Here is what the hurricane IKE looks like to me ... I went through Rita and went through a HUGE panic mode ... now here is IKE ... take a look at some of my photo's! I went to get some Meat .. Then I went to get some Chili ........ NO more BANANA'S ........... A little bit of Peanut Butter and Jelly / Jam is left ... Not much soup left .......... Granola Bars ... Maybe some cereal is Left ..........  not much ........... No more paper plates products! All of the soda pop is gone! Rationing out the water ...   NO More paper products ....................... All of the Batteries are gone! Empty Bread Shelves ..........     Traffic is horrible on I-45 between Houston and The Woodlands! A HUGE Line of traffic waiting for GAS ... (orange safety guards were directing traffic on each side of th... 09/12/2008

We have the power to influence the power of Ike!  For those of you that are familiar with the Houston-Galveston area, you know that the storm threat is an ominous occurence.  It would be easy for us to all sink into fear as we watch the highways fill with evacuees and hear the timeline of what we can expect from this storm.  Eventhough The Woodlands is an hour drive from Galveston, we must prepare for a full 24 hours of hurricane force winds. You can help!  Please read the email from Vitale which I have copied and pasted in its entirety.  Hold the energy of positive outcome for my little corner of the world and be a force of energy that can dissipate the potential of disaster. -----Original Message----- From: aoakua@aweber.com [mailto:aoakua@aweber.com] On Behalf Of Joe Vitale Sent: Thu... 09/11/2008

TOWN GREEN PARK   Located in the heart of the business and retail area of The Woodlands is a green jewel called Town Green Park.      This park which marks the 100th park to be opened in The Woodlands has something for everyone. Most of the many festivals sponsored by The Woodlands are held here in this vast open green space adjacent to The Woodlands Waterway.      Many, many bridal, family, and commercial pictures have been taken at this park because of it beautifully landscaped grounds, stunning architectural design, and its shear beauty.  One of my favorite parts of this  park is the Story Book Maze.  As children go through the maze they  can read  "books" that reveal excerpts of famed children's fables. Five different books for children to explore..... ....and should they find one o... 09/10/2008

Alden Bridge Park in The Woodlands Alden Bridge Park located in The Woodlands is  a wonderful place to experience nature and spend time with your family. The pond offers many opportunities to study wildlife such as ducks, loons, fish, turtles, egrets, snakes, owls, beavers, squirrels, frogs, rabbits, deer, coyote and numerous other animals.  This park is an amazing demonstration of how people and animals can live in harmony. Surrounded by homes, this serene park provides vital habitat and important ecological diversity for both people and wildlife.   In addition to the natural habitat the park also provide recreational area for playing soccer, football, volleyball, tennis, and basketball.   The lighted pavilion provides an area for picnics and can be reserved for parties.  The play area... 09/08/2008

  This was me last year preparing to JUMP OFF A CLIFF! For some of you under the age of 50, this might not have been a big deal.  For me, it was an incredible experience of a lifetime.  I wish I had become more daring in my earlier years.  Although the pilot for this tandem flight was tolerant and patient with my lack of coordination, once we cleared the edge of the cliff and began flying, it was nothing short of shear joy. I filled out the massive stack of paperwork telling the Gliderport north of San Diego that they had no responsibility for my safety.  (In fact, the paperwork said that if we crashed I might be responsible for the damage to the equipment...how's that for liability?)  As I was about half way through the multiple initialed and signed docs when a couple of men came in.  ... 09/07/2008

  As a Realtor I am often asked about remodeling and updating for resale. Particularly what gets the most bang for the buck.  WITH OUT A DOUBT ITS KITCHEN, MASTER BATH, AND CURB APPEAL!  What makes the biggest impact?  CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN!! Scrub the house from top to bottom. Nobody wants to see someone else dirt. DE CLUTTER! Get rid of all the junk that you will never use again. This will make your house look bigger. PAINT!  Paint is cheap and you can do it yourself. Bright white on the ceiling makes it feel higher. Warm neutrals on the walls make the house feel cozy and homey. HAVE THE CARPETS CLEANED AND STRETCHED! Consider replacing them if they are worn. FRESHEN UP THE YARD! Mow the yard, trim the hedges, weed the garden, mulch the beds, and add seasonal color.  Remember, buyers wi... 09/07/2008

SOLD homes in COCHRANS CROSSING, The Woodlands, TX AUGUST 2008 Market Report The Village of Cochrans Crossing, SOLD Real Estate in The Woodlands, TX,  Luxury Home Market (Houston Suburb) in the month of AUGUST, 2008.  These numbers are according to the Houston Association of Realtors, MLS in The Woodlands, Texas.. Cochran's Crossing Cochran's Crossing is named after the original Grogan-Cochran Lumber Company. One of the largest villages in the middle of The Woodlands, Cochran's Crossing is home to The Woodlands Country Club, The Palmer Golf Course, YMCA, and Bear Branch Sports Field. Homeowners will have access to exemplary schools, several large parks and shopping at Cochran's Crossing Shopping Center. These are the homes that SOLD in Cochrans Crossing the month of AUGUST 2008, accordi... 09/06/2008

