Happy Halloween 2010 ~ Carroll County Maryland - 10/31/10 10:03 PM

 
Happy Halloween from Carroll County Maryland!  The Phillips family spent the day with old traditions and great friends. Carving pumpkins, trick-or-treating, we filled the day with laughter and screams! I hope everyone had a safe and spooky evening!
… (4 comments)

Spend Halloween evening on a ghost walk! - 10/30/10 11:11 PM
Spend Halloween evening on a ghost walk!
 
There is still time to visit nearby Gettysburg, Pa and go for a ghost walk.
Farnsworth House Ghost Walks and Mourning Theater
Sleepy Hollow Ghost Tours
Battlefield Bed & Breakfast
Ghosts of Gettysburg Candlelight Walking tours
Gettys Town Inn
 
It’s fun to experience history and hear spooky tales and legends told by period dressed escorts all by candle light! Walk the town, visit buildings and glimpse a look at a ghost of here the moans. Dare to experience the unexplained in Gettysburg!
 
Can you imagine encountering spirits from the … (4 comments)

Settlement didn’t go off without a hitch; however, it was a wonderful experience! Carroll County Maryland - 10/29/10 12:49 AM
Settlement didn’t go off without a hitch; however, it was a wonderful experience! 
This particular property was challenging for me because it was my childhood home. I got a true taste of what sellers go through. I listed the property and handled it exactly the same as all my previous listings. Some of the feedback from showings stung a bit and I had to explain to my Dad & Brother to take some items with a grain of salt and look at the repeated items as things we need to consider changing.
It took longer than we expected to sell; … (3 comments)

My husband is cheating on me! - 10/28/10 11:35 PM

My husband is cheating on me!
 
The past few years have been an adjustment for our family in many ways, careers changes, family changes, and dramatic health issues. We have both put on a few pounds and made futile efforts to make a change to lose the weight. It’s not a lot, but, it’s only going to get worse if we don’t make a change.
So what does he do? He has decided to work out every morning with a trainer! That’s cheating! I don’t have a trainer!  My hubby works for a company like no other, I’m not … (17 comments)

Animals across the country need our help! Baltimore County Maryland - 10/28/10 06:21 PM
Animals across the country need our help!
Locally:
Baltimore Humane Society
NEEDS OUR HELP!
Towels, blankets and comforters are used by our pets every day, so they do a huge amount of laundry. They are out of laundry detergent and desperately need more! If you can spare a bottle of laundry soap, the pets will be grateful!
If you can’t get to the shelter, but would like to contribute anyway, please visit the website and make a donation online.
If you are not a Maryland resident and would like to help animals in need, contact your local Humane Society … (3 comments)

Wordless Wednesday ~ Doggles - 10/27/10 07:18 AM
Wordless Wednesday ~ Doggles!
 
Ok folks, in all honesty, I am DOG tired; however, I don’t want to quit the wonderful roll I’m on blogging. With that in mind, I thought I’d introduce to you my buddy, Neko! He is a 10 year old spoiled rotten German Sheppard mix whom I adore.
Back in August during a vet visit, the vet said Neko had cataracts due to over exposure to the sun. I’m surprised by the cataracts, but, it’s no wonder. He loves to lay in the yard and soak up the sun. He has his own doggy door … (9 comments)

Maryland Non-Resident Seller Transfer Withholding Tax - 10/26/10 10:16 PM
Maryland Non-Resident Seller Transfer Withholding Tax
Maryland Non-Resident Seller Transfer Withholding Tax is very confusing, Realtors, title companies & accountants all with different perspectives. The clear part of the picture, Maryland Non-Resident sellers are taxed at 7.5% of the total proceeds, after mortgage pay-off and settlement costs. (8.25% if they are a non-resident entity).
What if you moved within the last year to year and a half? What’s the defining moment? Well, at settlement you’ll be asked for your driver’s license for ID purposes, that’s standard operating procedure at settlement. Secondly, what does the state department of assessments have on … (1 comments)

Alcatraz ~ The Corn Maze ~ Manchester, Maryland ~Northern Carroll County - 10/25/10 09:22 PM
Corn Mazes are great fun! I found one right here in Manchester, Maryland at Showvaker’s Quality Evergreens Christmas Tree Farm, this year's theme is "Alcatraz: No One Escapes The Rock!"
Admission to the corn maze is free for children 2 and under, $5.00 for children 3 - 11 and $9.00 for ages 12 and up.
 
