The New Braunfels, Texas Farmers Market ~ Have you been?

All of this activity has been going on right under my nose! It was our first visit to The New Braunfels, Texas Farmers Market this past Saturday.  What a treat!

And just like their website say's, they had it all:

• Locally Grown Fruits & Vegetables
• Fresh & Dried Flowers 
• Dairy Goods & Cheeses
• Baked Goods
• Select Meats 
• Handmade Items
• Plants & Garden Items 
• Fresh & Dried Herbs 
• Entertainment 

The New Braunfels, Texas Farmers Market is open EVERY Saturday, rain or shine from 9-1pm.  You can literally get everything on your grocery list there.  If it consists of healthy, farm raised items.  Items like eggs, lettuce, tomatoes, grass fed meats, cheese, organic honey, etc.  Awesome stuff!

Take a stroll down the aisles of The New Braunfels, Texas Farmer's Market, grab a coffee & some fresh bread for your bag.  Tap your foot along to the music while you select your frest fruit & vegetables & smile because you are about to take all these yummy goodies home!

I can't think of anything more fun than a Farmer's Market on a Saturday AM on a beautiful day in New Braunfels, Texas!

Little Church of La Villita Thanksgiving Food Drive

The Little Church of La Villita is having a food drive. This is an excellent opportunity to do something nice for folks in need.  With Thanksgiving right around the corner (I know! Can you believe it!?) it alway's makes me feel good to help someone in need.  When I went searching for what I could do this year, I found this food drive & thought....Awesome opportunity!

They are collecting food from 11/14 - 11/17 from 8AM - 5PM.  To contact them with questions you can call 210-226-3593. 

It only takes a smidge of energy to do something for someone in need!

If you are new to the area you might not have experienced Wurstfest yet?  It should be on your "must" list if near New Braunfels.  Heck, even if you aren't, make the drive! It's worth it!

Wurstfest start's TOMORROW, November 4 (alway's the Friday before the first Monday in November) & last's until November 13th.  So, there's PLENTY of time to get down to New Braunfels & get your beer & grub on. 

Mmmmmmmm, imagine sausage on a stick (with a bun of course!), funnel cakes, beer, rides for the kids, german brats, potatoes & MORE! Woah! My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

So, where does it all take place? Glad you asked! Here are the details from their website!

During the 10-day festival, you'll find a variety of entertainment, food and fun on the Wurstfest Grounds in Landa Park and many special events throughout New Braunfels and Comal County. The following information is provided to help answer the many questions our visitors have. Additional information can be obtained from the Wurstfest Association, Post Office Box 310309, New Braunfels, Texas 78131-0309. Call 830/625-9167, or toll free 1-800-221-4369 from anywhere in the United States. Visit our website at www.wurstfest.com.

HOURS and SCHEDULE: Wurstfest opens on weekdays at 5 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am. Wurstfest closes at 12 Midnight on Thursday and Fridays, 10 pm Sunday through Wednesday, and 1 am on Saturdays and at 10 pm on the last Sunday.

ADMISSIONS: Festival admission is $8.00 ($6.00 if purchased by November 3) and includes access to all entertainment areas including the Wursthalle. Children 12 and under are admitted free. For group rate information and special day discounts, call 830/625-9167 or 1-800-221-4369. Admission is for the entire day. If you wish to leave the grounds and return later that same day, please be sure to have your hand stamped at the gate.

Wurstfest is appropriate for all ages so bring the kids!

Garden Ridge's The Forest of Garden Ridge neighborhood

The Forest of Garden Ridge is in the very distinguished community of Garden Ridge right off FM 2252 (Nacogdoches) & nestled about five minutes from 1604. 

The Forest of Garden Ridge is a Rialto homes neighborhoodwith  Easy access to IH-35 and Loop 1604, close proximity to churches, schools, hospitals and shopping. We are 2.8 miles north of 1604 on Nacogdoches; turn left on Tonkaw.

With homes starting in the 400's, and most lot's just around an acre, you are sure to find the home of your dreams in The Forest of Garden Ridge neighborhood.

A very secluded community, in The Forest of Garden Ridge you will find resident's walking their dogs or going for a jog while enjoying the beautiful scenery that surrounds you. 

If you are looking for a beautiful home, gorgeous scenery, a small community feel & on the outskirts of San Antonio, The Forest of Garden Ridge is the community for you.

And the rain keeps coming down in San Antonio, Texas!

We've been moaning & groaning about it for months.  Grass, plants & our spirits were dead.  Fireworks were cancelled on the 4th of July & the "burn ban" has been in effect I can't even remember how long. 

We've tried doing the "rain dance" as well as the "go away drought disco", heck we even got desperate & started doing the "flooding fandango" ALL, without any luck.  

Sometime last week all our hopes were answered, it started to RAIN!  Little baby drops then great big drops then for days non-stop & everything was wet, things started looking perkier & everyone forgot how to drive again!  It's a beautiful thing!  AND, it hasn't stopped! 

We really needed it so we won't complain, here's the rain in all it's beauty:

Disclaimer: I was the passenger!

San Antonio TX Taxidermy - One of the joy's (yes, I said joy's) of being married to a San Antonio TX taxidermist is occasionally having dead animals in our house. 

