Butters   On Saturday, Dolores and I made a day trip to The Mountain Heritage Arts & Crafts Festival in Jefferson County, West Virginia. This was the 39th Annual Fall Festival. We have attended this event several times in past years. In the food section of the festival, we discovered some of the best preserves that we have ever tasted.  We purchased an assortment of their products. The company is West Virginia Fruit and Berry. You can order online if you would like to try some of their outstanding products.    09/28/2014

Book Recommendation: Fatal by Dr. Michael Palmer   I just finished reading another excellent medical practice suspense novel by New York Times Bestselling Author Dr. Michael Palmer.  Fatal was published in 2002 and the story touches on the corruption and related violence in the pharmaceutical industry and a small mining town, Belinda, West Virginia.  If you enjoy thrillers, I recommend all of the Michael Palmer books for your reading list. Sadly, this author died in 2013.   Photograph by Roy Kelley, Imagination Series Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 09/28/2014

Busy Bee   The season is coming to an end for busy bees that have enjoyed the flowers in our area. It is always fun to photograph the bees and the flowers during regular photowalks. Have an outstanding week and enjoy the colors of autumn.     Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond, Virginia Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 09/28/2014

Enjoy this Rose   It is near the end of the season for most of the roses in our area. Enjoy the remaining roses as you take walks through the neighborhood. Have an outstanding week!  Be sure to have your camera in hand to capture the special moments you will wish to share.     Photograph by Roy Kelley at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 09/28/2014

Sounds of the Morning   We have a beautiful autumn morning in Kentlands, our home neighborhood in Gaithersburg, Maryland. It is a perfect time to get out to take a photowalk through the community. One one the benefits of early morning walks is that this is a quite time to relax the mind and the body. The sounds of the morning in Kentlands are the calls of the mourning doves.     Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 09/27/2014

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   09/27/2014

Enjoy the colors of the season with your camera in hand    We have a beautiful morning in Maryland and it is an ideal time to take a walk through the neighborhood. The season over for many of the flowers and you have to look a little harder for the autumn blooms. Photowalking is the perfect exercise for your mind and body.   Japanese Wind Flower Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 09/26/2014

A daylily named Barbara   It is early evening as I write this blog and this will be the final blog of the day. This is a daylily named Barbara that I photographed at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, Virginia.  Enjoy the colors of the season with your camera in hand!   Liliaceae Hermerocallis, 'Barbara'. Daylily, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond, VA USA IMG 1108 Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 09/26/2014

4th Anniversary at Pinky & Pepe's Grape Escape   During the past four years, Friday night has become the regular night for Kentlands area residents to meet friends and neighbors at Pinky & Pepe's Grape Escape. The wine tastings are fun and it is easy to discover new favorites. The wine tasting starts at 6 p.m. and the live music begins at 7 p.m.   09/26/2014

Deer Hunts in Montgomery County Parks   Beginning on October 28, 2014, several of the parks in Montgomery County, Maryland will be closed intermittently while deer hunters thin the expanding deer population. These hunts are part of the annual deer management operations. “Montgomery County has proven to be a very conducive environment for deer population growth,” said Montgomery Parks Wildlife Ecologist Bill Hamilton in a news release. “An expansive patchwork of public and private green space provides excellent edge habitat rich with food and cover. These habitat features and limited opportunities for hunting provide the perfect environment for unchecked population growth in the absence of natural predators.” The booming deer population has resulted in an increase in resident complaints,... 09/26/2014

Strut Your Mutt at Black Hill Regional Park   The autumn weather should be beautiful for this Strut Your Mutt event on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at Black Hill Regional Park in Montgomery County, Maryland. Registration is at 9 a.m. and the strut begins at 10 a.m.  This is a fundraiser sponsored by Best Friends Animal Society.       Like 09/25/2014

Blogging Beverage: Dominion Oak Barrel Stout   If you follow my blogs, you have seen my series of posts on blogging beverages. There is no commercial purpose for these blogs since this exercise is only for personal pleasure. My Happy Hour beverage this afternoon is one of our favorites, Dominion Oak Barrel Stout which is brewed by Old Dominion Brewing Company in Dover, Delaware. This is an oak aged stout fermented with vanilla beans.  This is an ideal selection to add to your list of beers to purchase when you expect guests. Dolores and I like it and hope you will also enjoy Dominion Oak Barrel Stout. This link will take you to some Beeradvocate reviews.   09/25/2014