Enjoying Maryland Flowers on Photowalks in Kentlands   We have a beautiful sunny day in Maryland. Since some of us have enjoyed too much good food over the holiday weekend, it is a good time to do some walking.  Add a camera to the walks and you are ready for photwalking through the community. We had a lot of rain in June and earlier this month so the flowers are blooming in a bountiful supply.  You might prefer to read a blog on the real estate market but I will, instead, share some flower pictures that were taken in the Kentlands community. For out of the area readers, Kentlands is one of the preferred communities for relocation families that are transferred to the Washington, DC Metro Area. Kentlands is in the City of Gaithersburg, in Montgomery County, Maryland.  The opportunities f... 07/06/2013

Photowalking in the Neighborhood:  Kentlands Flowers   We had a lot of rain in June, over 10 inches. So, all of our greenery has grown more rapidly than usual. The flowers in Kentlands have also enjoyed the extra moisture. As I photowalk through the neighborhood, I enjoy photographing the flowers that are in bloom. Walking is good exercise and it is easy to set aside the problems of the day as I focus my attention and my camera on a beautiful flower. This is a sampling of recent photographs. They were also posted on Pinterest. Let me know if you have a favorite. Enjoy the summer with your camera in hand.   Lilies, Kentlands, Flowers IMG_6362 Lilies, Kentlands, Flowers IMG_6360 Hydrangea, Kentlands, Flowers IMG_6359 Hydrangea, Kentlands, Flowers IMG_6358 Coneflower, Kentlands, Flowers IM... 07/04/2013

For your summer reading list:  “Frozen In Time”   I just finished reading the latest book by Mitchell Zuckoff, “Frozen In Time” (2013) and suggest that you add this title to your summer reading list. This is a true story of survival after plane crashes in Greenland during World War II and the modern efforts to return the lost airmen. You will enjoy this book. As I suggest this author, I recommend another of his books for your reading pleasure. “Lost In Shangri-La” (2011), a New York Times bestseller, is excellent.  Visit Mitchell Zuckoff’s website for more information on these and other books:  http://www.mitchellzuckoff.com/ One of my personal goals is to read at least a book each week for pleasure. This is one of my most satisfying goal Enjoy the summer and the wonderful books that ar... 07/03/2013

What to do when there is a gas leak in Montgomery County, MD   Fire Rescue personnel responded to a recent gas leak report in Montgomery County, Maryland. The Montgomery County Emergency Alert issued some advice for residents that smell gas or suspect a gas leak. These are some of the tips that were included in the alert. This is a good topic to review at family safety meetings in your home. If you smell gas or suspect a gas leak: Immediately leave the area and go to a location where you no longer smell smoke.  Then, report the leak by calling 911. Family members need to understand that they should not wait in the home for Fire Rescue personnel to arrive. Do not light matches or smoke. The use of any open flames should be avoided. Do not try to locate the source of the gas leak.  Fire R... 07/02/2013

Holiday weekend recycling in Kentlands   Thursday is the regular day for the collection of recycled materials in Kentlands by the City of Gaithersburg.  There will be no recycling collection this Thursday, Independence Day. The regular collection day has been changed to Saturday, July 6, 2013. “This includes newspaper, mixed paper, corrugated cardboard, and commingled materials, as well as brush, branches, grass clippings, leaves and other yard trimmings, picked up by the City’s recycling contractor. Bulk pick-up items will be collected the following Thursday, July 11, 2013.” – City of Gaithersburg For those that are new to Kentlands, recycling collections are handled by the City of Gaithersburg and trash collections are handled by independent contractors selected by the home owners ass... 07/01/2013

4th of July Celebrations in Kentlands and Gaithersburg   Kentlands area families will celebrate Independence Day with a parade and carnival in the morning in Kentlands and then will go to the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg at 5 p.m. for entertainment followed by fireworks at dusk. The Kentlands parade will begin at the Rachel Carson Elementary School at 9:30 a.m. The annual carnival starts at 10 a.m. at the Kentlands Clubhouse lawn. This is the official announcement from the City of Gaithersburg: Gaithersburg Celebrates 4th of July with Fireworks Spectacular Join friends and family for the City of Gaithersburg’s Independence Day celebration featuring live music, food, and spectacular fireworks on Thursday, July 4, 2013, at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. Gates open at ... 07/01/2013

New Maryland Smoke Detector Law, Effective July 1, 2013   Maryland home sellers and their agents need to be aware of the new Smoke Detector Law that becomes effective on July 1, 2013. This is a good topic for discussion at sales meetings in real estate offices. There will be some confusion on what smoke detectors actually need to be replaced.  Listing agents need to be able to clearly explain the new requirements to home sellers. This is the notice from the Maryland Association of REALTORS®: Smoke Detector Law Takes Effect July 1st The new law taking effect July 1 requires home sellers that are completing the Residential Seller Disclosure and Disclaimer Form to answer some additional questions regarding the smoke alarms in the Disclosure section of the form.  The questions include the a... 07/01/2013

