Casa Carmen,  on Old Baltimore Pike in Jennersville, West Grove PA, the winery and vineyard that is right behind our home in Big Elk community has at last begun their soft opening. Every Friday and Saturday from 4.00 to 8.00 pm they will be open. The winery had worked with Ryan Homes and offered all homeowners in Big Elk a complimentary glass of wine, distributing some tasting glasses at an event in the fall. Bring the glass along and your first glass of wine is free.We have been busy the last few weeks, but last night we visited the tasting room, built in the style of Spanish and South American tasting rooms to see how things were going. I have already purchased some of their vermouth which they also offer and used them in some cocktails at home. But chatting with one of the sons last ... 03/09/2024

.  Much of my family hails  from Southern Chester Co.I also grew up in the Philly suburbs and went tonumerous Deli’s and enjoyed Hoagies & Cheesesteaks.But recently I rediscovered a hidden gem in a smalltown called West Grove . Brothers Pizzeria offers personalized meals that exceed it’s interesting menu.Pictured above is a Pizza Steak Sandwich. I have had one of these at as many as 30 restaurants. But after enjoying the above sandwich, I can assure you thatBrothers makes the best ! Two friends of mine Tim & Che are regular diners at Brothers and are thrilled with some of the Chef’s creations that have been cooked from scratch. Brothers is a BYO .Stop by soon .  03/05/2024

Sometimes you have to ask yourself, what is best for my client right now? I had listed the home of my neighbor for sale, 691 Thomas Penn Drive, West Grove, PA 19390 and it is a beautiful home, with lots of upgrades and a wonderful screened porch/deck that everyone in the neighborhood is jealous for not having selected for themselves.However, we were not getting any showings and the open houses were dismally attended with no real interest. One other home, the model had recently been rented for $3,200 a month. I spoke with my seller and let him know that this other home had rented and this was a possible option for him as were we not getting any showings. He said let's do this and get a tenant in there. So, I changed the listing to a rental, withdrew the sale and hey presto in less than a... 06/24/2023

This Sunday June 4th take time out of your day to stop by and see this wonderful Southern Chester County Home, located in Big Elk a 55+ community with swimming pool, clubhouse, and gymnasium and so much more.The home a Calvert Grande model with 3 beds and 3 1/2 baths has had a screened deck added to the rear, wonderful window treatments, includes the washer and dryer and refrigerator, all you have to do is make an offer and then bring your things and move in.This home has main floor living, plus two additional bedrooms and a bath upstairs plus a fully finished basement with another full bath. Two car garage, painted and floor sealed, plus security features for safety.Check out the virtual tour.Even better in person, as it has great views over the Casa Carmen Winery, which has been compl... 05/31/2023

When you move a distance from where you used to live you need to find lots of new providers, contractors, doctors etc.Well, I have always been a believer in Chiropractic Care, but when I am in pain, I know I really do not want to be driving an hour to get to my most wonderful chiropractor Andy Fetterman in Berwyn. I have been going to Andy for many years and he is excellent. But, my back had been uncomfortable for several weeks and a couple of weeks ago it reached the stage where I knew I could not put up with it without an adjustment any longer.If you have ever tried to find a new doctor or chiropractor you know how hard it is. This is a very personal relationship, this person is actually going to be putting their hands and weight upon you. I have been to a couple of chiropractors who ... 05/22/2023

Many people do not realize when you buy a new construction home there are many additional costs required after you take possession. For example, the new homeowner now has to buy window treatments, lights and fans additional to the few that a builder may include. Often a buyer needs to purchase a washer and dryer and sometimes a refrigerator too. Depending on the house, they may need to have a deck and or a patio installed. A builder may include a basic plantings package, but most homeowners are going to want to plant some additional plantings too. Then of course there is also paint, as builder paint is usually watered down and is very flat and generally a boring color too.Now, a resale may be an older home, but sometimes for one reason or another a new home owner needs to resell their n... 05/10/2023

Saturday May 6 1-3 PM - Sunday May 7 12-2 PMWelcome to 691 Thomas Penn Drive, the best lot in all of the Big Elk 55+ community in West Grove, where you have open views from your backyard overlooking the Casa Carmen Vineyard, along with a grove of trees that further ensures your privacy.This is the first opportunity to purchase a resale home in this fully-sold-out Villa section of Big Elk, a new community that features stress-free living – never mow or clear snow again – and where you can enjoy a Community Center with full-kitchen for events, screen room, a fully-equipped gym and a gorgeous pool to relax in the warm, summer days.Better than new construction, whilst the builder finishes building the Villas that have sold you can move right in to this 3 bed, 3 1/2 bath home that has true m... 05/04/2023

