Santa appears to be multiplying at an alarming rate - 11/30/11 10:41 PM
I know I'm not breaking any news with saying The holidays seem to start earlier and earlier every year. If you know where I can sign a petition to keep Christmas in December, let me know!
For me, the official start has always been December 1st. As a child growing up in Germany December 1st was synonymous with chocolate, the 1st of 24 pieces out of my Advents-calendar. Hooray! This was it - the countdown had begun! I learned early on that if one eats all 24 pieces at once it does not mean Santa will come by tonight, only that … (10 comments)

One of life's perfect moments ... - 11/28/11 11:07 PM

Life is so much simpler at that age. Totally unimpressed by the serious faces of the grown-ups you can steal the show and make everybody smile.
You can giggle about your daddy's speech and nobody will think you are out of line.
You can walk the planks of an historic ship wearing just one shoe and everybody will think it's adorable.
You can seize the moment, let the wind blow through your curly hair and make everybody wish they could be little again ... for one perfect moment!
I can only take credit for the little girl. … (12 comments)

The scrawniest turkey can turn out to be the best - 11/24/11 12:23 PM
Allow me to retell one of my husband's stories. He would do a much better job I'm sure but since he's not here with me, this will have to do.
November of 2007, my husband was deployed to the Al Anbar province in Iraq since June of that year. He was part of MIT (Military Transition) Team, a group of about 15 Marines embedded within an Iraqi Battalion. As a corpsman it was his job to train the Iraqi Medics. He has many stories of that time, good and bad, but this one in particular captures the spirit of humanity … (9 comments)

'Twas the night before Thanksgiving ... - 11/23/11 10:46 PM
It's a quiet night at my house. The girls are sound asleep and I'm enjoying the silence. Tomorrow will be just as quiet, there will be no large family gathering, I wont be traveling and there wont be any turkey. The reason is fairly simple - we are thousands of miles away from any family and I don't know how to cook turkey. Shocking I know! The truth is I'm missing the cooking gene. Give me a paint roller anytime, a dresser to refurbish, a room to decorate, a garden to dig in and I'm in my element. But cooking & … (7 comments)

The Rockburn Heritage Center: restoration and deterioration side by side - 11/20/11 07:04 PM
The Rockburn Heritage Center: restoration and deterioration side by side
Pfeiffer's Corner School is a 19th century 1-room schoolhouse. Since 2003 the school has been sitting across the street from Rockburn Elementary School in Elkridge, MD. It was moved to its present location at Rockburn Branch Park and restored. Pfeiffer's Corner School is a significant piece of local history and well worth the preservation efforts. Today it is used for educational purposes - What was school like in 19th Century Howard County?Pfeiffer's Corner School is one of three historical buildings that make up the Rockburn Heritage Center. Clover Hill, a building … (5 comments)

Military Appreciation @ PORT DISCOVERY - Baltimore - 11/19/11 07:29 PM
NOVEMBER IS MILITARY FAMILY APPRECIATION MONTH!
This weekend marks the beginning of Military Appreciation Month at PORT DISCOVERY ~ Children Museum in Baltimore. Military personnel (active & veteran with military ID) enjoy free admission to the museum for themselves and 1 guest - from November 19th, 2011 until (despite its name) January 2nd, 2012! It's a great way to spend some special time with your child(ren), watch them explore and enjoy the many exhibits together: shopping at the grocery store, a visit at the dinner, life on the farm, wonders of water ....  or follow them through the 3-story urban tree … (7 comments)

Do you check on your vacant listing? - 11/15/11 11:17 PM
 I've shown at least 3 vacant homes recently that clearly had not been checked on in a while … These were not foreclosures and not even short sales – just good ol’ regular sales, imagine that!
Do you check on your vacant listings?
My guess is the listing agents have not been back at these properties since placing the lock-box! I'm not talking about stopping by on a daily basis but occasionally is a must! Send your assistant, squeeze it in if you are in the neighborhood anyway or have some arrangement with your sellers. In my opinion it is your … (67 comments)

