Nestled on a private cul-de-sac lot this gem is sure to please. A lovely formal dining room combined with an elegant formal living room is ideal for entertaining. Imagine all the delicious meals you can create in this gourmet kitchen. Flourishing with an abundance cabinet and counter space, a smooth-top range, a center island plus a huge pantry, cooking is sure to be a pleasure. An impressive family room with soaring ceilings, skylights and patio access is just waiting for family fun. A luxurious master retreat provides a soothing oasis of special conveniences and comforts at day’s end with a trey ceiling, two walk-in closets and sunny views. The pampering master bathroom features a garden tub, separate shower and dual raised vanities. The additional three bedrooms are generously sized and there are two additional full bathrooms. Bring all your toys as the two car garage plus a detached storage building is ready for stocking. Mosey out on the patio or relax in the screened porch. The private backyard is ideal for grilling and chilling. This the perfect place to call home. Call today for your personal tour.
Having lived in the Huntsville AL area for most of his life, Mike Manosky understands exactly what makes this community special. In fact, those who know him well will tell you he carries the same traditional values and focus on the future as Huntsville.
Mike brings with him a keen eye for the details of buying or selling a Huntsville AL home and seemingly boundless determination and energy, which is why his clients benefit from his unique brand of real estate service. Rooted in Tradition, Focused on the Future – Mike Manosky will help make the most of your Huntsville AL real estate experience. Give him a call today, 256-508-0211 Direct or 800-803-0053 Toll Free, and discover the difference he can make during your family’s move.
By: Huntsville Real Estate Expert Mike Manosky On January 13, 2012
With years of experience in art and art marketing, three Alabama artists, Charles Smith, David Simmons and Kurtis Thomas observed a need for a new approach to reaching art patrons and encouraging new art patrons. In this fast-paced world they realize the difficulty of scheduling an evening to attend a gallery opening, so they are going to bring the art directly to you, right in your home or office, in real-time, with real interaction with each artist through e-mail, live-chat, or by phone during the live web-cast; a fully integrated live experience including a printed prospectus of the show. Please join them in this ground-breaking event at ArtStreamLive.com. They also welcome your praises, suggestions, and criticisms, to help make your experience more enjoyable.
Having lived in the Huntsville AL area for most of his life, Mike Manosky understands exactly what makes this community special. In fact, those who know him well will tell you he carries the same traditional values and focus on the future as Huntsville.
Mike brings with him a keen eye for the details of buying or selling a Huntsville AL home and seemingly boundless determination and energy, which is why his clients benefit from his unique brand of real estate service. Rooted in Tradition, Focused on the Future – Mike Manosky will help make the most of your Huntsville AL real estate experience. Give him a call today, 256-508-0211 Direct or 800-803-0053 Toll Free, and discover the difference he can make during your family’s move.
By: Huntsville Real Estate Expert Mike Manosky On December 22, 2011
December is indeed a busy month for most folks as they shop, plan, party, and attend religious, social, and cultural events. It begins too soon after Thanksgiving and ends with a bang as it ushers in a new year. It is a season unto itself, one filled with excitement, symbols, customs, reflection, and a general sense of good will. Four major celebrations occur during December, both secular and religious (or a combination of the two) and include the following:
December 20 -28. Hanukkah (or any one of a dozen spellings).
This Festival of Lightsis an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean revolt of the second century BCE. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is observed by the ;lighting of the candles on a nine-branched menorah,one candle on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night, and it is customary to give children one gift (gelt) each night. Although it is based on a military victory, it is actually considered a time to celebrate Jewish independence and religious freedom in general. Hanukkah is a relatively minor holiday in the Jewish year; in the United States, however, its closeness to Christmas has brought greater attention to Hanukkah and its gift-giving, special foods, and games.
