Charming new Listing

Love the look of fall at my new listing.  This house is so nice--located right across the street from Clermont Elementary School - 4400 Arcross in Alexandria 22310 - $456,000.  It's hard to find nice houses that are on one level, and this is a good one. 

Fall is in the Air!

I loved this chandelier from Country Living Magazine--that big pumpkin is too cute! 

Also, saw a great movie yesterday - ARGO, directing and acting by Ben Afleck.  The audience actually clapped at the end.  Go see it! 

Movies: The Master

I read that this movie was fabulous - a four-star movie.  It has great actors.  I saw it yesterday, and it did not meet my expectations.  I could not recommend it.  I thought about walking out of the movie, but I thought the great part must still be coming. 

It's funny about movie reviews.  I take them with a grain of salt.  Jon Stewart interviewed the director, and he never once said that he liked the movie--used words like "great writing".  Charlie Rose said that people either hated it or loved it. 

My next movie is "Argo" - great reviews.  Hope it doesn't disappoint. 

Nice new listing in Alexandria

Just listed this house in Stoneybrooke.  It's a great example of how to prepare one's house for sale.  They ordered the POD, cleared furniture and stuff out of the house, and now have it showing beautifully.  Jan staged it and gave them suggestions for clearing out.  A professional opinion really helps in getting ready for market. 

The front door was painted black, and Jan suggested Benjamin Moore Gentlemen's Grey--it really gave life to the exterior.  So pretty. I bet it will sell fast.

Beach Reading

August vacation is over, and I read lots of books.  One of my favorite reads was Where'd You go, Bernadette?   Funny and entertaining. 

Other favorites: 
Tell the Wolves I'm Home
Girl Gone

I love reading on my Kindle when I'm on the beach, but I really love reading on my I-Pad when I don't have to worry about the sand.  Lots of good reading time on the screened porch.  I've also discovered Words With Friends--playing scrabble online--so fun. 

One less tree in Huntington Forest

We had a large Bradford pear tree cut down yesterday--hate to see a tree go--especially since I live in "Huntington Forest".  We lost one branch during a storm, and we wanted to save the tree.  However, our neighbor did not like our pear tree approaching his property.  After receiving a letter from his attorney (yes, that's correct), we talked to an arborist at Bartlett Tree Experts, and he said that if we just trimmed the side of the tree that approached the neighbor's property, the tree would be unbalanced and subject to future damage.  We always had our trees trimmed professionally and wires installed to strengthen branches (especially the Bradford pears) so that they could last as long as possible.  They created a nice border between our house and the neighboring property. 

Because I spend so much time on my screened porch, I loved the privacy that tree provided.  Now it's gone.

This is my view now:  instead of nice greenery, I see the neighbor's deck.    Not so private.

So, my next project will be to create some privacy.  Because our porch is up high off the 2nd level of the house, it will take a tree some years to get there.  We do have a little skinny maple tree there that might grow better now that the big pear tree is gone--time will tell. 

Tree Houses

I just watched a DVR of the Sunday Morning Show on CBS.  They did this wonderful segment on tree houses.  Wouldn't it be fun to live in one?

I've always called my screened porch a tree house.  It's surrounded by trees, and it's up in the air.  Heavenly!