Some toilet seat humor and who's getting rich? *** Will you be judged by your toilet seat next time you have company over for your next backyard BBQ? Not at my house, see I still have three simple toilet seats that I've had for the last 30 plus years and they still work.                                                                                                                                          I don't need a built in night lilght. It work just fine in the dark. -----------Toilet Seats ------------- It must be an amazing experience -------- Is this called going green?----------------Save the trees & forest------------The enjoyable experience?---------------Stimulus Money??????????????? A little too much for the important things we have to deal with today. Duh! Invite everyone... 08/20/2009

 Inspector Carl. What to expect when you make that decision to become a home inspector. This blog is about two important things in my opinion. We know having folks in our profession that are dedicated is important, just as having dedicated realtors. Do you truly want to be a home inspector? Or are you a Wanna-B? When you do a complete structural and mechanical property inspection it is just as important as any profession, whether you are an engineer, a builder etc. If you stop please take time to read this to the END. People gotta live somewhere just like people gotta eat and all in between that comes with living in a home and having food on the table. They need dentist, physicians, carpet cleaners, mortgage brokers, appraisers and may I add the most important realtors and home inspecto... 08/18/2009

This morning I met a friend at our favorite breakfast meeting place at Startzville. It's a gathering place for all the locals. It's a place to talk about the community, fishing,  the drought, the economy and to do a little local gossip. After we finished I went to ask Monica Startz if I could take a few photo's but she had run an errand but I was given the OK. See our kids grew up with the Startz kids and we grew up with the Startz family along with many locals in the area. I remember when Great Granny Ms Startz use to run the store; if we were lucky we could maybe get some milk and a little bait and maybe a howdy. This store and restaurant (predominately restaurant with a little shop has been in this family for a number of generations). The home cook'in is great,  seems family members ... 08/14/2009

First the deep dark clouds came, then the wind blew, then the thunder and then....Yes, Rain, Rain, Oh so precious rain. We finally got some rain this afternoon. Yes, I did my dance, Brutus ran around like he was crazy.                                                        Even the baby fawns seemed happy. Lord please let it rain, rain and rain some more. This blog is from your Comal County Home Inspector's wife. August 13, 2009 at 3:17 p.m.                                             _________________________________________________________ Complete Inspection Service, Carl Winters, License #3630. If you should need a home inspection call 830-660-0131. Carl covers San Antonio, and surrounding counties. Comal, Kendall, Hays, Guadalupe and everything in between.                          ... 08/12/2009

Wii(tm) Battery Recharge Stations Recalled by Griffin International Due to Burn and Fire Hazards This recall came into my email box this morning. As you know I pass on this information sometimes that I think may be of interest and helpful. This may be an item you want to check to see if you have and take appropriate action. I know I will be checking to see if any of our family members have purchased this product. NEWS from CPSCU.S. Consumer Product Safety CommissionOffice of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAugust 11, 2009Release # 09-303  Firm's Recall Hotline: (888) 344-4702CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908  Wii(tm) Battery Recharge Stations Recalled by Griffin International Due to Burn and Fire HazardsWASHING... 08/12/2009

  White Water Amphitheatre on the Horseshoe at Canyon Lake, Texas is an awesome venue for musical entertainment in the Texas Hill Country.  This is like the Gruene Hall of the great outdoors with the beautiful Guadalupe River as a backdrop.  The music is great, the staff is friendly and the location is gorgeous.  Only in Texas can you find entertainment outside with nature's best and great sounds to boot.   White Water Amphitheatre on the Horseshoe at Canyon Lake, Texas has plenty of parking, is kid friendly and offers different seating options including skybox seats.  The skybox seats include drink tickets, VIP parking passes, private pre-party with catered meal, river tubing trips for the weekend of the show and first option on GM and VIP tickets.  White Water on the Horseshoe has Tex... 08/10/2009

  Anchor's Landing Family Restaurant at Canyon Lake, Texas As a long-time resident of Canyon Lake, Texas I can attest to the lack of quality restaurants where you can sit down and enjoy fine dining and partake in culinary excellence.  That is why Anchor's Landing Family Restaurant at Canyon Lake, Texas is one of my favorite eating establishments.  Proprietors and Chefs, Cindy and Pete Proctor have taken Canyon Lake dining to a new level, creating a spacious restaurant with ambience, delectable dishes and friendly service.   Anchor's Landing Family Restaurant at Canyon Lake, Texas is the perfect end a day of boating on the lake, celebrate a special occasion or bring the family for a nice lunch and there is something on the menu for everyone.  From steaks and seafood to sandwiches and eth... 08/09/2009