691 Thomas Penn Drive, West Grove, PA 19390, now for sale.Welcome to 691 Thomas Penn Drive, the best lot in all of the Big Elk 55+ community in West Grove, where you have open views from your backyard overlooking the Casa Carmen Vineyard, along with a grove of trees that further ensures your privacy. This is the first opportunity to purchase a resale home in this fully-sold-out Villa section of Big Elk, a new community that features stress-free living – never mow or clear snow again – and where you can enjoy a Community Center with full-kitchen for events, screen room, a fully-equipped gym and a gorgeous pool to relax in the warm, summer days. Better than new construction, you can move right in to this 3 bed, 3 1/2 bath home that has true main floor living: master bedroom ensuite with o... 04/28/2023

As the builder is still building here in Big Elk it may be too soon to expect resales. But people have different reasons for moving and sometimes they realize they might have made a mistake. Whilst this is a 55+ community, and all the homes offer one floor living for the owner, they do include stairs and basements too. All "The Villas", twins have been sold by the builder, so there is now opportunity for owners to resell if they want and hopefully find a buyer who missed out when the builder was selling. You also are not in competition with the builder who can offer incentives to wrap up a deal.I know of two potential villas that might come on the market, so if you are interested in the Villa model which many people have preferred over the single family ranch style homes, then please fe... 04/05/2023

The names chosen for a development can be boring usually and other times they can be extremely interesting. Ever since moving to Big Elk we have wondered about the road names. Some are fairly obvious, but it is not till you do a little historical research that the others become meaningful.For example our road Thomas Penn is quite obvious, son of William Penn who after his father died in 1718 travelled to Pennsylvania in 1732 to become the Proprietor of Pennsylvania. William, who had actually been in the Tower of London because of his Quaker views, had been given land in Pennsylvania in 1681 after a charter from Charles II.His three sons inherited the land equally, and Thomas came to Pennsylvania in 1732 and negotiated with the Lenape Indians in 1737 to extend the land owned by the famil... 01/31/2023

Elk Creek Farms is a development of 194 homes built by Iacobucci Builders between 2002 and 2004, located on route 896. It comprises of single family detached homes of three, four and even five bedrooms, with two and three bathrooms.Whilst most homes have a two car garage I have seen some with three car garages. Most homes sit on  about 1/3 of an acre and homes vary between 2900-3900 square feet approximately with additional space in the basement.Children living here will attend Avon Grove Schools, Penn London Elementary, F S Engle Middle and Avon Grove High School. These homes have a West Grove mailing address.Eight homes sold in 2022, with the average days on market being 10. The average home price was $567,700. The lowest price home sold for $480,000 and the highest price home sold fo... 01/26/2023

Ovations at Elk ViewAt Ovations at Elk View you are purchasing more than just a home, you purchase a Carefree Lifestyle. As a resident of this 55+ Gold Star Rated Community you will enjoy the Grand Clubhouse, Fitness Center, Pools, Spa, Billiards, Library and much more all for a low monthly HOA fee.Ovations at Elk View has a combination of detached and twin homes, with two, three and four bedroom and two and three bath options. There are a variety of different models to suit all lifestyles, all the homes have a two car garage.Ovations at Elk View 2022 Summary Two Bedroom homes Prices Ranged from $385,000-465,000 Three Bedroom homes Prices Ranged from $395,000-550,000 Four Bedroom homes Prices Ranged from $410,000-603,000     There is 1 Three Bedroom home with a pending contract priced a... 01/18/2023

 Living in a new community is appealing to many people. Currently, builders seem to be favoring building Active 55+ communities and Ryan Homes has been developing Big elk for little over a year. The new clubhouse, shown above,  opened recently with a swimming pool, mail room, exercise room and kitchen and club room too. Located on W Baltimore Pike the main road into the development is called Hood Farm Road. This is between Routes 796 and 896 so easy to reach from Route 1.The development consists of what Ryan Homes calls Villas and Ranch Homes. The Ranch Homes come in several different floor plans, but all are single family homes with a ground floor master and sometimes other bedrooms on the main floor, but with a second floor and a basement usually. The Villas are twin homes, or as we s... 10/19/2022