My husband owns & runs Buck N Bull Taxidermy in San Antonio, TX & sometimes, it just comes with the territory.

Today I found an alligator on my dining room table, about 14 feet tall. 

Apparently this guy needs a place to "dry out" & didn't fit at the shop anymore.  His new temporary residence is on my dining room table. 

If you are trying to sell your San Antonio, TX home I strongly discourage you from leaving this guy out BUT, if you need a good San Antonio TX Taxidermist, I encourage you to call Trevor Esparza @ Buck N Bull Taxidermy. 

Guess i'm not having company anytime soon. 

Kristin Moran

Specializing in San Antonio & surrounding cities
-------------------------------
RE/MAX Access - Realtor®/Owner

KristinMoran@Remax.net 210.313.7397 www.SistersThatSell.com

Buy a home from me, use the truck to move for free

Copa Wine Bar....A flight of this....A flight of that....~ San Antonio, TexasMy new favorite place in San Antonio is the Copa Wine Bar & Restaurant located at 19141 Stone Oak Pky
San Antonio,TX 78258.  Whether you are looking for a glass of wine or a bottle this is the perfect spot to hang out & relax with your favorite domestic, european or sparkling wine. 

We stopped in recently to try something different & that is just what we found.  The place is decorated with wine bottles everywhere, the tables are made out of wine boxes & the staff really knows their wine!

We each had a wine flight.  I had the Merlot, my friend Leti had the Syrah.  My flight was divine, my selection consisted of:

Corey Run (Washington)

Natura Organic (Chile)

Charles Krug (Napa Valley) &

Columbia Winery (Columbia Valley)

Our wine selections were partnered with some cheeses & we had an excellent appetizer, wine tasting, atmosphere & company.

Copa Wine Bar & Restaurant has wine tasting every Wednesday nights starting at 6pm.  Copa Wine Bar & Restaurant was voted into the Current Magazine's 2009 "Best of" issue, pretty fancy stuff! 

This week marked mass hysteria in San Antonio & surrounding cities for the Swine Flu.  Schools have been closed until May 11th.  Children were ecstatic, parents, not so much.  The school cancellation was announced the night prior at around 9PM leaving parents scrambling for child care & entertainment for bored children. 

San Antonio had five reported probable cases as of yesterday & more are expected.  Proms, athletic award banquets & fundraisers have all been postponed.  Giving "peace" at church has been banned as well as wine, we can't have everyone drinking from the same glass.   

While the swine flu is very serious I am curious how working parents are handling child care.  Hopefully, we don't have a parent somewhere watching everyones children at their home so other parents can still make it to work.  This truly defeats the purpose of avoiding gatherings. 

So, what am I doing this weekend?  Staying out of church, out of schools, out of large gatherings & perhpas even small ones. 

If I happen to make it anywhere & someone coughs I am running straight for the door. 

Wildhorse is a marvelous community located at Braun & 1604 (right outside the loop).  Wildhorse is a DR Horton Community that is on it's last phase of development with homes from the 160's.   

Wildhorse is conveniently located just minutes from La Cantera (PF Changs China Bistro, Tiffany's, Nordstrom's) and the newest shopping center on the other side of the neighborhood at 1604 & Culebra known as the "Shops at Culebra".  Wildhorse recently got a brand new, 4 lane road that makes Wildhorse residents commute easier

Wildhorse is a fantastic family neighborhood with an elementary school on the main street of the neighborhood http://www.nisd.net/krueger/ , two swimming pools a gazebo, walking trails, picnic area, basketball area and a daycare.  All within walking distance.

Here's what's been happening the last couple of month's in Wildhorse:  

2009:  January, February 

2009:  December , November

Listed below are the homes that sold during the month (based on the San Antonio board of Realtors):

Below is a press release about the CDPE I acquired recently:

San Antonio, Texas - March 26, 2009 - Sales Associate Kristin Moran of RE/MAX Access has earned the new Distressed Property Expert designation (CDPE), making her a specialist in a facet of real estate that constitutes nearly half of today's market. The CDPE courses are built around a ready-to-use functional system that Sale Associates can immediately implement in their business to be an effective asset to their clients.   Recognizing that the current real estate market suffers from declining home values due to an increased inventory, RE/MAX is rapidly training its sales force to assist troubled homeowners in the hope that the number of foreclosures coming on the market can be reduced. 

"According to the National Association of Realtors®, over 45% of existing home sales in the fourth quarter of 2008 were foreclosures and short sales," explains Kristin.   "Short Sales benefit both homeowners and lenders.  In a short sale transaction, homeowners are permitted to sell their property for less than the mortgage amount, but avoid the foreclosure process.  By preventing a foreclosure in today's market, a lender can save as much as half the carrying costs."

Historically a percentage of the real estate market has been in distress however with the recent challenges in the subprime lending market this percentage has grown exponentially. This rapid growth in what once was a niche market requires agents to posses specialized knowledge and processes that will allow them to successfully assist homeowners in need.

 "Given today's climate, it's critical for our Sales Associates to understand the transaction process involved with distressed properties," She continues. "The REO or Short Sale transactions can be a little challenging, but they're now a significant part of the market and can't be ignored."

Contact Kristin Moran at RE/MAX Access by calling 210-313-7397 or visiting www.SisterThatSell.com