Ok so, I had such a busy day scheduled for today. I had a contractor scheduled for service at 7:30 at a house that is about an hour away from home. Well at about 6:45 I'm am halfway to my destination and I get a call that they won't be there until around noon?? I kept my composure and said OK. Now. I have a meeting this morning at 9:30 and another one about an hour away at 1:30 and 2:30. So all I can say is this guy better be fast. Just thought I would say that if you make plans with someone, try to keep them. This was simply a means of inconveniencing the customer (me) 12/14/2009

TOWNHOUSE SHOWS BEAUTIFULLY! Location:  California County:  St. Mary's Community:  Wildewood Year Built:  1983 List Price:  $225,000 Living Space:  1,288 Sq. Ft. Taxes:  $1,737   This perfect "Wildewood" townhouse shows beautifully! Home offers 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths with 1,288 sq. ft. of living space.  The upgrades & updates include kitchen, ceramic tile, appliances, carpet & wood blind.  New windows, rooof, gutters, heat pump, hot water heater, exterior doors & fans.  Tastefully painted interior.  Roomy living room and dining area, master bedroom with walk-in closet, deck & secure storage.  Nothing to do but move in! Conveniently located to shopping, restaurants, hospital, Patuxent River Naval Air Station & the resort town of Solomons Island. Wonderful community amenities include po... 12/13/2009

DUPLEX W/$25,000 IN UPGRADES Location: California County:  St. Mary's Year Built:  2008 Living Space:  2,180 Sq. Ft. Parking:  1 Car Garage Basement:  Full Unfinished List Price:  $279,000   This fabulous & spacious Duplex homes offers 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths with 2,180 sq. ft. of living space.  A few of the many features include extra windows, hardwood flooring, upgraded kitchen cabinets, appliances & corian counters, recessed lights and upgraded lighting package, gas fireplace in family room, bedroom level laundry room, separate dining room & living room, kitchen/family room combo with breakfast nook, spacious master bedroom with upgraded bath & walk-in closet & 2 more nice sized bedrooms.  The unfinished "huge" basement for future expansion & a 1 car garage too. Great community amen... 12/13/2009

OK so we actually went on our first Christmas shopping trip of the year yesterday. I HATE Christmas shopping! Its not the shopping or teh gift giving that I hate, its the people, parking, and crowds. I have to admit we made a few distinct changes this year that made the trip much more pleasureable. First. Parking was a breeze. SO I thought we were off to a great start. Then we started our trip around the mall. (which, we only make it to about once a year) After lunch in the food court, and a visit with the "real" Santa. We told the kids that if they were good we would see a movie!! It was a great day. I hope your Christmas Shopping experience is as good as mine. Happy Holidays!   12/13/2009

SPACIOUS & OPEN FLOOR PLAN Location:  California County:  St. Mary's List Price:  $289,900 Year Built:  2007 Living Space:  2,472 Sq. Ft. Style:  Contemporary HOA:  $53.00 Monthly   Be one of the lucky ones to own an end unit townhouse in conveniently located California area.  Minutes to Patuxent River Naval Air Station.  This spacious 3 level townhouse offers 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 2 half baths with 2,472 sq. ft. of living space. The master suite is a private retreat with luxurious super For additional information or to schedule a viewing appointment, contact Chris Minion or Rita Minion.   Southern Maryland Is A Great Place To Visit...... An Even Better Place To Live!    Discover Southern Maryland.....where relaxation is a lifestyle, not a vacation. We consider Southern Maryland an ... 12/06/2009

 Adopt a pet for Christmas! SMAWL ADOPTIONS AT PETCO today Saturday Dec. 5th  If you're thinking about getting a pet, I'd recommend you adopt rather than buy. When you adopt a little cat or dog not only are you helping rescue groups, animal shelters, or humane societies, but most importantly you are giving them a second chance. Location: Petco, Rte. 235, California, MDDate: 12/5/2009Time: 10 AM St. Mary's Animal Welfare League (SMAWL) will be holding pet adoptions every 1st and 3rd Saturday at Petco in California, MD from 10am to 2pm. We have a wide variety of wonderful animals looking for a great home like yours. All animals have had a complete veterinary exam, are up to date on all vaccinations, spayed or neutered, and micro chipped. The SMAWL staff can also help you with information ... 12/05/2009