Allow me to introduce my MUSTANG! - 11/10/11 10:43 PM
My last related blog - It's official ~ My husband is about to become a Mustang - pretty much said it all, it's been a long road of 17 years but my husband's perseverance and my belief in him never weakened. There is not much I can add other than this has truly been one of the proudest moments of my life!
It was an incredibly special day, with perfect weather and at the perfect location. Thank you to everybody who attended, my in-laws who drove up from Texas, my dad who flew in from Germany, friends and colleagues and peers … (20 comments)

VA Issues VA Loan Funding Fee Update - 11/07/11 11:24 PM
Welcome to the VA FUNDING FEE CHANGE ROLLER COASTER! It's a YES, it's a NO, it's a YES, it's a MAYBE! How incredibly frustrating!
I've written about the VA FUNDING FEE CHANGE a couple of times - you can read about it here and here and went from being excited, upset, hopeful .. to just frustrated! Seriously - STOP making promises you don't intend to keep!
The latest announcement does not sound very promising that the new reduced funding fees will actually take effect! Lets hope Congress will come to their senses and not take action - if they … (2 comments)

We are Active Rain - sweating together for a good cause! - 11/06/11 10:47 AM

When I joined Mike for his fundraiser yesterday - Susan G. Komen Spin for a Cure - in Winchester, VA he came up with the great idea of posing for a picture together for Kerrie's challenge!
Kerrie wants "to see what unique trait you bring to the 'Rain. Funny, serious, numbers, love whatever it may be" ... SWEATY I would have to add - SWEATY for a good cause!
You have until tonight to come up with a _______________ I AM ACTIVE RAIN sign and post it on AR's Facebook page! While you are there check out the many … (10 comments)

Mike Cooper called. I answered. Together we raced for a cure! - 11/05/11 09:59 PM
I'll probably be crawling to my appointments tomorrow and I'm feeling muscles that I had long forgotten about. But it's all good - I raced for a good cause!
Mike Cooper called (me out) and I answered. Today was the day for his 12 hour SUSAN G. KOMEN PEDAL FOR A CURE at the Valley Health Wellness & Fitness in Winchester, VA.
Winchester, VA is just about 110 miles from my home - less than 2 hours and beautiful scenery along the way - close enough to take the trip and participate in Mike's awesome fundraiser.
As far as … (14 comments)

We can cry about it or have a good laugh! - 11/01/11 11:50 PM
Every mishap is also an opportunity!


I know that a broken mirror is supposed to bring 7 years of bad luck. *thinking hard about when I broke that mirror* But what could it possibly mean when you spill a gallon of paint? It's one of those did-that-just-happen-moments or maybe-if-I-just-close-my-eyes-it-will-disappear and you don't know whether to cry or to laugh.
Well, after the shock wore off, we decided to have a good laugh! Those stairs have been on our to-do-list forever and the carpet had to go anyway! There is no better time than now!
Every mishap is … (11 comments)

 
Profilepic2 Rainmaker_large

Andrea Bedard, M.A. ~ REALTOR® & Mil Spouse ~ Silver Spring, MD and beyond

Silver Spring, MD

More about me…

Thompson Company Realtors

Address: 15711 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20905

Office Phone: (301) 384-9177

Cell Phone: (240) 593-2860

Email Me

From Bethesda to Odenton - Montgomery & Howard County Real Estate blog

My blog is a mix of information about Maryland Real Estate, community spotlights, customer service discussions, industry news and trends, things to do & places to visit ... - sprinkled with a candid perspective of the life, times & tribulations of my life as a Realtor, mom and military spouse in the national capitol area

Living Maryland - blips from a Realtor, Mom and Military Spouse

Please visit mdhomes4mil.com - my blog for military families stationed at WRNMMC/NSA Bethesda and Fort Meade!

THANK YOU!

Contact Me
Have a question about the Maryland Real Estate market?
Andrea Bedard, M.A. Thompson Co. Realtors
Call: 240-593-2860

Locations of visitors to this page



Listings
Dscf5710_edit
$375,000
3 br, 2 ba
Gorgeous 1.11 acres for sale in sought after community of Ednor Acres. Great ...
Dscf5978_edit
$100,000
PENDING! But we have 2 other lots For Sale on Awkard Ln. Another great opport...
Collage1
$2,600
3 br, 2 ba, 2,018 sqft
Just Rented! Spacious and light-filled luxury townhouse with 3 bedrooms, 2 fu...

Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog