Places in Maryland To See Christmas Light Displays

 ·  Festival of Lights at the Mormon Temple
9900 Stoneybrook Dr., Kensington, Maryland. (301) 587-0144. 2011 December 2, 2011-January 1, 2012. Dusk to 10 p.m. nightly. View more than 450,000 lights and a live outdoor Nativity scene each evening from 6 to 9 p.m. Live musical performances begin at 7 and 8 p.m.

·  Winter Lights at Seneca Creek State Park
11950 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg, Maryland. November 25 & 26, then Nightly December 2 – 31, 2011 (closed every Monday and December 25). Sunday - Thursday (closed Monday) 6 – 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday 6 – 10 p.m. Winter Lights is a magical Christmas light display including more than 350 illuminated displays and along a 3.5-mile drive through the park

·  Winter Festival of Lights at Watkins Regional Park
301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro, Maryland. November 25, 2011 - January 1, 2012. HOURS: 5-9:30 p.m. daily. $5 per car; $15 for mini-buses and limos; $25 for buses; $10 for multi-visit passes for cars and vans (good for three visits). The festival is FREE on December 25. You may bring canned food items to donate to local food banks for the holidays. Winter Festival of Lights is Prince George’s County, Maryland’s spectacular drive-through Christmas light display featuring more than a million twinkling lights

·  Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens
1800 Glenallen Avenue, Wheaton, Maryland. November 25, 2011- January 8, 2012 (closed Dec 24 & 25 and closed January 2-5) HOURS: 5:30 to 9:00 p.m., last car admitted 8:30 p.m. $25 per car Fri-Sun, $20 Mon-Thurs. Pedestrians cannot be admitted due to safety regulations. (Visitors must drive to the entrance gate, paying at the gate, drive into the parking lot, park their car and walk through the light show display. Garden of Lights Hotline: (301) 962-1453. This illuminated outdoor winter garden walk includes a whimsical monster, an enchanting persimmon tree, a walk through kaleidoscope caterpillar, an animated flying cardinal, and swimming geese over sparkling water.

·  Adventure Park USA
11113 West Baldwin Road, New Market, Maryland. November 18, 2011 - January 8, 2012. HOURS: 6 to 10 p.m. At Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland, drive through a maze filled with hundreds of thousands of lights that twinkle along to Christmas music. $25 per carload, $50 for a mini-bus, activity van or limousine, and school and tour buses cost $100 each. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the American Red Cross and Christmas Cash for Kids. Guests can stay afterwards to meet Santa Claus and enjoy Adventure Park's indoor attractions at a discounted rate including laser Tag, the climbing wall, ropes course, teacups, helicopters, soft play and the Arcade.

·  Bull Run Festival of Lights
7700 Bull Run Dr., Centreville, Virginia. (703) 359-4633. November 23, 2011 to January 8, 2012. Hours: Monday - Thursday & Sunday: 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Fridays, Saturdays & holidays: 5:30 to 10 p.m. This festive display of lights features penguins, snowmen, deer, candy canes and Santa. Monday – Thursday, $15 per car, Friday – Sunday, $20 per car. New for 2010, the event will include more than 40,000 animated lights set to music! After viewing the lights you can visit the new Winter Wonderland Holiday Village that includes amusement rides, an ice skating rink, entertainment, shopping, contests, food, and more.

·  Symphony of Lights in Columbia
Symphony Woods, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, Maryland. (410) 740-7840. November 21, 2011-Sunday, January 1, 2012. New Year's Eve event! Hours: Every night, including holidays 6-10 p.m. $20 per car. Symphony of Lights is a spectacular drive-through display of more than 75 animated and stationary holiday lights. All proceeds from the Symphony of Lights benefit the services of Howard County General Hospital.

·  Eastport Yacht Club Parade of Lights
Annapolis Christmas Lights Boat Parade, Annapolis City Harbor (410) 267-9549. December 10, 2011, 6-8 p.m. Enjoy a parade of lights when more than 70 power and sailboats show off their holiday decorations. Free event.

·  Lights on the Bay at Sandy Point State Park
Route 50, Annapolis, Maryland. (410) 481-3161. November 19, 2011 through January 1, 2012, 5-10 p.m. An annual scenic drive through holiday lights show sponsored by the Anne Arundel Medical Center. Drive along the shore of the Chesapeake Bay and see more than 60 animated and stationary displays illuminating the roadway. $12 per car.

·  Annmarie Garden in Lights
Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center, 13480 Dowell Road, Dowell (Solomons), Maryland. (410) 326-4640. December 2, 2011 - January 1, 2012, 6-9 p.m. Closed Dec. 5-7, 12-14, & 24-25. The walking tour takes visitors on a spectacular stroll beside handmade one-of-a-kind Christmas light sculptures featuring mythical beasts, wild animals, pirates, illuminated works of art, and more. The event includes nightly entertainment. $5 Ages 5 & up.

Upcoming Chrsitmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies in Maryland!

• Rockville Town Square Holiday Open House
  December 7, 2011, 6:30-9 p.m. Rockville Town Square, Rockville, Maryland. The Holiday Open House features Santa's Arrival, the Holiday Tree Lighting, FREE photos with Santa, refreshments, holiday music and more! FREE Horse & Carriage Rides with a donation to the Holiday Toy & Gift Drive benefiting needy families through the Montgomery County Housing Opportunities Commission.
  
  
• City of Gaithersburg's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
  December 3, 2011, 6-8 p.m. City Hall Concert Pavilion, 31 South Summit Ave, Gaithersburg, Maryland. (301) 258-6350. Gather with the Gaithersburg community and celebrate the beginning of the holiday season with a holiday sing-a-long, tree lighting, take-your-own-photo-with-Santa, and free hot chocolate.

Yummy Thanksgiving Drink Recipes!

Newton’s Apple

INGREDIENTS

2 ounces (4 tablespoons) Knob Creek Bourbon

3/4 ounce (1 1/2 tablespoons) Thatcher’s Elderflower

Liqueur

3/4 ounce (1 1/2 tablespoons) fresh Fuji apple juice

1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) fresh lime juice

1 lime wheel

1 sprig fresh mint

DIRECTIONS

1. Shake ingredients over ice and strain into a collins glass

filled with fresh ice.

2. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

Pilgrim Father’s Folly

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) Plymouth Gin

1 1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) pink grapefruit juice

1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) Thatcher’s Blood Orange

Liqueur

Mionetto Prosecco

Orange twist

DIRECTIONS

1. Shake the first three ingredients over ice and strain

into a highball glass filled with fresh ice.

2. Add 1 1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) chilled Prosecco

and stir gently.

3. Garnish with an orange twist

Pumpkins Smash

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2ounces (3 tablespoons) Appleton Estate V/X rum

3/4 ounce (1 1/2 tablespoons) spice syrup*

1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) lemon juice

Ice cubes

1/2 ounce pumpkin purée

1 drop The Bitter Truth Jerry Thomas’ Own

Decanter bitters

1 cinnamon stick

3 cloves

* Spice syrup: In a medium saucepan, bring to a boil 2 cups of water,

2 rounded cups of granulated sugar, 8 cinnamon sticks, 8 cloves,

and half a grated nutmeg, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Let

steep in the refrigerator for a day, then strain mixture into a clean,

sealed container. Can be kept refrigerated for up to 3 weeks.

DIRECTIONS

1. In a shaker, combine liquid ingredients with ice. Shake and

strain into a rocks glass with a 2-inch-square ice cube.

2. Garnish with cinnamon stick and cloves

A Few Ways To Help The Homeless And The Hungry This Thanksgiving

SOME (So Others May Eat)
On Thanksgiving Day, this organization holds its annual Trot for Hunger beginning at 8:30 a.m. at West Potomac Park in Washington, DC. DC Mayor Adrian Fenty is the Honorary Chair of the 5K fun run and family walk that benefits programs for homeless women, children and men.

Food and Friends
This organization provides meals to support men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-challenging illnesses. Volunteers assemble and deliver Thanksgiving meals.

Capital Area Food Bank
Make a monetary donation or help the Brown Bag program deliver Thanksgiving food baskets to needy senior citizens. This is the largest, public nonprofit hunger and nutrition education resource in the region.