Kentlands Main Street Music Festival on Thursday Nights   The Fourth Annual Kentlands Main Street Music Festival is a series of free summer concerts that take place each Thursday night at the Main Street Pavilion in Kentlands.   The festival begins at 6:00 p.m and music starts at 6:30 p.m., featuring national and regional acts as well as a local headliner. The headliner appears at 7:00 p.m. • July 11 - Ruthie & The Wranglers (Rockin' American Roots Music) • July 18 - The United States Navy Commodores (Big band swing) • July 25 - Janine Gilbert Carter (Soulful Jazz Standards) • August 1 -The Nighthawks (Legends of Blues and Roots Rock) • August 8 - Damon Foreman and Blue Funk (Smooth R&B and Funk)  For more information, visit www.TheMainStreetMusicFestival.com.   Kentlands, Flowers IMG_6... 07/01/2013

Sheehy Ford/Lincoln 2013 Summer Car Show, Gaithersburg   Dolores and I attended the Sheehy Ford/Lincoln 2013 Summer Car Show in Gaithersburg, Maryland.  The event was free to the public and was a fund raiser to benefit The Race For The Cure.  Car shows are always fun to attend and this one was made even better by the excellent cook out food that was served.  The former Miss District of Columbia, Allyn Rose, was present to assist with the fund raising auction. These photographs provide a sample of the vehicles that were on display.   Ford, Car Show IMG_6568 Police Patrol, Car Show IMG_6566 Ford, Car Show IMG_6571 Ford Truck, Car Show IMG_6567 Mustang, Car Show IMG_6565 Ford, Car Show IMG_6564 Photograph by Roy Kelley using a Canon PowerShot G11 Camera Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 06/29/2013

Montgomery County, Maryland Heritage Days, June 29-30, 2013 The Civil War Comes to Rockville   This weekend, Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30, is the 16th Annual Heritage Days Weekend sponsored by Heritage Montgomery. The hours are from noon to 4 p.m. Heritage Days Weekend is a free county-wide event.  There is much to see and do and it is best if you plan your visits before leaving your home. There are art exhibits, demonstrations and music as well as many activities for the children. Rockville celebrates The Civil War Comes to Rockville, the 150th anniversary of Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart’s 1863 march into town. Note that the special events in Rockville are on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Use this link to see the list of over 30 places to visit and the schedule of en... 06/28/2013

iPiccy.com photo editor for real estate and flowers   Every real estate professional understands that outstanding photographs are necessary when marketing residential real estate.  When prospective home buyers are reviewing homes on the internet as they compile a list of properties they wish to see with their buyer agent, homes that are presented with poor or missing photographs tend to be quickly eliminated from consideration. Photo editing allows us to improve almost every photograph. Sometimes the photographs need to be cropped or enhanced and we want to have the edited photograph readily accessible on our computer. In the past, many of used Picnik and were disappointed when Picnik closed. iPiccy was created to replace Picnik.  For some time, I have been using iPiccy.com as my photo ... 06/27/2013

Gaithersburg Free Rabies Clinics, July 21st and August 18th   If you missed the Free Rabies Clinic on June 16th, you have two more summertime opportunities to take your cats and dogs for rabies vaccinations.  The City of Gaithersburg will be participating in Free Rabies Clinics on Sunday July 21st and on Sunday, August 18th.  The clinics will be open from 10 a.m. to noon on the scheduled dates. There is no fee for the rabies vaccinations. City residents are reminded that rabies vaccinations are required for domestic pets. A City of Gaithersburg license must be purchased at the clinic. The Montgomery County Animal Services Division sponsors the clinics at the Montgomery County Animal Shelter.  The clinics are staffed by licensed veterinarians. The Montgomery County Animal Shelter is loca... 06/25/2013

Hot Day Photowalking in Maryland   The hot days of summer have suddenly arrived in Maryland.  All of us need to take extra care as the heat index approaches 100 degrees this week. I like to photowalk through our home community, Kentlands, in Gaithersburg, MD.  I find that the best time for daily walks is early in the morning.  And, I love the morning light for flower photography. Get out early, with your camera in hand, to enjoy the colors of the season. It is easy to set aside the problems of the day when we focus our attention and our camera on a beautiful flower.  Get up close and really enjoy the beauty of nature.   These photographs were taken in our Kentlands home garden   Dahlia, Kentlands, Aitara Diadem IMG_6220 Lily, Kentlands IMG_6218 Lily, Kentlands IMG_6215 Dahlia, Kentlands... 06/25/2013