As a new member of the community I saw the signs and was happy to read about the Penn Township Fall Festival. The event to be held in Penn Township Park, 260 Lewis Road, West Grove, PA 19390 on October 15 from 12-4 pm looks like it has something for everyone. This day is absolutely packed with free activities and community vendors. Some of the event highlights include; 30+ vendors, a kid's carnival, a Halloween egg hunt, food by 22 BBQ, free Kona Ice, a beautiful fall photo booth, character appearances by Elsa, Anna and Spiderman, Pumpkin Decorating contest, Jungle John reptile show and so, so much more! It is exciting to see the township bring back their Halloween Egg Hunt! Think Easter egg hunt in the fall. All participants under the age of 13 are welcome. Please line up along the cau... 10/14/2022

Every  morning I walk our dog. Jackie, who is named after Jackie Robinson, because Annie my fiance's mother grew up in Brooklyn and was a lifelong Brooklyn Dodgers fan. When she got Jackie, she wanted a baseball name and thus Jackie. We have posted lots of photos of Jackie who is very low energy.Basically I drag Jackie on our walks, she acts like a resistance ball always behind me. That is unless she notices a fox, or you mentionthe word fox and she gets excited and rushes ahead searching for the fox, nose to the ground.As I have mentioned before we recently moved from West Chester, to West Grove.  In West Chester we lived in a golf course community.Now where we live, in a 55+ community called Big Elk, due to the Elk River nearby is a tad more rural. Hence the photo that leads this post... 09/23/2022

Moving is hard! First you have to find a home, then you have to sell a home often, and then the packing, moving and unpacking, finding a new home for all the stuff you don't really need.Stressful, indeed. But if you have furry friends, it is also stressful for them. They do not understand all the packing and moving thing at all. Then they are suddenly in a new home, smells are different, and all their favourite walks are gone. Jackie and I discovered Goddard Park nearby, we have been told there are plenty of parks and trails to explore in Nottingham, and White Clay Preserve is nearby, with a creek, Jackie's favourite thing to do, stand in a creek and cool off on a hot day.The photo for this post is of Jackie, exploring the exercise yard at Goddard Park in West Grove where she can be off... 09/14/2022

I was watching Chef's Table - Pizza the other night and thought it was time to try our local pizza restaurant. Aurora Pizza and pasta in Jennersville Village. Watching the program made the bar high as the pizzas on the show looked incredible. I never knew the best pizza in the US was served in Phoenix AZ. So, whilst not expecting the best pizza, i had hopes it would be tasty.I found the website for the restaurant and was able to order online. I selected the Special Pizza, sausage, pepperoni, onions, olives, mushrooms and other vegetables just to balance it out and make it somewhat healthy. The website told me I could collect it at 7.00 pm and as the shop was only a few minutes drive I relaxed and got in the mood watching the show about pizzas.Who knew that there was so much that goes in... 09/09/2022

We have just moved to West Grove, about ten minutes west from Kennett Square, home of Longwood Gardens and Winterthur, well Winterthur is in Delaware but nearby.Most people do not like change, they take the same route to work every day, quite content to never explore. But, if you know me at all, you know I like to explore and discover things.So, I am driving around trying different roads, and discovering all sorts of small shops, restaurants etc. These will become part of my blogging as I help others discover new experiences too.Last week I had passed a shop which having just returned recently from Ecuador I realized was a pastry shop, as the writing was all in Spanish. Well, it was filled with Mexican delights. All fresh and delicious. My first visit I bought some of the lemon cake pic... 09/06/2022

 Last week, the Town Tours of Chester County, Pennsylvania visited West Grove. Our group was told that the village of West Grove derived it’s name from the Friends Meeting House on Harmony Road which was built in 1787 on the western edge of London Grove Township. West Grove was separated from London Grove Township and became an incorporated Borough in 1893.We were invited into the Friends Meeting House by Mary Sproat, a member of the meeting, who explained their  history and how the members took the Orthodox side during the "great separation" of 1827-28, which began in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Approximately two-thirds of area members split into a group that came to be called "Hicksite," while the remaining third, eventually known as "Orthodox," espoused a more Protestant emphasis on... 08/19/2015

Own your own home on a beautiful corner lot in West Grove Borough. This spacious mobile home features spacious living area, dinning room, full eat-in kitchen, master bedroom with master bath, and 2 more bedrooms with hall bath. There is nice sized deck in the back which is great for summer entertainment. This property is being offered in As Is condition. Seller makes no repair or warranty as to home condition. Purchaser is responsible for all transfer tax and municipal certs if needed for closing. All offer must accompany deposit money and qualified financial proof to be considered.More Info: https://postlets.com/posts/13530500 05/26/2015