The maze is open Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am to 6:00pm (last maze admission is at 5:00pm). This year we also have a FLASHLIGHT MAZE every Friday and Saturday evening from 7:00pm to 10:00pm.
They are in their third year of fun fall activities which … (2 comments)

Preserve Your Carved Pumpkin & Pumpkin Patches ~ Carroll County, Maryland - 10/24/10 12:15 AM
Preserve Your Carved Pumpkin & Pumpkin Patches
My children put great effort into their pumpkin carvings every year. My heart breaks for them when their beautiful creations deteriorate so quickly as the rotting process takes over. Here are a few tips to help preserve your carved pumpkin.
 
Fungus, mold, bacteria and oxygen contribute to the natural break down of the pumpkin.
1.     Before carving, Wash the pumpkin to remove dirt and bacteria
2.    After carving, spray the interior and lid with a bleach solution or household cleaner with bleach. Clorox Clean-up slows the mold & rot while also keeping bugs … (2 comments)

10+ Haloween Facts, Fun and Folklore - 10/23/10 10:50 PM
10+ Halloween Facts, Fun and Folklore
1.      90% of parents admit to sneaking goodies from their kids’ Halloween trick-or-treat bags
2.      86% of Americans decorate their house for Halloween.
3.      Samhainophobia is the fear of Halloween
4.      The first Jack-O-Lanterns were made out of turnips, they originated in Ireland. People placed candles in hollowed out turnips to keep spirits and ghosts away.
5.      Orange and black are Halloween colors because orange is associated with fall harvest and black is associated with darkness and death.
6.      To avoid being recognized as human, ancient Celts began wearing masks and costumes. They … (9 comments)

Lineboro Maryland ~ Haunted Hayride ~ Bedlam in the Boro ~ - 10/22/10 10:15 PM
Lineboro is a quaint small town in Northern Carroll County, Maryland. It was named because of its location, next to the Mason -Dixon line. In the fall, for the past 16 years something comes over this tiny town, the warm community of normal, hardworking and kind people going about their daily business changes. They try to hide behind the shroud of charm but don’t believe it for a minute! There is something psychotic happening out there in the darkness.  
 
They lour you in with offers of good food and free music. Games and gathering with friends and family. The … (2 comments)

Home a place where.... - 10/21/10 11:57 PM

 
 The print came out a bit small
Home
A place where .....
we belong
we live and laugh
we are educated and teach
we can be strong and weak
we gather, nurture and love
we celebrate, recuperate and morn
we must reach to be safe from attack
we originate our days and end our nights
we are raised, where we raise our families
all our treasured possessions rest until our need for them comes again.
 
A place of refuge and safety, assistance, care, help and attention
 
Home is, a common space, a headquarters, a goal, a dream
… (6 comments)

Wordless Wednesday ~ Cool Photography - 10/20/10 09:19 PM
Cool Photography
This past weekend, while we were at the Carroll County Regional Airport, my son Mike, who works for the airport, gave us the grand tour. They had beautiful photographs hanging on the wall in the lobby area. I was inspired to try my hand at getting a similar shot.
 
The planes were parked and lighting was just right, sunset, a flawless scene.
… (2 comments)

You're Never to Old for a Hayride! Baugher's Orchard Westminster, Maryland - 10/19/10 11:22 PM

Saturday was a busy day! It was just beautiful, a perfect day to spend outside. It was pleasantly cool, the sun was shining people were out and about enjoying the day. One of our stops, Baugher's Orchard in Westminster. I've been to Baugher's Restaurant, however, I don't recall ever visiting the orchard. I'm so glad we went.
The kids & I wanted to visit a pumpkin patch this weekend, Erica, my son's girlfriend, suggested Baugher's. This place is huge! I thought they were all about apples!? They have fruit through out the growing season, strawberries, peaches, apples of course … (8 comments)

"Witchcraft" - 10/17/10 11:10 PM
"Witchcraft"
Spells, potions, magic and supernatural, not so much, Audre is no witch. She's 18 feet tall, 67 feet long and weighs 36,500 pounds, her craft, assisting airmen in delivering bombs.
Audre, a B-24 bomber was an effective military weapon utilized in WWII. She carried her 10 man crew, loaded with bombs to designated targets overseas. She was built August 1944 in Fort Worth Texas by Consolidated under contract by Ford Motor Co.  
Today my family and I attended the air show I shared a few weeks ago at the Carroll County Regional Airport. As we toured the WWII Bombers, … (2 comments)

Carroll County Career & Technology Center ~ Westminster Maryland - 10/16/10 01:18 AM
Carroll County Career & Technology Center
Thursday evening I attended the open house at the Carroll County Career & Technology Center with my son Cole. High School Students throughout the county are offered an opportunity to apply to learn a variety of skills from health care & culinary fields to heavy equipment & truck technology from carpentry to floral design.
Academy of Health Professionals Auto Service Technology Biomedical Sciences Carpentry IT Collision Repair Computer Technology Cosmetology Culinary Arts Drafting Electrical Construction Emergency Services Technology Engineering Floral Design Heavy Equipment & Truck Technology HVAC Landscaping Design & Construction Manufacturing & Machine Technologies Masonry … (0 comments)