Bread For the City
WHUR DAY (at the Old Post Office Pavilion) is a food drive, cash drive, and telethon to benefit Bread for the City's Holiday Helpings Program, providing Thanksgiving meals to low-income families. Volunteers collect canned food and cash donations and load and unload trucks of food.

Salvation Army – National Capital Area
Donate money or host your own personalized Red Kettle to gather donations from others. The international Christian organization strives to improve the lives of the needy and provide holiday meals.

Washington DC Jewish Community Center
Volunteers prepare the Thanksgiving meal for people in need in the Washington DC metropolitan area. Bring family and friends to make stuffing, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, desserts and more.

Turkey Trots in the Washington, DC Area
A variety of organizations sponsor turkey trots, runs and walks to raise money for the needy. Participate on your own or organize a group and get some great exercise at the start of the holiday season.

Don't Feel Like Cooking this Thanksgiving?

Clydes of Chevy Chase - 5441 Wisconsin Avenue, Chevy Chase, Maryland. (301) 951-9600. A traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings, $25.95 per adult, $15.95 per child.

Clyde's Tower Oaks Lodge - 2 Preserve Pkwy., Rockville, Maryland (301)294-0200. Feast on Thanksgiving fare at this elegant yet rustic restaurant in Rockville, Maryland. A la carte menu with a wide range of prices.

Comus Inn at Sugarloaf Mountain - 23900 Old Hundred Rd. Dickerson, Maryland (301) 349-5100. Buffet, $49.95 per person $15 per child.

Inn at Brookeville Farms - 19501 Georgia Ave., Brookeville, Maryland. (301) 924-6500. Three course dinner, $40 per person, $19 per child ages 12 and under.

La Ferme - 7101 Brookeville Rd, Chevy Chase, Maryland (301) 986- 5255. This cozy french country inn offers a seated dinner with lots of choices. $46 per adult, $23 per child.

Mrs. K's Toll House - 9201 Colesville, Rd., Silver Spring, Maryland (301) 589-3500. Enjoy a 4 course dinner at a historic country inn. $55 per adult, $19.95 per child ages 7-12, $9.95 6 and under.

Old Anglers Inn - 10801 MacArthur Blvd. Potomac, Maryland (301)365-2425. Celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday by a crackling fire at a charming country inn. Three-course pre-fixe menu $49.50 per person.

Normandie Farm - 10710 Falls Road, Potomac, Maryland (301) 983-8838. Enjoy an elegant holiday dinner in this charming Potomac, Maryland restaurant. Thanksgiving buffet $38 per person, $15 ages 12 and under.

Willow Tree Inn - 19550 Montgomery Village Ave. Gaithersburg, Maryland (301)948-8832. Enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with a view of the Montgomery Village Golf Course.

Yummy Crab Recipe....Cheesy Crab Melts!

CHEESY CRAB MELTS 

Read more about it at www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1845,144189-228192,00.html
Content Copyright © 2011 Cooks.com - All rights reserved.

1/2 lb. backfin crabmeat
1/4 c. sour cream
1 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/8 tsp. Tabasco sauce
3/4 c. grated Gruyere or Swiss cheeseOld Bay Seasoning
4 pats butter, 1 tsp. each
4 slices thick rye bread

In a mixing bowl combine crabmeat, sour cream, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, and a little more than 1/2 cup of grated cheese. Toast rye bread and spread a pat of butter on each slice. Divide the crab mixture equally among the 4 slices of bread. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of crab, then sprinkle each open-face sandwich with Old Bay Seasoning. Bake on an ungreased baking sheet for 10-12 minutes or until sandwiches are hot and the cheese is melted.