December 25. Christmas
The religious basis: Christmas is a Christian holy day which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. It is typically celebrated on December 25th, and the word Christmas comes from “Christ’s mass.” The story of the birth of Christ is told in the opening chapters of the gospels of Luke and John. Each contains different elements of the Christmas story. The visit of the Archangel to the shepherds and the birth of Jesus in a manger are from Luke. The story the visit from the Wise Men bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh are from Matthew.
Over the years Christmas has also become a very popular social holiday with an emphasis on lighted and decorated trees and wreaths, exchange of presents, caroling, special foods, and the colors red and green. Christmas traditions abound throughout the Western world, many of which have secular origins, some with their roots in ancient folklore and pagan beliefs. Click here to learn about a wide range of Christmas customs.
December 26-January 1.
Kwanzaa. Neither political nor religious, Kwanzaa is a reflective holiday which was created in the 1960’s to foster pride and unity among African-Americans. Kwanzaa is a week -long celebration honoring universal African-American heritage, family life, and culture. It features activities such as lighting a candle holder with seven candles—each representing an important principle of life–and culminates in a feast and gift giving. Visit Wikipediafor much more information about this holiday.
December 31. New Year’s Eve.
New Year’s Eve is a social holiday observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies New Year’s Eve is often celebrated at festive gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to say goodbye to the current year and celebrate the incoming one. The observance of New Year’s Eve generally extends through midnight of January 1. It is a holiday celebrated throughout the world and has many different names. The dropping of the ball in Times Square and the singing of Auld Lang Syne are symbolic of this holiday in the U.S.
Here are outstanding power point presentations dealing with each of these holidays. Although the site is designed primarily for children, the extensive array of topics and interesting information provides excellent reading for adults, too.
By: Huntsville Real Estate Expert Mike Manosky On December 16, 2011
A familiar seasonal scene is one in which family and friends sit around a blazing fire with a brightly lighted tree, stockings hung from the mantel, and colorfully wrapped gifts adding to the cozy and festive atmosphere of your Huntsville real estate. A setting lovely to imagine–and to experience–but also, one which requires safety precautions. Holiday fires claim the lives of more than 400 Americans each year, and approximately 3 people per hour are treated in an emergency room for seasonal injuries.
At this time of year when lists play such a large role in our lives, it is also necessary to revisit a safety checklist to ensure an accident-free holiday for your family, guests, and even your pets. The U.S. Fire Administration offers these suggestions:
DECORATIONS:
Inspect lights for damage and link no more than 3 strands together. Use only UL approved and follow directions.
Beware of overloading outlets.
Don’t leave on when you’re not home.
If you prefer a live tree, make certain it is fresh when you buy it and water, water, water!
Never leave lighted candles unattended, near combustible materials, or within reach of children or pets. Make certain to extinguish them before retiring for the night.
FIREPLACES:
Place the tree in your Huntsville real estate at least 3 feet away from the fireplace.
Keep a screen in front of the fire to prevent flying sparks.
Remove stockings hung with care when the fireplace is in use.
Never burn wrapping paper in your fireplace and risk a flash fire.
GUESTS:
When entertaining friends at your Huntsville real estate, be certain that you have childproofed your home–not just to protect breakables but also to protect young ones. (more…)
By: Huntsville Real Estate Expert Mike Manosky On November 19, 2011
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the changes, to remember that we, too, grow and change from one season of life to another. – Author unknown
Sarah Joespha Hale, author Mary Had a Little Lamb, campaigned vigorously for 20 years to have Thanksgiving made a national holiday. Five presidents turned a deaf ear to her pleas, but Abraham Lincoln listened, and on October 3, 1863, he declared that the last Thursday in November would be a national holiday. Sarah was also the one who urged that the Thanksgiving feast include such foods as turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, and mashed potatoes of two kinds. Sound familiar?
And speaking of food, are you thankful for the abundance of our planet? Show your gratitude by implementing these “green” suggestions for your holiday meal:
Use organic cranberries, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin
Shop at a famers’ market
Start a compost pile with all your leftovers
Click here for other earth-friendly holiday ideas.