Forgery, fraud and foreclosures the improper actions of the lenders doesn't help matters at all! - 10/16/10 12:00 AM
Forgery, fraud and foreclosures the improper actions of the lenders doesn't help matters at all!
Foreclosure is, without a doubt, a traumatic process. If a home owner fails to repay the loan according to the terms of the loan, the lender can and will file for foreclosure with the Circuit Court of the County where the house is located.
You should also know what the foreclosure process is in your state. The Maryland State Bar Association outlines Foreclosure Proceedings In Maryland It clearly states, "Do not ignore or delay in responding to any written communication from your mortgage lender. The sooner you contact your lender, … (7 comments)

The Foreclosure Crisis ~ Courtesy of The Daily Show - 10/15/10 10:05 PM
Are you affected by the foreclosure crisis? I can't imagine anyone who isn't. This is a must see! … (9 comments)

Hallmark Postcard From a Friend Virus - 10/14/10 09:02 AM
Hallmark Postcard From a Friend Virus
You should be alert during the next few days. Do not open any message with an attachment entitled 'POSTCARD FROM HALLMARK, regardless of who sent it to you. It is a virus which opens A POSTCARD IMAGE, which 'burns' the whole hard disc of your computer. This virus will be received from someone who has your e-mail address in his/her contact list. This is the reason why you need to send this e-mail to all your contacts. It is better to receive this message 25 times than to receive the virus and open it. If … (4 comments)

5 More Forclosure Tips - #1 - You are NOT ALONE! - 10/13/10 01:23 AM
5 More Foreclosure Tips
#1 - You are NOT ALONE!
People end up in foreclosure for all sorts of reasons, it doesn't make you a bad person. Maybe you lost your job, maybe your household had two incomes and one or both lost their job. Maybe someone in the household became sick, maybe there was an accident, the reasons are heart breaking and unsettling.
I understand, in my case it was cancer. I was diagnosed with breast cancer followed by kidney cancer all within 6 months. (That's a blog for another day.) The choices became crystal clear, we did the best … (4 comments)

5 Foreclosure Tips to Follow - 10/12/10 11:55 PM
 5 Foreclosure Tips To Follow:
•1.      Contact your lender and try to refinance the loan or work out a payment plan.
•2.      Contact an attorney.
•3.      Contact a reputable counseling agency.
•4.      Contact the Maryland HOPE Hotline at 1-877-462-7555 for referrals to free nonprofit housing counseling and legal services OR the National HOPE Hotline @1-888-995-HOPE. Only speak to Certified Housing Counselors.
•5.      Get everything in writing
 
CONTACT:
Maryland HOPE Hotline ~ 1-877-462-2755 or www.mdhope.org
National HOPE Hotline ~  - 888 995- HOPE or www.hpfonline.org
 
… (6 comments)

How about you? Are you up for the challange? Weekly random acts of kindness, come on share in the fun! Report back here once a week to share your experience. - 10/11/10 11:31 PM
Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness. - Seneca, Philpsopher
Today I joined an AR group called "Pay It Forward," its purpose, random acts of kindness. I have always loved this concept; I used to practice it regularly. I'm not sure how I lost sight of it, but thanks to Ralph Gorgogline I've been inspired to get my creative juices flowing again.
I am really looking forward to this project, being a part of it and seeing what other AR members do.
How about you? Are you up for the challange? Weekly random acts of kindness, … (2 comments)

Maryland State Police Medevac Helicopter - 10/10/10 11:59 PM

The distinct sound of the Maryland State Police medevac helicopter usually means only one thing. Tonight, they landed in my neighbors yard. There was a serious one car accident right out front.
As chilling as this sound can be, between the rotor blades and the jet engine, I'm thankful we have this resource in Maryland to call on when we need it.
My thoughts and prayers are with the driver & all the EMS who responded.
… (4 comments)

Driving Skills for Life ~ Driver Training Sessions for Teens~ Sykesville, Maryland - 10/09/10 01:35 PM
Driving Skills for Life ~ Driver Training Sessions for Teens
This morning I've been catching up on some emails that I had put in the "that can wait" pile so to speak. I came across an email from Carroll County Schools that offered a "Driver Training Sessions for Teens." My son, Cole, is 15 and will soon be getting his permit (if he maintains a "B" average, house rules). I clicked the pdf file provided and was pleasantly surprise, check this out!
Ford Driving Skills for Life is a national safety initiative created in 2003 by Ford Motor Company, the Governors … (0 comments)