I went to look up something a few minutes ago and after I found out the information I wanted I thought I would share this website with you. Texas Parks & Wildlife Website. Here is some information and maybe more then you would ever want to know but I suggest you bookmark this website for future reference. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us Being a hunter and fishermen I use this website quite often. Texas Parks & Wildlife Website...Everything you would ever want to know about Texas, Do's, Dont's, fishing, hunting, camping, you name it this website will answer all your questions. It will even tell you where and when you can hunt alligators in Texas. Try this number if you can not find what you want on the website:800-792-1112. Example: Texas Parks & Wildlife Expo                               ... 08/06/2009

  REALTOR + iPhone = LOVE!  Recently I blogged about ordering my iPhone and went on the express the beginning of a wonderful love affair with my new technology!  It has been over a week and the honeymoon is showing NO signs of ending.  To say that I like my iPhone would be the biggest understatement of the year...I absolutely love it!  I am sitting here wondering why I didn't do this sooner. I transferred my TREO 750 to my son's phone number and he is loving having a smart phone...and did I mention how much I love my iPhone???  I know, I know, you are imagining that scene where Cher slaps Nicholas Cage across the chops and screams "SNAP OUTTA IT!!!"  Okay, before you reach the point of being overtaken by the spirit of slap, I will get to the reasons why I love this phone. There are seve... 08/06/2009

I wrote a blog on Rattle Snakes a few weeks back. Well here is a photo that was sent to me today. Please and I say Please watch yourself, your children and your pets. They are coming into your neighborhoods. Subject: H-U-G-E Rattlesnake shot in Manor! Another large rattler.  Seems as if they are getting larger instead of dying of the heat!  This one was killed in Manor, Texas.  This bad boy measured 7 feet, 6 inches Police Chief Robert Snyder shot him this morning INSIDE a homeowner's nice yard in ShadowGlen, on the north side of 290.  The lady had FOUR kids playing in the yard at the time! Please be really careful to watch out for snakes.  In this drought, they are coming in closer, looking for water.  They just mentioned today that local ERs are noting a substantial rise in snakebite ... 08/05/2009

  MYSTIC SHORES AT CANYON LAKE, TEXAS JULY 2009 MARKET REPORT, Hot off the press and ready to read!  With summer in full swing, interest rates still historically low and inventory a plenty in the Texas Hill Country, one would think that the sales picture in Mystic Shores at Canyon Lake, Texas would be higher than they are.  There are some awesome deals to be had in this upscale master planned community on the north shore of Canyon Lake and this is a great time to take advantage of the selection and pricing! The following is the MYSTIC SHORES AT CANYON LAKE, TEXAS JULY 2009 MARKET REPORT: SOLDS: There were five properties sold according to the Central Texas MLS in the month of July 2009 in Mystic Shores at Canyon Lake, Texas.  They were all residential lots.  The overview is as follows: ... 07/31/2009

Life's Little Blessings by Ceil Winters - Rain Drops Sometimes we tend to overlook some of life's blessings. We take so much for granted that we never take time to enjoy some of life's simplest blessings. Next time we have some rain I'm going to go out and "sing in the rain" just like I did when I was a kid. There is a chance that we may see some rain drops today. If we do, I will mark that on my "wall for today as one of life's little blessings." Look around today and count some of life's blessings that may be right in front of your eyes.                                                                  Right now in Texas the blessing of rain can grow to be a monumental blessing. __Blog: July 29, 2009 Localism Blog for Texas, Comal County, New Braunfels, Canyon Lake -Blessings__ If you ... 07/29/2009

  Serve and Protect Mixer to Benefit Comal County Sheriff's Department Every summer the Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce has a special After Hours Business Mixer that doubles as a fundraiser for the Emergency Service Branches that serve our community.  This year the event will benefit the Comal County Sheriff's Department.  At Canyon Lake, we are fortunate to have excellent law enforcement services provided by the CCSO and emergency services provided by the Canyon Lake Fire and EMS.  The Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce alternates between these two branches each year for the benefit.  The Serve and Protect Mixer to Benefit Comal County Sheriff's Department will be a festive event this year held at the Dry Comal Creek Vineyards and Winery.  There will be networking, food, beverages, auctio... 07/28/2009