Interested in giving traditional foods a modern twist? Try baby greens with fennel, wheatberry stuffing, and wild mushroom gravy. What about shredded Brussels sprouts or cranberry spinach salad? For recipes for these dishes and other updated foods, visit the web sites of Good Housekeeping and Allrecipes.
What do you get when you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by its diameter? Pumpkin Pi!
“Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.” William Jennings Bryan
Giving back…Thanksgiving is a perfect time to share our blessings with those less fortunate than we are and to spread the spirit of friendship and community. Opportunities for helping others during the holiday season are many and can involve one individual or the entire family. Some ways to foster goodwill and embrace the idea of sharing include:
Collecting and contributing non-perishable foodstuffs for a local food bank.
Giving money to local agencies who feed the hungry.
Volunteering your time to sort supplies, set up and/or clean up, or serve meals on Thanksgiving Day.
Inviting a neighbor who lives alone to join you for dinner.
Taking a warm plate of Thanksgiving food–and a big smile–to a shut-in.
Contributing to holiday food collection bins in grocery stores.
Purchasing pre-packaged boxes of food (generally under $10.00) to be distributed by local grocers.
Checking with your local place of worship to see where you help is most needed.
And remember our military personnel… by contacting A Million Thanks, a year-round campaign to show our appreciation for our U.S. military men and women, past and present, for their sacrifices, dedication, and service to our country through our letters, emails, cards, and prayers. Over 5 million pieces of mail have been sent to date. Zazzle will send free holiday cards to military folks, and Coupons to Troops has a great program in which you donate unwanted or expired coupons to military families living overseas.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL! Remember to be grateful for what you have and to “give thanks for unknown blessings already on the way.” (Native American saying)
By: Huntsville Real Estate Expert Mike Manosky On October 21, 2011
There’s a goblin at my window,
A monster by my door.
The pumpkin at my table
Keeps on smiling more and more.
There’s a ghost who haunts my bedroom,
A witch whose face is green.
They used to be my family,
Till they dressed for Halloween.
- by Sandra Liatsos
It’s nearly that time of year again—Halloween, a time of ghosts and ghouls, tricks and treats, and costumes and candy! Did you know that Halloween is second only to Christmas in terms of spending? Yep–$1.2 million on costumes and another $2.5 million on candy, decorations, and other themed paraphernalia!
Other little-known facts include:
86% of Americans decorate their houses.
10% of pet owners costume their pets. (Click here for unique ideas)
35 million pounds of candy corn are produce yearly. (How many are consumed in your Huntsville home?)
Halloween traditions are many and varied. “Tis the night for donning a costume, wearing a mask, bobbing for apples, and, the children’s favorite—trick-or-treating. Looking for something different to give to the little ones coming to your Huntsville home this year? How about juice boxes, mini-marshmallows, popcorn balls, fruit roll-ups, 4 pack crayons, small glo-sticks, silly erasers, themed pencils, or goldfish snacks?
Ghoulish Groaners:
What is a mummy’s favorite music? Wrap Best Halloween insurance? Mediscare Favorite drink of ghosts and goblins? Ghoulade
Carving a Jack-o-Lantern:
Be your pumpkin orange, white, green, and yes, even blue, you want the face on the porch of your Huntsville home to be individual and unique. Get free templates to assist you in carving or for cut and paste faces here.
If you see a spider on Halloween, the spirit of a loved one is watching over you.
Costumes:
Forget the old standbys of ghost and witch. Get creative and think about the unusual. A bearded lady? A cupcake? Or perhaps popcorn or an aquarium? Although the web is filled with sites which sell costumes, you can express yourself by making your own garb. Check out CostumeIdeaZone.com for silly, serious, and/or super fast ideas.
A kid came up with a bright idea to dress up as an IRS Agent. This way he could take 28% of the man’s candy and leave without saying ‘Thank You!’ J)))
The annual Scarecrow Trail at Huntsville Botanical Garden includes over 100 creative, unusual and downright ingenius scarecrows. I’ve seen the scarecrows every year, but 2010 is the best one yet. The Theme was “Scarecrow Trail Goes Hollywood.”