Junior League Holiday Market 2010 Holiday and Christmas shopping at its BEST! DETAILS: The Woodlands, Texas at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center November 19-21, 2010 Friday, November 19th - Market Shopping 9am-6pm Saturday, November 20th - Market Shopping 9am-6pm Sunday, November 21st - Market Shopping 10am - 4pm Cost:  $10 at the door Jr. League of North Harris and Montgomery County The Woodlands is 27 miles North of Houston Looking to buy a house or sell your home? Contact Pippa MAC, your ReMax REALTOR for more information on homes for sale in The Woodlands, Spring and Houston, TX. 09/06/2008

THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY   THE CLASS OF 2012 LOCATED ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF THE COLLEGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL IN THE WOODLANDS, THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IS DESIGNED FOR STUDENTS WITH STRONG ABILITY AND DESIRE IN THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DISCIPLINES. EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS WISHING TO APPLY MUST BE RESIDE IN THE FEEDER ZONES OF COLLEGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL, THE WOODLANDS HIGH SCHOOL, OR OAKRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL. THE APPLICATION PROCESS BEGINS IN SEPTEMBER OF EACH YEAR. STUDENTS MUST BE IN THE EIGHT GRADE TO APPLY. WANT TO APPLY? THE APPLICATION PROCESS BEGINS WITH THE STUDENTS REGISTERING AND TAKING THE ENTRANCE EXAM WHICH IS MUCH LIKE THE ACT. THEN THE STUDENT COMPLETES THE APPLICATION FILE WHICH INCLUDES 5 LETTERS FROM PAST AND CURRENT MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHERS LETTER FROM ... 09/06/2008

  The Village of Cochrans Crossing, located in The Woodlands, Texas has lots of wonderful parks!    Mystic Forest Park offers tennis, basketball, a playground, picnic tables and BBQ's.    Most Saturday and Sunday mornings there is a group of guys that get together at 8AM, to play basketball for a few hours.  (all shapes, sizes and ages) People were enjoying walking their dog. Others had rode their bike to play a game of tennis.  There are 140 miles of Bike and Hike Paths here in The Woodlands.  Click HERE for a map of the bike trails. Click HERE to see homes FOR SALE in Cochrans Crossing, The Woodlands, Texas. Click HERE to see homes FOR LEASE in The Woodlands, Texas. Click HERE to see on a map.  Mystic Forest Park is located in Cochrans Crossing, North of Research Forest Drive and less... 09/06/2008

Honestly, I do not think anyone would have ever guessed that The Woodlands Highlanders would shut out the Katy Tigers at the new Woodforest Stadium last night. I am one of those die-hard fans who has had season tickets for years and years. Because of the long-term relationship I have with season tickets, I have superb seats, with backs and cupholders. Can high school football get any better than that? Yes, it can! Two shut outs in two games! Many of the long-term, die hards were saying they had never seen a Woodlands team play as well as they played last night. They executed on almost every play. With a total of 398 yards, the Highlanders held the Tiger to a mere 72 yards, all on the ground. Standouts included Eastman, Rowe, Lasco and McCloud. Then there was backup running back Arias wh... 09/06/2008

  NEW CHESMAR HOMES AVAILABLE IN THE EXPANSION OF STERLING RIDGE – Chesmar Homes has begun selling new single-family homes in the neighborhood of Quillwood in The Woodlands’ 400-acre expansion of the Village of Sterling Ridge. Chesmar is offering six one- and two-story homes in sizes ranging from 1,725 to over 2,600 square feet. Homes include three to four bedrooms (many with study/bedroom options); two, two-and-a-half or three baths; and two-car attached garages. Amenities vary and can include front and rear covered porches, an upstairs game room, and a dining room. Homes are priced from the $210’s to the $250’s. Chesmar homes include numerous standard features including Champion vinyl windows which tilt out for easy cleaning; a fully fenced and sodded back year; Whirlpool front-load w... 09/05/2008

Schools back in session. Holiday season is just around the corner. Hard to believe that Christmas is only 112 days away. If you want to be in your new home or out before Santa's Sleigh lifts off, time to act. Here's what I see for citizens. Seasonally listing inventory and sales velocity steadily ebb through the last quarter and begin marching upward after the first of the year. Current Months Supply Of Inventory = Sellers Market. Real estate economists agree, six months of for sale listing inventory equals a balanced market. More inventory equals a buyer's market, less than six months equals seller's market. The Woodlands, Texas Months Supply Of For Sale Listing Inventory = 3.9 Months. Average Days On Market for Sold and Closed Properties - August, 2008 = 51 Days. Properties that are s... 09/04/2008