Realtors Applaud Congress for Reinstating FHA Loan Limits

The National Association of Realtors® commends Congress for reinstating the loan limit formula and maximum cap for Federal Housing Administration-insured loans for two years.
"As the nation's leading advocate for homeownership, we applaud members of Congress for restoring FHA's previous loan limits, which will help reduce consumer cost burdens, stabilize local housing markets and allow qualified, creditworthy borrowers to access affordable mortgage financing," said NAR President Moe Veissi, broker-owner of Veissi & Associates Inc., in Miami. "The reinstated loan limits will help provide much needed liquidity and stability to communities nationwide as tight credit restrictions continue to prevent some qualified buyers from becoming home owners and the housing market recovery remains fragile."
The provision reinstates the FHA loan limits through 2013 at 125 percent of local area median home prices, up to a maximum of $729,750 in the highest cost markets. The floor will remain at $271,050. The loan limits for Fannie Mae- and Freddie Mac-backed mortgages will remain at 115 percent of local area median home prices, up to $625,500.
NAR believes the reinstated loan limit formula and cap change will help make mortgages more affordable and accessible for hard-working, middle-class families throughout the country, not just wealthy individuals or those in costly markets. Nearly two-thirds of buyers who will be helped by the loan limits provision have incomes below $100,000.
"It's a misconception that only wealthy borrowers benefit from the maximum cost loan limits; middle-class home buyers living in all areas of the country deserve the same access to affordable mortgage financing and the same opportunity to achieve homeownership that home buyers enjoy in the most affordable regions of the country," said Veissi. The legislative action will have an impact even in communities with loan limits well below the maximum cap; the reset last month impacted 669 counties in 42 states and territories, with an average loan limit reduction of more than $68,000.
The bill also provides for a short-term extension of the National Flood Insurance Program through December 16, 2011. NAR strongly urges Congress to use the additional time to complete work on a five-year reauthorization of the program, which ensures access to affordable flood insurance for millions of home and business owners across the country.
The National Association of Realtors^®, "The Voice for Real Estate," is America's largest trade association, representing 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org. This and other news releases are posted in the News Media section.

Family Fun This Weekend In Maryland!

In Bethesda- Finnish Christmas Bizaar: http://finnspark.org/

In National Harbor- Christmas on the Potomac: http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-national/christmas-on-the-potomac/index.html?source=gn-ch=redirect-cid=COPT-christmasonthepotomac.com

In Frederick- Maryland Christmas Show: http://marylandchristmasshow.com/

In Gaithersburg- Sugarloaf Craft Festival: http://www.sugarloafcrafts.com/festivals/gaith/october/

In Hagerstown- Christmas Thyme Craft Show: http://allhagerstown.net/events/business%20and%20retail/special%20events/event/24201/

In Prince Frederick- Winterfest: http://www.zvents.com/z/prince_frederick_md/winterfest--events--211130526

In New Market- Holiday Bizaar: http://www.frederickcommunitycalendar.com/nonprofit/detail.htm?EventID=4093

Pet Rescue of Maryland Holding Two Adoption Events This Saturday, Nov 19th

The two locations of the adoption events are:

1:00-4:00 NEW Baltimore/Towson Petco (6325 York Road, 21212)

 

and

 

2:00-5:00 Timonium Petco (1719 York Road, 21093)

Affordability and Strengthening Economy Restoring Price Stability to U.S. Housing Market

Price declines and low mortgage rates have resulted in dramatic improvement in housing affordability

--Ratio of monthly mortgage payment to median family income lowest on record; Monthly mortgage payment for a median-priced single-family home nearly 40 percent lower than at peak

Fiserv, Inc. today released an analysis of home price trends in more than 380 U.S. markets based on the Fiserv(R) Case-Shiller Indexes(R). The indexes are owned and generated by Fiserv, a leading global provider of financial services technology solutions, and data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).

The double-dip in home prices that started in 2010 continued to take home prices lower this spring and summer. Single-family home prices dropped 5.9 percent in 2011 second quarter compared to a year ago, according to the national Fiserv Case-Shiller home price indexes. Prices fell in 340 out of 384 metro areas, with 302 metros hitting new home price lows. Fiserv projects that home prices across the U.S. will decline another 3.6 percent by the second quarter of 2012, before rising by 2.4 percent by the second quarter of 2013.

Other highlights from the latest Fiserv Case-Shiller Indexes include:

-- Prices dropped by double-digits in 30 metro areas, while 25 metro areas had small price increases of 1 percent or more.

-- Projections for the following 12 months, i.e. the 2012 second quarter to 2013 second quarter period, illustrate why the housing market is poised to stabilize next year: home prices in 372 of the 384 markets are projected to rise in that time period, with only 12 markets expected to experience declines.

-- California and Florida have borne the brunt of the worst declines in home prices. Of the 33 markets where homes have lost at least 50 percent of their value since peak, 28 are in the Sunshine and Golden States.