Washington Gardener Photo Contest Winners Reception   The public is invited to see the winning photographs of the 7th Annual Washington Gardener Photo Contest at a reception and art show to be held at the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Virginia.  17 winning photographs were taken in the District of Columbia Metro area gardens. Kathy Jentz, of the Washington Gardener, announced that the photo show reception date is Sunday, June 30 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the lobby of the Visitor Center at Meadowlark Botanical Garden. The event is free and open to the public.  The winning photographs may also be viewed during the regular Visitor Center hours, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., through August 25. Meadowlark Botanical Gardens is a wonderful place to visit and you will want to allocate enough... 06/25/2013

Summer Activities for Middle School Students, Gaithersburg Olde Towne Youth Center   Parents need to find plenty of summer activities for their middle school students.  For a membership fee of only $15, a Gaithersburg middle school student can become a member of the Olde Towne Youth Center for the summer and the 2013-2014 school year. Take your children to check out the facilities at the Old Towne Youth Center. You will want to take advantage of this excellent facility . This is the announcement from the City of Gaithersburg: Olde Towne Youth Center Open for Summer Drop-In The Olde Towne Youth Center will be open from noon to 6 p.m. Monday thru Friday for drop-in throughout the summer. General activities include sports and games, X-Box, Play Station, table tennis, air hockey, and other ... 06/24/2013

What are the mortgage interest rates for real estate investors?   Real estate investors are worried that rising mortgage interest rates will make it more difficult to make the numbers work for rental properties.  This afternoon, we received an interest rate quote for real estate investors that meet the underwriting requirements.  The 30 fixed interest rate, with no points, for investment properties was 5.125% to $417,000 with a 75% loan to value ratio. The 30 year fixed rate quotes for owner occupant applicants was in the range of 4.75% with no points, to $417,000.  The best deal of the afternoon, in my opinion, was the 15 year fixed rate of 3.875%, with no points, to $417,000 for owner occupants. Real estate investors that are tempted to state that they will occupy the property when it... 06/24/2013

Sunday Car Show in Gaithersburg, June 23   The Sheehy Ford/Lincoln 2013 Summer Show & Shine Car Show is on Sunday, June 23, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 901 N. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg, Maryland. The location is near Costco on Rt. 355. This event is free to the public and free food and drinks will be available. Parking is also free. Enjoy classic Ford and Lincoln vehicles. Take the family and enjoy the vehicles on display. Those that wish to display a vehicle will be charged $25 on the day of the show and the proceeds of the event will benefit the Race For The Cure.   Pincushion Flower, Kentlands IMG_5414 Photograph by Roy Kelley using a Canon PowerShot G11 camera.    Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 06/22/2013

Kentlands Farmers Market Open on Saturday   Residents of the Kentlands community in Gaithersburg, Maryland are fortunate to have a farmers market within walking distance. The Kentlands Farmers Market is open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from May through November. There is usually a very good selection of currently growing vegetables and flowers as well as handcrafted items, art and baked goods. You will see your neighbors as you shop. Plan to have lunch at one of the many nearby Kentlands restaurants. The location of the Farmers Market is the Main Street Pavilion at 301 Main Street, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878. Have an outstanding weekend!   Rose, Kentlands, Flowers IMG_5420 Photograph by Roy Kelley using a Canon PowerShot G11 camera.    Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 06/22/2013

Gaithersburg Ultimate Yard Sale, Saturday, June 22   The City of Gaithersburg and The Gazette newspaper are sponsoring the Ultimate Yard Sale on Saturday, June 22, 2013, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the City Hall parking lot at 31 South Summit Avenue, Gaithersburg, Maryland. This is your chance to find summertime bargains in food, collectibles, clothing, jewelry, electronics, specialty items and housewares. Take a friend and enjoy lunch at one of the many nearby restaurants after the yard sale. Visit the website for more information:  www.gazette.net/ultimateyardsale Have a wonderful weekend and an outstanding summer!   Rose, Kentlands, Flowers IMG_5419 Photograph by Roy Kelley using a Canon PowerShot G11 camera.    Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 06/21/2013

Maryland Black Bear Visits Kentlands Area:  Bear Etiquette   There have been multiple sightings of the black bear that is exploring the Kentlands and Gaithersburg communities. I have been taking long walks through the area but have not yet seen the bear. The bear has been featured in The Washington Post. Last night, the bear became a TV star after a police officer made a video of the bear on the deck of a home owner. The bear had destroyed the full bird feeder and was calmly enjoying all of the bird seed. This morning, the Kentlands Neighborhood Watch emailed an alert on bear etiquette. If you have bears in your area, this is good information to have in mind. This is the notice from the Kentlands Neighborhood Watch:   Bear etiquette - Black bears continue to expand their range throughou... 06/21/2013