It doesn’t take long to live in North Alabama and find out where the best pumpkin patch is. It’s Tate Farms Cotton Pickin’ Pumpkins in Meredianville. So pack up the kids and spend an adventuresome and family-friendly day at one of the happinest places around Huntsville in the fall. Pick your own pumpkin off the vine, pet the animals and try out the hay maize. You can also get lunch at Tate Farms if you stay a long time and need something to eat. For more info, call (256) 828-8288.
Cornfield Mazes are the rage all across America. The Brownsboro Cornfield Maize is the biggest one near Huntsville with over 14 acres and many special activities and events for the whole family. The MaIze is located east of Huntsville on US HWY 72. Turn North onto Brownsboro Road, they are behind the Post Office.
Graystone Manor is over 30,000 sqft of ultimate terror, with twists, turns and all manor of horrors the Doctor’s evil mind could conjure. And because the Doctor loves his bodies warm and fresh we have an indoor holding and ticketing area. Plus you can grab your last meal at Dead Debbie’s Diner while you wait, no need to die on an empty stomach. New for 2009: While at Graystone Manor be sure to go through Dr. Vanburan’s Asylum where the insane’s nightmares come to life.
Admission charged. Thursdays & Sundays 7-10 pm; Fridays & Saturdays 7 pm-12 am (closed Monday-Wednesdays plus Thursday Sept. 22 & 29 and Oct. 6) at 1918 Memorial Parkway N Huntsville (next to WAFF Channel 48 TV). Order tickets online or get when you go.
By: Huntsville Real Estate Expert Mike Manosky On August 19, 2011
Labor Day weekend is almost upon us. Here are some fun things to do in the Huntsville area.
Sept. 2-5, Luverne: World’s Largest Peanut Boil Festival
In addition to the 17 tons of cooked peanuts, sample arts, crafts, children’s activities and more. Admission charged; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Details: 334-335-4468.
Sept. 2-3, Pinson: Alabama Butterbean Festival
Besides honoring the humble butterbean, this event includes a cornbread cooking contest, arts and crafts, food, greased pig contest, tail-waggin’ dog contest and Mr. and Miss Butterbean. Friday 5-10 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; free. Details: 205-572-2041, alabamabutterbeanfestival.com.
Sept. 3, Guntersville: 41st Annual St. William Seafood Festival
This popular seafood festival includes Creole-style gumbo, Cajun boiled shrimp, fresh crawfish, catfish and barbecue from 10:30 a.m. until it’s all sold out. Details: 256-455-4133, stwilliamchurch.com.
Sept. 3, Montevallo: Cars by the Creek and Catfish Rodeo
Prizes go to the top cars and the child who catches the most fish. Call 205-665-1519.
Sept. 3-4, Decatur: Battle for Decatur
Civil War re-enactors fight it out in mock battles each day at 2 p.m. Camps are also open for viewing. Admission’s free; 800-524-6181, decaturcvb.org.
Sept. 4, Alexander City: Annual Labor Day Weekend Concert
Blues Traveler will perform in an evening concert on Lake Martin. Details: 256-212-1479, lmat.org.
Sept. 4, Guntersville: Labor Day Dog Show
Categories include biggest, smallest, best dressed, most talented, fluffiest, youngest and oldest. Sign up at the nature center inside the main campground by 12:30 p.m.; the show starts at 1. Details: 256-571-5445, visitlakeguntersville.com
Sept. 4, Scottsboro: First Monday Arts Sunday
Artists and craftsmen show off their works of art in this juried show. Children’s activities, music and food vendors are also included in the event, held in conjunction with the First Monday flea market around the Jackson County Courthouse Square. Call 256-259-1056.