Carroll County Regional Airport ~ Westminster, Maryland - 10/07/10 08:52 PM
 Carroll County Regional Airport ~ Westminster, Maryland
"A small airfield in a farmers pasture," according to the website, soon grew into what we know today.  In the past, this small airport was used to serve the military, to transport troops and supplies, later recognized as "a vital link for commerce in the region." Located in Central Maryland, the airport offers Business Flights for Corporate Executives, sightseeing, aerial photography and surveillance, medical organ & tissue transplant flights, supports numerous local organizations, air shows and so much more.
Witness the excitement of aviation at The Carroll County Regional Airport! Mark your calendar for … (2 comments)

Another Property Under Contract in Sykesville, Maryland~ Courtesy of Diane M. Phillips - 10/07/10 07:04 PM

Another Property Under Contract in Sykesville, Maryland~ Courtesy of Diane M. Phillips
This beautiful rancher, nestled beneath mature oak trees is my childhood home. Listing it has been a challenge because of the emotions any seller would have. Those emotions, in this case, were multiplied by three; my Dad, my brother, Dave & I.  It's been difficult because I'm wearing so many hats, both professional & personal. As it turned out, the perfect buyers came along, let's just say, we are thrilled.
If you would like to list or buy a home in Maryland, please feel free & welcome to give me … (2 comments)

Wordless Wednesday ~ What A Face! Hedge Hog ~ Millers, Carroll County, Maryland - 10/06/10 11:56 PM
What a face!
Rally Day 2008, Wild life adventures visited with our church youth group. They brought bunnies, lizards, a spider and my favorite - this little hedge hog. Each creature came with a lesson for the children. The hedge hogs lesson, tolerance. It doesn't matter what kind of clothes you wear, what kind of car you drive or how much money you have, it's what's inside you/us that matters.
… (10 comments)

Apple Festival, sounds like fun! Manchester - Carroll County, Maryland to nearby Pennsylvania - 10/04/10 11:19 PM
Apple Festival, Sounds Like Fun! Manchester - Carroll County, Maryland to nearby Pennsylvania
 
My hubby said we were going out with friends Saturday to an Apple Festival, sounds good, I haven't been to one since I was a kid. Mom used to take us to fall festival events and it was a blast. I thought he was talking about a local church event or our local orchard, Bauger's.  Nope.
Our friends had planned a trip, to what I later found out was The National Apple Harvest Festival.
Attractions include:
 
This event is in its 46th year! It was a … (2 comments)

Sunday Shorts ~ Thirty Three days and counting - 10/03/10 11:52 PM
Sunday Shorts~ Thirty three days and counting. I took the "Become a Better Blogger 30 in 30 Challenge" and succeeded! Now, I am finding it difficult to stop blogging every day. I'm proud of the accomplishment and would like to continue, to see how long I can blog daily and continue. To reap the benefits of the give and take that is the AR community.
I feel like blogging is my touch stone. Even on days that I'd like to "take off" I feel the pull of AR, just to check in, see what the latest blogs are about. I want … (5 comments)

Keep your home and loved ones safe; have your fireplace inspected by licensed professional before burning. Carroll County, Maryland - 10/02/10 09:52 PM
Keep your home and loved ones safe; have your fireplace inspected by licensed professional before burning.
Taking in the smell of burning hardwood as it succumbs to heat, watching the flames dance, cozy by the fire. Maybe you have been outdoors working in the cool temperatures, maybe enjoying a Ravens football game on a lazy Sunday afternoon, or just curling up with a good book there is something about a fire. It's magical ability to keep us warm, help us relax and mesmerizes our thoughts as if by a skilled hypnotist. It's a warm gift, a treat. We gather around it … (2 comments)

In my professional opinion I believe listing agents should attend appraisals. What do you think? - 10/01/10 11:59 PM
Yesterday, I had an appointment with an appraiser at a property that is currently under contract. He said he was surprised to see me when I welcomed him in and introduced myself. He said he rarely sees the listing agent. Strange I thought. He said he is either alone. Sometimes a child is left to let him into the property. What? You must be joking? I attend all my clients' inspections and appraisals. I believe it is my job, my responsibility.
What if there are questions I can answer? What about offering information about the property?  I understand the Home Valuation … (5 comments)

 
Me_2009 Rainmaker_large

Diane M. Phillips, Realtor® Carroll, Frederick, Howard & Harford Co.

Manchester, MD

More about me…

Frankly Real Estate Inc.

Address: Carroll County, Frederick County, Howard County and Harford County, MD

Office Phone: (703) 827-4006

Cell Phone: (443) 286-4365

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