-- In markets with the largest home price bubbles and crashes, improvements in housing affordability have been even larger. For example, the ratio of monthly mortgage payment to family income dropped from 32 percent (2006:Q1) to 11 percent in Las Vegas, from 42 percent (2007:Q1) to 19 percent in Miami, and from 59 percent (2007:Q2) to 27 percent in Los Angeles

Check This Restaurant Out!

Heard about a fantastic restaurant in DC called 1789 (http://1789restaurant.com/main/index.cfm).  My husband and I will being going soon and I will give you a full report afterwards.  Can't wait!  Check it out and let me know what you think.  I heard you must try the desserts so save room! 

Mortgage Applications Increasing

From The Mortgage Bankers Association.....


Mortgage applications increased 10.3 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending November 4, 2011.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 10.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 9.9 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index increased 12.1 percent from the previous week. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 4.8 percent from one week earlier to the highest level since August 2011. The unadjusted Purchase Index increased 2.7 percent compared with the previous week and was 2.5 percent lower than the same week one year ago.

The four week moving average for the seasonally adjusted Market Index is down 0.37 percent. The four week moving average is up 0.89 percent for the seasonally adjusted Purchase Index, while this average is down 0.72 percent for the Refinance Index.

“Treasury rates dropped last week, as renewed turmoil in Europe once again led to a flight to quality, and
30-year mortgage rates dropped to their second lowest level of the year,” said Mike Fratantoni, MBA’s Vice President of Research and Economics. “Refinance applications jumped more than 12 percent to their highest level in a month and some lenders experienced even larger increases. As has been the case all year, many refinance applicants are opting to deleverage by choosing 15-year mortgages.”

Following three consecutive weeks of decline, the refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 78.6 percent of total applications from 77.1 percent the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity remained unchanged from 5.8 percent of total applications from the previous week.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances
($417,500 or less) decreased to 4.22 percent from 4.31 percent, with points decreasing to 0.41 from
0.49 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value (LTV) ratio loans.  The effective rate also decreased from last week.

The  average  contract  interest  rate  for  30-year  fixed-rate  mortgages  with  jumbo  loan  balances (greater than $417,500) decreased to 4.57 percent from 4.69 percent, with points increasing to 0.47 from 0.45 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value (LTV) ratio loans.  The effective rate also decreased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages backed by the FHA  decreased to
4.02 percent from 4.09 percent, with points decreasing to 0.49 from 0.51 (including the origination fee)
for 80 percent loan-to-value (LTV) ratio loans. The effective rate also decreased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 3.54 percent from
3.63 percent, with points remaining unchanged from 0.45 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent
LTV loans. The effective rate also decreased from last week.

The average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs decreased to 3.01 percent from 3.09 percent, with points decreasing to 0.47 from 0.50 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value (LTV) ratio loans. The effective rate also decreased from last week.

The survey covers over 75 percent of all U.S. retail residential mortgage applications, and has been conducted weekly since 1990. Respondents include mortgage bankers, commercial banks and thrifts. Base period and value for all indexes is March 16, 1990=100.

Rocky Road Cookie Cup Recipe!

Rocky Road Cookie Cups

1 (16.5-ounce) package NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Refrigerated Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar Dough
3/4 cup mini marshmallows
1/4 to 1/3 cup NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1/4 cup chopped nuts or crumbled graham crackers

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease 24 mini-muffin cups.
2. Place squares of dough into prepared muffin cups; press down to make a deep well.
3. Bake for 12 minutes or until edges have set (centers will be soft). While still warm, fill cookie cups with marshmallows, morsels and nuts. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. With tip of butter knife, remove cookie cups from muffin pan(s).

Makes 24 cookie cups.

Housing Market Showing Signs of Improvement?

From the Wall Street Journal......