Sept. 4-5, Crane Hill: Sweet Tater Festival
The annual event in Dowling Memorial Park features great arts and crafts, door prizes, a flea market, rides, games and entertainment Sunday and Monday; 256-531-7916, sweettaterfestival.com.
Sept. 5, Ider: Ider Mule Days
A tradition for more than 100 years, with mules, horses and carriages, plus antique cars, arts and more. Details: 256-675-4184, discoverlookoutmountain.com.
Sept. 5, McCalla: Labor Day Celebration & Moon Pie Eatin’ Contest
Spend time at the Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park for a festival with crafts, music, barbecue and more from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Details: 205-477-5711, tannehill.org.
Sept. 5, Montgomery: Labor Day at Old Alabama Town
Return to the days before Labor Day was established in 1894 to see how early Americans lived in 19th century Alabama. The event is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 334-240-4500, oldalabamatown.com.
Sept. 5, Section: Annual Section Labor Day Festival
An all-day musical festival with gospel, bluegrass, country, rock and more, plus volleyball and homemade ice cream. Call 256-228-3414.
By: Huntsville Real Estate Expert Mike Manosky On July 22, 2011
If you are looking for something to do with the kids on these hot summer days, consider checking out the dinosaurs at the US Space and Rocket Center. A T. rex Named Sue combines thrilling science, engaging educational activities, and blockbuster appeal in one of the most successful traveling exhibitions ever.
At a heart stopping 42 feet (12.8 m) long and 12 feet (3.66 m) high at the hip, Sue is remarkable because of her size, completeness, and quality of preservation. A spectacular full-sized skeleton cast is the centerpiece of this exciting bilingual exhibition. Family-friendly interactives encourage visitors to explore Sue, T. rex, and dinosaur science.
The exhibit runs from until through September 5, 2011.
Having lived in the Huntsville AL area for most of his life, Mike Manosky understands exactly what makes this community special. In fact, those who know him well will tell you he carries the same traditional values and focus on the future as Huntsville.
Mike brings with him a keen eye for the details of buying or selling a Huntsville AL home and seemingly boundless determination and energy, which is why his clients benefit from his unique brand of real estate service. Rooted in Tradition, Focused on the Future – Mike Manosky will help make the most of your Huntsville AL real estate experience. Give him a call today, 256-508-0211 Direct or 800-803-0053 Toll Free, and discover the difference he can make during your family’s move.
New treehouses have been designed by local architects and the 2010 treehouses have been updated to add even more opportunities for kids’ imaginations to run free. In addition, new permanent water features have been added to the Garden to create 2011’s Treehouses with a Splash!
Treehouses debut on Saturday, April 2nd with splash features opening on Saturday, April 30th.
New for 2011:
Timber Tent: An organic lean-to of cedar trees built on a child’s scale. Includes a tire swing, regular swing, rope swing and slide!
Bird’s Eye View: Catch a whole new view of the Garden from this clubhouse on stilts!
The Gnome Dome: Discover a hidden world of gnomes in this magical hideaway. But be careful, those mischievous little gnomes like to play tricks!
Fairy Forest: Enjoy the sparkly, mystical land of fairy rings, fairy wings and giant fairy wands!
New permanent Garden feature:
Pollywog Bog: a brand new wading pool located in the Children’s Garden!
Treehouses with a Splash runs through the end of September. This summer, you can climb, swing, splash and play your way through the Garden. And remember to bring your towel!
Having lived in the Huntsville AL area for most of his life, Mike Manosky understands exactly what makes this community special. In fact, those who know him well will tell you he carries the same traditional values and focus on the future as Huntsville.
Mike brings with him a keen eye for the details of buying or selling a Huntsville AL home and seemingly boundless determination and energy, which is why his clients benefit from his unique brand of real estate service. Rooted in Tradition, Focused on the Future – Mike Manosky will help make the most of your Huntsville AL real estate experience. Give him a call today, 256-508-0211 Direct or 800-803-0053 Toll Free, and discover the difference he can make during your family’s move.