  Canyon Lake, Texas Waterfront Market Report The following is a market snapshot year-to-date for waterfront homes on Canyon Lake in the Texas Hill Country.  The Canyon Lake market has not suffered as many other markets across the nation over the past couple of years but it has been impacted by the market shifts in other parts of the nation due to it's high rate of second home and investment sales.  Many of the buyers in the Canyon Lake, Texas watefront market come from some of the hardest hit markets which has caused a slow down in waterfront home sales in the local market. While waterfront home values have not been dramatically affected, this is definitely a buyer's market which is swamped with inventory on the shores of Canyon Lake, Texas.  Waterfront buyers in the Canyon Lake market... 07/26/2009

                                                                             The Census is an American Tradition, Stand Up and be counted                               The U.S. Census Bureau News Report/Census coming in 2010 This may seem lengthy but it is interesting reading. You may want to hand this out to some of your First Time Home Buyer's in case they are not aware this form may be coming and encourage them to complete and return when they receive in the spring of 2010.  My Question: With the housing market in the conditon it is in, with foreclosures, people moving in and moving out, how accurate is this Census going to be when it is finalized. If the form is not returned and they come looking for you who will they find living in that home, if anyone?   The census is a count of e... 07/25/2009

  Property Owner's Association Legislation in Texas... In the recent Texas Legislative Session there were several bills that pertained to the management, maintenance, and mishandling of POA/HOA's (Property Owner's Associations/Home Owner's Associations.)  In Texas, POA's have long been a bone of contention, a necessary evil, if you will. On one hand, residents want the enforcement of restrictions, maintenance of community amenities and accounting for funds.  But on the other hand, many POA's are terribly mismanaged, irresponsible and in some cases discriminatory.  Many a POA contact has held up real estate closings because they don't have time, don't feel like or don't believe they must complete resale certificates and provide documents required by the Texas Property Code to buyers of r... 07/23/2009

www.home-inspection4u.com  Carl Winters, Advanced Inspector, License #3630,  830-660-0131 realestateinspector@yahoo.com Well it finally happened, did you hear that sound in the distance that rumbled, came closer and closer?  Yipee! THUNDER.... Did you see that? Yes it was a strange liquid falling from the sky. something like "Rain Drops Falling on My Head". We finally received about 1/2 inch of rain yesterday. It thundered around again this afternoon but didn't quite make it to our house. However, it didn't keep the folks from tubing the Guadalupe.                                                         One thing you can do at Canyon Lake, Gruene, and New Braunfels, Texas is have a great time tubing and visiting with friends.                                 *****************************... 07/18/2009

  I am now officially the proud owner of 20 domain names...but I still remember my first...so many years ago when I took the plunge and bought that first website...when the internet was new. It went something like this: A "Doogie Houser" type techno-geek kid trying desparately to sell a rural country REALTOR her first website.  What he didn't know what that I was already committed to buying his product and he didn't really have to work so hard.  As fate would have it, I hadn't even thought about what my domain name would be and what I didn't know was that no one anywhere in my market was on the internet, so I pretty much had carte blanche for any domain I wanted.  After much angst, I finally settled on CanyonLakeTxRe.com which stands for Canyon Lake Texas Real Estate.  It seemed genius ... 07/16/2009

It a great way to beat the TEXAS heat. It is definitely an awesome sight to see. The best part is the temperature, can you believe the temperature is about 70 degrees inside. Certainly a way to "beat the heat". Nature's way of speaking in the Texas Hill Country. There is definitely lots of history also and different tours available. There is something for everyone in the family. You can visit the website for details: www.naturalbridgecaverns.com Telephone: 210-651-6101 for additional information. I've attached a map and it is very easy to find.                                                                            Come Visit the Caverns... .Just one more thing to do in Comal County Texas About Me: Blog July 14, 2009****************************************** ___Buying, Building or Se... 07/14/2009

www.co.comal.tx.us/ This link will take you to a list of important departments in Comal County Texas.                                            Every household creates hazardous waste whether you realize it or not. (HHW) is one of the biggest environmental concerns we face. If you flush it down the toilet or sink it can create problems underground and possibly get into the groundwater water system. HHW can get caught up in the runoff during a rain (which we have had very little of lately in Comal Comal County Texas). That runoff will end up in our creeks, streams and eventually the rivers in our basin.If you have a septic system, remember what goes down your drain will eventually go into your septic system - you need to be careful not to put household cleaners and solvents down your dr... 07/11/2009