The number of housing markets showing signs of improved economic health grew from 23 to 30 nationwide, according to a market index produced by a housing industry trade group and a national title insurance firm.
Using statistics from Freddie Mac, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Commerce Department, the National Association of Home Builders and First American Financial Corp. identified 30 metro areas, including Winston-Salem, N.C., Pittsburgh, Pa. and New Orleans, La. where the three key economic indicators — home price appreciation, employment growth and housing permit growth — have been improving for at least six months. The NAHB examines about 360 markets nationwide. Two markets fell off the list from last month: Wichita Falls, Tex., and Iowa City, Iowa.
The cities included in the Improving Market Index correspond with recent data from Fiserv Inc. showing which metro areas have seen the biggest home-price improvement in the last year. Sumter, S.C., which has enjoyed a 10% increase in home values since the second quarter of 2010, made the NAHB’s list. So did Bismarck, N.D. (6.1%), Williamsport, Pa. (6%), Odessa, Tex. (1.7%) and Fayetteville, N.C. (1.1%).
Texas is a bright spot in the NAHB’s data. Eight cities in the Lone Star state — including Amarillo, Corpus Christi, McAllen, Midland, Odessa, Sherman, Tyler and Waco — have been improving for the last six months. Most of the other “improving” markets were in the Midwest (Kankakee, Ill.; Lima, Ohio; Waterloo, Iowa) or the South (Hinesville, Ga; Pine Bluff, Ark.; and Houma, La. — to name a few).
In the past, Developments has criticized the Improving Market Index for ignoring the national macroeconomic factors at play. NAHB’s response has been to point out that all real estate is local, and a locally oriented home price index is helpful to some investors more than others.
So far, improvement has yet to return to many major metro areas, which limits this index’s relevance. But it might show some early signs of where that elusive housing recovery will take hold.

Astronomy Anyone? Viewing the International Space Station and Iridium Flares

The ISS (International Space Station) is about as long as a football field and carries a crew of six people. More about it can be found at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html. It’s very big and visible in the sky at certain times when it passes overhead. To be visible, the sun has to be shining on it while the earth-bound observer is still in darkness. This usually happens before dawn, so this is a game for early risers. There is a website called Heavens Above that allows you to put in a location and it will tell you the date, how bright (Mag), where it becomes visible, how hoigh in sky it gets (Max Altitude), and where it disappears. On the website, I specified the location of Middletown, MD (you have to specify a location because what you can see in the sky depends on where you are). Here’s the link to Heavens Above for the location Middletown, MD: http://www.heavens-above.com/?lat=39.444&lng=-77.545&loc=Middletown&alt=169&tz=EST.

Under “Satellites”, you can click on “ISS” to get the table below. You’ll also see under “Satellites” there are links for “Iridium Flares”. The table has some links that explain what some of the things mean. “Mag” is an expression of brightness; the smaller the number in value, the brighter the object will appear to be. So over the next ten days, the brightest appearance of the ISS will be on 11/19 at 05:52:36. The links for “Az” and “altitude” give good visual diagrams that further explain Iridium flares. An Iridium flare is a bright flash in the sky caused by the sun reflecting off the mirror-like surface of an orbiting satellite (Iridium is the brand name of these particular mirror-like satellites). The flash is very localized. That is, a flash seen from a particular location on the earth may not be visible from a location 30 miles away

Anyway, I thought some if this stuff might make for interesting (and always changing) content for the blog, and it is kind of educational.

Have Fun!

Come Support Our Troops November 11th At The Frederick Holiday Bizaar & Veterans Day Event

If you are in or near Frederick, here is a nice way to support our troops and have a little fun while you're at it.  Here is the announcement:

MainStreetChamber Frederick and Grace Community Church invite the public and members of the business community to our Holiday Bazaar and Veterans Day Event. Come join us at 5102 Old National Pike, Frederick, MD  21702, from 3 to 7 pm as we celebrate members of our Armed Forces, along with a craft show, food vendors, and business expo.

The event is free to the public.  We encourage our MainStreetChamber members and others in the community to attend.  We will also be honoring members of our military with a special fifteen minute ceremony at 4 pm.  PLEASE BE SURE TO ATTEND TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR MILITARY.  We will also be awarding 3 deserving service members a 5 day, 4 night stay at a resort in Cancun, Mexico, courtesy of World Venture/Dream Vacations.  We will be collecting letters from members and their families stating why they deserve this trip.  The winners will be chosen at our November 14 networking event.

If you know a local member of the military who could use a vacation, please have them write a letter stating why they deserve a vacation and have them bring it by our event on November 11.  No email submissions will be accepted and all nominees must be local to the area.