Here are some really, really cool FREE BLOGGING buttons for you! Website buttons are great additions to blogs, as well as websites and emails. All the web buttons below are free, just right click and "save as," and use them however you wish. Custom website buttons and graphics are a speciality of Purple Dragonfly Designs, so keep that in mind when you want something special for your blog or website.   Remember to use the insert/edit link button while posting on your Active Rain Blog!           Butterfly Web 2.0 Button Chocolate Website 2.0 Button Black Website 2.0 Button Brown Web 2.0 Button Pink Dragonfly Web Button Pink Flower Web 2.0 Button Purple Web 2.0 Button Black & Pink Website Button Brown & Pink Website Button Green & Purple Web Button Pink & Brown Web Button Vintage Website B... 09/04/2008

The Woodlands is home to one of only two Waldorf Schools in Texas. The Harvest housed in a small building nestled behind the trees in Cochran's Crossing Village quietly teaches children to learn in a unique way.  Here the children learn through play, imitation, imagination, art, and music. The Harvest School provides developmentally appropriate curriculum and small class sizes for ages Pre-K through Sixth Grade, immersed in creative and practical application of the arts, music, movement, and foreign language.  The arts are integrated with Mathematics, History, Language, and Science, providing a rich learning experience for students."  CHILDREN'S ORGANIC VEGETABLE GARDEN             How is The Harvest Different? At The Harvest, especially with the younger children, focuses on teacher chi... 09/03/2008

This stunning 6659 square foot home is a perfect example of what home staging, neutral paint choices and fabulous photo's can do to sell your home fast!  This home sold for $90,000 profit, less than a year later. (thats a very good return on your money for painting a few rooms!) This home has some AMAZING Before-and-After photo's!  There was no remodeling, just decorator paint colors were chosen. As a seller you need to prepare your home for the market, most buyer's want to move in without updating the house.  You need to choose a realtor who will use a photographer that will show your homes best features!  This living room is absolutely incredible with the cathedral ceilings, fabulous french windows and gorgeous trim details!  The harsh curtains were removed and softer colors were adde... 09/03/2008

Moms-In-Touch in The Woodlands, TEXAS Are you interested in joining a Mom-In-Touch group?  There is a group for each school in The Woodlands. On August 25, the first day of school in The Woodlands, TX,  this group of mother's got together to start the year out right.  Deanna Uhl, who heads up the Mom-In-Touch Group, touched every mother's heart as she shared how she had started with MITI when her son was a young elementary student and this was the first day of his senior year of highschool.  I'm sure there was not a dry eye in the room! Are you a mom who desperately loves her children and longs for them to grow up to be loving, confident and successful? Do you fear that influences outside your control will steal their hearts? You are not alone ... Fern Nichols, who started MITI, is a mo... 09/02/2008

                            This picture of Kenneth Bowen was originally taken for publication in the local newspaper because Kenneth had decided he didn't need any more "stuff" from his friends on his 13th birthday.  Instead he wanted to provide stuff to the animals at the local shelter.  Kenneth decided they needed the "stuff" more than he did. Surprisingly, this is not an unusual occurrence in The Woodlands area.  Families in this area are accustom to helping others in their time of need. Just go by any of the schools or churches when a food drive is in progress and you will see The Woodlands is a caring community.  Families in The Woodlands are heavily involved in the schools, churches, boy scouts, girl scouts, non-profits, all with goal of making a better community for everyone. St... 09/02/2008

Often when I'm working with clients relocating to The Woodlands/South Montgomery area, I am asked the same questions: 1. How good are the schools? 2. Are there a lot of kids in the neighborhood? 3. Parks? Area swimming pools? 4. Are there any predators in the area? Questions 1-3 are easy to answer. I lived in the area for many years. My kids have grown up in The Woodlands and I know about as much as one can know about the area. After all, I'm a Realtor and its my job to stay informed and know the latest and greatest about the area. What I don't always know is where the predators are located.  So to answer that question, I tell my clients to go to the website www.myfamilywatchdog.com  The website tracks where predators are living and what was their offense.  While I can't guarantee the a... 09/02/2008

On Monday, August 25th, I heard an audible sigh of relief and a few whoops in The Woodlands when the last school bus pulled out of the neighborhood.  Summer is like a having a house guest for a week or more.  You are happy to see it come and you are happy to see it go! For our family this school year was one of firsts.  My daughter started her first day of intermediate school and bus riding and my son start his first day of high school. For the many children whose families I help locate new homes in their new town, they started a whole new adventure in a totally new school system.  Each of them excited with the expectations of a great new school year and adventure. For many moms, it was an opportunity to have a complete thought without being interrupted by one of her precious children i... 09/01/2008