St. Mary's County this weekend - Housing and Bedding Project for Pets Winter is coming and St. Mary's County needs your help providing shelter and bedding for animals to help provide a safe and warm environment over the cold winter. Media Release Via- St. Mary's County Government   St. Mary's Animal Welfare League  - Citizens are encouraged to donate pet bedding and houses to the St. Mary's Animal Welfare League (SMAWL) and St. Mary's County Department of Public Safety for distribution to households. (SMAWL) and Animal Control staff will be at Petco in California on Nov. 21 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm to receive donations. Distribution of these donations will take place at a later date.  St. Mary's County Animal Control Regulations require outdoor pet houses meet the following standards: •... 11/20/2009

Here are some pictures of the Patuxent River and Kingston Creekon Friday   This is not a blurry picture, this is the wind and rain blowing over the jetty outside of my house. .This is our Boston whaler on the  dock on the Creek side of our property. We were worried it was going to float away.This is my pier on the Patuxent River, low tide This is just down the street. All of these picures were taken on Friday, These two came back and I was glad all was o.k. with them    This was the very next day, Saturday saiboat races. Hard to believe after 3 days of hollowing wind and rain.  DISCOVER SOUTHERN MARYLANDS SECRETS.....WHERE RELAXATION IS NOT A VACATION BUT A LIFESTYLE     BARBARA RALEY Solomons - Patuxent Plaza (301)-904-2172 - Mobile (410)-326-3133 Ext. 218 - Solomons Office Email:  bar... 11/18/2009

Our Broker Thanksgiving Lunch was great! In the picture below on the right is Margaret C. Taylor (http://www.linkedin.com/in/margaretctaylor ), our broker Mary Lynn Stone and me. Today is the Thanksgiving Luncheon in my office in California MD. I'm sure it will be great, good people, good food, and the most important, the spirit of Thanksgiving is all about showing gratitude for your good fortune and giving to those who are less fortunate and be thankful for what you have. I made a Brazilian recipe, my grandmother recipe for parties in family, the coconut pudim or Manjar de Coco. 1 can of coconut milk 1 can of milk (use the can from the coconut milk to measure the milk) 6 tablespoons of sugar 3 tablespoons of corn starch 3 tablespoons of coconut flakes Preparation: 1. Put all the ingred... 11/17/2009

This is the new addition, I just had to show him off.       He decided he did not like me taking his picture.     I think he likes the trees around my property   This is a juvenile eaglet on the sand. The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America and the symbol of the United States of America. It is found near large bodies of water with an abundant food supply and Old-growth trees for nesting. The Patuxent River is a great source of fish for the eagles. The Bald Eagle when grown, is a large bird with a body length of 28-40 in. and a wingspan of up to 96" it can be between 5-15 lbs. The females are about 25% larger then the males. The adult Bald Eagle has a brown body with a white head and tail. The juveniles are completely brown except for the yellow feet. Males and females ar... 11/17/2009

NOW YOU CAN BUY THIS GREAT TOWNHOUSE 2 YEARS OLD, 3 BEDS 2 BATHS WITH A BEAUTIFUL STONE FIREPLACE, CLOSE TO SHOPPINGS AND PAX RIVER BASE FOR $235k AND GET THE $8,000 TAX CREDIT! THIS IS A SHORT SALE. CALL ME FOR MORE INFO! CATALINA LN, CALIFORNIA, MD 20619 MOTIVATED SELLERS!!! in desirable Beverly Hills. 10 ft extension, 3 bedrooms, 2 full and 2 half baths, extended finished rec room, gathering room off kitchen, extended owner's suite with sitting room, super bath and large walk-in closet, Gourmet Kitchen, 2 story stone facing w/gas fireplace, oak railings thru-out. recessed lighting, cable and phone jacks in every room. MOVITATED SELLERS!!! Year Built:  2007 Style:  Contemporary Potential Short Sale: Yes List Price:  $235,000 FOR MORE INFO/PICTURES/DIRECTIONS OR A PERSONAL TOUR PLEASE ... 11/12/2009

  St. Mary's County Home Buyers - Maryland Mortgage Program Funds Made Available for Home Buyers in St. Mary's County The Board  of County Commissioners for St. Mary's County urges St. Mary's County Home Buyers - residents to use the Maryland Mortgage Program. Over $3 million was approved for use by St. Mary's County Home Buyers - citizens to finance home purchases at the County Commissioners meeting on Sept. 1.   "We know that the housing sector is a critical part of our county's economy and that our families desire home ownership," said Francis Jack Russell, President, Board  of County Commissioners for St. Mary's County. "We approved the use of the county's allocation of federal housing bond funds for individual mortgages for qualifying families. While the funds are part of a state ... 11/12/2009

Well I found this reall good story about Abraham Lincolns assassination that I thought I would share about Southern Maryland. The Surratt house in Clinton is such a great place. I went there several years ago, and it felt haunted then... I can hear in the abiguity of the directors story that maybe she suspects there are Ghosts there. Would be a great place to visit for Halloween.   Happy Halloween. http://somd.com/news/headlines/2009/10705.shtml 10/29/2009