We are pleased to have the participation of Mrs. Frederick County America, Sabrina Kearney at our event.  She will be taking photos and signing autographs for $2 each.  The money collected will go towards paying airfare for our military member vacation winners.

We also wish to thank Cinful Cuisines who will also be on hand selling slices of gourmet cake.  Members of the military are invited to stop by for a free slice as our way of saying "Thank you for your service to our country".

 Please come out and support MainStreetChamber and its vendors and our military.

Maryland Irish Festival This Weekend In Timonium

Here is the information on the Irish Festival this weekend.....sounds like fun!...... Admission Free for our Active Military

Dates: for 2011	Friday, November 11, 2011 - 6 PM - 11 PM Saturday, November 12, 2011 - 12 Noon - 11 PM Sunday, November 13, 2011 - Mass - 10:00 a.m.(Sunday festival opens 12 pm and closes at 6:00 p.m.)
Location:	Maryland State Fairgrounds (Cow palace) 2200 York Rd Timonium, MD 21093, US CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS
Prices:	Daily General Admission (Ages 18-62) $15 Daily Seniors Admission (62 + above) $10 Daily Young Adult Admission (12-17) $5 Children Admission (under 12) FREE Active Military Personnel with ID Card FREE
Parking:	Free parking is available on the Fairgrounds lot
Other:	The MD State Fairgrounds is easily accessible via the Light Rail from any stop in Glen Burnie, Baltimore City or Hunt Valley
Food and Beverages:	Irish Stew, fish and chips, corned beef sandwich, pit beef sandwich, seafood, ham, cabbage, potato platter, ham sandwich, hot dogs, french fries, champ, scones, baked goods, soda bread, popcorn, cookies, pretzels, snowballs, sodas, iced tea, milk, Irish coffee and tea, a variety of beers, Black & Tan, Irish whiskey and Liqueurs.

Website- http://www.irishfestival.com/index.html

Support Special Olympics Maryland By Participating in the Plunge!

Never Too Early to Start Getting Those Pledges!

Be a part of the coolest event of the year

Be a part of THE event of winter and join us for the 16th Annual MSP Polar Bear Plunge where, for just $50 in pledges, Plunge participants take a quick dip in the Chesapeake Bay to raise funds for Special Olympics Maryland, the state’s largest year-round organization devoted to sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Anyone can participate! (Under 18 requires parent or guardian signature.)

Cool Prizes For Plungers

With just $50 in pledges, all participants receive a commemorative 16th Annual Plunge sweatshirt, a great anniversary gift (TBA) and the great feeling of freezing your “fur” off for a truly worthy cause. Plus, the more money Plungers raise, the more cool stuff they can get - like essential Plunge gear.

Personal Plunge Page

Create your own Plunge Web Page so that friends, family and co-workers can visit and donate online and you can track your progress.
The event is open to the public, and all spectators are welcome free of charge. All proceeds benefit Special Olympics Maryland.


PlungeFest General Information:
Event Date: January 28, 2012
Check-in: Starts at 8am
Location: Sandy Point Beach
Current Weather Conditions: Click here
Parking Details: Click here

Great Crab Dip Recipe!

Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• garlic powder to taste
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 pound fresh crabmeat
• Old Bay Seasoning

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Lightly grease a 1 quart baking dish.
2. In a medium bowl, mix cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, garlic powder and about 2 tablespoons of the Cheddar cheese. Add crabmeat and 2 tablespoons of Old Bay.
3. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining Cheddar cheese and sprinkling of Old Bay. Bake in the preheated oven 30 minutes, or until bubbly and lightly browned.

Great Christmas Craft Show Weekends in November

Christmas Thyme at Sycamore Heights Farmhouse Craft ShowNovember  10-20, 2011 (weekends)
Christmas Thyme at Sycamore Heights is located in an 1860 Federal Style Farmhouse in Hagerstown Md. Bring your friends and family to enjoy a wide variety of handmade crafts made by crafters in the tri-state region. The show features candles, country, early American, primitive, folk art, Christmas decor.
Hagerstown, Washington County

Location

Sycamore Heights Farmhouse
20703 Jefferson Blvd. Hagerstown, MD