Well after being in Southern Maryland for many years, after reading a friends local blog, it reminded me of what a truly beautiful place this is here. There are so many people and places to see. You can turn every corner and find something new. Here is a great tool to find people and places in Southern Maryland that will make you stop and realize how really great Southern Maryland is. http://search.visitmaryland.org/visitsearch/eventsearch-so.jsp?gclid=CJW8z4P5350CFeFM5Qodk1QHNA   10/28/2009

    Why is it that when I see a rainy day, I think that I will get so much work done? Is it because my normal routine is interupted with the rain? I do want to share a quick story that happened to me last week. I woke up to pouring rain. This was not a good thing for me. I had a sewer and water connection completed on a new home I'm building the day before and was scheduled for inspection. Well the inspector will not inspect a sewer trench that is full of water. Since there was such torential rain, I knew I would be trudging through the mud with my boots and hoses for a pump. I was up early and heading to work my butt off. On the way there I prayed that it wouldn't take me too long to complete, because It was going to be a bit of an overwhelming day!     When I arrived I got on my mud b... 10/26/2009

Gabriela.agostinelli@c21nm.com     Here is my friend's John Gatton open house: "This is an incredible offering.  Convenient to Patuxent River, California, Hollywood, and Leonardtown.  Three BR, Two BA, fantastic kitchen, solar water heater, furniture conveys, riding mower conveys.  Over 1800 square feet. Indoor swimming pool with additional kitchen and bath in pool building.  Full home warranty, HVAC warranty, and pool warranty.   All of this for only $276,900.  Come visit our Open House to see for yourself!" $276,900 · Home Warranty · HVAC Warranty · Pool Warranty · Three Bedrooms · Two Bathrooms · Walk in Closet · Furniture Conveys · Riding Mower Conveys Indoor Pool · Second Kitchen · Solar Water Heater · Great Kitchen · Convenient Location If you have any questions or want to receiv... 10/24/2009

OKTOBERFEST/COMEDIAN NIGHT Date:  Saturday, October 24, 2009 Start:  3 PM - Oktoberfest Time:  6 PM - Dinner Location:  St. Mary's County Elks Lodge #2092 Address:  45779 Fire Dept Ln., California, MD 20636 The St. Mary's County Elks Lodge is hosting an Oktoberfest/Comedian Night on October 24th to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. The goal of the Wounded Warrior Project is to provide the necessary resources for this generation of wounded veterans to be the most well adjusted, productive, and successful generation of veterans this country has ever known. It is the St. Mary's County Elks Lodge's pleasure to spotlight the Wounded Warrior Project as the annual charity that they dedicate their efforts to raise awareness in the community. Tickets are available at:   Oktoberfest/Comedian ... 10/22/2009

This condo in Wildewood will go fast! You Can Become a Home Owner! Feature 2 beds, 1.5 baths, open kitchen with a breakfast bar, laundry room, ground level with a private balcony with a lake view! And more: new carpet, new appliances, condo has new roof and bridge.  Price: $159,900. It is a short sale. Are you fed up with making the monthly mortgage payments for your landlord, helping him get richer while you throw away your own money? Or are you still living with your parents? Take advantage of this "buyer market" and the $8,000 tax credit. Give me a call or email me to see if you qualify. It only takes 10 minutes! If you have credit challenges you can still buy a home, you only need to talk with a lender and he can help you with the process. You also can co-sign with your father/moth... 10/17/2009

SMAWL ADOPTIONS AT PETCO  this is my cat Pretty Girl, we adopted her 4 years ago... Location: Petco, Rte. 235, California, MDDate: 10/17/2009Time: 10 AM St. Mary's Animal Welfare League (SMAWL) will be holding pet adoptions every 1st and 3rd Saturday at Petco in California, MD from 10am to 2pm. They have a wide variety of wonderful animals looking for a great home like yours. All animals have had a complete veterinary exam, are up to date on all vaccinations, spayed or neutered, and micro chipped. The SMAWL staff can also help you with information regarding volunteering, fostering, our low cost rabies clinic and our spay/neuter discount vouchers. 10/16/2009

LOCUST RIDGE CT, WILDEWOOD, CALIFORNIA, MD Enjoy the walk out to the lake from this well maintained ground level condo. Open floor plan with 2 bedrooms and 1 and a half bathroom. New carpet, new appliances and breakfast bar in the kitchen, just to list some features of this great home in Wildewood. Priced to sell!! Price $159,900 2bed 1.5 bath.   10/14/2009